I'd like to head to the hills on the klr one more time before the snow flies. thinking the weekend of sept 20th, or there abouts.
probably head out to rapid thursday night, ride hard friday and saturday and head back good time sunday.
does this weekend or any around the same time work for anyone else?
thinking of sticking to creekbeds, rock gardens, and wet clay if at all possible. should be fun.
-bret
I was just discussing a Sept trip out with some other guys. I think that would be excellent.
I'll see how it works into my and a few friends schedules.
I'm hoping we can find a road from home to the Hills that consists of nothing but wet clay.
I am leaving later in the week but I might be able to get away for a day or two. I can at least ride Fri while the wife is at work ;D
keep me posted on the dates
I will do my best to attend! Sounds like a fall foliage ride if I've ever heard of one. Let's skip the wet clay and rocks this time because I am scared of that stuff! I like interstates and traffic now, and frankly, didn't have that much fun at the DDS Rally. The rocks were too hard for my liking. I'm thinking of trading in the KLR for something that only rides on the streets because I have found that interstates kick ass! Plus, the vibration of a big Harley feels good on my pussy! We should all convert and change the name to the Dakota Interstate Riders! Just Kidding! ;)
Quote from: loingrader on August 07, 2008, 03:04:56 PM
thinking of sticking to creekbeds, rock gardens, and wet clay if at all possible. should be fun.
-bret
:o I'm out.
ok promo, i don't want you to be out. we can keep the trails ktmable.
as much as you ride out there in the dirt, you will be a semi pro dually before long and will be showing us all up on your katoom.
-bret
As I'm thinking about going out again, I'm thinking I have to conquer that big badass downhill that we encountered on the last day - the one on the trail from the top of strawberry to Whistler's Gulch (Ryan, Brian, James, and I).
You know, the one where shortly after my fender broke and I almost wrecked and fell 6000 feet to my death. :o OK, maybe that's an exaggeration...but it seemed like it.
Alan - do some recon for me. Find out if you can get the KTM up that hill! Go through Whistler's Gulch campground and out the back, and keep going. You'll know the hill when you see it!!!!
Seriously, I can't tell when you guys are joking or not...maybe I'm just a bit dim. I don't want to hold anyone back from having fun, if you guys really want to do rocks & mud, knock yourselves out! We can ride together another day! :) I think Bret was joking, but you can never be sure on these boards...
Quote from: Jason H. on August 11, 2008, 10:06:40 AM
As I'm thinking about going out again, I'm thinking I have to conquer that big badass downhill that we encountered on the last day - the one on the trail from the top of strawberry to Whistler's Gulch (Ryan, Brian, James, and I).
You know, the one where my shortly after my fender broke and I almost wrecked and fell 6000 feet to my death. :o OK, maybe that's an exaggeration...but it seemed like it.
Alan - do some recon for me. Find out if you can get the KTM up that hill! Go through Whistler's Gulch campground and out the back, and keep going. You'll know the hill when you see it!!!!
So, let me get this straight...you almost died on this hill, yet you want me to go tackle it solo just so you can know if it's possible?! Okay, where's Whistler's Gulch? :) Stay tuned for pics of my face plant!!
LOL it's not that bad. It is pretty steep though, but doable.
Whistler's gulch is the campground right outside Deadwood (the one w/ the go-kart track). If you ride into the campground, and go waaaay to the back of it, the trail leaves from there. It's a very, very cool trail (except for the one terrifying hill) :o
I'm pretty sure Bret was kidding about wanting to ride rock gardens and wet clay all weekend. If he wasn't he might be kinda lonely!
Isn't that Deadwood Gulch with the go-kart track? I'll find it next weekend and let you know how it goes!
yea alan. you experienced the rocks, and how fun they were. if you would have been on that wet muddy clay crap we rode on out in the badlands, you would have known that i was just being stupid about wanting to ride on those surfaces again.
not bad for a little bit (definately makes one a better rider), but it can get pretty old after awhile.
everything in moderation.
-bret
so are we on for that weekend? what about digs? fish and fry said they may be closed for the season by then.
I'm in! Probably will just camp Friday night if everyone is leaving early Sunday. Not sure where to stay, Fish 'n Fry is gonna be closed? That sucks...
Quote from: loingrader on August 11, 2008, 02:22:59 PM
not bad for a little bit (definately makes one a better rider), but it can get pretty old after awhile.
I think the only thing that I learned was that I hate riding on rock gardens! :o
This is the hill here. It looks a lot steeper in person than it does in this picture.
James is smiling because he didn't wreck his Beemer, either that or that is a look of terror frozen onto his face.
(http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn97/DakotaDSriders/Ryan%20Johnson/DDSrally2008041.jpg)
Posted on ADV
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=372559
nice work jason. so since fish-n-fry may be closed by that weekend, anyone got some suggestions of places to camp? whispering pines? any others?
-bret
The national cemetary exit has a camp group which only costs $6 but the best you metrosexuals can get is a outhouse and a stream.
Whistler / Deadwod gulch isn't even close to rustic, but a kick butt trail leaves right out the back.
I can live with a stream for a couple days ;)
On another 48 that friday/Saturday but would like to ride with you guys on Sunday if you'll still be riding.
i'm planning on riding till 4pm or so on sunday.
any of you black hills locals want to volunteer to nail down the camping location/details?
fish-n-fry is my first choice, but they will not know until later whether they will be open that weekend or not.
after that, all i need is a place to pitch a tent. i can clean my own drinking water, and don't need to shower for a few days.
