Wasatch Dirt Thread

[Spencer123]

Trees are clear out of honeycomb, it was perfect this morning. The sustained escalating nature of the rock garden is always humbling the first time through for the season!

[raisingarizona13]

Honeycomb is SO rowdy.

Have you guise ridden the black tech trail in the park called Holy Schist?

I got to do a bunch of light machine work in there last fall to help it along a bit.

[Boissal]

Trees are clear out of honeycomb, it was perfect this morning. The sustained escalating nature of the rock garden is always humbling the first time through for the season!

Honeycomb is SO rowdy.

I'm surprised how blown the top is this year. The brake bumps have not recovered from last season (or Soli patrol took them out of storage and re-installed them early).
Agree 100% on the rock garden, I always feel like I'm nailing it until about halfway. Invariably I start getting tired or miss a line cause things are shaking so much I can't see shit, then go passenger mode and barely survive to the finish.
There are more technical short sections in the Wasatch (Catherine's, some of the Brighton stuff, upper Quarry) but nothing with that level of consistent gnar. Definitely the hardest 90 seconds I can think of.
Walking it a couple times and maybe running laps on it could yield some very significant improvements but fuck if I want to push my bike back up that thing!

[Dantheman]

Anyone looking for or know anyone looking for a rad 18" BMX? I've had this thing on KSL for months with nothing but crickets. Mag pricing available. I cannot overstate how clean it is.

https://classifieds.ksl.com/listing/75457245

[Spencer123]

Absolutely. I missed the better left line and got sucked into the middle and just held on for dear life hoping not to die. But yah walking back up is rough to get it dialed.

It seems like the last couple years the brake bumps are worse, I blame all the e-bikes who now lap it

[Boissal]

I blame all the e-bikes who now lap it

I occasionally find myself envying them when I spit out pieces of bloody lung on Raptor road...
As long as Sillytude doesn't decide to start loading bikes on Summit there's hope, but if they do it's game over. Within 2 weeks every rock will have been excavated out of the trail.

[Dantheman]

Looking for some alpine-esque rides in/around the Wasatch. The past couple of summers I've been increasingly making my way up to honeycomb/silver fork/days fork and have really started appreciating those types of rides. Long, steep climbs & raw, natural descents. Is there anything else I should be aware of, perhaps up toward Ogden or down toward Provo? I also understand if people aren't willing to share since these are precious places - but figured I'd ask.

Done Beartrap I assume?

Between the heat map and just riding around the mapped trails looking for skidders the Brighton stuff isn't too hard to find. Similar for Snowbird.

Alta Dry Fork is pretty rad, but physically and/or logistically hard to do.

Climbing Grizzly peak to Ben Lomond and then descending Northern Skyline to Pioneer West is arguably the best ride in Northern Utah. Massive climb, a couple miles of incredible ridgeline, then a 10-mile 5k descent.

Santaquin Peak is cool. Or at least it used to be, it's been years. An old but still awesome video from springsproject: https://vimeo.com/50277543

GWT from Big Baldy down to Provo Canyon used to be a cool rugged descent. I heard it fell into serious disrepair, but maybe people down there have been working it?

[bthomson22]

Between the heat map and just riding around the mapped trails looking for skidders the Brighton stuff isn't too hard to find. Similar for Snowbird.

Rode the Brighton stuff - some of it incredible, some of it a little rich for my blood. Whoever built those trails did an impressive job.

Alta -> Snowbird has consistently been a favorite, but it sounds like some of the bird trails might not open this year? Shame.

Northern Skyline seems like a must do - I'll check it out. Thanks all.

[Boissal]

Rode the Brighton stuff - some of it incredible, some of it a little rich for my blood. Whoever built those trails did an impressive job.

Alta -> Snowbird has consistently been a favorite, but it sounds like some of the bird trails might not open this year? Shame.

Alta to Brighton is always a hoot. Climbing to the pass is savage but doable and the tech down Catherine's is some of the best. Links well with some of the Brighton stuff you've probably ridden already, and getting back to Alta via upper Solitude is not that bad.

