Is Thompson Mtn Accessible? - May 27th 2026

 New summer and a trip up to Griffith was in order. And after looking at the map had a potential idea in mind which at least would be exploring an area new to me. Well by bike that is. Had done hike 5 years ago in the nature reserve there. However this time would be a wee bit different.

  Rose Hill Nature Reserve 2021

 

 This time was starting roughly from the same spot parked back in 2021 however this time would be following the FSR in to a remote area to attempt to bag the peak of Thompson Mtn. There is alot of unknowns as when you only have a paper map and a rough idea of the ground from the Peak Bagger app. Well this could end up a no park bagged.

  Is Thompson Mtn Accessible or Not- Sadly No

 

 While one can figure out the route via the GPS track I made by the ride and a good backcountry map. It is one of those things where one has to be prepared to do a little figuring out for themselves.And with varying levels of available cell signal map checking to make sure heading in the correct direction.

 

 Will let the YouTube video tell the rest about the ride as there is stuff I won't have remembered. However despite best efforts Thompsons Mtn wasn't accessible. To actually get in to start the climb would have required bush bashing through who knows what. And as have said before at a certain point one has to decide if the effort is actually worth the suffering at that level. And save the energy and effort for another high point. 

 

 Without any success headed retracing the route took to get there. While I didn't get to get the summit it was still an adventure. Which as said before is what matters as doing a ride in these remote tracks does take a bit of courage to do as well as knowledge of what to do. Though knowledge of what to do can only get one so far with out being brave enough to attempt even though one might be fearful and have doubts.

 

 For the effort still went by the Griffith General Store to pick up some Iced Tea to drink back at camp. Because it was still worth the effort to have attempted and still had an adventure.

 

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Little Blue Mtn May 18th 2026 High Point #115

 After doing Gan Perimeter Loop headed to do a quick up to Little Blue Mtn to bag peak or high point # 115. This would be my 5th time up it.

 

Little Blue Mtn Bagged- High Point 115 

 After the usual bit of grunt work to get to the high point I discovered that my ADHD brain had forgotten to charge the GoPro battery. So there would be no descent video off the top. However with the cell phone would be able to do a wee bit at the top.

 

With it being sunny and warmer it was a good chance to chill at the top for a wee bit. And I cam prepared with a bevvy and something to eat. Because better to pause and relax then endlessly chase stuff.

 After drank the bevvy and food was gone it was time to head down to the Ute and get ready to head for home. With another day of adventure complete.

 

 

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Gananoque Trail Loop May 18th 2026

Decided to do anything that wasn't the same endless usual routes to do something out of town. So decided to go to Gananoque and ride the Gananoque Perimeter Loop. Something had done last in 2024.

  True and False Peak Peak Bagging and Gan Perimeter Loop-July 18th 2024 

 

 This time it was about the ride and not using the GoPro.. This I admit I pretty much decided after I started. For some reason just wasn't feeling the video thing. So just did the ride.  

Gananoque Trail Loop 

 

 That was it Just a ride. To be honest it was more about getting out and doing anything with all been processing about somethings in my past. And not thinking and spiralling with what was processing mentally.

 

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Arney Mtn Peak No Go May 9th 2026

 After doing the recce of the McLean/Babcock Loop it was time to attempt to get another go at Arney Mtn.

McLean/Babcock Loop Recce May 9th 2026  

 

 

 

 Set out for Arney Mtn though while I wanted to get the summit again. Was mentally cautious as this year water levels are much higher and there might have been a flooded section. I have several times been able to get the summit though those times the water levels where lower.

 

731 Day's Of Riding- Arney Mtn Oct 19th 2024 

 

 About 5 min after making the turn off McLean onto Welly Smith Rd saw a large water hole that was  not there in years past. It didn't look good though till one gets close enough to really check out the situation you never know as maybe there is a way to get through.

 

 

After closer inspection it was really deep. And with it still being kinda chilly temps I thought it would be a very stupid idea to force the issue. And attempt to wade or whatever through it. With the chilly temps and wind it had potential to become a bad decision rapidly.

 

 So made the decision to head back to the Ute to avoid a negative outcome. As already had done the new gravel loop. And this was a bonus ride. It would be easier to com back when it is all warmer and water levels have come down a wee bit. In the end what matters was got out for the day and rode bikes in the woods.

 

 

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McLean/Babcock Loop Recce May 9th 2026

 A bit ago was wandering Ride With GPs looking at Parham and Sharbot Lake areas kind of out of boredom. When I spotted a potential unmapped short loop. I say short loop as it is an issue that as they say Grinds My Gears.

