CT Trailwork

We had a great time at the Epic 3 trail work event this weekend.

There was an incredible turnout — at least 100 people, mostly mountain bikers. That’s more than I’ve ever seen at a volunteer trail event.

Overall it was a huge success. We rerouted several pieces of eroded/wide trail on the Colorado Trail. It felt really good to swing some tools again after a long break. It was also a treat to work in the forest, instead of the AZ trail. The biggest thing I noticed is how nice it is to have SHADE! I also got to take out a little tree that was right in the middle of the trail line. I was going to wait for the USFS guy with the chainsaw, but I was able to push it over after chopping a few roots. Too much fun.

Also, much of our crew’s section could have been built with bare hands. The ground is incredibly soft. Pick mattock’s were overkill.

Paula and I chose to camp down the road, away from all the ruckus of the ‘main’ (and side) camp. Most everyone seemed really nice, but there were definitely a few ‘front range’ moments–the kind you only get from people that live in huge cities. I’ll be glad to return to AZ where mountain biking isn’t nearly as “cool” as it is here.

Paula and I rode the CT out and back after the morning’s trailwork, then we did a modified version of the 24 mile ‘poker run’ ride the next day. Both rides were fantastic. Fall colors were peaking through most of it, and the riding is so easy (gradual climbs and no technical challenges) that it almost seems effortless. That’s good when you are sore from swinging tools and taking out trees.

Paula was loving it. Most of her mountain biking has either been in rock-hell Arizona, or super steep climbing Front Range. To actually ride a trail with flow and easy pedaling was something of a change. “I could ride this stuff all day” … “I see why you keep wanting to go back for another trip on Colorado Trail.”