ISO: stalwart soul to repeat Imago Invisibiliae on the SR

Fritz Nuffer wrote:

The AZT 750 race allows a 21-mile bike portage through the Grand provided that you disassemble and carry. What I didn’t know is that it’s is a unique local ordinance created just for that race, not applicable anywhere else.

I know. I've raced the AZTR 750.

The AZTR doesn't go through Wilderness - ever wonder why there's Wilderness detours in the bike version of the route? The Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon is not Wilderness, and you're right: the rangers allow portage as long as the bike is on your back and no wheels touch the ground. For now.

The Colorado Trail also has Wilderness detours. I've done that one, too.

I guess I'm having a hard time believing you didn't know the rules and regs. of Wilderness areas. Did you just, ignore them? That kinda shit can fuck with working with land managers on getting legal access to new areas. Like your story will be used as an example of why not to allow bikes in Wilderness legally. Someone's going to be like, "See they'll just leave their shit all over the place"

Think, my man.

Greg Shea wrote:

He disassembled it, he said something about that being legal but I don't know the law on that.

Unfortunately, disassembly of a bike to portage over Wilderness is not a legal loophole. Specifically "possessing" a bike in Wilderness is still not allowed.

Fritz thought that he could portage a bike through  Wilderness, because he did it through the Grand Canyon. Problem was that the trail he was on (Kaibab) is not Wilderness. The area is managed by the NPS, which has their own rules, local to the area. One is to allow bikes to go through, so long as wheels do not touch the ground. It's not a law, it's just how the local area is managed. It can be revoked if abuse happens (which I have no evidence that it is). 

Long Ranger wrote: I know. I've raced the AZTR 750.

The AZTR doesn't go through Wilderness - ever wonder why there's Wilderness detours in the bike version of the route? The Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon is not Wilderness, and you're right: the rangers allow portage as long as the bike is on your bike and no wheels touch the ground.

The Colorado Trail also has Wilderness detours. I've done that one, too.

I guess I'm having a hard time believing you didn't know the rules and regs. of Wilderness areas. Did you just, ignore them? That kinda shit can fuck with working with land managers on getting legal access to new areas. Like your story will be used as an example of why not to allow bikes in Wilderness legally. Someone's going to be like, "See they'll just leave their shit all over the place"

Think, my man.

 I don’t believe that bikes should be ridden wilderness areas, the same as I don’t believe horses should be allowed on downhill mountain bike trails. Unless you portage them. I’m not advocating for wilderness areas to be open to bike access, so your scenario doesn’t bother me.

What does bother me is the repeated assumption on the part of you and many others in this thread that I yard saled my shit all over the place, creating an eyesore and a public nuisance. Read what I posted (twice if necessary, I know the sound quality of this thread sucks ballnuts) and get back to me.
Think, my man.

Long Ranger wrote:

Unfortunately, disassembly of a bike to portage over Wilderness is not a legal loophole. Specifically "possessing" a bike in Wilderness is still not allowed.

Fritz thought that he could portage a bike through  Wilderness, because he did it through the Grand Canyon. Problem was that the trail he was on (Kaibab) is not Wilderness. The area is managed by the NPS, which has their own rules, local to the area. One is to allow bikes to go through, so long as wheels do not touch the ground. It's not a law, it's just how the local area is managed. It can be revoked if abuse happens (which I have no evidence that it is). 

Sorry, I don't do bike packing and such. I was just quoting what Fritz had referenced, thanks for the heads up though, I've been thinking of doing some bike trips.

Long Ranger wrote:

Unfortunately, disassembly of a bike to portage over Wilderness is not a legal loophole. Specifically "possessing" a bike in Wilderness is still not allowed.

Really? Do you have a reference? All I could find was that "use" of motorized or mechanical transport is prohibited.

