I put together a Kettle Crest ride with my club etc, today This is awesome
single track in an area that may be converted to Wilderness. We'll ride it
while we can, and one of our riders is representing mountain bikers through
the whole forest circus process. The terrain rivals some of the best that
I've ridden in Idaho, and it's just two hours N. of here.
A 6 am wake-up, make coffee, load bikes, meet the gang, get the cars/bikes
sorted into lesser vehicles, pick up one more rider halfway up there...
finally make it to the trailhead at Sherman Pass. Nothing like hitting
technical climbing complete with baby heads, boulders and switchbacks, at
6000 ft, without a warm up. I think I'm going to die. Who's idea was this?
I'm happy to take the back end of this part of the trail and let everyone
else go on. Our rider Dan has a brand new ( virgin) Jamis Dakar (?) a
blingy HT that he's dying to break in, he leads the guys on ahead.
There are snatches of
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/penny/biking/kettle8-06/4097sm.jpg in
between, for a little respite.
The B group opts to take the side lollypop loop that goes up and around
Columbia Mountain, but Chelsea, myself and Clark decide to go on ahead and
let the fast boys catch up to us later.
We hit the middle section of the trail, and I finally find my biking legs.
I'm pretty worthless until I get a few miles in, and I'm warmed up just in
time. This is a really fun section. It's a contour trails that rolls through
granite out crops and pine forest. It's very technical in a just hard enough
to be really interesting and fun and challenging way, without any do or die
moves. There is lots of technical up hill - climbing up outcrops, threading
lines up rocky sections - one of my favorite ways to ride. It's the kind of
stuff where you have to really lunge the bike forward, use your upper body
and a lot of momentum. My two companions keep asking me to describe how I do
it and it's really hard to put into words.
Then, a long windy contour downhill that looks like
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/penny/biking/kettle8-06/4092sm.jpg and
then we climb again. Although there hasn't been rain for months, the trail
is in surprisingly good condition.
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/penny/biking/kettle8-06/4094cropsm.jpg
Some where along this climb the B guys catch up to us. I've got to hand it
to Mr. Adventure - he's having shoulder reconstruction surgery in three
weeks ( dislocation and separation) but he's out having as much fun as he
can until then, with no complaining.
Then, last but not least, the Jungle Hill Descent. I've heard rumors that
this is possible one of the best descents in the state. One of our riders
had warned us that he thought it was too dry to ride, but ya never know.
And omigod, this is SWEET! We just missed the wild flower bonanza by a few
weeks. But no matter - it's a perfect 12" width trail that alternates
between meadow and forest. Perfectly shaped switchbacks that you just rail
around. Ya, a little dusty ( dreaming of this trail with a slightly tacky
surface for next time....) but not icky at all.
I take the back, I am just NOT in the mood to go balls out and the trail is
just so beautiful. Might as well enjoy it in many ways!
Plus, I noticed at the top that my rear sidewall is about to blow, so why go
crazy?
Here are some more pics. It was a fun day.
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/penny/biking/kettle8-06/p-kettle.jpg
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/penny/biking/kettle8-06/p-c-kettle.jpg