Favorite Routes

Steve in the fall foliage.

Maybe it’s just the incredible views of the splendid fall foliage, but I seem to repeatedly find myself on the same trail of late, riding my mountain bike with different folks. And that’s no problem at all, because we all develop our favorite trails over time, for different sports-based outings. No matter the reason, we find ourselves on our favorite routes again and again because they possess a few key qualities that we enjoy. Maybe it’s the view, the access, the lack of people, or the length of the route; whatever the attribute(s), it can be hard to resist returning to an old favorite.

And so it is with the Wasatch Crest Trail to Desolation Lake to Mill D exit, which I rode again today with a pal that I first met in Jackson Hole several years ago. We bumped into each other while I was thumbing up Big Cottonwood Canyon the last time I was headed for a ride on the Crest Trail. It’s a small world, so they say…

The fall colors are pretty amazing right now, but they're quickly changing.. My Minus33 baselayer top adapts to the resultant temperature changes.

Steve jumping.

Always look forward. Always ride in a straight line. Always use your better judgement. Resort to old freestyle tricks when necessary.

Steve on Scott's bypass.

Me in motion through the rock garden.

Steve cranks it out in near-silhouette above Desolation Lake.

Steve took some great shots. I think he was a photographer in a different life.

A OK exiting the rock garden.

Steve negotiates the root network.

Blurring backgrounds wherever we go...