What's Fred Up To Now?: Mickelson Trail Bicycle Ride

I was up early again and ate a quick continental breakfast at the motel before driving a few blocks to the Burlington Northern Hill City Trailhead (TH#8, MP-60.1). I had skipped the 10.5 mile section between Hill City Trailhead south to The Mountain Trailhead thinking that I would return if time allowed later in the week. I paid the $3 daily trail fee and headed north towards the Mystic Trailhead (TH#7, MP-74.7) then on Rochford Trailhead (TH#6, MP-82.6). The first 9 miles of the ride were a gently uphill followed by a 5 mile white-knuckle downhill to the Mystic Trailhead. I knew from the downhill speed that this would be a grind going back up on the return trip. There were two tunnels on this section - very cool! From the Mystic Trailhead the trail was relatively flat for a mile or so then uphill along a creek to the Rochford Trailhead. I met a young couple on loaded touring bikes stopped at the one tunnel on this section. They had started in San Francisco and pedaled north along the California and Oregon coasts then inland across Oregon, Idaho the down through Yellowstone NP and across Wyoming to Deadwood where they got on the Mickelson Trail. Their ultimate destination is somewhere on the east coast. Nice couple to talk to. I continued on up to the Rochford Trailhead and ate a breakfast bar and drank some Gatorade at the trailside shelter. It was getting pretty warm by then. I headed back down toward the Mystic Trailhead then up the steep section that had been so much fun going down earlier. It was a bit of a grind but I eventually reached the top followed by a fast downhill 8 miles back to Hill City. It was after 2:00 PM by the time I arrived at the van. I loaded the bike and headed for Deadwood to ride the northern two sections before calling it a day. The first thing I did in Deadwood was get a camping spot at an RV park that had showers. It was in the upper 90's in Deadwood and close to 4:00 PM by the time I made my camping arrangements and I headed for the Deadwood Trailhead (TH#1, MP-108.8). Due to road construction, I parked nearly a mile uphill from the start then cycled down to find the actual trailhead. I headed up to the Kirk Trailhead (TH#2, MP-105.3) then on to the Lead Trailhead (TH#2A, MP-103.7) before turning around to return to the van. I stopped at a Taco John's for dinner on the way back to the RV park. The sun was setting as I arrived at the RV park and it was nearly dark by the time I got cleaned up. Great day of cycling! Total bike miles for the day was 58.5. I also skipped the 10 mile section between the Rochford and Dumont trailheads - just ran out of time for the day. Tomorrow I'm going to cycle at least from the Sugarloaf Traihead (TH#3, MP-103.3) to the Englewood Trailhead (TH#4, MP-98.5) then on to the Dumont Trailhead (TH#5, MP-92.6). Depending on time, temperature, how I feel, I may also complete the 10 mile section between Dumont and Rochford that I skipped today. It is nearly all up hill to Dumont and will take me over the high point of the entire trail just north of the Dumont Trailhead - 6,200'. Dumont to Rochford is all downhill but then I'll have to ride back up so I''m a little doubtful that I'll actually do it.

Some photos from the day.