Provo to Springville BST

Looking South to Maple Mountain and Spanish Fork Peak



Lake Mountain across South Utah Valley




North toward Point of the Mountain

 Fifteen miles out and back including one and a half miles up Springville Canyon.

So Long Trail 051

Looking at Orem Through the Dry Canyon "picture frame"



Cascade Mountain




Kerry




Vibrant sunset looking across Utah Lake and Utah Valley



Looking at Timp up Dry Canyon

I parked at Orem BST trail head again and decided to go up Dry Canyon to trail 051.It was quite warm for middle late November about 60 degrees. About half way up Dry Canyon it started getting muddy it wasn't bad so I  figured I would be able to make all the way to Provo Canyon. I made it all right but there was about 3 inches of wet snow for 3/4 of the way. I believe the storms this weekend with coat trail 051with snow for the winter.  I guess I'll see you next spring 051.

  I met Kerry Smith back at the BST parking area and we rode another 4 miles. Up BST to Cliff then to the race track and back the same way.

A Visit to the Mountain House and Smoking the Pipe

After going to three spin classes in a row I decided it was time to try out some new clothes and my new pack.

I parked at the Orem BST trail head it was around 35 degrees. I went up BST to the Southeast then up Ireland trail, down Fox to Skunk then up Betty the Fretty to the alter. From there I went up the GWT to 051 I took a minor detour off 051 and found the "Mountain House". It is a stick built shelter only about 150 yards off 051 but it it slightly out of view this was my first time seeing it.

My bike in the entry to the Mountain House

the Label

                                                                                                                                                

In the most distant clearing is trail 051

After taking pictures of the Mountain House I cruised down 051 to Dry Canyon. About half way down Dry Canyon there is a very technical switchback that is near impossible to ride. There is however a steel pipe covered in concrete going on a steep angle that by-passes the technical part it is very steep but ride able. being able to ride all the way down the concrete covered pipe is known as "smoking the pipe". Yes I smoked the pipe today. The rest of the ride was pretty boring but I did find a cell phone and returned it to its owner.

 I like my new pack it works well. My hands and feet were a little cold but everything else was fine.







Battle To Orem BST Figure Eight

Saturday the 6Th after watching Kris win his second football play off game I decided to go on a ride since it was almost 70 degrees.

I drove to Grove Creek trail head and discovered I didn't have a pump to take with me so I went to Timpanogos Cyclery in P.G. and bought one instead of wasting 30 more minutes driving home and wasting more time hunting for one. Turns out that Will had borrowed it and forgot to return it. Now we each have our own pump.

 Looking west at West Mountain across Utah Lake from trail 051

Looking East at Cascade Mountain from trail 051



After buying the pump I decided to go to Battle Creek Trail head instead of Grove Creek. I went South on BST around the water tanks in Orem and up Betty to the Altar. Then I rode down the GWT #033 to Pipeline, over to Nunns Park, up Bridal Veil BST to Squaw Peak Road, down paved Squaw Peak to the Race Course, up to the Altar again via Fretty up to #051 down Dry Canyon and back to Battle Creek on BST. 20 miles mostly single track with 2 miles of pavement and two or three miles of dirt road.

First Ride Back

On Wednesday the 3Rd of November I was supposed to go to Gold's Gym with Helena so I was going to get off work early to go with her. She called me at about 4:00 and said she wasn't feeling well and didn't want to go. That gave me good reason to still get out of work early and ride instead.
I was supposed to be going with Russ to Moab to do the White Rim but he cancelled the trip due to low numbers, so I had my bike all lubed up and ready to ride with no where to go.
I got out of work early come home threw on a pack and water and headed out. The route I chose was very mellow considering this was my first ride in over a month and I wanted to take it easy in case my shoulder acted up. I ended up leaving from the house on the A.F. paved trail, over to Cedar Hills, along the BST to Grove Creek, a small loop up Grove then back to the house. It was about 20 miles total with half pavement, 6 or so miles of double track and 4 miles of single track. Only about 1.5 miles was aerobically challenging. It felt good just to get out and ride again.

Getting Back Into It

So on September 17Th I crashed into a tree on Mid-Mountain trail in Park City. It was a stupid crash because fatigued from not eating properly. I had to get an X-ray and found out that nothing was broken. The doctor said it was a grade two shoulder separation and there where no broken bones and no surgery required. All I can tell you is that it was very painful and a big pain trying to work and do things without using my shoulder. I delayed the healing process by not keeping my shoulder "approximated" which means put it in a sling and don't use it. So it has been a month and a half since the injury and the therapist says it is OK to ride as long as I don't pull up hard.
My shoulder still doesn't feel 100% percent right but I've been on two rides now and it feels great just to get out on the bike and pedal. I have lost some fitness but I expect to get that back and more.
With the injury I had to give up two races that I had committed to. After this experience I remembered that I really don't like racing all that much and I just want to focus on riding for fun and fitness.