...Northwoods fatbike loop

THE ROUTE:  Bishop Creek parking area>Kenai Spur Hwy>Jeep Trail>pipeline>Northwoods St>Kenai Spur Hwy back to parking area.
TERRAIN:  Pavement, four-wheeler trail, grass, mud, hard pack.
DISTANCE:  4.1 miles

A muddy four-wheeler path.

Fatbike and pipeline sign.

The fatbike rolls up to the edge of Bishop Creek.  There is a pipeline marker on the other side of the creek.

Looking back down the pipeline toward Bishop Creek.

Trying not to look suspicious.

The fatbike at the intersection of Northwoods Street and the Kenai Spur Hwy.

I thought this would be an easy loop ride on an early Saturday morning.  Out, around, and back.  No muss.  No fuss.  And, it was.  Until I got to Bishop Creek.

As I rode up to the edge of the creek I was thinking I would have to abandon any thoughts of making this ride a loop.  I thought I would have to turn around and backtrack my route back to the truck. I thought the creek was simply too wide and deep with a soft, muddy bottom that I would sink into if I tried to cross. 

So I stood at the edge of the water for awhile and looked things over.  Just taking it all in before I went back.  Then I walked downstream a ways and that's when I saw what appeared a mound of gravel in the middle of the creek.  Perfect!  The water seemed shallow enough and the gravel would make the bottom firm enough that I could cross the creek.

I went and got the fatbike, put it on my shoulder and waded into the current--which turned out to be forceful.  But I was committed to the crossing so I regained my balance and went farther into the stream which was getting deeper and deeper.  Soon it was above my knees and that's when I remembered my cell phone was in my pocket which the water line was closing in on. My hands were full with the bike so I couldn't do anything but lift my shoulders hoping that would in turn elevate the waist of my pants enough to keep my phone from getting soaked.  I also stood on my tip-toes.  So there I was in middle of Bishop Creek stretched out as much as I could be stretched out, walking on my toes with a fatbike on my shoulder in a current that would send me downstream if I made one mis-step.

And, I have to admit, it was fun.

When I got close to the bank on the other side I tossed the bike ashore and waded out of the water.  I immediately pulled my cell phone out and was relieved to find it totally dry.  All good.  I hopped on the bike and pedalled the remainder of the pipeline to Northwoods Street and back to the truck.  Before I knew it, I was happily back home telling Mr. Huffy about my stream crossing adventure on the...Northwoods fatbike loop.

...Bishop Creek fatbike loop

THE ROUTE:  Bishop Creek Picnic Area>Bishop Creek beach>cross Bishop Creek>ride beach to Nikishka Beach Road>Kenai Spur Hwy>back to Bishop Creek Picnic Area.
TERRAIN:  hard pack trail, beach sand/gravel/rocks, bike trail, pavement.
DISTANCE:  19.6 miles

Carrying the fatbike across Bishop Creek at 5:30 AM.

The view from the handlebars looking south after crossing Bishop Creek.  Away we go!

Rock gardens=difficult fatbiking.

Narrow passage.

The boulder at Boulder Point.

For some unknown reason this beaver was in Cook Inlet.

The fatbike in front of Nikishka Bay.

I was so happy to see this sign.  The truck is not far away.

Self-portrait at the end of the ride.

At 5:30 AM, I was crossing Bishop Creek with the fatbike on my shoulder.  I had been anticipating this ride all week and was anxious to cross the stream and start pedaling.  The tide was just beginning to recede as I got on the bike and looked south.  It would be 9.87 miles of riding on beach sand/gravel/rocks before I reached the exit road near Arness Dock.  And, it turned out to be a beautiful beach ride indeed.  Of course, it would be followed with ~10 miles of pavement which I was looking forward to with much less eagerness, but I really wanted to complete this loop.  So, away I went.

