We decided to do a big bike ride this year before Graham went back to school. It turned into
a bit of an epic with a lot of distance, a lot of elevation, and quite a few hours in the saddle.
Full size
It turns out that 'legal light' is 6am this time of year, so that's roughly what time we got
going from the Prairie Creek trailhead. Here's Graham along highway 66 getting started.
Full size
We had previously hiked in this area with the boys many moons ago but it starts with a climb out of
the creek up to a cool vantage point here.
Full size
This was a 'skinny' that Graham caught me considering and then bailing on.
Full size
After dropping back down to Powderface Trail (gravel road), we ate some food and continued the
wheel therapy good times.
Full size
This is before popping into the Jumpingpound Trail, which was STEEP and unrelenting as we
climbed up to the ridge.
Full size
View looking into the front range, with Compression Ridge on the left and Mt Bryant on the right.
Full size
A nice pano of the sweet views we had on this day from the top of Jumpingpound Ridge.
Full size
Graham decided he had to bring his bike to Jumpingpound Summit, even if the trail turned into
rocky scree mess.
Full size
Graham and I on top of Jumpingpound Summit.
Full size
Graham and I on Jumpingpound Summit.
Full size
Good stop for lunch.
Full size
We kept going along the ridge and had a bit of lunch at the top of Cox Hill.
Full size
Me, on top of Cox Hill.
Full size
Cox Hill NE ridge with Graham ready for a sweet downhill.
Full size
After making it down the challenging Cox Hill descent, Graham was riding in the flats when a wasp
got him. He did what's natural and tried to swat it, which of course made him lose control and
eat sh!t. Soooo, this is the result of that! We stopped at the Jumpingpound Creek to fill our
water bladders and also lick Graham's wounds.
Full size
After a LONG ride back along Tom Snow, including a bunch of screwing around and getting turned around
at the Jumpingpound Demonstration Forest, we made it back to West Bragg area, and here is Graham
after almost bonking. This is close to the entrance to Kestrel, and it was about the time to
plug in some sugar to the bonk machine.
Full size
Graham's third nipple, which was where the wasp got him. From here, we traveled along Mountain Road
and then up Moose Packer's (which was tough), with the last push up Moose Mountain Road, and then
descended a great ride down Family Guy, and then finally up the bit of highway 66 we needed to
get back to the cars for a giant sack of chips!
Full size
The result of this outing was a pretty serious hit to my 'Training Readiness'.
Full size
We completely ran out of food on this outing. Here is the last of the 'food-similar' products
we had - Sour Patch kids for the win!
Full size
A pretty serious outing with 73.86km of distance, 2558 m of elevation, and 8.5 hours of riding!
Garmin Connect data HERE
Return to picture index
