TR: you've seen this before, but WTF

Somehow, between all my travel and increased time in Ohio, I hadn’t been able to ride the full Crest shuttle this year. Did Crest/Mill D with Powderwhore earlier this summer but I’d been jonesing for the super shuttle to Mill Creek/Pipeline, even if it’s less burl.

(For those who don’t know, this shuttle is a 26-mile ride with about 5,000 vertical feet of descent. It probably has about 1,200 vertical total climbing as well, so you don’t just get to ride ‘for free’ when shuttling. It’s mostly buff singletrack but has a few spicy sections. Mostly it’s about being square on top of the Wasatch with incredible views, ripping fast descents, and some of the best trails in the country.)

Fortunately I conned ShortyAdam into shuttling it this morning (Saturday) before the forecasted big storm arrived with rain, and possibly snow on Sunday.


It was cold in the morning. Looking down towards Heber valley:
http://rsrc6.bubbleshare.com/media/0...26_580x435.jpg

Puke Hill behind…cleaned again. Looking to what’s next.
http://rsrc8.bubbleshare.com/media/0...27_580x435.jpg

I don’t think I can ever pass by this view without taking a photo, no matter how many times I ride/ski up here. Brighton/Wolverine/etc.
http://rsrc2.bubbleshare.com/media/0...28_580x435.jpg

The fall colors weren’t exploding, but there were some really nice spots…
http://rsrc8.bubbleshare.com/media/0...34_580x435.jpg

The singletrack begins…
http://rsrc8.bubbleshare.com/media/0...37_580x435.jpg

Fall on the Crest
http://rsrc3.bubbleshare.com/media/0...38_580x435.jpg

Nope, just doesn’t get old. We're going wayyyyy down there.
http://rsrc6.bubbleshare.com/media/0...40_580x435.jpg

http://rsrc3.bubbleshare.com/media/0...43_580x435.jpg

Time for some Pipeline!
http://rsrc4.bubbleshare.com/media/0...44_580x435.jpg

G-N-A-R
http://rsrc5.bubbleshare.com/media/0...45_580x435.jpg

http://rsrc7.bubbleshare.com/media/0...47_580x435.jpg

One of my favorite Pipeline viewpoints. Still a looong way down to go…
http://rsrc3.bubbleshare.com/media/0...49_580x435.jpg

The last grunt.
http://rsrc2.bubbleshare.com/media/0...53_580x435.jpg

The weather starts to roll in, and we finish in perfect time. It’s pouring rain right now.
http://rsrc7.bubbleshare.com/media/0...51_580x435.jpg

Fin.

p.s. on a side note, Utah is getting really effing crowded. the trail was a zoo. spandex roadies on mountain bikes sprinting uphill are also not very nice people. of course they surely think the same thing about me...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Particle

the trail was a zoo. spandex roadies on mountain bikes sprinting uphill are also not very nice people.

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Yeah, but they still have the right of way....

Hey, no need to rub it in the faces of us that are stuck in OH for the whole season! ;)

Seriously, glad you got out of the midwest and were able to hit some nice lines!

I love the the millcreek way great western trail is actually alot of fun with some rock gardens.

To me Mill D is wasted vertical has no flow to it at all, straight and loose IMO is like riding on ice. Ill take twisty, technical, and hardpack dirt over Mill D anyday.

I think we should go put some log piles in on pipeline to keep the roadies off of it.

Wow... Great pics... We should make a UT trip before the snow flies.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA

I love the the millcreek way great western trail is actually alot of fun with some rock gardens.

To me Mill D is wasted vertical has no flow to it at all, straight and loose IMO is like riding on ice. Ill take twisty, technical, and hardpack dirt over Mill D anyday.

I think we should go put some log piles in on pipeline to keep the roadies off of it.

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you just need a bigger bike :D
Mill D rools

oh, and someone removed all the fun logpiles leftover from last season :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Particle

you just need a bigger bike :D
Mill D rools

oh, and someone removed all the fun logpiles leftover from last season :(

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early in the summer that was the best part of Mill D was the LOg piles

If you want a longer ride then Crest to Millcreek via Pipeline. If you want a shorter, but more fun ride in my opinion, then start up on Guardsman instead of the normal switchback, do the little climb, bomb that steep, loose, rutty, off-camber shot to the switchback with the little jump at the bottom of Puke Hill, then ride the Crest to Mill D.

Mill D rules. If that ain't flow than I don't know what flow is. There are still 3little log pile jumps. I find it tons of fun on my 28 lb 4" bike and on my 38 lb 6" bike. I hate pipeline, only fun part of that is rattlesnake down to the road, but that 1 mile shot doesn't make up for the 4-5 miles of lame pipeline. Just my opinion on it. Either way I've lived in many places with great biking, and having a ride like the Crest (any of the variations) within 30 minutes is hard if not impossible to beat. With a shuttle you can do Guardsman to Mill D in just under and hour. That's a killer quicky after work ride in July and Aug when it's 100+ degrees in SLC. We got it good.

UB

nice white parts :D

A couple of us rode the Crest as well yesterday morning, was so, so beautiful and I'd have to say the perfect temps up there we've had all year.

The colors are amazing up there right now.

Nice TR Josh!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by altachic

A couple of us rode the Crest as well yesterday morning, was so, so beautiful and I'd have to say the perfect temps up there we've had all year.

The colors are amazing up there right now.

Nice TR Josh!