Forgot to post at the time but I think it's worth a mention: early June I was pedaling up the quarry trail in the evening and there were cops all over the parking lot at the bottom. I thought nothing of it, kept going, and ran into a couple with 3 kids who flagged me down and asked if I had seen a cop walking up to meet them. Told them I had not but there were a bunch of them at the bottom. The lady warned me that they had been in a serious confrontation with a dude going up on a dirt bike. Threats of violence were made, including to the kids, and dude continued on up. The family was supper rattled and told me they thought they were gonna get shot (unclear if dude had produced a weapon, she made it sound like it). I kept going up, looking at every bush a bit suspiciously, and a few minutes later ran into 2 LEOs equipped for war, vest on, long gun strapped across their chest who asked me if I had seen the family and told me to call 911 asap if I ran into a dude on a dirt bike.

Anyone head of this incident and know what happened? Crazy to think someone would ride up on a moto and start screaming at a family with kids when confronted. Granted I've had people threaten to beat me up when I told them their dog in the canyon would result in a fat ticket...

[evdog]

Some of the motorized crowd who poach trails are a bit unhinged. I've been threatened by a surron rider, as was a local park ranger. I've also encountered a dirt bike rider on a city open space trail who tried to force his way past me on a steep side hill trail where there was not enough room to pass, and got super pissed when I put my hand up to protect myself and he clipped it with his hand guard. A few years ago a ranger busted a moto rider on the Pacific crest trail. I'm guessing it was not a friendly confrontation as they had Forest service LEOs, Sheriffs units and CHP out trying to catch the guy.

I poach my share of trails by MTB. I usually ride off hours but when I do run into hikers who call me out I just act apologetic and make them feel like they won. Last thing I want is a confrontation or to draw more attention to myself.

[Touring_Sedan]

Some of the motorized crowd who poach trails are a bit unhinged. I've been threatened by a surron rider, as was a local park ranger. I've also encountered a dirt bike rider on a city open space trail who tried to force his way past me on a steep side hill trail where there was not enough room to pass, and got super pissed when I put my hand up to protect myself and he clipped it with his hand guard. A few years ago a ranger busted a moto rider on the Pacific crest trail. I'm guessing it was not a friendly confrontation as they had Forest service LEOs, Sheriffs units and CHP out trying to catch the guy.

I poach my share of trails by MTB. I usually ride off hours but when I do run into hikers who call me out I just act apologetic and make them feel like they won. Last thing I want is a confrontation or to draw more attention to myself.

Remind me never to ride with you. Your posts make it sound like every ride is full of confrontations with eBikes, rogue trail builders, off leash dogs and other miscreants.

[Marshal Olson]

Done Beartrap I assume?

Between the heat map and just riding around the mapped trails looking for skidders the Brighton stuff isn't too hard to find. Similar for Snowbird.

@bthomson22 - I am happy to tour-guide on any of that stuff, hit me up any time. Out most days during the week and usually an early am on the wknd.

Alta Dry Fork is pretty rad, but physically and/or logistically hard to do.

Yeah dude, 157 from sunset to holman and down is rad! But it involves either pedalling back up and over sugarloaf pass or hidden peak (6500-7500 vert ride), pedalling back up and over Suncrest to corner canyon (5000 vert ride), or setting up a large shuttle (and still having a 3500 vert ride). There are lots of fun trails in AF.

you can link up a bunch of fun trail in Alta too: grizzly escape, vail ridge, Mandelbrot, upper cecret from sugarloaf pass, snake pit, etc too.

[rideit]

Hey kids, I know there is the intermountain cup race in Soldier Hollow this coming Saturday. Wife and I are looking for some intermediate single track in that area. Is it a dumb idea to go up there during the race, or are there enough trails that don’t intersect to make it worthwhile?
I have never been up there. I imagine P.C. Proper will be quite hot by 11:00 am (where we are staying).
Thoughts?

[Marshal Olson]

Id suggest going to hit WOW and avoid soldier hollow on a race and/or hot day.

[Touring_Sedan]

Id suggest going to hit WOW and avoid soldier hollow on a race and/or hot day.

And bring a moondust mask.

[Dantheman]

Yeah dude, 157 from sunset to holman and down is rad! But it involves either pedalling back up and over sugarloaf pass or hidden peak (6500-7500 vert ride), pedalling back up and over Suncrest to corner canyon (5000 vert ride), or setting up a large shuttle (and still having a 3500 vert ride). There are lots of fun trails in AF.

