I need to see Doctor Park

Friday I decided that it would be a good idea to go for a ride in Taylor Canyon. I have done this ride before, but needed to get it tracked for www.mappedtrails.com. I love the drive up Cottonwood Pass. It has never ceased to amaze me. On a clear day you can see the lake, and when it's cloudy, as it was Friday, you get an awsome view of the cloud cover over the water.

On the way to Taylor Canyon

This was a killer ride. I highly recommend doing it if you get the chance. It's a great way to spend five hours of time. Wait...why did it take five hours? Because I decided that looking for more downhill would be a great idea. However, I wasn't thinking of the extra uphill. I started the ride about 7 a.m., and began riding up Spring Creek road. It was a very nice climb with not too much to talk about. It lasted for about nine miles before I saw my turnoff on the right for road 554.



Road 554 headed up for about a mile before I reached a fork. If you go right (the general way) you have a nice climb up to a meadow and a killer downhill back to Taylor canyon. If you go left (like I did) you have over an hour of climbing to over 11600ft, and some killer views. However the last 1.5 miles is a hikeabike.




When I got to the top of the mountain, the clouds to my west were starting to look pretty ugly. I knew the rest of my ride would be mostly down, but I wasn't exactly sure where I was. I had reached the spur for the Gunnison part of the Colorado Trail when the hail started coming down. It wasn't too bad, only pea sized, but when it started lightening, I had to head for cover. However, where I was there was no cover to be had. I was turned around a little and wasn't sure which trail to take when I came to the next intersection. Luckily, two beautiful blonde mountain bikers (no joke), helped me find my way. They were more than willing to help an old gentleman take the right trail. I would have stayed and chatted with them longer, but the rain was starting to ease up now, and I wanted to get down before it started again. If they made it down to my truck while I was there, I would have offered the ladies refreshments for sure.

The ride down was what I remembered the last time I was on the trail. It's just hold on for dear life, and F...L...Y! This is one fast trail. My friend Thomas Mullins was behind me the first time I was on this trail when I took a header near the bottom. It was so dry, that I slid forever. Thomas even said that he had to stop and sit and wait for me to stop sliding. This time however, the rain and hail made the trail perfect. I flew down in record time back to the truck. I waited a half hour for my maidens of mercy, but they never showed. I think they must have found shelter at the top.

That's it for today. Happy riding!

Sir RexALot.