I Needed to get out on the mountain bike today so I decided to hit Clark’s Trail in Draper’s Corner Canyon. Frankly, SLC residents are damned lucky to have a city like Draper (as much as I despise Draper), that is willing to put money into the trail development of a local area. The Corner Canyon area is such an amazing trail system and it’s VERY close to home. While I was in the area today, trail work was going on all over. Apparently another 1/2 mile of trail just finished being cut this week and wouldn’t you know, people were up toiling away with pick axes and shovels in an effort to create even more trail options for the denizens of the Wasatch Front proper.
By my old standards, my ride was relatively quick. I started at the Andy Ballard Equestrian Center and powered my way up to Clark’s. I told myself today I was going to clean the climb (as if it’s that hard) and despite spinning in a lower gear, managed to pass five other riders on the way up; not stopping once. I’d like to get a more advanced cyclometer so I can begin timing myself, but today (as opposed to last time), I seemed to simply glide up the trail. This isn’t to say it was easy, but my hell, it went by fast. I opted to leave the headphones at home and just enjoy the sounds of my bike and my breathing.
Once I crested, I took a brief break and talked to a few other riders who were downing bagels brought by the mother of a boy scout who apparently is helping out with trail work; awesome. I thought (albeit briefly) about continuing on upwards to Jacob’s Ladder, but opted against it for no particular reason. As I bombed Corner Canyon Road to the Ghost Falls Trailhead, I took a minute to think about how much more I need to be on the mountain bike. I also took a minute to note that my junk was no longer asleep and realized that my current WTB Rocket V saddle is simply not wide enough to prevent my precious jewels from experiencing the very strange feeling of complete numbness; NOT cool.
Upon reaching the Ghost Falls Trailhead, I dropped my saddle and hit the singletrack with full force. I don’t know what it was about today, but I felt ON. Keeping my outside pedal down through the corners, barely tapping the rear brakes to help me carry speed through the berms, and gripping the handle bars ever-so-lightly gave me confidence to hit the apexes (apexi?) of corners and twist through trees at about as fast as I’m comfortable going; I had nary a concern going down. Contrasted with my last ride on Ghost Falls, this was a whole different feel altogether.
Near the base of the trail, I crossed the dry creek bed back onto Corner Canyon road and made my way down to the side-of-the-trail jump that I have hit so many times before. After a test run (noting how well groomed it was today as oppopsed to rides past), I hit it several times, concentrating on the push into the transition that is so vital to sending one skyward. Okay, so I don’t jump with true skyward intent, but regardless, it was an amazing feeling. I’ve missed my bike a lot this summer and frankly, I need more.
After reaching the parking lot, I cruised around trying carefully to avoid the bastard-ass goat head plants that line the parking lot of the Equestrian Center. I goofed off for a little and slowly packed my things up for the trip home. I downed a Gu and began to reminisce on rides past and rides that have yet to come. Today, I was reminded of why I do this and, I have to admit, I felt a sharp sense of pity for those who will never experience the exhilaration of flying down a half-meter-wide piece of trail at 30kph. Today, I wondered what I would do should I ever lose the ability to experience such thrill. Today, I felt fortunate to be alive.
