Looping Corner Canyon

Work has been busy lately, but today it slacked off enough for a ride.

Mark and I hit the Corner Canyon trails. Up Corner Canyon, east on BST, out on Gasline (or whatever it's called), up south Ghost Falls, up Brocks Point, down Clarks, down Silica Pit, up north Ghost Falls, down Brocks.

With Brocks added to Clarks and Ghost Falls, the route options increased.

I made it up south Ghost Falls this time, but failed on north Ghost Falls. Brocks was good to climb (again) and OK to descend - a bit bumpy and often off camber. A guy was trimming branches and roots on Brocks - thanks, man! The trails were dusty and deep sand in places, but overall quiet good.

With the cool Spring and early Summer I haven't yet acclimatized to 85+ temperatures, but there's a good amount of shade in Corner Canyon and we had a breeze to keep us cool.

No photos even though I lugged the camera along - just felt like riding today.

Yet Another Sweet Foothills Ride

The foothills trails are still in good shape and fun to ride. Also still green (maybe too green since most trails look overgrown and my legs get itchy from brushing by so much grass, flowers, weeds, and brush). I'm pleased I've had so many good rides up in the foothills this year.

This morning Jolene and I did a longer-than-usual ride. Up Water Tank road, down Cliff, clockwise on the Race Track (have I ever gone clockwise?), up-canyon on the Union Aqueduct road, down the connector trail to Nunn's Park, a short up on the paved Provo River Parkway trail, then up the Bridal Veil section of the BST out to where it crosses Squaw Peak road. Turned around and went back on the BST (with one little side trail) then took the PRP trail down and back to home.

I did the Bridal Veil BST a few weeks ago and didn't make the 2nd (last) switchback on the climb, but I nailed them both today (and on the way down).

The side trail was 100 yards or so past the switchbacks on the uphill side of the trail (old access road). A sketchy little trail that climbs a ways then come back down to the BST. Less than half a mile, but a fun diversion.

Saw a deer up close, heard a hawk screeching, saw some new flowers and best of all enjoyed a ride with Jolene.

Near the bottom of Cliff. I'm tired of all the flowers ... not.


The Race Course looking toward the mouth of Provo Canyon. The Cliff trail is upper right.


Jolene about to top out on the Bridal Veil BST.


Jolene coming down the sideshow trail.

Evening Belt Ride

Doesn't everyone like cryptic titles?

Jolene wanted to go for a ride after work, but I got home late so we headed for the "backyard" trails. Jolene's fitness is coming back from the pneumonia she had 3 weeks ago so she was up for some climbing.

We went up the Water Tank road then up Betty to the new Kenny's Belt route a group did the day before (reported by Rick and Brandon). It's a new trail, flagged with pink ribbons (does it have a name?). It starts off of Betty across from Crank (Crank goes west, Belt goes east). The climbing is mellow at first but gets steep-ish in a few places. It meanders around the hills to the east then hooks into Frank - which we took up to the Altar.

It's a little rough, and weedy but a good line and fun to ride. Jolene had some pruning shears in her Camelbak so I cleared some brush in a few places, but the brush has grown so much with this wet Spring that I only made a dent. Warning: Watch out for oak brush stumps in the forest section.

It was getting late so after reaching the Altar we headed down Betty. I use Betty so much for climbing I hardly ever go down this trail, so it felt new to descend.

A little ways down Roller Coaster we met Aaron and talked for a while (mostly about the big trial). Aaron had lights and was just getting started on a nice, big night ride. It was pretty dark on the way home.

Another good mountain ride. I love Summer.

The overcast was heavy (we got some rain) and it was late enough in the evening there wasn't much light - hence the reflector flash.


Looking south down Belt.


Looking north up Belt.


Me coming up Frank.

Stolen Millcreek

Got out for one last Millcreek ride before the gate opens. It felt like we stole the ride. The trail was still in good shape and only a few other riders. Mark N. came for the repeat ride (on his single speed this time), and we were joined by Alex and Mark A.

The pace was faster this ride which made me work my legs, and pant like a dog. I was pleased I could middle ring it all the way to Dog Lake, but it was uncomfortable. Mark A. and Alex handled the pace easy. The route was nearly the same as last time so I'll just roll the photos.





It was an all Fat Cyclist jersey ride.


Mark and Mark chatting with Jared and Eric.

Unplanned Saturday

I didn't have any set plans for Saturday, but it turned out to be a good day.

Friday, with the two oldest girls at youth conference, we took the two youngest to see Aliens vs Monsters at the dollar show - it was fun. After the movie Jolene and I got as far in Saturday planning as doing a little mountain bike ride together. I went to bed with three options:

1. Help Jamie P. build his dream trail in Corner Canyon (Draper)
   
2. Help repair a mud bog section of the Deer Creek South Fork trail (American Form Canyon)
3. Join the Utah Velo Club group ride up Hobble Creek and back.

All worthy options, but Saturday morning #2 won out because AF Canyon is near and it's about time I gave back to the trails that have given me so much enjoyment.

As I drove up AF Canyon I passed lots of roadies and admit I envied them knowing how good the ride is. I was also on the lookout for Chad, a frequent commenter on this and other Utah cyclist blogs, who was out visiting from Missouri. I pulled along one rider and asked "are you Chad?" In my defense it's hard to recognize people in cycling garb, what with the helmet and sunglasses and such. And because I don't have the best memory for faces and names. Turns out it was a friend of Chad's who remembered me from RAWROD who informed me Chad was up ahead.

