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Back In The Saddle - Boise Basin
This ride was 155 mile (my odometer showed 160.6) round trip from Boise, total time for the trip was 9:07 hours. This day trip would take us from the Boise Valley through the ‘Boise Basin” and Back.
The Boise Basin is just over the ridge and consists of the Gold Rush mining communities making up Boise County. The elevation ranges from 2750 feet in Boise to a high of 6050 feet at mile 44. You can see from the vertical profile in the chart below that the day consisted of a medley of valleys, basins and ridges.
Vertical Profile
The weather was excellent and a few extra layers of clothing were needed in the morning. The Kawasaki KLX 250 was equipped with Happy Trails Imnaha Pannier Kit for caring my needed items and were excellent for storing the extra layers of clothing.
Four bikes were on the ride; 08 KLR650, DRZ 400 and 2 KLX250's . Fuel was not needed for the ride but we topped off our bikes in Garden Valley at the Chevron, mileage was about 95 miles at that point.
The map below shows the route that we took. From Boise you will want to get to Highway 21 and follow 21 to Grimes Creek. At Grimes you take an immediate right onto Wildcat Gulch NF311. The first part of Wildcat parallels 21 and you can look down on the highway. Wildcat will give you some great vistas of the back side of Bogus Basin.
The shot below is overlooking Grimes Creek, Bogus Basin Ski area is in the distance. The burn area we were in at this point is a recent one. Wildcat comes out on the Idaho City Centerville Road and we took a left on this road. This is a major thoroughfare to residents of the Boise Basin and their pace is rather brisk!
Jack aka “Uno” is enjoying the day. The nickname Uno comes from only needing one wheel on the ground the majority of the time.
Just after the intersection of the Grimes Creek Road from the left you take a right on the Grimes Pass Road. When I pulled up a couple were in a new Razor and were asking asking directions. They looked well equipped and had some safety equipment; shovel, axe, etc but it is too bad that they could not afford a GPS or a map. I checked my GPS and gave them directions. At the summit of Grimes Pass we took a left on the ridge road. There is a sign that gives mileage to Alder Creek.
In the picture below, Garden Valley area is center left in the picture.
Just after this break in the picture above (Casey and Uno) we hit a snowdrift that turned us around, This is the second time this has happened to me on this road. Mike had gotten there ahead of us and attempted to make it through but was not successful by himself. When I came to the drift everyone was sitting on their bikes and I thought they were waiting on me. Little did I know the decision had already been made to turn back. I got in about 50 feet before stalling out! Nothing like being committed. Casey came out and gave me a hand and I made it through. I just pinned the throttle in 2nd and little did I know that I turned Casey into the abominable snowman. When I was through the snow drift some UTV’s came up and informed us it only got worse. ##$$@@. Well Casey was a good sport and played snowman again. Jack was kind enough to carry my jacket and gloves. For some reason I did not need them in the snow. That sounds odd but it is the truth.
In the picture below Mike is getting ready to head back. When I made it back through I took a little breather, just to put my coat back on, and I was very happy with myself for pushing myself everyday that I am in physical therapy!
We backtracked to Grimes Summit and dropped down on the Payette River headed to Garden Valley for lunch. We had a late lunch at the Warm Springs Golf Course in Garden Valley and headed back toward Grimes Creek.
We gassed up at the Chevron and went across the Alder Creek Bridge and headed to Placerville. We took a left after Placerville on the Centerville Road and followed Granite Creek down to the Grimes Creek Road and continued down Grimes creek to where Casey was camped. This section of road is extremely busy with young and inexperienced riders in and on every vehicle imaginable.
After a water break it was back on the bikes and over Clear Creek to Robie and over Rock Canyon and the City of Boise.
Any day on the trail is a good day! The picture above was taken earlier in the day of me by Uno. A year ago at this time I was not even able to do yard work and riding a motorcycle again was questionable. My riding buddies came to my house last year and did the spring cleanup for me! That was a humbling day for me. Four surgeries later I am back in the saddle again. I thank God daily for the healing that took place and I am thankful that I can enjoy God’s Creation.
Download GPX File Here
The weather was excellent and a few extra layers of clothing were needed in the morning. The Kawasaki KLX 250 was equipped with Happy Trails Imnaha Pannier Kit for caring my needed items and were excellent for storing the extra layers of clothing.
Four bikes were on the ride; 08 KLR650, DRZ 400 and 2 KLX250's . Fuel was not needed for the ride but we topped off our bikes in Garden Valley at the Chevron, mileage was about 95 miles at that point.
The map below shows the route that we took. From Boise you will want to get to Highway 21 and follow 21 to Grimes Creek. At Grimes you take an immediate right onto Wildcat Gulch NF311. The first part of Wildcat parallels 21 and you can look down on the highway. Wildcat will give you some great vistas of the back side of Bogus Basin.
The shot below is overlooking Grimes Creek, Bogus Basin Ski area is in the distance. The burn area we were in at this point is a recent one. Wildcat comes out on the Idaho City Centerville Road and we took a left on this road. This is a major thoroughfare to residents of the Boise Basin and their pace is rather brisk!
Jack aka “Uno” is enjoying the day. The nickname Uno comes from only needing one wheel on the ground the majority of the time.
Just after the intersection of the Grimes Creek Road from the left you take a right on the Grimes Pass Road. When I pulled up a couple were in a new Razor and were asking asking directions. They looked well equipped and had some safety equipment; shovel, axe, etc but it is too bad that they could not afford a GPS or a map. I checked my GPS and gave them directions. At the summit of Grimes Pass we took a left on the ridge road. There is a sign that gives mileage to Alder Creek.
In the picture below, Garden Valley area is center left in the picture.
Just after this break in the picture above (Casey and Uno) we hit a snowdrift that turned us around, This is the second time this has happened to me on this road. Mike had gotten there ahead of us and attempted to make it through but was not successful by himself. When I came to the drift everyone was sitting on their bikes and I thought they were waiting on me. Little did I know the decision had already been made to turn back. I got in about 50 feet before stalling out! Nothing like being committed. Casey came out and gave me a hand and I made it through. I just pinned the throttle in 2nd and little did I know that I turned Casey into the abominable snowman. When I was through the snow drift some UTV’s came up and informed us it only got worse. ##$$@@. Well Casey was a good sport and played snowman again. Jack was kind enough to carry my jacket and gloves. For some reason I did not need them in the snow. That sounds odd but it is the truth.
In the picture below Mike is getting ready to head back. When I made it back through I took a little breather, just to put my coat back on, and I was very happy with myself for pushing myself everyday that I am in physical therapy!
We backtracked to Grimes Summit and dropped down on the Payette River headed to Garden Valley for lunch. We had a late lunch at the Warm Springs Golf Course in Garden Valley and headed back toward Grimes Creek.
We gassed up at the Chevron and went across the Alder Creek Bridge and headed to Placerville. We took a left after Placerville on the Centerville Road and followed Granite Creek down to the Grimes Creek Road and continued down Grimes creek to where Casey was camped. This section of road is extremely busy with young and inexperienced riders in and on every vehicle imaginable.
After a water break it was back on the bikes and over Clear Creek to Robie and over Rock Canyon and the City of Boise.
Any day on the trail is a good day! The picture above was taken earlier in the day of me by Uno. A year ago at this time I was not even able to do yard work and riding a motorcycle again was questionable. My riding buddies came to my house last year and did the spring cleanup for me! That was a humbling day for me. Four surgeries later I am back in the saddle again. I thank God daily for the healing that took place and I am thankful that I can enjoy God’s Creation.
Download GPX File Here