 

 The issue is that so many gravel routes are 60km and up. Which sounds wonderful if your in the group that rides gravel long distance all the time. here is the thing ....contrary to popular belief not everyone desires too or more importantly is mentally and/or physically able to ride that far doing a gravel ride. I know a couple of people who would like shorter routes.

 

McLean/Babcock Loop Recce 

 

So  on the Saturday with the wrong bike headed up to do a recce ride of the potential loop. After looking at the map thought it would be 30k give or take.Though was leaning mentally towards 35km in distance. 

 

 The starting point would be the same spot where I also start the Arney Mtn ride at the little grass pul over at the Wagarville Rd and McLean Rd intersection.  And would follow the same gravel road to the turn off to Arney Mtn however would go straight instead of turning left.

 

 While it was rolling hills the entire loop there was no climb steep to fully make one regret their bike choices. In this case as mentioned in the beginning wrong bike which was the way more tech trail oriented Stylus. However combined with not knowing what was there in the loop and the idea of after doing the loop of going for a quick peak bag of Arney Mtn. I felt this was the best bike choice.

 

While I could write as best can from memory I will let the GoPro footage do more of what roughly saw while doing the recce. That is better than attempting to recall it all with a TBI and ADHD messed up memory.

 

 In the end the distance was under 35km and was 26.13km and was just under 3 hours with me taking my time and stopping a wee bit take a few photos of what the road looked like.Which helps with what it kind of looks like out there.

 

 So after getting back to the ute it was done and loop unofficially created . Say unofficially as most gravel riders I know wouldn't bother as they are part of the 80km and up is all that matters crowd. This I set out see if there was a shorter option for others who don;t for wahever reason desire to do longer. As they matter too and this is one way to help anyone who asks for this shorter gravel ride option.

 

 

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May 3rd 2026 Mont Rigaud Review- PR's

 As wrote earlier in the previous blog entry there was two PR's set on May 3rd during the first lift fuelles gravity enduro rides of the year. And that would do a seperate write up to show the improvements.

 

 

  Mont Rigaud Rocks and Trees Enduro Intervals May 3rd 2026

 The first being Yakima....

 The previous PR from 2025 2:03 at 22.8kmh with the 2026 May pr result being...

 

 

 

The second PR was on Jose Daible.....

The 2025 PR was 1:34 at 19.9 kmh with the 2026 May PR being.....

 

 This while a suprise does prove to me there is both benefits to strength training during winter aka off season. Though from perspective as both a maturer athlete aka age plus a wee bit of a coaches mind that you also can't force speed till it actually decides that the way your riding creates some level of flow to achieve a time PR.

 

 

Am thinking will be getting out some old school PR record keeping stated for this aka paper with pen and ruler to keep a record. And allow one to see the progression of improvements. This is the way.

 

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Mont Rigaud Rocks and Trees Enduro Intervals May 3rd 2026

 Got the call for the first road trip for a day of chairlift enduro runs. The first of 2026 for lift fuelled riding And would be the second time riding at Mont Rigaud. This time the decision was made to leave the hardtail and only bring Mistress Mk 3 The Starling

 

 

Mont Rigaud Oct 18th 2025 Review 

 This being the first lift gravity enduro day I wasn't looking to set any fast runs or anything. It was a day of getting back on the hill like I used to when ski racing. Remembering how the bike felt in that environment after winter and getting used to it again. So speed and seeking to go faster was not the focus. Just riding was.

 

 

Starling Mont Rigaud Rocks and Trees Enduro Intervals 

 

 This trip while did a few video's this time focused on what turned out to be the two best runs. I admit was lazy as didn't want to spend hours attempting to edit and decide what was best. Hey. one is allowed. So went checking the Strava gps data and then looked at the few runs recorded. Also while looking at the GPS data there was two surprises that wasn't expecting. I mean reality is this trip didn't aim for any speed or looking to go fast. It was all about getting a feel for it all.

 

 

 And the two surprises where that I PR'd two run on different trails near the end of the day. One trail being Jose Diable and Yakima. Well like any wise person will take it. 

 

 Yakima being the enduro run from last year which I did pr last year. I did it again this year on the first road trip at end of day. And took off 6 seconds at 24.0 kmh  Winning without trying.

 

 Then had the other surprise of setting a PR on Jose Diable, the one with the zigzagging log ride. So while am not a jumper definitely rode that on the PR setting run. a 1:13 at 25.6 kmh

 

 

The times are a brief over view  as the times from last year vs this year. And to do a better look will have to write it out with this vs last year. Which is better off a a separate blog entry. All in all even before the two PR surprises it was a good  first trip of the year. Which showed the strength training at the local Massenomics CTF was beneficial.

 

 

 

 

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