First of all Slacker will be disappointed: the gals didn't go down. The only one who went off the
edge was Carl the ti-man who had a good laugh about it.
It's interesting how different folks will rate the trail, what different guide books will say and
then one's own personal experience. When Carl, a regular riding buddy had said to me, "brutal but
you'll be fine" I knew things were fine.
I assembled a new group this time. I emailed my all gals bike club just for grins and actually got
several replies back, most of the "sorry I can't make it" variety. One gal emailed just totally
stoked, she broke up with her BF of a few years who was her biking buddy, and was looking to meet
people. We chatted, and she sounded like a lot of fun. Then, Marty a new acquaintance of mine who
writes for Falcon guides ( don't worry I won't show him the stuff he doesn't already know about) and
then Carl the ti-man who Craig and I ride with pretty regularly.
this is a good sign at the trailhead: www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/sign1.jpg
anyway.... the trail is wholly widish bigger than singletrack, the only real disappointment. But the
surface is sweet, and we are deep in the cool shade following Liberty Creek. The grade is steady but
not evil and eventually we end up in a rather unimpressive old growth cedar grove. Somehow it's just
lacking that "magic" that some old grove have. But that's OK. Marty warns us that the trail is going
to get "interesting" and sure enough: we cross the second bridge and here's the hike a bike section
we knew was coming. No surprise. This section turns out to be maybe a mile and a half of very short
rideable sections alternating with set of two and three steep switch backs, combined with narrow
trail in spots and some exposure. There's step built of roots in places, it's not really rideable.
Some of the traverse sections are long enough to ride but just barely. It's sort of a why bother
getting on the bike if you just have to get back off type of section. Marty comments on the trail
improvements since he wrote it up a few years ago; no more "veggy-belay" sections.
Our gang is in good spirits and we stop at one of the many little waterfalls along the creek. We
take a little break and along comes this beautiful sweating sapling studly little trail runner ,
oops I mean a guy, and we get him to take the requisite group photo.
www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/waterfall.jpg April the new single gal is on the left.
So if the hike a bike is the worst of it... IMO no big deal but if you brought some whiners along,
or someone who was not comfortable with a exposure, climbing or hiking... then you'd have trouble.
It's not a place for beginners, certainly. The worst is over and we're on forest trail. At the point
where you loop down, there's another trail and this sign here:
www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/sign2.jpg
The group decision is "must explore" We've all heard of more biking up here towards Mica Peak, but
where is it exactly. The only really bad thing up here is that the park managers have built in lot
of those really huge sharp angled berms in an effort to keep Bubba and his ATV at bay, riding
illegally coming in through the back way. The berms don't really work, and they kind of suck for
breaking up the flow of the trail:Oh well. We have a general idea of where we are going, but the
topo (old) doesn't show all the current stuff. We encounter another trail runner, some one I am
acquainted with, who lives in the area, and he give us the cool deal on other ways to access the
area, including permission to park on his private road which saves about 1500-2000' of climbing....
Then, we see the gate that marks the state line ( Idaho) and turn around. We backtrack down to the
"more biking" sign and pick up the return loop which goes on the other side of the creek. It's
actually the horse trail but surprisingly is very smooth...it alternates between a high gear subtle
grade to pedal down, and some really fun, smooth steep down hill. It's pretty amazing how fast you
can cover 5 miles of down!!
It's hot as hell, but somehow we never felt it out on the trail. I sure feel it now, hiding in my
nice cool basement after an awesome ride.
penny