join a rolling nudist colony for a natural hot tub tour - Ibis Cycles

our way. But the smoke simply blotsthe sun, making our fourth day of ridingironically chilly. We climb a gradualsingletrack to an unnamed lake,then return via the same route.Making a big loop over the next ridgeand taking a chance on losing our waycould be fatal on a day like today.• • FIRE EXITWe had planned from the start to fly,in shifts, Qut of Atlanta on a smallcharter plane hile Harley and Racheldrove the Subur15ans to Ketchum withour bikes loaded on top. ire paranoiachanged our departure tlme fromFriday afternoon to early Friliay morning.We packed for the last time in epre-dawn darkness, then rode to theairstrip to make our escape.From the air I saw Dante's ownprivate Idaho. Several hellish walls ofsmoke rose from the forest floorwhere 15,000- 20,000-acre patchesburned. The smaller blazes wouldsoon be left alone, the firefighterscalled to contain the 280,000-acreinferno endangering Idaho City. (Itwould smolder into autumn.) But thefire would spare Atlanta and ourWillow Creek campsite.One day we frolicked in the wetand reveled in the wild. But thenIdaho's natural playground became amenacing battlefield. And, at least forthe moment, its torrid heat charred thememories of those soothing hotsprings.WHEN YOU GORound-trip and unsupported, the 100miles between Ketchum and Atlantais a difficult ride, but not impossible.You'll have to haul 7-8 days worth offood, but treatable water is plentifuldespite the arid conditions. You canship the bulk of your gear to Ketchum(as we did), fly into Boise, and take thebus to Ketchum. Or fly with your gearto Stanley (a more expensive air ticket),just north of Ketchum, and ridefrom there. Or you could spend amonth just riding singletrack and, camping near Ketchum.The Elephant's Perch in Ketchum(208/726-3497) is a good source formaps, information, bike gear, andservice.Or you can take a trip like ourswith Club Decadent, better knownas Western Spirit Cycling, 800/845-BIKE .•EAR GEARCHAIN RINGSELS COGSPEDAL SPINDLESATTACK BRACKETBOLTS