Mud and Solitude

Didn’t think I was going to get to ride this weekend.  A used car purchase had turned into a fiasco, and I had some loose ends to tie up with that, my wife was helping my sister with a few things, I had a nephew sleeping over, and with the weather lately things weren’t looking too good.

But, because of my positive outlook and generally strong sense of direction in my life, things broke loose and I was able to head out mid afternoon.  Initially, I was heading for Lame-bert Park for more of what I’ve been doing since the snow came off.  I say that like I’ve been up there dozens of times, in truth I’ve only been there three times since the Frozen Hog.  Not feeling too excited about that, I called an audible to myself and drove up to Hog’s Hollow instead.  I wondered what conditions were going to be like because some of my most significant mud rides, have involved the Hog’s to Corner Canyon route.

Despite some shredding from the motorheads of the area.  The lower part of the road was in pretty good shape, and once I got up into the trees, the wind was abated and I settled into a nice little groove.  Out of character for me, I was wearing headphones and Eddie Vedder and the boys were cheering me on.  The moment of truth would be the top where you head over to the Draper side.  The dirt there turns into cake batter with the slightest hint of water.  There was actually relatively little mud other than some puddles I was able to avoid so I continued over to the Draper side.

At the top of Clarks the gate was still locked, and I saw somebody(jp from the UMB forum) pushing his bike up the Brock’s Point climb.  We discussed conditions a little and he said the other parts of the Canyon were in good shape.  I started down the road and hit the only real mud of the entire ride.  This double track road almost threw me off my bike twice, and before descending Canyon Hollow, I had to clear the mud from my fork and stays.

Having not been to Corner Canyon since last year, I was curious how the newer trails were coming.   Canyon Hollow(or Not Brock’s) has had a bunch of signage installed by Draper City and it’s been ridden in nicely.  I can’t remember ever descending on this trail before so that was a first.  It’s not particularly fast, by design I suppose, to keep you from mowing down hikers and uphill riders.  But it flows beautifully and you can almost ride it without brakes until you get to the bottom.  I followed gravity all the way to the equestrian park.   Man it felt good to let go of the brakes and roll.  Similar to Ghost Falls, there aren’t many technical sections, but switchbacks keep you honest.

I did get a lot of dirty looks from other riders who noticed the mud on my bike and must have thought I had poached Clarks.  I just let them think that, because I was having a good ride.  Picked my way back up to the top of the canyon and more mud.  Sloshed my way back over to Hog’s Hollow and had another rippin good descent back to the truck.

Awesome.

I really enjoy riding with other people, and especially with people I’ve never ridden with, or that haven’t ridden a particular trail.  But there is something to be said for riding alone every once in awhile.  Making decisions on which way to go without having to regroup at each intersection,  stopping when the friction of your gut rubbing on your knees gets too uncomfortable, and not having to try to keep up with faster riders is very cathartic.

Good ride.