Wasatch Crest - Mountain Biking

Today was the day for the annual CW mountain bike ride. We start riding at Craig's house in PC at 8:30 AM. starting with some of the trails in Round Valley. There is a hill climb in the Round Valley that some of the riders have named "The Impossible Hill". It is short but steep. Only a couple of the riders from our group were able to make it up without stopping. From Round Valley we ride through Park City to the Spiro trailhead at the Silver Star resort. We met another rider there as well as dropped a rider. Frankie had already started from there and was up the trail. We slogged along up Spiro to the Thayne's ski lift and then on up to Shadow Lake. From there we forged on up to the Wasatch Crest trail. The major competition of the day was to ride this next section without putting you foot down. This section of the trail is commonly know as Puke Hill but there are other less affectionate terms used for it's name. There was a bunch of traffic on this section so we waited a bit to let the traffic clear. If you do put your foot down you can ride back down to the junction and start again. Craig ran into traffic and elected to turn around and try again. I was able to make this section but was gasping for air at the end. I didn't see anyone puking. Many riders walk their bike up this section. Our group was about 50/50. We continue north on the Wasatch Crest over a couple of dicey sections. One is known as the spine. I've only seen a few riders negotiate this section without walking their bike. I walked. The next challenging section has personal significance. I had crashed there a few years ago while on a ride with my son-in-law Ben. In the end I needed a few stitches in my forehead. I have walked this section too since then but today I not only rode it I filmed it with me and Scott's new helmet cam. It is a rocky downhill section that ends in pain if not successful. I am feeling confident on my full suspension bike. After Puke Hill some of the riders make the comment that it's all down hill from here. That is false. There are plenty of spots along the crest trail that will put a sting in the tail. Eventually we make a junction where you can drop into Mill Creek canyon to the west or drop into the Canyons ski resort area to the east. Here we took the east ridge connector to the Rob's and Collins trails on down to the trailhead. These two trails put the biggest smile on your face as you are descending through some of the most beautiful terrain in the area. At the trailhead there is a quick decent on pave' to hwy 224. We took 224 south to Old Ranch Rd. and on back to Craig's house. We got pelted with rain on Old Ranch Rd. It finally stopped just as we were ascending the hill to Craig's house. The total mileage is roughly 35 miles and at least 5,000 feet of vertical gain.

Some of us hung out at Craig's house and then went to our celebration dinner at Prime Steak to meet up with the other riders. Craig had engraved beer mugs for those that put their feet down on Puke Hill and wine goblets for those of us that didn't. We ate and talked til 11. Scott and I were the DD and chauffeured some of the folks home. I got home at 12:30 AM.