Sunday 10/8 Walker Ranch Run

This loop is a beautiful ass-kicking. Two descents into the South Boulder Creek canyon from high ridges. I even did a little fooling around on boulders near the upper lot. The granite is really smooth and covered with dry lichen, so it was not the best, but still fun. I made a handful of decent F2 moves, better than the last time I was here. But I'm not much of a boulderer... yet.

Almost every time I head out on a multi-use trail, I see stuff like this:

What's wrong with this picture? Imagine if every rider on this trail skidded every time they rode over a 6" rise too quickly. The entire trail would be a nasty, v-shaped gully from the wear and tear. It's happened at Buffalo Creek and Indian Creek, and trail crews have to come in and repair it. It's the same with winter sports, and why at every resort the slightest drop in a trail is scraped to death into smooth, white linoleum. It's not about ability, it's about awareness. Control, people.

Thirty feet later:

I usually park at the upper lot at Walker, and I really hate this uphill stretch of trail. Lol. But damn, it was pretty on Sunday:

Distance was 7.82 miles, time 1:56:45 (moving 1:48:46), avg. pace 14:56, moving pace 13:55, max pace 7:05 min/mi, elevation gain/loss 1,662 feet.