Our route 27 miles with around 4300 elevation. 23 miles of singletrack loop including the Middle Fork Teanaway, Jolly Creek, Jolly Mt., and West Fork Teanaway.
All rugged high exposure river riding, with over twenty river crossings, plenty of rocks and roots, 2 miles of hike a bike that kicked you up to 6000 feet and a splendid view at the top of Jolly Creek. i knew this ride was gonna be an ass kicker.
The climb up Middle Fork was actually fairly easy grade in our ascent, with only river crossings and an occasional rock garden thrown in to keep you honest. Along the trail i spied an odd sight. Turns out it was a rubber boa snake, it was very cool docile snake, my first time finding one.
After making great time i knew we were going to run into a wall in climbing Jolly Creek. Just reading the topo lines on the map i knew it was going to be a tough hike a bike. Even warning from other people though wasn't enough to prepare me for the true "death march" section of the loop.
But all the same i got to squeeze in a few pictures along the way.
Very rarely am i really pushing on a ride to find energy to go on halfway thru the ride. But with the spectucular views up top, it makes the effort totally worth. Unfortunately for you i was completely wasted and not in too much of a picture taking mood up top, and by the time i was fueled up, i was eager to press on and get some gnarl descent down Jolly Mt. and West Fork Teanaway.
Time for one quick shot Mt. Stuart edit*9415*edit feet second highest non volcanic peak in Washington State. i've used it as a landmark from atop other ridges towards Mt. Rainier which is over 50 miles away as the raven flies.
West Fork Teanaway is listed on the BBTC website as gonzo. A little overrated in my book, but still with the sheer amount of techy rocky rooty high exposure on the trail, along with a fatigue factor, you definately don't want to get cocky on this trail. "Someone" on the ride just got done mentioning how easy the trail seemed just right before he went ass over tea kettle on a tough switchback.
But definately there are some sections that if you go off the trail, you will be lucky to just come out with merely something broken.
This was definately the hardest ride of the year for me, and all the others commented it was the toughest longest ride for them. It was a club ride and one rider celebrated his birthday on the ride. It really feels good not only challenging myself on an awesome ride, but getting to share the experience with some great people i just met or hardly knew on a club ride. All in all besides the terrible traffic and a bad cramp in the bar i was getting my post ride grub, it was yet another memorable day of mountain biking.
As a side note i left my wallet with over $500 and my cel phone on top of my car, forgetting to put it in my Camelback. We were off riding for 8 hours. Still there when i got back, i must be doing something right....
Thanks for the look see, enjoy the true "wilderness" experience.
All rugged high exposure river riding, with over twenty river crossings, plenty of rocks and roots, 2 miles of hike a bike that kicked you up to 6000 feet and a splendid view at the top of Jolly Creek. i knew this ride was gonna be an ass kicker.
The climb up Middle Fork was actually fairly easy grade in our ascent, with only river crossings and an occasional rock garden thrown in to keep you honest. Along the trail i spied an odd sight. Turns out it was a rubber boa snake, it was very cool docile snake, my first time finding one.
After making great time i knew we were going to run into a wall in climbing Jolly Creek. Just reading the topo lines on the map i knew it was going to be a tough hike a bike. Even warning from other people though wasn't enough to prepare me for the true "death march" section of the loop.
But all the same i got to squeeze in a few pictures along the way.
Very rarely am i really pushing on a ride to find energy to go on halfway thru the ride. But with the spectucular views up top, it makes the effort totally worth. Unfortunately for you i was completely wasted and not in too much of a picture taking mood up top, and by the time i was fueled up, i was eager to press on and get some gnarl descent down Jolly Mt. and West Fork Teanaway.
Time for one quick shot Mt. Stuart edit*9415*edit feet second highest non volcanic peak in Washington State. i've used it as a landmark from atop other ridges towards Mt. Rainier which is over 50 miles away as the raven flies.
West Fork Teanaway is listed on the BBTC website as gonzo. A little overrated in my book, but still with the sheer amount of techy rocky rooty high exposure on the trail, along with a fatigue factor, you definately don't want to get cocky on this trail. "Someone" on the ride just got done mentioning how easy the trail seemed just right before he went ass over tea kettle on a tough switchback.
But definately there are some sections that if you go off the trail, you will be lucky to just come out with merely something broken.
This was definately the hardest ride of the year for me, and all the others commented it was the toughest longest ride for them. It was a club ride and one rider celebrated his birthday on the ride. It really feels good not only challenging myself on an awesome ride, but getting to share the experience with some great people i just met or hardly knew on a club ride. All in all besides the terrible traffic and a bad cramp in the bar i was getting my post ride grub, it was yet another memorable day of mountain biking.
As a side note i left my wallet with over $500 and my cel phone on top of my car, forgetting to put it in my Camelback. We were off riding for 8 hours. Still there when i got back, i must be doing something right....
Thanks for the look see, enjoy the true "wilderness" experience.
Glad to hear your wallet & cell phone were still on top of the car where you left them.