This part of the beach gets very little use and is really in pristine condition.  There are a couple of houses along the way, but I only saw one set of four-wheeler tracks and a couple sets of footprints which didn't go far.  I enjoyed pedaling through rock gardens and on hard packed sand, and some loose gravel.  As I rounded Boulder Point I couldn't believe that I was almost done with the beach and in reality I wasn't.  It was much farther than it looked and took a good 45 minutes to get from the point to the exit road near Arness Dock.  After that the pedaling was easy on pavement all the way back to Bishop Creek Picnic Area.  The traffic was light and I recognized several people as they passed me on the highway.

By the time I got back to the truck my legs were shot and my seat was...well...very sore.  Still, I was elated that I had made the trip and began dreaming up several other fatbike loops for future rides.  Given the condition of my muscles I don't think there will be one tomorrow.  I'm not as young as I used to be.  But, it is nice to have ridden far enough to feel the effects of the...Bishop Creek fatbike loop.

...wolf near Kelly Lake

A rare sighting of a wolf along the Sterling Hwy near Kelly Lake.

 

Blending in.

We were out for our annual Mother's Day hike.  But, it was raining at the Russian River Trailhead parking area so we had to come up with an alternate plan.  We decided the Seven Lakes Trail would be a good option.  We turned around and started driving down the Sterling Hwy.  Just as we were nearing the turn-off to Kelly Lake, Liz said: "A caribou or something just crossed the road...no...wait...it's a wolf!"  As we got closer it the wolf edged off the road taking its sweet time to sniff the bushes along the way. 

We stopped the truck, quickly found a camera and I started clicking the shutter as fast as I could.  The wolf didn't seem startled by our vehicle or any of the others the passed by on the highway.  It was taking care of wolf business.  We were able to watch it for 4-5 minutes before it sauntered off over a small hill, and just like that it was gone.

Liz and I looked at each other in disbelief.  It was a rare sighting indeed. 

We pulled back onto the highway and continued driving toward the trailhead at Kelly Lake where we went on a great little walk to Hiker's Lake (about 4 miles RT).  We passed the cabin we stayed in last fall and a group of hikers which were heavily armed along the way.  The weather changed from sun to clouds, to rain, to hail, all in the span of our hike.  It was definitely a Mother's Day to remember and we were particularly happy we saw a...wolf near Kelly Lake.

...Forelands fatbike loop

THE ROUTE: start at the Nikiski Mall parking lot>Nikshka Beach Road>beach access at Arness Dock>beach riding to exit road>bike path back to Nikiski Mall.
TERRAIN: pavement, beach sand/gravel/rocks, dirt road, bike path.
DISTANCE: 10.7 miles

Go left or go right.  Just don't go straight.  You'll end up in the inlet if you do.  That's Arness dock in the background.

The view from the handlebars looking down Cook Inlet to the south.

Self-portrait at low tide, 6:00 AM.

Fatbike track in the sand.

Oil platform in Cook Inlet.

Rockin' it on the beach near the Forelands.

A set netters bungalow with a fatbike posing in the gravel in front of it.

Ha!  Fatbikes can go here, too.

Following the Nikiski Bike Path back to the truck which was parked at the Nikiski Mall.

Low tide was at exactly 6:00 AM.  That would be a good time to be on the beach for approximately 5.5 miles of fatbiking.  So, I was out of the house early and unloading my bike at the Nikiski Mall parking lot by 5:30 AM.  I rode down to Arness dock where I talked with the security guard at the dock gate for a few minutes.  He said he had never seen a cyclist ride down the beach before and wished me luck as I pedaled toward the south.

The going was easy and I enjoyed looking at the set netters fishing bungalows as I passed them by.  There was also lots of pipe and related metal pieces strewn around, most of it filled with sand and rocks.  I kept hoping for a glimpse of belugas or a seal, but didn't have any luck.

Before long I saw the exit road and I hiked-a-bike up a steep incline to a parking area where I took a photo with some signs.  Then it was time to cruise back to the truck along the Nikiski Bike Path.  I was home by 8:10 AM, happy with thoughts of the...Forelands fatbike loop.