Or you can go much, much farther: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...rovo?p=4293079



We ran into some guys that day going from Alta to Tibble which seemed like a good way to do it. Climbing out via Snowbird and then descending all the way out LCC would be pretty epic.

AF has some great trails and also some really terrible ones. That holds true for everything from AF all the way south to Payson and Diamond Fork.

[rideit]

Id suggest going to hit WOW and avoid soldier hollow on a race and/or hot day.

That’s exactly what my buddy John (ex Rocky dude) suggested. Will do. Marshall, are you in P.C.?

[Marshal Olson]

Yoooo dooood
i am in the other side in Sandy. But around this weekend; and likely to be around PC/DV Sunday afternoon/evening. Hit me up!

[sfotex]

Ugh, it's hot. Drove over Guardsman on the way home from work yesterday and it was 88 at Bonaza Flats. Kimble was 94 degrees. Got at a little cooler at the Crest TH - 84.
Trying to figure out where to ride this weekend where I won't melt or get eating alive by bugs, but I'm not sure there's a place in the Wasatch that can deliver that right now.

[Marshal Olson]

Not sure what your life timings for recreation are, but Fwiw it was 76* at the mill d parking lot at 945 this am and 83* when I got back to the car at 1115.

[sfotex]

Not sure what your life timings for recreation are, but Fwiw it was 76* at the mill d parking lot at 945 this am and 83* when I got back to the car at 1115.

Yeah, I got up and rode early yesterday and it was nice, but I had an early AM meeting today so no go. Should be able to get out early tomorrow though.

I was up at Brighton/Twin Lakes last night helping with the Wasatch trail (running) series and the bugs were hungry in the shade/when the sun dropped. I'm figuring they're still bad in the Uintas too.

Might be time to pull the lights out too and ride at night.

[westoxified]

it's so hot the dirt is evaporating here in the northern wasatch. some trails i've been riding for years now look like babyhead catacombs. it's exhilarating and it is destroying my bike.

usually drifty moondust is rampant this time of year but all i am finding are rocks. anyone else noticing this?

[jtran10]

it's so hot the dirt is evaporating here in the northern wasatch. some trails i've been riding for years now look like babyhead catacombs. it's exhilarating and it is destroying my bike.

usually drifty moondust is rampant this time of year but all i am finding are rocks. anyone else noticing this?

I was wondering if I just didn't remember the trails or some of the embedded rock/roots on some trails I've been riding for a few years (but not much last year, skipped out on summer here) were deeper than they used to be.

[Boissal]

it's so hot the dirt is evaporating here in the northern wasatch. some trails i've been riding for years now look like babyhead catacombs. it's exhilarating and it is destroying my bike.
usually drifty moondust is rampant this time of year but all i am finding are rocks. anyone else noticing this?

I was wondering if I just didn't remember the trails or some of the embedded rock/roots on some trails I've been riding for a few years (but not much last year, skipped out on summer here) were deeper than they used to be.

Same thing here, I took most of last summer off due to injury and the first day back was a rough awakening. I dropped into a bunch of trails I thought I knew very well and got brutalized by a giant rocks that were barely there in the spring. Rocks grow real slowly so it's gotta be the dirt turning into dust and blowing away. Yesterday I rode some stuff I hadn't touched last year and one of the moves now has a compression that is so ridiculously brutal I nearly cracked my sternum on my stem. Used to be a fairly easy roll, now it's a sniper move to avoid stuffing the front wheel. All the dirt that used to make a nice transition at the exit of the slab is gone. I've ridden Honeycomb a couple times and am quite a bit slower on sections I used to blow through, they are sporting some fresh rocks and much more looseness than usual. I like drifty dust but drifty babyheads are quite a bit less confidence inspiring. My poor wheels are hating it as well.

[rideit]

Seeking a little clarity: can we drive over guardsman pass and drive down to the lower WOW trailhead, or do we have to go around to Heber City?
(Have to stay with my gal, so I can’t bang out an extra lap).
Thanks to whomever can answer this fast, lol
Gonna be hot!