Like push my bike more than a half mile through 2 feet of snow, then slog through the streams of mud running down the trail, switchback after switchback, up 1,500 feet of vertical gain, through rocky and dry west facing slopes, exposed and full of ticks. Only to find myself back in the trees, knee deep in snow, wondering if I should keep going all the way to Surveyor's Ridge. Just to see what the ridgetop trail would be like.
Legs tired, sweat pouring off my head--once again, I was way overdressed--I ran through the snowdrift at the top of the clearing, plowing my bike through, knowing that with each pass, the snow would melt just a little faster where my tire had been. I noticed that someone, maybe a snowshoer from weeks past, had built a small snow man at the crest of the hill, complete with twig arms and even a little moss for hair. He had the misfortune of sunny days and mild weather slowly taking their toll on his decomposing body. Soon, I feared, he would be nothing more than a tired heap of twigs and debris.
But despite the twinge of sadness I felt for Frosty, I looked forward to the day that Oak Ridge would be clear again, especially the days of perfect trail conditions, before the weather gets really hot and dry, turning the trail into a Dust Bowl.
Was it worth the push up the hill, through the mud and snow? Heck yes it was. 27 switchbacks of unadulterated bliss.
Date: February 29, 2008. Leap Year: extra day, extra DH.
Riders: Val, Tucker, Lassie, and Stinky.
Trail: Oak Ridge
Area: Surveyor's Ridge
Miles: 3.5
Highlights: Hike-a-bike, sun. Switchback Practice.
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