Selective Snowshoeing

We are selective snowshoers. If the snow is not deep and decent, we usually opt for cross country skiing, or more happily a bike trip to somewhere warm in place of strapping on the snowshoes. Last year I only went twice.  This year the snowshoes have remained in their place hanging next to an old picture of Glen Plake and skis that had been out much too infrequently. With a major mountain snowstorm forecast for the weekend, we decided it was time to get out.

We headed up American Fork canyon, with high hopes and were not disappointed.

We began climbing up pine hollow. As we climbed the falling snow alternated from blizzard like conditions to blissfully falling, this was going to be a good day. My father in the background is 72 years old.

Stopping for a minute at the bottom of little puke climb up to the ridge trail.

We made it to the large valley, where the snow was very deep and untracked. Here my father turned around but, owing to our sense of adventure, we broke trail through the meadow to the salamander flat overlook.

We only ended up snow shoeing about 5 miles, a relatively short trip, but with the snow as good and deep as it was, it was well worth it. 





1/2 R.A.T.

American Fork Canyon, has some of the best singletrack riding around. We have ridden many of the trails from the famous ridge trail, to little known Ant's Knoll, but we had never ridden around Timpanogos. Most do this as a full loop, starting at Timpanogos park in Provo canyon, climbing the road to the summit, then hit dirt to finish the route around Timpanogos and back to the park.

 

I detest riding on asphalt, it ruins tires as well as my attitude, so I opted for a 1/2 R.A.T., beginning at the summit and riding around and down to Timpanogos park.

 

Knowing the canyon was closing soon and winter weather approaching as well, I saw an opening and took it. My wife dropped me off at the summit parking, where I climbed up to horse flats.

 

 

The Parking lot was full of Deer Hunters. I did see two other bikers, but they headed down the Ridge trail.

 

 

After Climbing to Horse Flats I followed the dirt road around, then reconnected with the GWT in front of Timp. The Views were gorgeous. (Next year we want to do it riding only the GWT and skipping the road altogether)

 

 

 

 

 

Reaching this point, I had not seen any others on the trails.  The roads were full of Deer Hunters, and people were camped everywhere, but the trails were empty.

Here, because I had been sick for quite some time, I was debating on descending dry canyon or continuing the climb over big baldy saddle. A difficult, steep, but beautiful trail. Not wanting to give up, I continued on.

 

 

The trail begins Gentle and picturesque, then gets steeper, until it becomes completely unrideable.

Climbing here I ran into a scout troop, a real scout troop.  (Not a, we-play-video-games-but-never-camp-or-hike-scout-group). I tried my best to stay ahead of them, not wanting to get passed. But in the end, the fastest scouts ended up beating me to the saddle. 

 

 I kept telling myself it was because I am sick and have been for quite sometime, I was pushing my bike, I had a heavier pack, blah, blah, blah, so many excuses. 

 

In truth...I got beat to the top because I am fat and out of shape. Fat guy on a little bike kept going through my head. I need a smaller jersey...

 

 

I was happy to reach the saddle. From here the initial descent is steep and loose with some technical corners. It was a welcome reprieve from the climbing.

The trail quickly loses altitude for the next 5 or so miles down to Timpanogos park, extremely enjoyable!!

 

This is a great ride. It climbs about 3,000 vertical feet and descends around 5,000.

 

Worth riding, it is now a must do every year for us, as we keep exploring the canyons and mountains where we live, One Trail At A Time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Riding in Full Color - American Fork Canyon in the Fall

Fall biking is always an interesting time for those who ride. The leaves begin to turn, the heavy heat of summer gives way to the crisp coolness of fall. It is a fantastic time to be outdoors.

 It has been awhile since we put tires on Dirt in the canyon. Inspired by some pictures put up by Josh M., and with the fall colors at their finest we decided this weekend would be best spent on the trails where our riding began; American Fork Canyon trail system.

Friday night my brother Gavin called and wanted to get out on a night ride. This is the four way junction where the ridge meets the Tibble fork trail and deer creek south fork.

Driving up the canyon the roads were packed with Roadies, Cars, and fishermen searching for their sweet spot. Remarkably, when we hit the trails we only saw two other people. It was a fantastic ride.

The colors are beautiful throughout the ride, but they really begin to show when you hit the Mud Springs and Lower Tibble fork trail. Like mother natures gives a reward to those who are willing to put in a little more work.

Nearing the meadow where there is a short trail to an AF canyon overlook. We skipped it today.

A camera Just cannot do this justice.

This part of the trail was amazing. The trail was literally covered by a red and pink carpet of fallen leaves.

This was a sweet day on a bike.

The weather was perfect.

The trails were good.

The trail crowds were small.

The Mountains were beautiful. 

It's a great time to be out exploring one trail at a time.

Here is the Ride if you are interested.



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.

Do Snowshoes really work?

