Western MTB trip 2008: Back to Reno

Ho need to do this ride too so we headed out Cement Creek Road once again. He stayed right with us on the initial 1500 foot climb, actually all four of us were right together for the first three miles or so. The chorus of shifter clicks was kinda neat as we all saw the rises in the road at the same time. Eventually as with most gravel road climbs, howie went off the front even though he was “taking it easy.” Once at the top, Howie headed down to set up for some camera shots and this really skinny mule deer came outta the woods and wondered around the top of the ridge where we were standing. We headed down the slightly loose, slightly dusty single track, the one that a week before and been tacky with the occasional mud puddle. Although we had to be a bit more careful and slightly slower, I would always trade the dryer conditions for the mud puddles.

David had already made the creek crossing at the bottom of the flag creek trail where we started climbing again, so he decided to walk it with the rest of us. Ho continued his great showing and kept right up with David and I on the next climb, up the single track. We all walked a few sections, but all in all, a good climb.

The next descent was even more fun than last week without the mud puddles. Since we had gotten good helmet cam footage last week I didn’t take it along so my ride was a little more relaxed as I didn’t need to try and keep up with David on the down hills.

We reached the intersection to either start climbing back towards Deadman’s or head down a couple miles to Rosebud trail, then back across Cement Creek trail. David and HO both didn’t feel the necessity of the extra miles so we headed up at that point. There were a number of really cool beaver dams on the creek we were heading up along.