AF Canyon

For those who ride American Fork canyon, particularly the ridge trail, there is a yearly event which is looked forward to with the same anticipation of the coming of a new born baby; the official trail openings by the forest service. 

In the past bikers, motorcyclists and horseman have ridden the trails when they are still wet, causing a multitude of not easily fixable problems. To remedy the solution the forest service now places trail closed signs until that particular trail is ready for riding. 

In perhaps April, although admittedly it seems much earlier, the local bike forums (MTBR, Utah Mountain Biking.com) begin to turn discussion from winter riding (or training) to the upcoming spring and summer. Those involved with the opening of the trails begin placing teasers like; two feet of snow at the summit, one foot of snow at the summit. Then comes the tantalizing first pictures of a trail slowly emerging from the winter thaw with its tacky hero dirt waiting for its first tire rubber of the year. The anticipation heightens more when memories of past riding are conjured as people begin to place photos online of memorable rides last year and discuss what new loops they want to attempt this year. 

When it was finally announced that the trails were open, but the canyon road was not (road construction) , we knew this was a perfect time to get out and beat the crowds. We parked at the Pine Hollow trailhead (where the trail was closed) and with other thrilled, more hard core bikers, began our ride up the road to the Timpanooke trailhead. Normally we hate riding roads, but for this, we make exceptions. 

And in May of 2012, this was the first time our tires touched the sacred dirt of the AF canyon trail system...a pause of silence is needed... 

We rode up Timpanooke to the Ridge 157. Trails were tacky, primo,  hero dirt (MTB for nice and not dusty). You can see Timp still has snow, but everything else was fantastic. 

From Ridge 157 we climbed and then descended down to Elk camp (otherwise known as deer creek south fork). That downhill was greatly anticipated and true to form was flowy, twisty and a joy to ride. 

From Elk Camp we climbed to the summit parking, further up to Horsetail flats (which also hides a fantastic fast and twisty descent) then down to Timpanooke (again think fantastic downhill) and finished with a high speed road cruise down the road to the car. 

We only ran into a few other riders. When we did the conversation went like this.

Us: How's it going?

Bikers: Man this is sweet!!

Us: Indeed. See Ya.

Bikers: Have a good one. 

We came to ride, not to chat. It seemed others felt the same. It was a phenomenal start to the year. 

Keep on Riding...one trail at a time.