Tag Archives: creek trail

The Creek Trail is Open

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At long last, the Creek Trail is once again open! The lunch crew and I got our first ride on it today, and it looks like people had been enjoying it over the weekend too. I was really impressed at the amount of water flowing under the bridges!

Creek Trail
Greg crosses the Upper Bridge

There are only a few patches of snow and mud, a few rain ruts here and there, but it is all rideable and very fun. I have a feeling the trail crew must’ve cleaned it up recently. Thanks, guys!

Creek Trail
Ashley finishing off a fun descent

Ash Canyon Picnic Table

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Have you seen the new picnic table on the Ash Canyon Creek Trail? Even if you ride down the Creek Trail daily, there’s a good chance you haven’t. I only saw it because I had to stop to fix a mechanical problem at the picnic table trail entrance. Jeff P had told me about the table, but I could never find it.

Ash Canyon Picnic Table
Ash Canyon Picnic Table

The picnic table is located near the top of the Creek Trail. To get there from the upper (west) entrance, drop down into the canyon from the Ash Canyon dirt road. The trail descends west into the canyon, and then makes a switchback at the bottom. The Creek Trail heads east down the canyon now. Ride a short distance through the tall grass under the shade of the big trees. The brief trail to the picnic table takes off to the south right when you’re out of the tall grass and back into the sun. You can see the table from the Creek Trail, so it’s hard to miss if you’re looking in the right direction.

Ash Canyon Picnic Table
Dining a Mile High

The table sits in the shade just above Ash Canyon Creek, and makes a wonderful place to stop and rest. Bring along a meal, and enjoy mile-high dining at 5,482′ elevation.

Rider Photos

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Here are a few photos from Tuesday’s Creek Trail lunch ride. It sure is good to get back down into the bottom of the canyon. The tight twisty turns of the Creek Trail really compliment the open fast singletrack on the hillside above. It’s just a matter of time until the plants and trees along the creek start showing their leaves, and all the wonderful smells of springtime return.

Scott R
Scott R on his new Specialized 29er

Scott C
Scott C and the Devil Bike

Jon
Big Jon aboard his Stump Jumper

Scott R snapped a few photos too. Check them out HERE.

The Creek Trail is Open!

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Last week I was looking down into the bottom of Ash Canyon, and wondering when we’d get to ride the Creek Trail again. There was still quite a bit of snow on the south side of the canyon, and it looked like it could be a few weeks before it melted.

Creek Trail is Open!
Lower Creek Trail

What a difference a few days makes! As we rode up Ash Canyon today, we saw that the snow on the south side of the canyon had melted considerably. The trail even appeared clear where the trail passed through the diminishing snow patches. When we got to the top of the Creek Trail we noticed the tracks of other riders, and realized that other people recently had the same thoughts we did.

Right after the first switchback, we encountered the first of 3 or 4 snow patches on the upper section of the Creek Trail, and each is easily ridden if you slow down a bit. With the warm temperatures headed our way this week, it won’t be long until the snow is gone and the mud is dried up.

Creek Trail is Open!
Rock Chute

I had figured that even if the snow was melted, there would be so many downed branches that the trail would be impassable. This was not the case either! Although there are many little sticks that need to be raked up, the whole trail is rideable without putting a foot down. The only real evidence of downed trees along the trail is a fresh pile of sawdust and large log near the bridges. Somebody has been up there doing a little clearing.

Creek Trail is Open!
Looking Back up the Canyon

The Creek Trail weathered the winter well with no major erosion problems. The bridges could probably stand to be inspected for safety, but they both felt sturdy enough when ridden today. If you decide to ride the Creek Trail this week, take it easy on the muddy sections, and watch out for all the sticks. Sticks can flip up into your chain and bend your derailleur!

Rider Photos

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Logan
Logan on the Creek Trail

I had to get a shot of this young whipper-snapper yesterday. Logan climbs just like his mom and dad, and left me in the dust. On the way down, I risked life and limb, riding over my head, so that I made sure I was ahead of this kid. Didn’t want him to get a big head…or even worse, destroy ME psychologically.

Rock and Roll

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On Wednesday night I joined Jeff P and Oli for a little trail maintenance. After an exhausting ride into the wind to the top of the creek trail, I found the other two up on the hillside already working. I had an apprehensive feeling when I saw Jeff P messing with large boulders so far from the trail…

Creek Trail
Two Drains were added, and we brought in rocks to narrow the trail

The project of the night was to put in a choke. There was a section that was becoming rutted from people skidding into an upcoming downhill turn. A fast straightaway in the trees would allow people to get their speed up, but when they came around the corner, they’d notice that they needed to scrub off a lot of speed quickly.

Creek Trail
Arranging the Rocks

Since Oli had just taken a header off the rock drop and broken his helmet, he was on rake duty. Lucky bastard. Jeff P led me through a choke cherry patch, and up the hillside where the “good” rocks were. To get people to slow down before the turn, we started narrowing the trail coming into the turn with some large rocks. We also added a couple drains to divert water off the trail.

Creek Trail
Try and move THIS rock, sucka!

The larger rocks had to be jacked up with smaller rocks, using a pick for a lever. They crashed down the hillside as far as gravity would take them, and then we he had to lift and turn them the rest of the way to their final resting spots. Luckily there was a thorny thicket of choke cherry at the bottom we had to get through before reaching the trail. We’d work together for a bit, and then take turns. At one point I felt a funny tearing sensation below my belly button. Probably nothing…

Creek Trail
Digging in the Step

Oli had a nice hole dug for the step by the time we got the rock down to the trail. After the rock was in place, and the fill dirt put back in, things were starting to look pretty cool. These guys do nice work.

Creek Trail
Finished Choke and Step

There wasn’t much time to test out our creation, as it was about 8:45 and starting to get dark. We hopped on the bikes and made our way down the trail. We didn’t have lights, but the pace wasn’t what I’d call slow. Jeff P had his BOB trailer attached, and still made pretty good time down the trail. He didn’t even slow down much for the log crossing, the trailer bouncing wildly into the air behind him. The clamor of the tool laden trailer reminded me of a chuck wagon. I imagined pots and pans banging together as he descended, and it made me laugh. There was even one time when sparks shot off the back of the trailer when he took a tight corner and the trailer hit a sizable chunk of granite.

Creek Trail
Looking back up the Trail

By the time we got to the Postal Route and Jackrabbit, it was completely dark. These trails are almost completely smooth though, so it was easy to ride by memory. I rode home for a quick shower and a tall glass of Mirror Pond Pale Ale before immediately passing out for the night.

I got to ride the trail the next day. I was only able to appreciate our handiwork for about 1.25 seconds, as the trail is pretty fast. Still, I think the new obstacle did it’s job, because I got my bike down to speed in time as we had intended. Although not necessarily challenging, this new obstacle makes the trail more interesting.

I’m looking forward to the next trail maintenance party. Although I wouldn’t mind doing a little rake or shovel work next time!