kicked my own ass today - 8000'

Well about once or twice a season I'll get the random urge to just go out solo and ride, and ride, and ride, and ride, and ride some more. Today was one of those days. Dropped off the wifey at the airport in the A.M., then while thinking about what trails to ride, realized I'd never ridden the Mid Mountain trail between Park City Resort and The Canyons. I'd ridden it between Silver Lake and Empire, Empire and Park City, and within PCMR.

So, parked the truck in Snyderville (near the base of The Canyons) and rolled out at about 2pm, hoping to return via Colins trail. I only have my big bike in Utah these days, so I knew I was in for some suffering: ~45lbs, Shiver DC, and a 24" rear. The granny ring is the only thing XC-ish about that bike (AS-X). Spun into Park City on roads/bike paths, not knowing which way I wanted to gain the Mid Mountain. I was still feeling great at that point, so decided to go the most painful way I could think of: up Sweeney's Switchbacks and then John's trail. Talk about a sufferfest. Yikes. Climbed most of the way up, then snagged a bar on a tree and got beat down to the ground, straining my thumb. Which doesn't sound that bad but when you're trying to hold a grip, shift the big rings, etc...it gets to be a real hindrance.

Anyway about 2 hours into the ride, I reached the Mid Mountain trail and took off northbound. You ride a pretty long ways across PCMR, and by then I was feeling a little worked. Used up most of my 'gumption' climbing John's trail. Stopped for a snack, blah blah blah. As I'm sure the Utards know, just past the Spiro intersection you get to a sign marked 'no exits from trail next 14.3 miles, until you reach The Canyons'. Yikes. So I'm already tired but decide fuggit that's why I came. That section of the trail is freaking beautiful. Amazing. And the fall colors are REALLY starting to fire out there, so if you want a good fall color ride, I HIGHLY recommend those 14 miles during the next week or two. Anyway most of that section was awesome, but keep in mind I'm pedalling a huge bike and every little rise was starting to get to me. The last 3-4 miles were brutal. I was near bonking and exhausted, just wanting to get off the mountain. Rolled by Red Pine Lodge, which of course was shut down b/c by then it was almost 6pm. The climb up to the top of Golden Eagle lift was incredibly painful. I finally made my trail exit, and despite feeling a little defeated, figured I had to listen to my body and bail on the last few miles to get to Colins trail and instead head down The Canyons on the Holly Flanders trail. Which is a great trail in and of itself. But I was so worked all I could do on the DH was hold on and try not to get going too fast. The tweaked thumb wasn't helping. Anyway, finally made it back to the car and it was all I could do to drive myself home I was so exhausted.

Oh and next time I'm definitely doing the loop from Spiro. Oof. I think the total mileage was somewhere around 24-25, and vert gained was somewhere around 2500'.

Sorry I forgot the cam, so no pics. But sooo glad I did the ride, it was an epic trail/XC ride. Now get out there! I'm going to bed.

nice


Was up there today but started from Albertson’s at the Jeremy ranch exit. Don’t know what that variation would be called, Pine brook? Not much for names. In the next couple weeks I want to continue further and either finish off a point to point, exiting Mill-D or maybe head over and finish down Rattlesnake Gulch.

You did have a very big bike for that much climbing! :eek:

I enjoyed the MM trail about a month ago. I was by myself, so I parked at Canyons. Took their gondy up to the trail and rode it to Deer Valley. Then took the rec paths back. The hardest part was dodging the construction trucks at DV. I was surprised at how few people were on such a great trail.

Yep I passed a total of only 4 people on that trail on the section between PC and Canyons...crazy. Mec the point-to-point sounds good. However I'm not doing that thing again this year without a smaller bike!

We've done it up Spiro, but that climb is a bitch too.

One time we rode into PC, took the lift up and then rode across to the Canyons and back down.

We've gone out and back from Deer Valley to various points short of the Canyons. There's only 500' or so of climbing from DV up to the rolling sections of MM, so this is nice.

And we did the whole thing from Deer Valley to the Canyons, down Holly's and ended at El Chubasco, where we shuttled back to get the cars at Deer Valley. This way rocks. :)

Glad you had fun!

That's retarded.

Sorry I missed out.