I should have known Chad would be easy to spot - he was wearing his beloved BYU jersey. I pulled along side and said hello. Then I went ahead and took some photos - here's your action shot, Chad:



A ways up the road I saw two cyclists working on a bike. I stopped to help and gave a tube I had in the car to the cyclist who gave his to the other cyclist, and brought out my floor pump. I was glad I could help out. A few years ago a cyclist in a car stopped to help me fix a flat and it inspired me to carry tools and supplies so I could do the same.

I arrived at the trail work location and got busy. It was a bigger project than I expected with some digging, lots of lumber construction, and adding road base. I hauled a 6 foot 4x6 down the trail, which was muddy and slippery from the overnight rain.

I got to use some of the tools the Forrest Service supplied. There were the usual hand tools like Pulaski's and McCloud's, but the highlight was using this gas-powered drill:



(Insert Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor grunt)

Here I am putting that bad boy to use (in orange hard hat, background center):



When I left at 3 PM we had a lot done.







I wrenched my back pulling the drill out of a hole so when I got home I laid down in the backyard to rest it as the kids played - the St. George cousins were over. Lying in the grass in the shade and listened to the kids play, I watched bees busily visiting the clover in the lawn. Then I heard a bird sing and looked up and watched it flitting around in the tree. Then I noticed the moon up in the sky. It was a zen-like moment as I soaked in the beauty of nature and considered the difference in scale from the moon to the bee and wondered at the order and complexity of it all. Do you have these times when you see familiar things anew? I hope so, because it made me feel good.

After the cousins left, Jolene and I went for a quick mountain bike ride up in the foothills. We went up the Water Tank road then down to the Race Course for a lap and half. The grass has grown tall and in a few places you can hardly see the trail. And the oak brush has encroached, making a tunnel in one place. The flowers are still going strong and the splashes of color, especially yellow, were beautiful. The trails were in good shape and we enjoyed pumping up the climbs and blasting down the descents.

We dropped down onto the paved Provo River Parkway trail and as we exited the canyon and crested the little climb up 800 North we saw the sunset. It was breath-taking and remarkable for intensity of color and brightness. I couldn't keep my eyes off it. The shades of pink, orange and yellow were bold and vibrant. It was a dramatic end to a really good day of service, family, wonder and recreation that seemed to come together on its own.

Millcreek Delivers

It's easy to overlook Millcreek. How can mountain biking that close to the city be any good? And there's the biking only on even days thing. And it's popular not just with bikers but hikers and dogs too.

But I'm here to tell you, the buff, wooded trails of Millcreek are like dessert - sweet and luscious. Especially right now while the gate at Birch Hollow is still closed (hurry, it opens July 1) - the 5 miles of paved road before the trail head discourages most hikers, bikers, dogs. Tonight on the upper trails Mark and I saw only a few bikers and one trail runner. And the trail is clear of downed trees with the only obstacle a patch of snow across the Great Western trail.

We did the usual route: Up Big Water to Dog Lake, part way down Little Water to Great Western then up it to the saddle, turn around and bomb down fast, smooth, swoopy, scenic, in-the-top-10-in-the-state trail.

And it's nice and cool up there. Simply a delight. Yes, I'm raving, but it really was good.

Behold the sweetness.


Tranquil Dog Lake, and the water was clear for once so I could see the bottom. More floating logs than I remembered. Some ducks paddling away from us.


Looking east from the saddle into The Canyons.


Still some snow, but it's melting fast.


For an encore we took the Pipeline trail from Elbow Fork down to Burch Hollow. It was incredibly good - tacky, smooth as glass, lotsa green and only a few people.


If anyone's counting (I'm pretty sure my wife is) that's 3 rides in the last 3 days. I call it making up for the crappy weather the last few weeks. My wife calls it being a bum.

New Trail: Brocks Point

I had an hour after work until I had to meet the family at my sister-in-law's house in Cottonwood, so I rode up Corner Canyon to see the new Brocks Point trail.

I went up South Ghost Falls and I spotted the new trail as I got close to the little bridge after the T.

The trail was cut mid May and is still wearing in. It used to be very soft, but the recent rains have settled the soil and it's now hard and fairly smooth. There are still lots of roots sticking up - I imagine they'll be cut out sometime.

The trail makes a nice climb. The grade is more mellow than Ghost Falls or Clarks. The top half has a milder grade than the lower half. For climbing I felt it flowed OK. It was longer than I expected.

I stopped at a view point (Brocks Point?) and I could see the Ghost Falls trail head across the canyon to the east.



Pretty nice view of the valley.


Here's the trail head off the dirt road.


After Brocks I went down the road then down Ghost Falls. The trail is in good shape with hard dirt berms on the corners.

I took North Ghost Falls down. It was fun, as usual, but was rutted in places from water flowing down the trail (from the recent rains).

I took the Gasline trail over to BST then took it north to the road again. Getting dry and loose/sandy in places. Also had some rutting from water flow. The trail is blocked north of the road due to mud slide and falling rock danger.



I reversed course - I love going down this section of BST. The lower section between the 5-way and the bottom of Corner Canyon had one washed out section on a corner - beware.

Zipped down Corner Canyon back to the equestrian center and I was done.

It was warm, but not too hot for Corner Canyon. The grass in the open is mostly brown, but some green remains. The trails in the trees are still verdant.

Surprisingly my legs felt OK after yesterday's climb-athon. Sure, the mountain trails are opening up, but the Draper trails still satisfy.