Middlegate Madness

“The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure at heart.” -Iris Murdoch.

Jan 27-28

For outing #2 in 2025 I elected for a short overnighter. But it's an area I've had on the backlog for several years and winter in a low snow year seemed like an appropriate time to get some. Of course Kurstin - @bikepackingnv was in. Turns out to be an outstanding geologic short tour even with single digit temps. 

 

We parked and started at Middlegate. (In background)

 

We made camp as the shadows were getting long.

A beautiful but single digit cold morning greeted us.

Then it was back on the bikes

Not much left of Porter Station, an old stage stop.

Burnt Cabin summit.

Just below and on the north side of Buffalo summit.

Cameo appearance! P.C. Kurstin

Eastgate

Then it was just a matter of riding out to hwy 50 and paralleling the hwy on old hwy 50 and some dirt tracks back to Middlegate and a famous Middlegate burger! 

 

Middlegate Madness! P.C. Kurstin

 

Ride Stats:

55.6 miles, 3724 ft of climbing per my Wahoo Element Bolt.

 

Bikes:

Doug - Binary Gordita fat bike fully rigid with Surly Edna 4.3 tires. Full bikepacking bags.

Kurstin - Meriwether custom longtail fat bike fully rigid with Vittoria 4.8(?) tires. Full bikepacking bags.

 

Route map and downloadable track: Ride with GPS.

Additional note: Fat bikes felt appropriate for this route as there were significant sandy sections throughout the ride.