Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Capitol Forest Ride #1: Fall Creek 8-50-6
Capitol Forest has lots of great riding. For cross county riding, it arguably does not get any better than the loop of 8-50-6 out of Fall Creek Trailhead. Total ride length is about 10 miles, great for a beginner or a quick spin for more experienced riders. It offers a pretty consistent climb up 8, that is not very technically challenging -- very doable on a rigid bike as an out-and-back to Trail 50 (and then back to the trailhead). The junction of 8 and 50 is odd in that you "go straight" to get on Trail 50, whereas 8 continues with a sharp left towards Wedekind. The map doesn't provide such on-the-ground resolution, so it bears mentioning. Trail 50 itself is a welcome change with a much easier grade and faster speeds. Turning right/downhill at the intersection of Trail 6, you head back to Fall Creek. Trail 6 is almost pure descending (except for right after the bridge over the West fork of Fall Creek), and has some technical sections and root drops, reasonable jumps and berms aplenty. Much of that fun stuff is due to the fine work of Friends of Capitol Forest an organization that gives a lot of time and energy to make sure we have great riding locally. They deserve your support. Consider volunteering or making a donation to them. There is an optional extension to continue onto Wedekind (see yellow highlighting below), but be aware that it will double the length of the ride. You could also do Trail 8 to Wedekind as an out-and-back and then continue onto 50 and 6. 
This ride starts and ends at the Fall Creek Trailhead, accessible from Delphi Road on the Westside of Olympia.
Please be aware that these are shared trails and you may encounter other cyclists, hikers and equestrians. Do your part to share the trails. At a minimum, let folks know if there are other riders in your group behind you. Additionally, it is advisable to talk to equestrians and ask them how they'd prefer to proceed -- to have you pass them or have them pass you, whether they'd like you to dismount, etc. It is often a good idea to talk to the horses, as they are familiar with the sound of human voices and which helps them realize you are not a dangerous predator. Be an ambassador for trail riding. Have fun.
This ride starts and ends at the Fall Creek Trailhead, accessible from Delphi Road on the Westside of Olympia.
Please be aware that these are shared trails and you may encounter other cyclists, hikers and equestrians. Do your part to share the trails. At a minimum, let folks know if there are other riders in your group behind you. Additionally, it is advisable to talk to equestrians and ask them how they'd prefer to proceed -- to have you pass them or have them pass you, whether they'd like you to dismount, etc. It is often a good idea to talk to the horses, as they are familiar with the sound of human voices and which helps them realize you are not a dangerous predator. Be an ambassador for trail riding. Have fun.
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