i met Nate online on the local board on MTBR. He was looking for a guide for a Skookum Flats ride. He's on vacation from Ithaca and it was great opportunity to show off some great PNW trails.
Went for a short spin of Skookum Flats trail. Just 2 miles of the upper section for a warm up and a taste of what is ahead. It's pretty technical and there are many high exposure sections of trail so after quickly finding out that he was totally fine with all that it was a 4 mile road/forest road spin up to the White River Trailhead where the real ride would begin.
Sharing stories about Ithaca it appears that many of the state forests there are pretty rooty. We have some of that stuff too, but bigger tree's make for bigger roots sometimes.
After rolling thru a mile and a half of a really fun section of trail we arrive at the bottom of Ranger Creek Trail. i had asked him well before we went out on the ride if he was a good climber. Well i've been to the East Coast and i know our mountains are a tad bigger than what's out on the other side of the states. So a nice easy spin is in order to get the 2600 feet ascent in a little less than 5 miles, otherwise you may be leaving your lungs on the side of the trail.
Anyways we arrived at the apex. A log shelter at the top turned out to be an excellent shelter. Not long after eating some snacks and talking with a good friend who coincedentally was riding thru the area we took some quick refuge from a hail storm/shower that passed thru. Such is the nature of the weather in the high country. Of course i know this and didn't bring my rain jacket haha.... Luckily for us it passed after a few minutes.
So onward we trek, the trail not much worse for wear since the shower was short and the trees are always thirsty. Palisaides Trail is Six and half miles of mostly descending trail that meanders along cliffsides and thru many forests of varying age and thickness.
Shooting out along one of the many cliffside sections the parking lot where we started the ride is near the river and air field down below.
Epicness
It was great ride and Nate was stoked. It was cool for me to rediscover the coolness of a trail that i've done a few times before thru the eyes of someone who's never ridden the area.
Of course after-ride burgers and brew were on the docket. Good times.
Went for a short spin of Skookum Flats trail. Just 2 miles of the upper section for a warm up and a taste of what is ahead. It's pretty technical and there are many high exposure sections of trail so after quickly finding out that he was totally fine with all that it was a 4 mile road/forest road spin up to the White River Trailhead where the real ride would begin.
Sharing stories about Ithaca it appears that many of the state forests there are pretty rooty. We have some of that stuff too, but bigger tree's make for bigger roots sometimes.
After rolling thru a mile and a half of a really fun section of trail we arrive at the bottom of Ranger Creek Trail. i had asked him well before we went out on the ride if he was a good climber. Well i've been to the East Coast and i know our mountains are a tad bigger than what's out on the other side of the states. So a nice easy spin is in order to get the 2600 feet ascent in a little less than 5 miles, otherwise you may be leaving your lungs on the side of the trail.
Anyways we arrived at the apex. A log shelter at the top turned out to be an excellent shelter. Not long after eating some snacks and talking with a good friend who coincedentally was riding thru the area we took some quick refuge from a hail storm/shower that passed thru. Such is the nature of the weather in the high country. Of course i know this and didn't bring my rain jacket haha.... Luckily for us it passed after a few minutes.
So onward we trek, the trail not much worse for wear since the shower was short and the trees are always thirsty. Palisaides Trail is Six and half miles of mostly descending trail that meanders along cliffsides and thru many forests of varying age and thickness.
Shooting out along one of the many cliffside sections the parking lot where we started the ride is near the river and air field down below.
Epicness
It was great ride and Nate was stoked. It was cool for me to rediscover the coolness of a trail that i've done a few times before thru the eyes of someone who's never ridden the area.
Of course after-ride burgers and brew were on the docket. Good times.