Wow, a lot of highbrow armchair pontificating over a guy who goes bigly, poorishly plans, gets in over his head, possibly makes some mistakes, then epics with what seems like truly minimal impact to both access and the environment.  Half of the criticism reeks of jealousy IMO - until all the responses, my initial reaction to the OP was “funny story, bike as aid piece lol”.  Dude screwed up, owned it, and plans to clean up the mess.  The only thing that insults my Eagle Scout sensibility is his inability to make fire ;).

This Christmas, #istandwithfritz.  Because goatz.

Hamish Malin wrote:.  The only thing that insults my Eagle Scout sensibility is his inability to make fire ;).

100% agreed, and I paid for that one with a couple hours of shivering while my lighters were drying out. I’ve since acquired waterproof matches and flint and steel to add to my kits (I used the latter on my CT thru-hike in 2011 to light my alcohol stove but subsequently  forgot about that for some reason).
03:30 on XPmas Eve, Headed to the south rim now with the blessing of the rangers and 1000 feet of rope to rescue Ophelia. Wish me luck! Or wish me dead. I found this outside Cleaveland Mountaineering World HQ last night while recording SGP 8: “Aid Climbing is Aid” and took it as an auspicious omen ....

I hope everyone bitches likes this about fixed lines, All the left over shit on Mountain routes and big walls. Or what about all those bodies not following LNT ethics on Everest...

Remember that time Tommy Caldwell, Beth Roddeb and others left all their shit on a wall after being shot at and held hostage?What poor planning on their part... Give the guy a break.

P.S. go pick up your crap when it is feasible.

Good luck Fritz!

PosiDave wrote: I hope everyone bitches likes this about fixed lines, All the left over shit on Mountain routes and big walls. Or what about all those bodies not following LNT ethics on Everest...

Remember that time Tommy Caldwell, Beth Roddeb and others left all their shit on a wall after being shot at and held hostage?What poor planning on their part... Give the guy a break.

P.S. go pick up your crap when it is feasible.

I thought we already did a good job at bitching about that stuff. 

And if a bunch of Islamist extremists caused Fritz’s misadventure I’m sure the sentiment on the thread would be different. 

Hey Fritz, I respect that you don't think bikes should be legal in Wilderness. Except that you must believe on some level that a one-size-fits-all rule doesn't work. Otherwise, why did you bring a bike into a Wilderness? Respectfully, you haven't visited all the 750+ Wilderness areas, nor has ANYONE trekked across all 110 MILLION acres of Wilderness in the US. There are many places that supported mountain bike use quite sustainably prior to their designation as Wilderness. I agree that there are many Wilderness areas in which mountain bikes shouldn't be allowed. But human powered adventures I think are a big part of what Wilderness areas embody. And arbitrary exclusion of any activity, like biking, paddling, climbing, paragliding, etc in a one-size-fits-all manner, in my opinion just sucks. 

Carolina wrote: Good luck Fritz!

Me too! Look forward to part two, eh?

Best, Helen

mediocre wrote:

I thought we already did a good job at bitching about that stuff. 

And if a bunch of Islamist extremists caused Fritz’s misadventure I’m sure the sentiment on the thread would be different. 

I mean when hazards are known and you ignore them, is it really different than ignoring weather?

Put me on team Fritz. It was an audacious plan and it didn’t quite work out, as he acknowledges. But he seems to know how to stay alive and he didn’t leave behind anything that he can’t clean up, so I think most of the carping in this thread is silly. 

Thanks to those who PM’d me with solidarity, incredulity or just gratitude for the sick and twisted entertainment. On behalf of Ophelia and the crew here at Sender’s Game Podcast, we wish you the best of holidays. This video is for you.

https://sendersgamepodcast.com/2018/12/26/professional-hikeabiker-closed-course-do-not-attempt/

 

s.price wrote: You have to admit Fritz when you tossed the bike and it slid back down the hill was pretty funny :)

Happy Holidays bro

None of that was staged. It took five minutes to gain thirty vertical feet. Suffering notwithstanding, I had a great day. Super sore from jugging a thousand feet though. Those muscles don’t get used much 

Celebrating XPmas Eve by singing Latin plainsong carols as the full moon lit up Painted Wall was one of my all-time favorite aesthetic experiences. 
Gote tired. I left the house at 0330 and got back to the Visitor Center at 2300. Hit Montrose and ate like a thru hiker, went to bed at 0200 then got up to teach an anchor building class in Unaweep at 0730. Life is good. Bleat.

