Skeggs

Tour guide through Skeggs

June 11, 2006

Kathleen posted on the ROMP list that she was going to lead a B level (read: slow) ride through Skeggs. The total ride would be 1500 ft up and 8 miles. Perfect. I think I can make that, even with quite a bit of huffing and puffing. Well, that's what it was supposed to be (acutal total was closer to 17 miles and 3300 ft).

The ride down through El Corte de Madera Creek trail was fast and beautiful. Then we began winding our way through (and eventually up) Resolution, which is nice rolling switchback until you hit a pretty technical and ledgy section. After Resolution, we went up the Fir trail to hook up with Manzanita via a few connector trails. We also met some rangers.

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of sending our photographer (Larry, I still feel bad about this) down the wrong trail, we didn't get any pics of Manzanita, the fun part of the ride. Fortunately, one of the other guys (sorry, I don't remember yer name) was nice enough to track Larry down. However, we did reconnect with Larry during the rest of the ride, and we got several pictures on the sweet singletrack that's Steam Donkey (or Totem). Note there are no pictures of people walking the torturous climb up (it was really STEEEEP). After Steam Donkey was Blue Blossom. More sweet singletrack, recently cut by ROMP. Don't let that picture of Anne-Marie walking fool you, she's fast :-) Route taken: Gate 1 to El Corte de Madera Trail, Resolution Trail, left on Fir Trail, down Manzanita Trail, down short cut Trail, up Gordon Mill, down Steam Donkey, up Springboard, down Blue Blossom, back up Springboard, up Gordon Mill to Skyline out (whew!).

First trip to Skeggs in a while..

May 21, 2006

Without a tour guide. Under a time crunch. Right after a storm the previous night. Yeah, g-r-e-a-t idea.

This winter was particularly harsh. You can see the landslide in the first shot, and Bill showing everyone how dirty his bike really does get (especially in the mud).

The ride required some skills I didn't feel very confident in, like going down a steep rocky section in wet mud (bleh), and keeping up with some other folks in our group. As you can tell, they're really fast (and Skeggs is a difficult place to get good pics). Oh yeah, it's not hard to get lost in Skeggs. Go with a guide. Or folks who have the time and patience to get lost with you :-)

Route, er, Abuse taken: Down Fir, down Methusulah, up Giant Salamander (ugh, bad idea), Up Timberview, Up Methsulah, and back up Fir (I think).