RIDERS – DAVID , JOHN
LOOP ~ 50 MILES
LAST WEEK BEFORE THE DANSKINS CLOSE FOR THE SEASON. IT WAS DRY YEAR , NO SNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE STILL HAVE BEEN RIDING THE MOUNTAINS THE LAST MONTH. DAVID WANTED TO GIVE BLACKS CREEK ONE MORE RIDE.
IT WAS IN THE TEENS WHEN WE LEFT TOWN. THE SUN WAS OUT AND NO WIND WHEN WE PARKED AT THREE PT.
THERE WAS LESS SNOW THAN A MONTH AGO BUT THE GROUND WAS FROZEN .
MOST ALL THE WATER CROSSING WERE FROZEN SOLID. THERE WERE ALSO FROZEN PUDDLES IN COVERED WITH DIRT –BROWN ICE. THE FROZEN GROUND WITH DRY SLICK WAS ALMOST AS SLICK AS THE ICE. I WAS RIDING ON NEW KNOBBIES WITH 15PSI, THAT DIDN’T HELP. MISSED MY TRIALS TIRE ALREADY.
A FEW OF THE CREEK CROSSINGS.
DAVID MADE A FIRE FOR OUR LUNCH BREAK. AFTERWARDS WE HEADED BACK PAST THE WATER FALL. TOOK THE 1ST TRAIL OUT OF WILLOW CREEK. IT HAS A TECHNICAL CLIMB RIGHT OFF THE BOTTOM WITH 2 LINES- UP OVER A ROOTED ROCK FACE OR A SIDE TRAIL THRU A NOTCHED CHUTE IN THE ROCK. DAVID WENT UP THE ROCK FACE, I CHOOSE THE CHUTE. GOT ALMOST THRU IT- KILLED THE ENGINE , SLIDE BACKWARDS AND HI-SIDED. AFTER ANOTHER TRY I AHD DAVID RIDE MY BIKE THROUGH IT. I WAS SPENT THE REST OF THE RIDE OUT.