-bret
The national Cemetary exit has a nice camp ground and it is just off the interstate or I think we could again find a place around deadwood or farther south.
There was that campground we passed just outside of Rochford (i think) that ran along the trail and had a stream running through it.
I think the cemetary exit would be the easiest to find and Sturgis is only a few miles away.
If we're gonna try to stay with the less expensive camping, we're probably best off sticking with this list of BH National Forest Campgrounds:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills/recreation/camping/index.shtml
I'm thinking Boxelder Forks - 2 miles from Nemo (restaurant, store), pretty cool trails all around the Nemo area. More centrally located than Deadwood. Has drinking water, no showers. $15 per night/per site, up to 6 people...soooo (carry the one...), that's about $2.50 a night, per person. No reservations, but I don't think we'll have a problem that time of year. Dalton Lake is kinda cool, has fishing, and not too far from Nemo either.
Here's a big list of privately owned campgrounds in the Black Hills:
http://www.blackhillscampgrounds.com/
I'm not familiar with many (if any) of these. I'm not too familiar with camping around here in general, haven't done much in quite awhile, and back in the day, we only camped at Dalton most of the time...so, my knowledge is very limited. If any of these grab anyone's interest, let me know and I'll call to check 'em out.
I didn't camp at the Fish n Fry, so have no idea how it compares in price/ammenities...you guys that stayed there will have to make that call. But, we don't even know if they'll be open...........edit: just called and they said that Sept 15th is their last day. :(
One question: on the above list, there's a column for "Open in Winter", for Boxelder Forks it has a "P"...I'm assuming that means "Partial"...so, what's partial??
Okay, just checked with Whistler Gulch in Deadwood...$18-$20 per tent, per night. :o You think we can all cram into one really big tent?? ;) They have showers, but no food, just a small convenience store.
What'cha all think?
nice work promo! boxelder forks sounds great to me. remote, cheap, central locale, close to trails.
what more could you want?
-bret
Quote from: loingrader on August 18, 2008, 02:38:50 PM
nice work promo! boxelder forks sounds great to me. remote, cheap, central locale, close to trails.
what more could you want?
-bret
Yeah, and it's close to Nemo Guest Ranch, who has a pretty good little restaurant that's open year round, especially for breakfast. Last time I was there was quite some time ago, but they used to have pancakes as big as your plate! Cheap, too.
Sounds good to me. I know places like Sheridan and Pactola run around 20 a night per site.
Just called NFS and there are only 3 sites open at Box Elder Forks that time of year (most NFS campgrounds close completly the week after Labor Day). Each site can accomodate 8 people. So, let's hope that all 3 sites are open when we get there. ???
if by some strange occurance, we don't have enough room for our tents, i'll volunteer to pitch my tent somewhere fairly close but outside of the box elder campground. this is free and perfectly legal.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills/faq/index.shtml#q5
one month and counting...
-bret
We won't have any problems. The Hills pretty much shuts down after labor day so I doubt we will have any problems and if we do it is easier to ask forgivness than ask permission ;D
Yeah, I don't think anyone is even gonna check on us at all, pretty empty that time of year. I think we could probably use the whole campground without any trouble...
thought i would bring this up, especially for people who are less familiar with the climate in the hills...
it could very easily get down to the 30's overnight. bring a warm sleeping bag or thermal undies, or team up with a sleeping buddy to share that body heat.
i've got dibs on chad, if he'll have me. ;)
-bret
LOL, I have no response. I thought Ryan and his back rubs would get more attention.
John from the Fish N Fry said they wanted to have the well / pipes winterized by Sept 15. Apparently in a previous year they had a freeze hard enough to break pipes by that time, so that means what? Low 20s? I hope it isn't that cold or Chad will have to cuddle with all of us.
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!
yea, i thought ryan would have already been taken, with all his sensual massage skills. thought you were the next best thing fringe.
i was wondering why fish-n-fry was closing middle of september. freezing pipes must mean, yea, 20's are possible. i thought it was cold in june. i'll be bringing my mummy bag and thermal under armor. sorry to get your hopes up chad, but it sounds like frequencydrive may be interested in a sleeping buddy.
pack for some cold nights and chilly mornings guys. no fun if you're not prepared.
-bret
The Hills shut down after labor day so most of those places close and schools starts around the same time out here.
We could have a threesome ;) any guy that rides a barbie bike can crash in my tent any time. Sorry Ryan tents but my tent is not big enough us both.
I'm planning on wearing my mulitt wig for warmth! Hope I can make it! By the way, I don't remember riding over any rock gardens on the DDS rally. Please fill me in. I know Fringfan doesn't remember any. The rocks must get bigger on KTMs. I think that if you KTM boys wouldn't have sold you KLR dream machines you wouldn't have had any vision of big rocks or steep descents, just great fun! You'd have a lot more cash in your pocket as well.
spoken like a true klr diehard. you could also talk about how stylish the klr's are, but since you don't ride a barbie bike, i guess you forget just how beautiful, ugly can be. function AND form. that's a klr.
A little recon of the proposed area:
http://dev.dakotadualsportriders.com/smf/index.php?topic=74.0