Sun, Oct 18 2015 - Sugar Mama - Snakes & Ladders - Ridgeback (View Original Event Details)
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The day was warmer than I expected but a great temp for a fall day on the trails. I don't think Bruce likes me because he came to the event and then went home excusing himself to Margo with a tale of a problem shoulder... we missed you, slacker.
So off five of us went although one considered turning back whilst having a hard time on the up, bail option 1. (I hate ups too BTW). In the end we all made it up Sugar Mama while keeping in mind some options. After a short consideration we all continued up Ranger instead of taking Bobcat down (bail option 2).
SNAKES AND LADDERS is great and I think all were glad to go down. Up from Ranger Creek at the bottom of the valley - not as much.
Bail option 3. After the initial uphill of S&L towards Ridgeback, you come to a logging road. Into the unknown three of us went. Margo and Andrew went the whole hog, I took the other girls into the unknown. In an attempt to speed the group along and cut out some of the elevation gain, I knew R3 was intersected by a logging road in two spots. Hoping we'd connect we rode the logging road looking for the singletrack crossing. I missed R3 but spotted what turned out to be Tom Snow. So for any coordinators looking to repeat this shortcut, here is your beta:
As you ride up S&L and intersect the logging road, make a left turn. You go down, little up, a couple of sweeping turns looking for a singletrack intersection. First will be R3, then you'll pass Tom Snow. If you should miss both and drop down to a logging bridge over a creek then you went too far.
We regrouped at the intersection of Tom Snow and Bobcat where a sunny meadow and convenient log bench made a good spot for a break. Once again as a group of five, we continued out on Tom Snow and R1 to Station Flats. A final km of road with a gentle downward gradient brought us to the trailhead and the end of the ride.
I had stats of
Distance: 15.65km
Elevation: 435m
Total time for group: 4 hours
Grant P
Margo's 50 cents
It was a gorgeous day for riding, 17C and mostly sunny. Lots of climbing but very enjoyable. Snakes and ladders a great swoop down with some climbing as well. The "W" switchback thing kind of odd, but overall a nicely planned trail! Great conditions for mid autumn!