Marc801 C wrote: 
Really? Do you have a reference? All I could find was that "use" of motorized or mechanical transport is prohibited.

Well:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=0035ffffd6287a3a2120bd5f2db5fc3d&mc=true&node=se36.2.261_118&rgn=div8

§261.18   National Forest Wilderness.
The following are prohibited in a National Forest Wilderness:
(a) Possessing or using a motor vehicle, motorboat or motorized equipment except as authorized by Federal Law or regulation.
(b) Possessing or using a hang glider or bicycle.

Emphasis: mine.

And:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=0035ffffd6287a3a2120bd5f2db5fc3d&mc=true&node=se36.1.4_130&rgn=div8

§4.30   Bicycles.
(a) Park roads. The use of a bicycle is permitted on park roads and in parking areas that are otherwise open for motor vehicle use by the general public.

(h) Prohibited acts. The following are prohibited: (1) Bicycle riding off of park roads and parking areas, except on administrative roads and trails that have been authorized for bicycle use.
(2) Possessing a bicycle in a wilderness area established by Federal statute.

Emphasis: mine.

The route taken was both Wilderness and within a National Park. Even if the Park's administration wanted to allow bicycles... somehow even in an off-trail area, they couldn't locally allow it, as it is Wilderness. There's not many places where off-pavement bicycle travel is allowed by bicycles in the lower 48.

Doing shit like Fritz is doing, then documenting, then promoting the story isn't helping gain access for MTBers to Wilderness areas in the future. It's like climbing on private property, or putting in bolts on a route where the land managers tell you to please don't without going through proper channels - it can put future access in jeopardy. It also kinda pisses me off.

I'd really love it, Fritz, if you just took down the story completely. It's embarasing to you, and it embarrasses other bikepackers in CO. It illustrates a bad example of backcountry ethics. I have enough of an uphill battle trying to do what I love without being shown examples of how MTBers can't be given the privilege of roaming Wilderness Areas. It's your opinion portaging a bike through Wilderness is an OK thing to do, but unfortunately, it's not allowed. Wish it was myself, but wishing doesn't get anyone off the hook.

Think about it, and thanks.

The larger concern this thread has brought to light is that an astounding number of people support what Fritz did. If so many people believe this behavior to be ok and then go out in the wilderness and on public lands acting like that, teaching others along the way that is ok to do the same, it won't be long before those lands are permanently closed or destroyed. The number of users is approaching critical mass and we're facing a breaking point with protection of public lands and our rights to recreate on them. All recreation and all users are under a microscope by people who don't care about climbing legacy, physical accomplishments, access fund donations, or how nice of a person you are; they only see the worst of it and will use it against us when arguing for closures.

So let's not show them anything but our very best. Make mistakes, but have the dignity and respect for what we're fighting for to not spray about it. This is going to take the whole tribe to be on board or it will be a lost cause and we will all loose in the end. This is the reality of current affairs and we must play ball if we want to stay in the game.

Fritz! Did you get EVERYTHING out of the canyon??

Retrieval TR pending. Until  then, here’s footage of the eyesore everyone was complaining about. Anyone who skiied four miles in, downclimbed 200 feet of snow covered class 3, built a trad anchor and rapped 700 feet, then 3rd-classed 180 degrees around a tower and then rapped another 300 feet could see it plain as day.

https://youtu.be/dlaIYUGOJkA

Actually, in all earnestness I think I dropped my nut tool when I was dragging Ophelia up that gully in the first video. Metolius Feather with green fingernail polish and slightly bent from placing it as a knifeblade. I’ll pay shipping and PBRs to whoever retrieves it. I’m going to be in EPC for a couple weeks so won’t have time to head back.