Training Log Archive: Pavementsucks

Biked the Maah Daah Hey trail in Medora ND. Had a terrible time because I missed a turn and went into an area where bikes are not allowed and the trail was TERRIBLE. So overgrown the brush just tore my shins and ankles raw. But that was my mistake. The Maah Daah Hey where bikes are allowed was in good shape and had been maintained. Typical Badlands riding, rolling hills in a desert landscape. Saw 2 rattlesnakes, had to fiord the Little Missouri river twice.

Spent the day hiking the Black Hills. In the morning I hiked the Badland Ridge trail in Wind Cave Nat Park. I lost the trail after about 1/2 mile and just bushwacked it up to the ridge and back. Didn't see any wildlife but must have really upset a coyote who barked at me for 15 minutes. In the afternoon hiked the trails up and back to Harney Peak. The tallest peak east of the rockies. About 7200 Feet.

Day 4 of the Black Hills Tour. Start at the north end of the Michaelson trail in Deadwood and headed south. The first 13 miles I had done before at the Deadwood half marathon so it was a little fimialar. The first 10 miles are up hill and the next 18 miles are down hill. It was quite a blast. 4 tunnels to go thru! After about Hill City it gets a little boring (It is an old RR grade). I continued south to Pringle which was about 12 miles from my truck at the starting point. At this time it was raining lightly so I decided to make a run for the truck and finish up. About 30 minutes down the road it cleared up and was a beautiful evening. Ran into a herd of buffalo about 5 miles from the end and sat and watched them for awhile. Boy do they stink when you are down wind from them. Than when I got to within a 1/2 mile of the truck another herd of buffalo was blocking the road. I tried for 1/2 an hour to get them to move by yelling at them but eventually had to detour thru the field around them. Loaded up the bike and washed up in the creek and drove down the wildlife viewing road I was on till I found a nice camp site for the night.

Day 3 of the Black Hills Tour. Started at Camp 2 at Pilot Knob TH. Pilot Knob TH and north to Dalton TH ATV's are allowed on the trail so the trail wasn't to difficult and it was very easy to follow. A couple of sections of HAB. I got to Dalton TH about noon and tried for 2 hours to find the Centennial trail out of there but never found the trail. Went up and down the hill to the trail head 3 times and couldn't find the trail leading north out of Dalton. So I decided to call it quits for the Centennial trail (I had 102 miles on my odometer at this time) and head over to Deadwood and the start of the Michaelson trail. Followed some very nice dirt roads on the way over the Deadwood. Got a room in Deadwood. Bike week is next week so there were tons of motorcycles there already.

Day 2 of the Black Hills Tour. Started from camp 1 just north of the Black Elk Wilderness and went to Pilot Knob TH. All single track all day. A little rain in the afternoon. Camped at the edge of a clearing near the TH. Washed up in a stream next to the tent at the end of the day.