Flying Dog

A perfect 68 degrees as we pulled into the trailhead parking space at 9:00 am in Jeremy Ranch, halfway between SLC and Park City. Perfect temps to start a long ride as it is destined to get very hot later in the day. We hop on our bikes, me on my old Superlight with a new Fox RCL fork and Rich on his new Surly Karate Monkey single speed. We begin to climb. A perfect, gradual climb with little breaks, here and there, then up again and up again and on and on and on for 6.7 miles through some of the prettiest trail you can imagine. The trail begins as you climb up through meadowy hills with wildflowers brightening your way. A cool breeze keeps you comfortable even though there is no shade. Soon we enter the scrub oak forest, lots of shade and grassy coolness. We keep climbing. Soon, the trees grow up and become a gorgeous forest of aspens, and wildflowers grow in abundance. The views are spectacular as well, looking out over Jeremy Ranch in one direction and toward Park City and the mountains in the other. We finally reach the top and anticipate some sweet downhill. We drop over the summit and head down, giggles and who-hoos cant be contained as the thrill and utter fun of the descent takes over. 4 miles down, we bottom out, ride through an incredible meadow that smells so sweet you wish you could bottle the aroma and take it with you. Then, back up we go! What happened to the 6.7 mile downhill return?? We continue to climb another 2 or 3 miles to the top of Glenwild, and now I'm tired! Legs aching and protesting with each turn of the pedal as we make our way back up. Finally, another summit topped and the final descent! As we are riding the final mile down, I get too close to the inside hill as I'm reacting to rocks and drop offs and my tires slide out and down I go! Not a big deal, I brush myself off, offer up a curse word or two and make my way back to the car. What a ride! 16.7 miles in all, 3 hours. Will definitely return and do that again, hopefully with more miles on my legs for the second uphill push!