Night, Brakes, Bandwidth
Unlimited, Apparently
It was late again, the kind of late that sneaks up after a day that looked simple on paper. New internet service supposedly plug it in, find a window, done. I also replaced the back brakes on Hope because that needed doing too, and by the time I stepped outside, daylight was already packing its bags. I made a lunch like I was going somewhere far, even though I was just going up the hill. Last meal before six. Trailhead dinner. A ritual pretending to be a necessity.
The internet had other plans. Unlimited, sure, but not in the time sense. The day stretched while I chased signal bars and instructions that said everything was easy. It took hours. Whole chunks of attention vanished into blinking lights and restart cycles. By the time I finally shut the door and pointed the truck toward University Mountain, my head felt like it had been overclocked and undercooled. Still working, but sloppy.
The climb told on me immediately. I have done that route enough times to know how it should feel. Tonight it felt wrong. The front tire wandered like it had opinions. Twice I got off and walked, which almost never happens there. My brain was fried, my timing off, and the mountain noticed. That part stung.
But I kept going. Eventually the grade eased, the noise dropped out, and the city lights came into view. Missoula spread out below like a quiet circuit board, everything glowing, everything connected. I stopped, took a couple photos, and felt it happen. Calm. Real calm. The kind that arrives without negotiation.
Standing there, tired and a little frustrated, I remembered that these small moments count. They do not fix the day, but they balance it. Then it was time to head back down to the truck and finish the last two bites of a hamburger, grateful that I noticed the good part when it showed up.
On This Day
February 4th has shown up a few times over the years. Since 2008, I have written nine posts that landed on this date. Different places, different versions of me. Looking back at them feels like checking old trail conditions.
2008: Nipple Nob Day II – Josh celibrates the end of a hard day skiingI’ve realized something special about a ski spot I recently visited: it’s a secret shared only among friends. Unlike the crowded GSpot, bustling with tele...
2010: Remembering The Grand Loop – Last July, right before the world championships, I embarked on an epic training day known as the North Bitterroot Grand Loop. While uploading some old photos, I stumbled upon images from that...
2011: Feeling like a penguin – The last one really hurt. Only 30 seconds long the high cadence sprint up the biggest pitch I could find in the South Hills seemed like a 20 minute time trail. It is hard to believe the ground you...
2012: Staying home – I have lived in Bozeman for 6 months now but my experiences have been limited. Most of my time has been spent in Missoula actually. When a hiking buddy showed up this weekend here in the Bozone we...
2017: Bear-ly Legal – Home weekend. Why not go out and ride the Bear Canyon trails on our fat bikes. I remember two years ago before it was legal I declared this venue my favorite. Then it became illegal. Then legal...
2018: Eff It Dude – Holy shit, talk about a rut. Another bike ride in the neighborhood. Another round. I feel like one of those drunks sitting at the bar. Every day after work ... another round.
2023: In or Out
2024: The Sea’s Last Laugh: A Night of Unexpected Twists – That night seemed ordinary, with the moonlight painting the beach silver. But the sea had surprises in store.
2025: Glacier Park Memories – https://photos.app.goo.gl/JPk9aBaTjdFp23GN7The sun slouched behind the jagged peaks cradling Saint Mary Lake, smearing the sky with molten orange and lazy lavender. A soft breeze skimmed the water,...
Loved the raw honesty here. That feeling of a fried brain affecting bike control is so real - I've had those nights where technical decisions from earlier in the day just linger and mess with timing. Hardest part is noticing when you need to just reset before tackling something that needs full attention. The view from University Moutain sounds like it was worth pushing through though.