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Yah we saw Lynx's car at Mill D, figured you were probably up there too. I was kinda thinking we might catch you, no luck though!

Baker - yep that's exactly the route we took - from the pass. It's good stuff. Even though it's super short, I love that singletrack traverse section off the top, it's gotta be one of the most beautiful sweet true singletrack sections on that whole trail. And I agree Pipeline pretty much sucks as a trail, but the views are sweet and it's still way better than taking the road down.

marsh - thanks a ton man, the white looks pimpin' :D I'm stoked on it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA

To me Mill D is wasted vertical has no flow to it at all, straight and loose IMO is like riding on ice. Ill take twisty, technical, and hardpack dirt over Mill D anyday..

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What??? What MillD are you talking off? The trail is a blast with really fun lines.. Go a little faster you'll discover the trail is all turns past a certain speed ;)

Nice pics. Nicer frame.:yourock:

I have no idea what you're talking about Z ;)

Dude, nice TR.

Bushwhacker, I think that fall gave you some brain damage.;) Crest to Mill D is one of my top 5 rides, Crest to Pipeline (while fun), isn't even in the audience during nominations.

Just wanted to take a second out of my day to vent about the "improvements" on the spine. Since when is the spine a damn sidewalk? Ok, I can understand (and would support) making some easy ride-around on the far left so people who don't want to chance a digger on that sharp rock don't have to walk it, but whoever dumbed down EVERY LINE on the spine should be flogged in public. One of the best parts of the whole crest was that after all the climbing you were rewarded with a nice 50-yard section of tech riding to get you loosened up for the downhill. Now you get up there and have to choose between the groomed staircase or the buff sidewalk. Sure, not everyone rides the Crest does it on a nine-inch bike, but any of those lines could be cleaned on any trail bike when they were still hard. Ok, I'm done venting now. Thanks for your patience.

^^^^^

Sorry to hear that! The only few time I've ridden I thought it was great. And to be clear, once on a FR bike and once on an XC hardtail. Bastards!

Yeah, I usually drop to one of the middle-left lines, but the other day opted for the highest true 'spine' line. It still has its exposure but I was shocked to just pretty much roll through all of it without a hiccough. Definitely disappointing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Particle

Yeah, I usually drop to one of the middle-left lines, but the other day opted for the highest true 'spine' line. It still has its exposure but I was shocked to just pretty much roll through all of it without a hiccough. Definitely disappointing.

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That's the only line I ride, so I can't speak for the other ones, but I hadn't noticed that it was sanitized. I haven't ridden the Crest in about 2 weeks, have they dorked with it since then?

I think I am more XC than you guys.

Favorite Rides(only Pittsburgh and SLC)

1. Hartwood Acres in Fox Chapel, Pa
2. Crest to canyons back to mid mountain.
3. Flying Dog loop
4. Seven Spring Race Loop
5. Blackhawk loopish in Payson Canyon

maybe its because I have only been riding for a year but everytime coming down Mill D my bike feels super squirelly and I feel like I am just going straight and on the brakes, stuff like the spine, log piles(YESS!!), and root drop are actually fun to me just not straight fast and loose. Love tech, love speed, just dont like loose and fast.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA

I think I am more XC than you guys.
maybe its because I have only been riding for a year but everytime coming down Mill D my bike feels super squirelly and I feel like I am just going straight and on the brakes, stuff like the spine, log piles(YESS!!), and root drop are actually fun to me just not straight fast and loose. Love tech, love speed, just dont like loose and fast.

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Ummm, are you crazy? Or do you just need to learn how to ride Mill D? I mean, if you just let go of the brakes and ride smoothly, it'll be more fun. I'll even teach you how if you want. ;)

Mill D is good these days, even w/ the trail maintanence they did.

I'm just sayin'

Particle - that's just the sweet Demo 7 I see between your legs that made the spine feel so smooth. Time to start airing left off the log. I will do it someday.

Bushwacker - I hear ya, but I have to pity the man that doesn't enjoy Mill D. I love it more on my light bike than my big bike. Put on some good rubber and work on pushing the bike into corners like you are setting an edge on skis. Pop into the next corner right over the loose stuff and you will bite right in and whip through that corner. To me it's just as fun slow as fast, sometimes more fun cause I catch more air. Be like a spider monkey.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bagtagley

That's the only line I ride, so I can't speak for the other ones, but I hadn't noticed that it was sanitized. I haven't ridden the Crest in about 2 weeks, have they dorked with it since then?

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Hmm that's odd, but it's the first time I've ridden that line this year so maybe it was done in previous seasons? Or maybe I've just become so awesomely rad on my bike that what used to scare me is now like, so easy ;) And yes phat, that might have something to do with it...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA

I think I am more XC than you guys.

Favorite Rides(only Pittsburgh and SLC)

1. Hartwood Acres in Fox Chapel, Pa
2. Crest to canyons back to mid mountain.
3. Flying Dog loop
4. Seven Spring Race Loop
5. Blackhawk loopish in Payson Canyon

maybe its because I have only been riding for a year but everytime coming down Mill D my bike feels super squirelly and I feel like I am just going straight and on the brakes, stuff like the spine, log piles(YESS!!), and root drop are actually fun to me just not straight fast and loose. Love tech, love speed, just dont like loose and fast.

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I'm about as geeked out roadie as they come and I think Mill D is the best descent in the wasatch....that and powerline, for totally different reasons.

Car shuttles are for fat kids. Try riding from town next time ;-)