Losing The Trail: A Backtracking Good Time

Saturday I went in search of some singletrack that some folks talked about on the MMBA forums and that a shop over in Midland supposedly does a ride at. I had time, perfect weather and a map, how hard could it be?

I found the parking spot, with no real issue as well as the first section of singletrack. It was a bit more grown over than most of the trails that I have ridden here, but the trail was easy enough to follow, so follow I did.

What's a parking spot with a little discharged artillery?

Soon I was on some doubletrack and then back at the main road. Hmmm, me thinks I missed something. OK, I'll just look for the main trail that folks were talking about. Up and down the main forest road I went. Nothing. I consult the map, take a ATV trail. Bingo, found the trail!

.5 miles later I'm on two track. Where'd the trail go?? Down the two track I went nebbing around looking for it. Nothing. I backtrack. Go further down the ATV trail and end up at some giant sand pit playground for ORVs. The map says there should be trail to the right here. I bushwhack, get cut up from thorns. Nothing. I backtrack.

Back to the main forest road. Consult the map, find a hunk of trail, I take it. It's pretty good, but with a lot of low branches. If folks are riding this, they must all be midgets or something, 'cause my 6'1" bod keeps having to stop and duck under stuff.

The trail goes left, I am confident that I am on the right trail and start to enjoy it. Then it ends right where I started right by the bone of some dead animal (I hope it was an animal). Frig.

Once again I am on the main forest road. At this point I decide to eph the singletrack and just keep riding the main forest road taking ATV trails etc., just to get some miles in.

This works out OK, until after about 2 miles the road turns to grassy private property two track. Feeling defeated, and not wanting to get a buckshot in my ass, I backtrack.

Once on the main road, I ONCE again consult the map, the creek is here.... the trail runs along the creek... and crossed the road right here. Where is it? There is nothing on the left! Wait, what's this on the right... AN ORANGE RIBBON! TRAIL!!

OK, after 18 miles of dead end singletrack, game trails and ATV roads I have FOUND this mythical trail. Finally.


It starts crappy, but gets better, then worse. I am unimpressed.

The trail is OK, but littered with sticks and again with the low hanging branches. But parts are cool and I am happy to be on the trail, I figure it will get better.

It doesn't.

First I encounter the work of angry wood thirsty beavers.

Then there is some rotting bridges that do NOT appear that they will hold 200 pounds of lycra clad cyclist.
There are a ton of small sticks and limbs laying about and I pray that my rear derailleur does not fall victim as I continue on.

The trails is supposed to have a left just before it nears a highway overpass that takes you to the trail on the others side of the creek. I could not see a left, so I figure I wold take the trail under the overpass and cross further down as the map showed.

This turned into a bushwhack through tall grass and hike-a-bikes up barely distinguishable trail. Eventually I can't find the trail. I backtrack.

Trail?

Need a little blood to make the day complete, I just wish this would have come from hard riding, not being gouged by sticks as I bushwhacked.

On the trail I pass the beaver downed trees and see a small offshoot to an ATV trail going in the same direction of the trail. I've had enough of this trail, I'm taking the ATV trail.

This made for quick time, with on the occasional stop to dodge frog filled mud bogs.

Soon I was back to the main road, I pedaled back to the xB disappointed not to have found this "50 miles of flowing singletrack," but happy with a little Saturday adventure and forced to be content with just 25+ miles or riding over what must have been 3 or more hours of riding, bushwhacking and backtracking.

I have no plans to return to those trails unless accompanied by someone who knows exactly where we are going and promises me that I won't have to ride with my face down to the bars to avoid decapitation. I don't doubt that there are some killer trails there or COULD be some killer trails there, but I had a hell of a time finding them.

I need to get some miles in now... not sure where I'm going, but I don't plan on backtracking.

Later.