...Jeep Trail fatbike loop



THE ROUTE:  Start at parking area at end of pavement on Halbouty Road>follow pipeline to small bridge, hang a left>pipeline to left on Jeep Trail>Kenai Spur Hwy>Halbouty Road back to parking area.
TERRAIN:  dirt, mud, hills, hard pack, sand, pavement.
DISTANCE:  12.1 miles

Small bridge over the stream that drains Daniels Lake.  Hang a left just after the bridge.  Halbouty Hill is straight ahead in the photo.

Observation platform at the top of a hill.

Early morning self-portrait at a lake without a name.

Logs were used to stabilize the wet muddy areas of the trail so four-wheelers could get past.

Stream crossing.

Almost back to the truck.

One shoe got very muddy.



It was another early Saturday morning...4:00 AM early.  I threw everything in a backpack and loaded the fatbike in the back of the truck and drove to the end of the pavement at Halbouty.  I readied the GPS and tucked everything away before pedaling toward the small bridge that crosses the stream that drains Daniels Lake.  I took a photo and crossed the bridge where I took a left and started the first of many hike-a-bikes of the morning up a long steep hill.  Once at the top there was a tremendous view and someone has built an observation platform in  some trees to take it all in.  You can see for miles in all directions. 

I hopped back on the bike an squeezed the brakes for a downhill trip toward some major mud pits.  I would find out there were many of them.  I cruised past a couple lakes and rode over some rolling hills for about 4.5 miles before I turned off the pipeline onto what many area maps label the 'Jeep Trail.'  It was short but filled with lots of mud  and brush.  Before I knew it I was on the pavement of the Kenai Spur Hwy making my way back to Halbouty.  It took about 50 minutes to cover this segment of the trip which included stops for pictures.

I was back home by 8:30 AM, just in time to go to the North Peninsula Recreation Center and register for the Nikiski Community Clean-Up.  So, as we picked up the remnants of winter I told the Hufford girls about my adventure on the...Jeep Trail fatbike loop.

...Halbouty fatbike loop

THE ROUTE:  Parking area at the end of the pavement on Halbouty Road>Pipeline>Holt-Lamplight Road>Kenai Spur Hwy>Halbouty Road>parking area.
TERRAIN:  Dirt, gravel, mud, pavement.
DISTANCE:  8.0 miles

The fatbike and the tilted basketball hoop at the end of the pavement on Halbouty.

The public access sign at Barbara Lake.

Fatbike nirvana.

Self-portrait on the Pipeline.

I told myself: "Just stand up.  Everything will be all right."  Then I told myself the same thing again.  And again.  After several minutes I pushed back the covers, planted my feet on the floor and pushed myself into the early morning light.  I stumbled downstairs to the fridge where I grabbed a bottle of orange juice and poured some of it into a glass.  I took a couple of drinks and talked with Gabby for a few minutes.  She opened her eyes and looked at me but didn't even lift her head.  Too early for a Labrador retriever.

The wind was blowing which I thought of using as an excuse for going back to bed.  But, when I opened the door it didn't seem that cold.  No excuse after all.  So I loaded the fatbike into the back of the truck and drove to the end of the pavement on Halbouty Road.  I unloaded everything, set the GPS to zero and started pedalling down the pipeline where I immediately rolled up to some mud pits.  Four-wheelers had been going though them so they were rutted and uneven.  I bounced and dropped as best I could hanging on to the grips tightly and pedalling wildly to maintain inertia.

Everything was all right.

I splashed through several more skidding and sliding the whole way not wanting to slow down lest I would have to put my shoes in the muck.  I pedalled and twisted the handlebars eventually making my way to the pavement of Holt-Lamplight Road.  From there it was a pedal on pavement all the way back to the truck.  Easy cheesy.

The fatbike went back into the truck with wet mud clinging to it and I put the rest of the gear in the backseat.  I would be at home in minutes and it would be time to let Gabby out and tell the Hufford girls about my ride on the...Halbouty fatbike loop.