Spokin’ Sportsman

I’ve had a long stretch of weekends spent at work. I have mixed in a few long road rides (nothing like riding 140 miles and then working the rest of the day), but not so much on the mountainbike. Which, with some of the events that Em and I have planned for this summer, has me a bit concerned.

So, when Courtland (sick fast local) invited me to join him and few others for the Cannel Loop, I knew I was in. Typically, the Cannel trail is a shuttle ride, err,  a point-to-point ride. A loooooong point-to-point ride; so long, most people pay a shuttle service Eschewing the shuttle requires a 35 mile road ride from Kernville to Sherman Pass. I’ve done it twice. On the Walt. Alone. Now, there were some other sickos that wanted to ride to the top. Earn the Plunge. wheels rolling between 5:45 and 6 am. 

Saturday morning, I pulled into the parking lot at the Kern River Brewing Company at 5:52, after enjoying the trio of the moon, mars and venus in the easter sky for the drive. Later than I had intended, and I’d already missed the start of the ride (note to self, and anyone that actually reads this stuff. when arranging a ride, exchange phone numbers don’t do it all via Facebook). I had wheels rolling within five minutes, chasing. Knowing that if Courtland was riding hard, I didn’t have much of a chance of catching him.

Two hours later, I knew I wouldn’t catch him, but I was comfortable that I had plenty of time to meet the shuttle to the top, and join the group for the trail ride.  Enough time for a brief photo, (see love, I’ve learned so much from you)

yes. the Walt is still north of the 49th, and I’m still riding the truth..

4 or 5 miles before the pass (where the shuttle drops off), there is a dirt road turn off. Motorcycle access to the top of Sherman Peak, and I know that there is a nice single track trail from the peak to the trailhead. Only a bit after 9, I had plenty of time, time for some ’sploring. Okay, another note to self and anyone else that might read this, don’t let me make unplanned changes to the ride route. I’m blaming this bad decision on the altitude (maybe 7000 feet). This trail was STEEP. Very steep. I thought about turning back, lack of oxygen obviously blocks prudence. So I kept going. Finally, I reached the ridge, only to see another ridge that I had to cross. And then another. Exploring without a map, based on memory of something I read once somewhere. Another note to self, and more importantly, a note to Emily. 

Instead of meeting the group at tenish, I finally made it to Sherman’s Peak (9900 ft) at noon. Time for lunch…

with some nice views..

one to the east

and to the north

On to the single track. Where I learned that I was quite wasted. And I also learned that there is magic in singeltrack. The Cannel Trail is composed of tasty singletrack mixed in with unpaved roads. I suffered like a dog on the unpaved roads. Completely lacking in motivation or legs. But, on the single track, with only a few exceptions, I picked up the cadence, clicked it down a few gears. and smiled. and smiled. and smiled. even stopped occasionally to break out the camera and tripod..

there were plenty of stream crossings, but even more muddy (and worse) patches in the meadows..  This isn’t all mud

Despite the boost form singletrack, I did smile hugely at the first sighting of Lake Isabella

This is the entrance to the plunge. 5000 feet of descending in less than eight miles. Some loose corners, lots of exposure, sporadically located rocks. fun. fun. fun.

Five miles form the finish, hiking the last significant (but short) climb up the Potato Patch, my revery is interrupted by “Scott Sportsman!!!” screamed by a way-too-fresh Zak. The group (Zak, Courtland, his wife Heather, another Scott, and a guy riding flat pedels!!!) was eating at the cabin in Cannel Meadow when I rolled by, and they had just caught up with me (seems they were running a little later that I was this morning, so while I though I was chasing, I actually had a 30 minute jump on Courtland and Zak)  The power of the mind and attitude to affect the enjoyment of a ride is incredible. Joining the group was an immediate boost to my spirit. Energy came bubbling out of the reserves, the lines got smoother, the drops were aligned, but the switch backs were still tight..

I ended the day with 64 miles, a little over 11,000 feet of climbing, and so knackered that I couldn’t even drink a beer at the pub. I started thinking of their Class v stout days earlier, but i knew that I’d be sleeping in my car if I had a beer. I didn’t even have the energy to eat, settling for a doggie bag.  It has been a while since I was so beat by a ride. But, as with all rides, now I sit back and smile. It was a good time, can’t wait for the next adventure.. BC Bike Race next weekend. Seven days of racing. Back on the Walt…