This must have been killer, everyone still seems super stoked about it. Great TR and pics.
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This must have been killer, everyone still seems super stoked about it. Great TR and pics.
More Pics More Pics More Pics, Please!
Great TR! :D
Day 2
A 6am wake up call in the form of showers woke up most of the happy campers.
The day started of slooooowly, with people hanging around the camp. Some of the crew had left, leaving only about 9 of us, instead of the 14 yesterday.
The 11am shuttle shuttled our lazy asses
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...l_shuttle2.jpg
It was Butcher's again, a repeat of ride 1.
Since this was our second time 'round you would think that trail memory and previous experience would help us.
Theoretically, anyway.
I got myself in all sorts of shit in the first section. Whiskey and PBR induced headache from last night, as well as general cockiness from ownerizing the trails yesterday equals a recipe for disaster. The first part was ridden sloppy as shit, OC, resulting in bodyslam-to-tree hugs, and endos onto rock.
lph, BC FLOW and some of the crew sessioned the double double animal style. I went ahead and buzzed the singletrack session. Found my game again in lower Butcher's to the bridge, stopping to find smokin rotors, and a loose front skewer.
The crew make their way down. Kellie's bike had loose pivot screws. A complete bike check was done by almost everyone, since D-ville tends to shake the shit out of your rig.
One final ass-haul down 3rd divide. The showers packed down the dirt a bit and no more death dust clouds to blind you :D
Back in town the crew ends the day by cooling off in the river by town.
Unfortunately all good things come to an end. Thanks to each and every one of the crew for the good times.
So long, Downhillville. Thanks for all the mammaries.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...ormal_Yuba.jpg
just a little more in the way of photo fun!
http://www.ihwdesign.com/photos/bike_downie/fire.jpg
fire on the first night
http://www.ihwdesign.com/photos/bike_downie/swim.jpg
swiming after the first day of fun. check out pu's hot ass :rolleyes:
http://www.ihwdesign.com/photos/bike_downie/arty_1.jpg
arty 50 on the U jump at the top of butcher.
http://www.ihwdesign.com/photos/bike_downie/arty_2.jpg
arty 50 part two.
http://www.ihwdesign.com/photos/bike_downie/pu_1.jpg
pu at the top of the sweet rock garden section. everybody had to give this one a few shots. it was hecka wicked rad!
http://www.ihwdesign.com/photos/bike_downie/pu_2.jpg
pu droppin into the second "trench" section of the rock garden.
http://www.ihwdesign.com/photos/bike_downie/spats.jpg
spats givin' it to the ol rock garden trench.
http://www.ihwdesign.com/photos/bike...e/kellie_1.jpg
kellie killing the trench. look how much fun she's havin!
http://www.ihwdesign.com/photos/bike...e/kellie_2.jpg
had to include this one cuz' the spin blur turned out so damn cool! look how stoked kellie is!
http://www.ihwdesign.com/photos/bike_downie/lph_1.jpg
lph droppin' into the trench.
http://www.ihwdesign.com/photos/bike_downie/lph_2.jpg
lph hitting the top kicker of the dub dub. it doesn't look like a lot but this rock threw ya pretty good. funny how on a bike a 1.5 foot air seems like lots but on snow it'd just be solid fruit booting.
damn this was such a great trip, but i won't even start writing cause CS and Pu have already said it so well.
and thanks to WSD for making it happen and tyrone for getting the idea going.
and also, WSD yer a big SISSY! now pass me the chup please :p
Love the Spin Shot of Kellie :)
GREAT PIC
http://tinyurl.com/3mp3b
Hanging at the campsite.
http://tinyurl.com/4bl8k
Kellie riding one of the more technical sections of Butcher Ranch.
http://tinyurl.com/4vn7v
BC Flow catching some air.
http://tinyurl.com/465nq
Kellie getting a 'shit-ton' of air.
http://tinyurl.com/5n34t
CS riding some steeps. Again, the pic doesn't do it justice.
http://tinyurl.com/3hw48
The carnage that led to Arty buying a pair of shin/knee gaurds. After washing off the blood (in the Yuba river), two superficial scratches which didn't even require a band aid were discovered. ;)
That was HECKA WICKED RAD, man. GREAT pictures, you guys!! WSD, thanks so so much for organizing such a wonderful event. BC-FLOW (THAT guy), mad props to you, too :) I had such a great time, wish I coulda stayed on Sunday. Let's do this again soon, mountain biking is fun!!
