Places to Ride: My Backyard

[DirtRagArt]

Here’s a little creative writing exercise that could serve as a nice resource for other forum members. By “backyard” I simply mean the trails you ride most often—not all of us are lucky enough to literally have trails running right out of our back yard.

Answer the following in a paragraph or two:

• What’s interesting, unique or significant about the area?

• What are the trails like?

• What else is there to do?


And then there’s the 411:

• Are trail maps and photos available?

• How do you get to the trailhead?

• What’s to eat nearby?

• Where’s the beer at?

• Where can visitors sleep?

• Can you recommend a bike shop?

• Is there a local MTB organization?

[kennbenny667]

Well, I can ride to Settler's Cabin Park from my apartment complex, and beer seems to be handled differently in PA.

[makaha75]

I'm In!

• What’s interesting, unique or significant about the area?

The trailwe ride most often is what we refer to as the 'lower ranch' trail, or, to be more specific, it's Red Canyon to the Nipple Sisters Cabin, across the traverse, and down on the Scout Trail.
This trail rocks; its a good loopthat only takes about two hours, perfect for after work, plus on the way out you have to pass the BrewPub. I very rarely pass the BrewPub.

• What are the trails like?

Mostly dirt, some rocks I guess - you pass a lot of trees, I think.
It's typical CO singletrack, a grind up and a long, quick downhill. Not too rocky but fun, a few semi-technical areas on the downhill, amazing views and you pass Doc Holliday's grave.

• What else is there to do?

We spend our spare time making fun of tourists (tourons), drinking, talking about women we used to know, and practicing the Bongo Board. Townie rides are frequent, in the summer we like to jump in the rivers.


And then there’s the 411:

• Are trail maps and photos available?

hmmmmm... I doubt it - I think some of it may be private ;)

• How do you get to the trailhead?

not telling

• What’s to eat nearby?

skunk, horse apples, and whatever you have in your pack. Again, BrewPub...

• Where’s the beer at?

Wish I knew, its a dry BrewPub :D

• Where can visitors sleep?

Darin's Garage

• Can you recommend a bike shop?

THE GEAR EXCHANGE

• Is there a local MTB organization?

Yes! Its called EVERYBODY - we meet at the bar.

/sort of

[Spalls]

I would call five blocks pretty close to my backyard. The Tolt Pipeline/Puget Powerline Loop is a good get in shape kinda ride that combines a few flat miles along the Sammamish River (salmon, great blue herons, eagles, hawks, beavers, muskrats, view of Mt. Rainier, etc.), about 2,000 feet of climbing over about 20 miles (most of it straight up the fall line - this is not a singlespeed ride) with associated descents, wide open and fast gravel segments, windy and swoopy softish trails in the Redmond Watershed Park segment (along with second growth timber), and nice views of the Cascade Mtns.

Along the way you can take a break in Farrell-McWhirter Park or the Redmond Watershed and just take in the trees and meadows, or depending on the time of year, watch the salmon jump, the herons feed, or the Canadian geese cruise by low in V formation. You also ride right past the Redhoook brewery (fresh beers and great food on the deck in the summer), and the Columbia and Chateau St. Michelle wineries.

Trail maps are available from the King County Parks Department, and aerial photos are available from Google Earth. Lidar imagery is available from the Puget Sound Lidar Consortium. The loop has numerous access points. Well-heeled visitors can stay at the ritzy hotel next door to Redhook (can't remember the name), and if you are not in the mood for pub grub, you can plan your trip a year in advance and make reservations at the Herb Farm restaurant (7 courses?). There is also good coffee near the brewery.

During the fall, you can gorge yourself on three varieties of blackberries that line a good bit of the Powerline trail.

Local bike shops include Redmond Cycles, Sammamish Valley Cycles, and REI (about 2 to 3 miles south of the Puget Powerline trail segment), and Woodinville Cycles is about 2 miles north of the brewery. The local mountain bike organization is the Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club (BBTC). They usually do this ride on Thursday evenings (the Thrilla in Woodinvilla).

[S. cerevisiae]

Here is a trail where I cut my teeth hunting and fishing. This is one of the places that I hope to ride this summer or fall.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/hiking/images/bucktail.jpg

'Yeast

[davkatreb]

• What’s interesting, unique or significant about the area?

• What are the trails like?

• What else is there to do?


And then there’s the 411:

• Are trail maps and photos available?

• How do you get to the trailhead?

• What’s to eat nearby?

• Where’s the beer at?

• Where can visitors sleep?

• Can you recommend a bike shop?

• Is there a local MTB organization?

Since you asked:
Typical Podunk shithole of a town. Nothing to see here; move along.

Nice trail about 20 minutes by car. Green Ridge state forest. Also, the C&O; 184 miles of towpath within sight of this computer. And Western Maryland Railtrail; 24 miles of paved railbed. Oh yeah, and the Great Allegheny Passage; all the way to Picksburgh. (Some day.)

What else to do? Mostly I just mind my own business.

Trail maps? Yeah, that shit is all online or something.

Trailhead? Got a car? No? Well get a job, hippy.

Eat? Glad you asked. The Lockhouse is literally within sight of the C&O. Prime rib you could cut with a spoon, awesome seafood and pasta, incredible munchies. Couple other decent restaurants, too, but once you've been to The Lockhouse...

Beer? See above. Always a couple KILLER microbrews on tap. Also got liquor stores within loogie range of the towpath. NASKKKAR beer aplenty, and a scant few microbrews and imports. You can get Yuengling about anywhere, though.

Sleep? Overrated, but if you must, there's a Motel 8 or some such, plus our own version of the Bates Motel. Camping not far away, too. Or if you want to ride the 7 miles or so to Berkley Springs, WV, there are B&Bs aplenty. U.S. 522 ain't all that bike-friendly, though.

Bike shop? C&O Bikes, right along the towpath at Mile 124.5. Dennis is good folk and a fair wrench. He'll do about anything to get you on your way.

MTB organization? In THIS town? Please.

[OTBSkinloss]

Got a car? No? Well get a job, hippy.




You effing slay me. :D