Back to Pine Hill

 

Got back to Rutland yesterday and couldn't wait to head over to the PHP on the Cujo after getting the rear wheel fixed by JT at Rutland City Bikes. Originally, I was going to convert the Cujo back to tubeless last year but then I got sidetracked and bought the fat bike.  The last time I rode at the Park I had to take the full susser because I re-discovered that I never did anything about it.  

Always trying to mix it up and try something new I rode up Furlough today to come at the trails from the Southwest and just follow my nose and continued on Rembrandt's Brush to Lonely Rock. Continuing around the perimeter of the park I considered checking out the Red Field Trail system but then thought better of it because I forgot to bring/put on bug repellant and my legs were getting eaten.

Keeping with staying on the edge of the park I tried the Stegosaurus Trail, which is a Most Difficult trail. It was mostly difficult and I think it would be better in the other direction. There appears to have been a little bit of vandalism at the trail head - someone ripped out the trail map. Apparently, it's been that way for quite sometime.

The Serpentine Bridge was fun to ride and a good respite from the technical aspects of Stegosaurus. While really challenging it's a good trail to hone your skills on and to ensure you are choosing the right lines.

Stopping at the Overlook there was nary a cloud in the sky save for one near Bald Peak in Pittsford.

I hit the Suspension Bridge on Overlook and and then headed up Droopy Muffin. I can see why this section of the Muffin is closed during the winter. I would seem to be a bear to groom and probably would erode really fast due to the steepness of the trail. Headed over to Underdog for another loop and rode 999 to Salamander, the continuation of Droopy Muffin and then onto Santa's Little Helper. At the end of that trail I met up with a another rider, a guy named Ken, who ironically was my age, graduated from High School the same year I did and grew up in Darien, which is next door to New Canaan, the town I grew up in.  What a small world!

Before making my final exit on Svelte Tiger I rode Sore Elbow and gave Bone Spur a try. It was pretty good. Pine Hill is such a wonderful place to ride, packed with text book built trails and wonderful scenery, it never gets old for me. Also, it's almost a 2 mile ride from the house which means I don't have to lug a bike to the park on the car.