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Mad River Trail, Dead Center WA

shiggy

Monkey
Oct 3, 2006
155
0
PDX
I had not been there since last summer. Far too long for a trail so close to home.
We had a wet spring with the runoff doing nasty things to the trails. Reports said Mad River had been affected. We had to see for ourselves.
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The Bikedoc and his brother.

But as usual, the tread was in great shape. The area is unusual for the decomposed granite. Makes it about the only wet weather trail we have near Wenatchee.

At about 3.5 miles we head up the switchbacks and away from the river.
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Only a few of the eight are rideable on the way up because of the soft loose surface.

This is an out and back ride. We continued until one of us cried "uncle"--at the bottom of a silly steep section.

So back we went. Pushed up the steep, rolling fun to the top of the switchbacks.
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The run to the first SB, then...
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...the dive back to the water.
The river grade is just enough to keep your speed up and not require much brake as we dance through and over the rocks back to the trailhead at Pine Flats Campground.

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I have ridden Mad River on a lot of different bikes. The 456 Carbon was near prefect this time, especially on the way back.

A stop at the General Store for lunch was the perfect cap to the day.
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They made us feel welcome despite being covered with dust and blood.
Forgot to ask who Odee is. Next time.