:D $$$
A few random highlights:
-Punani and I searching for camp at 1 AM. Tiny, 1-lane roads through Downieville, sketchy dirt paths up the side of the mountain, looking for paper plates in the dark. Finally we see one: "Camp moved, keep going up". Endless pitch black dirt switchbacks, no lights anywhere, are we lost? Finally another plate with an arrow: roll down some babyheads and we're there. About five hours of quality sueno and it's time to go ride.
-Waking up to sunlight through trees, a rushing mountain stream, and the crew.
-Riding a long-travel bike for the first time: a Specialized Big Hit. Bombing down upper Butcher Ranch for the first time, I realize that a 6" fork and 7.5" rear mean I can pretty much ignore anything smaller than a dead body in my path. It's like riding a big overstuffed leather couch. It even climbs well, except for the part where it weighs over 40 pounds. So worth the $80 I spent to rent it for the weekend.
-My theory of "buy armor and then you won't crash" proved true. I took a few low-speed stepoffs, but nothing that deserved the term "bail".
-Sunday lunch. Punani and I got our burritos to go, waded out to some boulders in the middle of the river, sat down with our feet in the water, and ate lunch in the sun while the river kept our water and liquor cool.
-Seeing everyone's huge grins all weekend. Stoke on!
Dilemmas:
-Why do these people prefer PBR to good single-malt Scotch? Philistines! I'm utterly nonplussed.
-Watching Punani nut himself hard at the top of First Divide. After he rolled around on the ground howling for a while, Arty and I became concerned. I was just about ready to head down and help when he got up and announced he was OK. I hope I never hear sounds like that again.
-The shop I rented from tells me I can buy a new Big Hit for $1500 or the demos for $1200, minus the $85 I've already spent. I really don't need to be tempted like this.
I dare say this was the best maggot adventure I've ever been on.
People were constantly cheering each other on. Whether you were a newb or a rad dog, it didn't matter. Everyone was stepping it up in their own way and the group was always there to lend some advice, give out a shout and a hollar, or just cringe in horror before laughing uncontrollably.
And just when you thought you couldn't possibly have more fun, you'd get back to camp. There's nothing like ice cold beer after a long ride. Even better was the river next to the campsite. Nothing beat a dip in the cold water after a long dusty day on the trails. Especially when you witness the following conversation...
Pu: This is freezing. I think my dick is about 1/2 an inch long right now.
Kellie: Pu, you know they say that cold water causes 50% shrinkage.
Add to that the great barbeque (thanks for the Weber, BC), scrumptious dessert from the master of ceremonies (WSD), and drop dead hilarious conversation; and you've got one of the best trips you've ever been on. And just when you thought it couldn't get better, you jumped in your sleeping bag, looked up at the millions of stars, and fell asleep to the crescendo of the river.
Thank you to all who attended. You gave me memories I'll always treasure.
Great TR.
lph, this report is even better than your description the other night. Count me in on the next trip you guys take up there.
- Joe
nice, arty! All so true. I'm still wishing we were all there.
By the way, I have a great picture of Pu being the manservant. Need to find time to post it ;)!
That quote from Pu and Kellie is CLASSIC!!!! I can't believe I forgot that! Good stuff.
Thanks to all who came and here's to the next adventure (9/11, anyone??)
(Oh, and Viva - yes - I'm VERY glad it wasn't my shoulder. Despite the fact that I landed face first on a rock, my first reaction was to check my shoulder, then my face next.... frankly, I got lucky!)
(and BC Flow - that's MISS Sissy to you! :) )
^^ i heart a girl who snaps me back in line ^^
went and rode a local nevada city trail solo tonight. it just wasn't the same. nobody to laugh with, lots o' climbing, uggggh. lets just all get together a few times a week and ride? c'mon you know ya wanna.