Due to the fact that my family snow shoes quite often, (and perhaps because of my larger-than-average-perhaps-I-should-be-on-the Biggest Loser-size), people commonly ask if snowshoes really work.

Yes they do...here is some proof.

Keep in mind the video is low quality, but you get the point (it was taken by an older version of the waterproof, droproof, olympus camera)

First the Location. Julie Andrews Meadow, about 2.5 miles up from the Bear canyon trail head, much less traveled than the pine hollow freeway trail, steeper(2,000 feet in 2.5 miles), but much less raveled.

Second, the snow depth; Guthrie dug down until he hit dirt at around six feet. The next two are the test. One without one snowshoe, the other with both.

Without one Snow shoe.

With two Snowshoes.

Conclusion, yeah they work.

Fun? You bet.

Hard work? Breaking trail is one of the hardest workouts I have ever done.

Don't believe me? Come try it, you will probably love it as much as we do, just please don't tell everyone about this trail (Big smiley face emoticon).

Julie Andrew's meadow and beyond.

Two Days last week I Snowshoed to Julie Andrew's Meadow in AF canyon. The first was exploratory as I had never been there in the winter, but we still made it. It was a Beautiful day.

Heading up the Bear Canyon Trail.

My 68 year old Dad, with timpanogos in the background.

Heading into the valley.

Later in the week on Saturday. Myself, Tiny, Dallas, Tanner, Guthrie, Gavin and my Dad all went.

We made it to the Valley, then Dad and Gavin turned back and the rest of us decided to do a little more exploration.

Heading up a 45 degree slope.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=10150335371820293&comments

The link above is a video of us Climbing.

Me and Tiny at the top. That is Utah Valley in the Background.

Heading along the ridgetop.

We did a lot of jumping on the way down. This is Tanner.

Guthrie

Guthrie

Me and Tiny.

What a great couple of days snowshoeing.

Terrible Timp Hike

Ever had one of those hikes that you just can't find something good to say about it, except "At least I went" ? That was My attempted Timp Hike. First off Timp isn't my favorite hike, it's crowded, I've done it various times, and the first time I hiked it my dad dislocated his shoulder and we ran down in an hour. I was 8, it was not fun.  However, my two brothers and I decided, after much encouragement from Sasquatch, to hike it early Saturday morning. It wasn't a good start as we left at 3:30 and I didn't fall asleep until 2.  I just wasn't feeling well.

We began at a fast pace, we tend to hike fast, faster. Our goal was to finish it in 5 and 1/2 hours. We all hike, bike and workout frequently, so it was achievable. I was a little tired but just thought it was from a lack of sleep. Arriving at the first step, I was really feeling it, breathing hard and sweating, but just attributed it to the altitude. By the second step I was having trouble keeping up, and began feeling nauseous. Mid-way to the third step, the big valley where the shack is, I couldn't keep up at all and was feeling terrible. I sat to rest and when I started again felt like I was going to throw up and began to shiver.

Now understand, I never get cold. It was below 30 degrees, but I was dressed well and still shivering. I shouted that I was going back, they should keep going  and I would just lay in the back of the truck until they got back. It took me longer to get down than up. I spent about an hour laying in the dirt by the side of the trail. It took me four hours to go 11 miles.

The pictures were all taken on the way down, it wasn't that light, but I was bored.  Arriving at the truck I laid in the back,shivering, on the dog bed, for  an hour and a half until they got back. Driving down the canyon I never stopped shivering.

Arriving home I couldn't get warm, hot tub, blankets, nothing worked and I was having serious, shall we say "stomach problems". Turns out I had a fever of over 102 degrees. Now I associate the Timp hike with all that is horrible.

I will probably never do it again.

Actually, I'm sure I will.

I'm just that way, you can't let a trail beat you.

Why did I share this? Because I still feel lousy and I'm bored.

Bikes and Blackness

Look really close at the picture, see the trees in the back ground? Closer, now can you see them. . .that was the problem neither could we.

The friday night ride was the combination of various, shall we say, oversights.  I forgot that it got dark around 8:30 (even earlier in the mountains).

I forgot to fix my brake before we left. I forgot to really check the distance of the route. I forgot how out of shape I am and that Gavin hadn't ridden for some time and I forgot to bring a flashlight.

We started the ride around 6 p.m. No problem, the usual stuff. Begin at the flat near cascade springs, ascend to the summit parking, follow the ridge trail to mud springs down, cross tibble and begin to climb, Stop fix brake, work on bikes, Begin switch backs, Darkness begins, darkness comes, trail disappears. Altitude; 7,800 feet, visibilty; zero, Moon; what moon? For one half hour we biked by braille. The final hour we rode by the light of a blackberry curve and a samsung highlight. They are not rated for night riding.

He was very excited to see his truck.

At 10:30 p.m. we reached the car and truck. It was 37 degrees and we were in shorts and t-shirts. The average men would have been nervous and cold.