Joe Gardner
07-03-2007, 03:07 PM
Heather and I made our annual pilgrimage to the Redwoods last week, we took our mtn bikes and bob trailers and did some mtn bike touring under the big trees, hit up some amazing coastal single track double track downhills, mud, rain, bugs, pain and more... fun times! :D
The ride started out at our base camp in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, we quickly found ourself in a canopy of 200' tall redwood trees:
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009024-L.jpg
We carried our camping gear on Bob Ibex trailers, we each had about 30bls of gear in our trailer, the track amazing and at times I had to look behind me to make sure my trailer was still there. You really only noticed it when heading up hill or in the mud:
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009061-L.jpg
A small stream crossing led us to this 60' water fall, I assume this drys up when its not raining. But I cant imagine a week goes by without a shower or two.
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009127-L.jpg
Heather learning the joys of clipless pedals!
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009093-M.jpg
About 10 miles in on the first day we came across a herd of Roosevelt Elk, they had a dozen or so babies with them, so we gave them lots of room and rode by slowly.
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009180-M-0.jpg
Just before we ran into the Elk it started to rain... HARD. We put on our rain jackets and then ran into the toughest section of the coastal trail. We had to portage our bikes and trailers one at a time over half a dozen fallen trees. We also ran into a few tricky muddy sections and water crossings.
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009207-L.jpg
Sadly, our camera battery died the first night, so no pictures of the the 2nd days ride from the coast back into the redwoods. I'm not sure I would have had the energy to take any more pictures, the 2nd day included a 1.8 mile push up a very un forgiving muddy trail. I would guess we got 1 - 1.5" of rain that night, and there was no way in hell anyone could have ridden more then a third of climb back to base. The last few miles were on pavement and all downhill... :D
The ride started out at our base camp in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, we quickly found ourself in a canopy of 200' tall redwood trees:
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009024-L.jpg
We carried our camping gear on Bob Ibex trailers, we each had about 30bls of gear in our trailer, the track amazing and at times I had to look behind me to make sure my trailer was still there. You really only noticed it when heading up hill or in the mud:
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009061-L.jpg
A small stream crossing led us to this 60' water fall, I assume this drys up when its not raining. But I cant imagine a week goes by without a shower or two.
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009127-L.jpg
Heather learning the joys of clipless pedals!
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009093-M.jpg
About 10 miles in on the first day we came across a herd of Roosevelt Elk, they had a dozen or so babies with them, so we gave them lots of room and rode by slowly.
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009180-M-0.jpg
Just before we ran into the Elk it started to rain... HARD. We put on our rain jackets and then ran into the toughest section of the coastal trail. We had to portage our bikes and trailers one at a time over half a dozen fallen trees. We also ran into a few tricky muddy sections and water crossings.
http://joe-and-heather.smugmug.com/photos/169009207-L.jpg
Sadly, our camera battery died the first night, so no pictures of the the 2nd days ride from the coast back into the redwoods. I'm not sure I would have had the energy to take any more pictures, the 2nd day included a 1.8 mile push up a very un forgiving muddy trail. I would guess we got 1 - 1.5" of rain that night, and there was no way in hell anyone could have ridden more then a third of climb back to base. The last few miles were on pavement and all downhill... :D