9.11? humm that would be a hecka wicked rad road trip from warshington! i'll see if i can ralley some PNW troops. one might even venture to say it'd be a shit ton of fun! i'll put it in my day runner :rolleyes:
I'll keep the campfire going while y'all are being bad-asses... ;) ...either that or I'll pony up and rent a full suspension rig with at least 6" of travel, or find myself a sissy trail elsewhere. God, I can't wait for the snow to start falling...:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally posted by BC-FLOW
9.11?
It's on my calender!Quote:
Originally posted by watersnowdirt
Thanks to all who came and here's to the next adventure (9/11, anyone??)
shoe, she picked 9/11 cause that is one of Yuba Expeditions 'Epic days' it is some insane 50-60 mile all off road ride. they aren't having the festival this year, so they are doing smaller events.Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Shoelaces
It's on my calender!
check out
epic rides
Also, for those of you who are generous and giving, don't forget about the opportunity to give a little back to the trail stewardship that they are starting to keep up existing trails and make some new ones.
Join Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship
excellent.....that will give me tons of motivation to get back on the bike hard in August after skipping most of July.
I haven't had too much of a chance to post, but I'll do so with the perspective of a few days :-)
First of all, I'd like to extend a big thank you to WSD for organizing and to everyone for showing up! It certainly was good to have the ski crew back together and to reconnect with those I haven't spent much time with since the snow stopped flying.
And a second thank you to everyone for making the trip so damn fun! I really loved the varied skill levels, but the group still cheering each other on! It's also great to be around so many rockstars who are willing to teach! Thanks to those who offered some friendly biking advice :-)
I'm so bummed that I'll miss the 9/11 extravaganza, but I've heard October is a great time in Downieville - any takers?
Why wait so long? How about Saturday July 31st. Pizza maker has that day/night off and we are thinking about heading up. Although, if you are feeling nostalgic for Kirkwood, I got a couple of supposedly killer rides up off Carson spur that goes up near Glove Rock and Thunder Mountain, down to Silver Lake, sounds epic. :DQuote:
Originally posted by Kellie
I'm so bummed that I'll miss the 9/11 extravaganza, but I've heard October is a great time in Downieville - any takers?
Hey yeah isn't that called the Carson-Glove-Thunder-Silver Lake loop?...;)Quote:
Originally posted by lph
I got a couple of supposedly killer rides up off Carson spur that goes up near Glove Rock and Thunder Mountain, down to Silver Lake, sounds epic. :D
Just for that, you're not invited. ;)Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Shoelaces
Hey yeah isn't that called the Carson-Glove-Thunder-Silver Lake loop?...;)
"This Mountain Epic route is 28 miles with 4,000 feet of climb."Quote:
Originally posted by lph
shoe, she picked 9/11 cause that is one of Yuba Expeditions 'Epic days' it is some insane 50-60 mile all off road ride. they aren't having the festival this year, so they are doing smaller events.
check out
epic rides
That's it? Hey lph, we can probably do that in our sleep now. :D
Just got some pics developed, so here are some more.
Punani cranking:
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...i-forest-s.jpg
The P-man goin' fast
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...nani-pan-s.jpg
Lego goin' just a wee bit faster
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...Lego-pan-s.jpg
More to come tomorrow.
Tell me when and where and I'll be there - I think I have the bug now! No plans until September 1, save a weekend or two to climb in August . . . feel free to fill in my calendar :-)Quote:
Originally posted by lph
Why wait so long? How about Saturday July 31st. Pizza maker has that day/night off and we are thinking about heading up. Although, if you are feeling nostalgic for Kirkwood, I got a couple of supposedly killer rides up off Carson spur that goes up near Glove Rock and Thunder Mountain, down to Silver Lake, sounds epic. :D
Oh yeah, I was just reading about rides near KW - they sound cool, but not at all like a walk in the park!
I've also heard you can ride from Silver Lake to Strawberry and that it's a pretty rad ride - though I guess that would be one gnarly car shuttle (or a there-and-back ride). We should just get some topos of National Forest areas and go discover our own MTB trails!