Which is worse? Bike or hike?

[elkaholic]

I'm going into scout in the next couple of weeks and have two options to get to my intended location.
Option A is about a 4 mile mountain bike ride on a very steep hillside that is a motorcycle trail. (I don't have a motorcycle or else I would be using it). I have not been on the trail before so I am not certain of its usability.

Option B is a 2 1/2 mile hike where I gain 2200 feet in elevation. I would be going up through a very good basin and have lots of opportunity to scope for wallows, rubs, etc. Both options will kick me out at the same vantage point.

So the question is which would be less painful route? I'm leaning toward options B as I don't know if the trail is even possible at this point.

[elkaholic]

For the hike it looks like it will work out to about a 16 1/2% slope over the 2 1/2 miles.

[the weasel]

As I tend to do stuff half backwards....... and learn the hard way. I would think walking the basin would be the most fun and best chance at finding good sign. I would think the bike trail is probably fine but you gotta think about what you'll see from the trail only as you ride by.... keeping in mind 80-90% of your vision is going to be on the trail in front of you to watch for terrain changes and dangers. just my 2 cents.

but after a big hike or bike, the downhill would be more welcome on the bike!

[huntalittle]

I think Option B and scouting the hillside might be a good plan. Then you can wander down the trail a bit from the top and see its useability and type of area it is in for future visits or hunting?
Its all about maximizing the scouting time and unless the trail covers some other potential areas.... Biking if it is a bad trail maybe more like walking a bike anyway?
Good luck!

[Vids]

Another reason for hiking to add:

If this is the only scouting trip you make to this basin before hunting season I'd want to know what the hike in is like. If there is a foot of snow on the ground when you hunt you will be hiking the 2.5 miles instead of biking (at least I would). It's always easier to navigate to your hunting area in the dark if you've been that way before.

I also agree with the post above that riding a bike may be more work than hiking anyways. I've hiked a few of the motorcycle trails in our area and they are way more rough than anything I would mountain bike on.

[Stick]

Plan B for me. I have this crazy trait that I HATE going back the same way I came unless I absolutely have too. So I would hike in scouting and exploring one way and hike out another doing the same. Cover more ground and you might stumble on a Honey Hole!

I realize mountain terrain doesn't always allow this approach but I always try.

[Vids]

Good point Stick, I usually do the same. Usually I plan on checking out a couple areas and making a loop of some sort.

[Heartwood]

Hike is better. Use bike for training. Hike for scouting.

[pointysticks]

sounds like the ride out would be a blast..

but i vote hike. you're scouting. nice to stop walk glass. or work the mountain bike ride into your workout regimen. see elk while exercising. it wont suck so bad.

[six]

Boots on the ground. Ya may just stumble onto a wallow, trail intersection, or bedding area. You could ride right overtop of these things and not know it. Well maybe not the wallow.

[Huntrgathr]

The only time I choose bike over hike is if I'm taking the bike behind a gate on a road that's closed to motorized but open to non-motorized. And even then only a fraction if the time. It's usually more hassle than it's worth to pedal in. You're noisy and might miss seeing things because you can't look around as much. Last year I bought a little XR100. Sure it's a little too small for me but at only 160# I can lift it over ( or drag it under) logs and stuff, allowing me to grt in on trails that haven't bern cleared yet. It saved me over 60 miles of hiking this spring in one spot alone while picking morels. Only cost me $1100. Same as most entry level mountain bikes these days...

[elkaholic]

Thanks for all the feedback. I've decided I'm going to hike in and make a loop which should put it at around 7 mile round-trip. Looking forward to some new country and putting the 65mm Razor to work. The Mtn bike might come in handy later but not this time. Six, that would be something to be going along and ride into a wallow..

[elkstalker]

I think you made a good choice, on a steep trail you may just end up dragging or ditching your bike, it is always steeper than it looks on google earth, and you will miss things because you are focused on the trail. I usually only use my bike in non-motorized areas on old logging roads or relatively flat trails so I can access areas that most others others hike/horseback into.

[RooseveltObsession]

I hike into all my areas here on the Oregon coast. I did the mountain bike thing, during the mid 90's, for a couple of seasons. I feel that I am quieter and can hear more when I'm walking. Besides, when you ditch your bike, because you're traveling cross country, in the jungle, following a herd of elk, would you really want to have to go back and pick up your bike? Not me man!

[ishy]

Good choice. Especially at first I'd hike. The bike can be very beneficial if #1 you have a known destination and want to get there fast, #2 you know the route is easier on a bike. Be wary of much uphill. Flat to rolling hills are great, but at some point the bike will be more work than its worth if you are gaining lots of elevation. Only your endurance threshold will know where that is.

[elkaholic]

Well it was a good trip in that it showed me that is not where I want to be. Cool country but I wasn't seeing any sign of past elk rutting activity and very little active elk sign. Ended up seeing 2 goats, 6 bucks, and a cow elk.

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[elkaholic]

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[elkaholic]

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Practicing phone scoping...

[elkstalker]

Looks like some great country! A lot of times the new growth on a fresh burn like that will draw the elk like candy. Too bad they weren't there! Quick question, why did you pick this area, and why do you think it wasn't holding elk?