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Well, well...Finally, at age 57, the time is nearly here to start this adventure. I have been half-heartedly planning the 110 mile ride across the western frontier of the North Dakota Badlands for nearly three years. My job as an emergency planner with the N.D. Department of Emergency Services and the past three consecutive years of flooding have delayed putting the plan into motion, but now is the time.
North Dakota was virtually devoid of winter weather this year and both the 2011 Fall season and 2012 Spring have had temperatures above normal, and it has been relatively dry until this past week. I am aware of people that ride this trail every year and, although I thrived on marathon-type undertakings in my younger years, now this has turned into a Bucket-List type of endeavor for me. It will either be physically taxing in every way, or there is a chance I am overblowing the feat and may have no trouble what-so-ever riding the trail. After all, my riding partner and I are breaking it up into three days of riding. That said, there is a reason they call it "The Badlands", and many younger folks who thought they were in great shape and ready to tackle the trail have been defeated by it for a multitude of reasons including injury, dehydration, mechanical breakdown etc.
The Maah-Daah-Hey trail traverses an area of highly dissected badlands surrounded by vast expanses of gently rolling prairie, providing prime habitat for Mule deer, coyotes, golden eagles, Bighorn sheep, elk, buffalo and mountain lion, not to mention thousands of prairie dogs...yikes...and venomous snakes. We will be starting at the US Forest Service CCC campground in the north unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, approximately 20 miles south of Watford City, off of U.S. Highway 85...the starting point for the 110 mile ride south to the terminus south of Medora near Sulley Creek State Park.
As mountain bikes are not allowed to ride on trails running through the south unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, we will be required to take the Buffalo Gap Trail detour to arrive at our south destination, adding a few miles to the trails claimed 97 mile length. The trail markers are identified by a turtle icon, selected because of the turtle's firm determination, steadfastness, patience, long life, and fortitude...qualities that will be tested in both of us as we cross the frontier on our bikes. We leave Bismarck on Thursday, May 17 to establish our camp at the first site, spending the night there and traveling the last 35 miles north to the CCC camp to start our mountain bike trek on Friday, May 18. Hopefully the weather forecast will be as pleasant as the forecast for this coming weekend. 10 more days of planning and preparation left.
My bike is not a high-end mountain bike, but then, we don't plan on doing any competitive, extreme or technical riding, jumps or manuvers. It just has to be dependable. She is an off-brand...Windsor Ghost 6500...and has been working perfectly over the past two years. She's tuned and ready, equipped with three water bottle cages, in addition to my camel-back, and I changed out the bouncy stock rear spring shock with an oil dampened shock, which really improved the ride and my pedaling performance. My list of food and equipment is about complete.
Food, so far, includes: Protein Bars, Steaks, Salt, Bread, Cheese Sticks, Ensure, Orange Juice, Breakfast Pizza (my special recipe), and Apples. Most of this will be packed in a cooler and left in my truck at the camp site. We will take my partners truck, loaded with our bikes, to the starting point, then leap-frog each morning to get a vehicle moved and campsite established at the next stop (we couldn't find anyone willing to be our ground crew).
Equipment so far, includes: Tools, Tent, Sleeping bag, pillow, blanket, a change of clothing and jacket, Portable Grill and LP gas cartridge plus lighter, Frying Pan, Plates-forks-knives, the all important toilet paper and small shovel, Sun Screen, bug repellent, First Aid kit, pepper spray, heat packs, aspirin and meds, air mattress and pump, headlamp, folding knife, bacalava cap, baby-wipes and trashbags, compass, cell phone (although I understand there is limited cell service along the route), notebook and pen and maybe an electronic notebook if I can afford it, and digital camera.
Stay tuned for updates and pictures....Rick
P.S. Some members of our families think we are nuts to do this...adventure runs cold in their veins...that said, my loving wife is in full support and wishes she could make the trip.
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Mary
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25 years of adventure!! Can't wait to hear all about it!