One of the best things about living in a mountain town is on-demand access to the forest. It doesn’t take much planning to get to a trailhead and decisions about what to do boil down to what you haven’t done this week. And sometimes you are just in the mood to do everything.

This past Tuesday, I set out with one goal in mind: A long ride in the forest with plenty of climbing and lots of downhill. I started off on Mill Creek Road and accessed Fire Road 2N10. Setting a good pace, I took advantage of the vertical to warm up. As I climbed I sketched out a plan to ride as much single track as I could while working my way east.

First trail: I left 2N10 to ride Wet Dream - a perfect uphill addition to my mostly uphill ride. I topped out on the upper reaches of Skyline Drive and made my way over to Plantation Trail. It was a fast ride down to 2N10 for a bit of backtracking. At 2N17, I hooked right and climbed to the top of the Upper Cabin 89 trail.

The initial steeps weren’t too loose – the recent rains had knocked everything down. After that it was pure fun all the way back to Mill Creek Picnic area. I took a quick break and decided I wasn’t finished. I still had a little time before I needed to start my work day. I grabbed a Clif Shot and headed to the base of 1E01.

I had only climbed 1E01 once before, I knew it would be demanding but I felt good and took it slow. As I maneuvered over rocks and roots, I decided there is something Zen-like about riding a trail uphill. Perhaps it is the deep focus of choosing your line or using your entire body to move the bike higher. Each circular stroke on an isolated section of flat is celebrated before the next anaerobic push. I quickly lost myself in my thoughts and only realized I had reached my destination when the trail gave way to a broad Fire Road. I paused briefly to savor my efforts before pointing my tire in the direction I had come. To spend an entire morning in the cool shade of the forest was awesome.

Earning my turns,
Glade Girl