Surviving Wasatch Crest Trail

In my opinion, there's no better way to explore the beautiful canyons of Utah than on a mountain bike.  It's fast, exhilarating, lung-busting fun that takes you deep into amazing wilderness sites, while simultaneously giving you the feel of an outrageously wild theme-park thrill ride.  The single track trails twist and turn through Aspens and evergreens until you are deep inside the shadows of the trees...

only to open up to the most majestic mountain passes and valleys of wildflowers you could ever imagine. 

iphone image - sorry so dark

It is breathtaking - in more than one sense of the word.  

This week I rode with friends the Wasatch Crest Trail that winds from the top of Guardsmans Pass to a parking area below Solitude Ski Resort.  The logging trail begins with "Puke Hill" a two-mile aptly named climb, that leads you up to a summit of 9900 feet.  From this viewpoint there is a fabulous 360 degree view of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.  Then, it quickly descends into a single track trail that roller-coasters through rocks, dirt, tree roots and hairpin turns,  teasing you with fabulous picture window views of  Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood canyons every time the trees open up. 

The trail wound down to Desolation Lake and followed the babbling stream through forests akin to those near Hogwart's Academy.  Inside the trees, the muted silence was interrupted only by and occasional laugh or the whipping noise of a branch brushing against your tires and calves.  (And the yell for help as I feel off a ledge.  I'm okay.)

It was an amazing ride and an amazing summer day.  We finished the ride with a few bumps and bruises - a little blood - but the biggest grins you could ever paint on our happy faces.  

And we loved every minute of it.    

Can we do it again tomorrow?

For more information about all of Utah's Mountain biking trails, go to utahmountainbiking.com.