| Name: | Big Cottonwood - East Canyon loop | 
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| Description: | Summer time is finally here and with it prospects for some longer rides. I figured to start up with something that's fairly long but well known to avoid surprises, although, in the end, there have been some anyway. I set off at about 8am, and, it was fairly cloudy already, the forecast was saying 20% chance of rain, so, I figured it'll be alright. Still, I took the rain jacket just in case, I usually do even when there's a slightest chance of rain. It was mostly overcast and the ride up Big Cottonwood was quite pleasant. There were loads of cyclists going down, apparently there was some kind or road race. It started drizzling above Silver Fork and a good rain came just as I was nearling lower Solitude exit - so, I jumped under the roof at the ticket office there. The rain was not letting go for about 1/2 hour, so, I spent time there eating, drinking, and trying to figure out how the rains are going to do on my cell phone display of the NWS radar. It was hard to say from the radar, but, looking out after the rain slowed down, it actually looked better upcanyon than downcanyon, so, I decided to go on. There was no rain till Guardsman Pass so the climb was quite nice. It started drizzling at the pass, and it was a bit chilly so I put on the jacket (first test of a new fancy Gore Bike Wear which I got as a response to the June rains). It drizzled all the way to Jeremy Ranch, but nothing too bad. I refilled water at the gas station there and the rain stopped so I too the jacket off. It was fine till about 1/2 way down East Canyon, then rain again, so, jacket on again. The EC road is more bumpy this year, probably due to the earlier rains. It stopped raining again once I started climbing up the road to Big Mtn. Pass, and, suprisingly, the climb up - which I usually dread - was nice - the sun was not up so it was not hot. I took the Mormon Trail down from the pass, it's quite overgrown and more bumpy than I remember - but perhaps it's just the hardtail that I rode. Then it was just a quick stretch to get home. Overall a great ride, the rains were a bit stressful but on the other hand, they made the whole ride much cooler which in turn meant that I was much less dehydrated than usuall and felt better at the end than after similarly long ride in the sun. I guess unless there are torrential rains, riding under the clouds and in the drizzle is not all that bad - of course - on the road on on the trail where one would get more covered with mud, etc. | |
| URL: | TopoFusion Home Page | |
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| Total Distance: | 74.99 miles (120.69 km) |
| Total Trip Time: | 6:28:19 (5:36:28 moving time) |
| Total Climbing: | 8877 feet (2706 m) |
| Total Descending: | 8639 feet (2633 m) |
| Average Speed: | 13.37 mph (21.52 kph) |
