Strawberry Is My New Favorite Flavor
Once you get on the singletrack, the fun begins. The eastern eight miles of this trail are pristine. Here come the adjectives, buff, fast, loamy, smooth, interesting, challenging, rolly, flowy, perfect......okay, I'm out. Oh wait,....sick, yes this trail is sick....in a good way.You skirt the southern shore of Strawberry reservoir. You average a pretty consistent elevation, but you are constantly rolling up, and down. There are a few steep sections, but they aren't very long and you are immediately rewarded afterward by quick little descents. There are just enough rocks to pop off of and get your wheels in the air. None of it is super technical, but I guarantee you will not be bored.
You find all these little inlets, and, being Labor Day weekend, there were boats camping in them. We got a few strange looks, especially from the people who were just waking up and watching us lift our bikes over the ropes they had staked onto the trail to anchor the boat for the night.
The total trail distance is twelve miles, but Captain Argyle suggests only riding to the eight mile mark. At this marker (Renegade Point) the trail heads through bare, sagebrush and flattens out.
This is Renegade Point. Sorry for the crappy photo.
After we headed out into the sagebrush we decided Bruce was right.Now, not being a fan of out and backs in general, I was a little skeptical. However, this trail is a blast to ride either direction. Gun to my head, I would have to say I prefer west to east, but they are both fun and It doesn't seem like your covering the same ground twice. The flow of the trail is so good, it begs to be hammered. I was winded and dripping with sweat, and I still felt compelled to grab taller gears and spin faster. That is an awesome way to ride a trail.
Okay, truth be told, Riley was doing his ride your ass until you go faster technique. What I mean is, I was being pushed. That's okay, it was a hoot.
Another bonus is the multiple photo-ops.
Ask yourself,....what could possibly draw the attention of Riley,Josh, and Pizza Bill over this ledge, while keeping Sally far enough back to take this picture?
Answer: Jake making us all glad I take blurry pictures. And Retro Bill glad that he was miles ahead of us all.
Despite being traumatized for life. We all made it back to the truck. Just before we got there we passed the only other bikers we saw the whole time. Two women who were grinning as much as we were.
Then the debate began. Should we go check out some of the other trails in the area? I abstained from the vote which gave me plausible deniability if nobody else was feeling like it(I was exhausted). Retro Bill was strongly in favor of more riding. Sally also abstained from the vote, and Pizza Bill's Mom said he had to get back.
Then stupid Riley said, "Yeah, let's go for it."
We loaded back up, minus Pizza Bill and drove over to the Willow Creek Trail head on the North side of the reservoir.
There we found a new friend. Chalk another one up in the creepy crawlers found while riding column.
We unloaded for what was supposed to be a five mile or so loop on single track. The first half of which was uphill. And sandy. And overgrown. And rough. I had my pouty face on. Retro Bill however was giddy. And way out in front. I was the only one who was whining though and we continued around for what ended up being only a 3.8 mile loop. The second half of which was smoother, buffer, downhill, and had about a half dozen stream crossings. I was like a little kid who didn't want to admit that it was fun because I was still pouting. But it was fun. Even though we ended up covered in mud, and now I have to scrub my bike again.
All in all, this was easily in my top three best rides this year. I will definitely be going back. And everybody should check the Narrows trail out. It's that good.
Loading...