Ramblin' On...

Another Good Day in the Wilson Creek Wilderness Area. 36.5 Miles of Fun.

Dan and I parked our cars at the Brown Mtn Beach campground and started the ride with a nice warm up along side Wilson Creek. There was actually a guy about to paddle it lower than low. I commented on the level and he said it beats sitting on the couch, I guess if you can afford the plastic...
We caught up to Mike and his buddy unloading the car at Mortimer, and climbed up to the Upper Wilson Ridge trailhead. Proceeded to drop 21 Jumps then Schoolhouse back to Mortimer. Dan and I continued up the road towards Yellow Buck but at about the 24 mile mark Dan decided it was time to head home so he turned around. I continued and rode some of the best trail out there: Long Ridge aka Yellow Buck. A good casual ride, no big hurry and plenty of photo op stops.
Total mileage: 36.5 miles
Total time: 5:59 Moving time: 4:09 Stopped time: 1:49 # of stops: 25
Start time: 10:25 a.m. end time: 4:24 p.m.

Below is Homie with his 36 pound Heckler. And he told me "Cross Country is dead". Ya know a large frame Superlight is an Oxymoron, I just found that out during the climb up towards Upper Wilson Ridge, just before he started pushing for the first time. Sorry but opinions are like what? and everyone has one, me too. I'll keep most of mine to myself. I was also told it is just as fast to push as to ride the steep FS uphill towards Upper Wilson Ridge, that was when I decided to quit running my mouth and listening to his and ride on up.

Dan taking the left line:

Mike taking the right line:

Sometimes heavy erosion makes for some fun riding:

Mike's first time on Schoolhouse, I think he enjoyed it.

Below is some of the Yellow Buck hike a bike. The "pay to play" is worth it. Believe me it is steeper than it looks:

One of the many views of Grandfather Mtn from Yellow Buck:

I was able to drop the steepest section of downhill on Yellowbuck for the first time and without lowering my seat. I was inspired on my last ride and have been eyeing it the last few rides.

Amos' Epics

And Yet Another After Work Kitsuma MTB Ride

Johnny Calhoun and I met at Ridgecrest about 4:25. It had rained a little bit but the switchbacks were not at all sloppy, maybe just a little more slippery on the roots than usual. I forgot my GPS and my camera but that was alright, it was a good evening to keep a steady pace. The route was the same as the graph in the post below.
We moved along in an attempt to beat the band of heavy showers we had both seen coming across TN on the Doppler earlier. I tried not to brake much on the wet roots and just roll it as much as possible, that worked out well as I didn't slip too many times on the wet roots and never slid out of control. The single track was moist but still plenty of fun. The rain got a little heavier on the ride back up Old 70 and about the time I got my gear packed up and was driving away from Ridge Crest it really started pouring. Hopefully the showers this evening will prime the Watagua and I'll get my wish for a 350 cfs run after the forecasted rain on Saturday...
Amos' Epics

Another After Work Kitsuma - a week ago we were riding in the snow, today it was mid 60s and I wore shorts and a lite shirt, gotta love NC weather!

The weather was incredible and the trail conditions were excellent.

Johnny Calhoun had a severely bent front wheel and unfortunately didn't get to ride. Hopefully we can do it all over tomorrow.

One of the smoother sections of trail:

Onto Old 70. Incredible that at one time this was the main road into Asheville.

I was just up on that ridge line. Sweet!

I climbed the stairs for some spectacular views.

Amos' Epics

A Green River Narrows Kayak run, then onto Trace Ridge for a Soul-O MTB ride. I couldnt help but end on a Soul-O MTB ride of Kitsuma on my way home.

After kayaking the Green River Narrows with Johnny Calhoun, I headed onto North Mills and decided to ride Trace Ridge. I had wanted to do Big Creek but I wasn't sure about time. Lots of people out today. I saw 3 ladies hiking down Trace Ridge, 3 mountain bikers, and four or five equestrians.

There were a lot of people out in North Mills. I couldn't believe how packed every parking lot was including the Trace Ridge trail head right before the last downhill before the creek crossing.

I couldn't help but stop at Ridge Crest on my home. The weather was perfect and the time was right. Time for another loop. Kitsuma trail was in good shape. I made all the uphill switch backs except the one with the root step up after the tight switch back. I only saw one hiker, otherwise I had the trail all to myself.

The view of the moon at dusk from old 70 was sweet:

Trace Ridge graphs:

Kitsuma graphs:

Amos' Epics

39.7 Miles of Wilson Creek Wilderness. Happy Birthday Clara Ann!

Parked at Wilson Creek, at the bottom of Lower Wilson Ridge. Johnny Calhoun and I rode up Craig Creek Rd to the pass. Took a right and climbed towards Chestnut Mountain. We took Raidercamp to Upper Harper Creek Falls and lunch. Back down Raidercamp to cross Harper Creek, and out on Wilson Creek Rd and thru Mortimer. Climb through Edgemont and up to Upper Wilson Ridge / 21 Jumps. On to Schoolhouse and back to Mortimer. Climb up and ride Long Ridge to Yellow Buck Mountain out to Wilson Creek Road and back towards the car. Thanks Johnny Calhoun for the Snickers and Coke Cola, they hit the spot after running out of water. Made the ride back to the car much better.
Onto Yanni's for a big birthday dinner with Clara Ann!