Sick ride of North Ogden Shoreline

Directly after a big climb, just before the downhill

We took a quick ride up the steep trail starting at the end of 3500 North, hit Shoreline and rode over to the Divide on this particular Saturday morning.  I had been sick since Tuesday night, and thought I was feeling better, and did for most of the ride.  However, I ended up feeling quite sick the rest of that day and part of Sunday.  I'm guessing the ride prolonged my recovery a bit as I wasn't quite ready for it, but it was fun.

On the ride back my dad ended up getting a hornet that flew into a helmet vent and stung him on the head!  Not fun.

Passing a gate coming near the divide road

Mason loop

The split to the loop portion - up a big hill

We went for a ride up the trail from the end of 3500 North, hit a portion of Shoreline, and then started up the Mason Cove Trail and then split off on a little loop it has that then ends in a wild downhill that takes you back to Shoreline.  The first portion of the trail is a decent amount of climbing and very forested, but after that it opens up, is kind of narrow with a few tech spots, and then turns it a steep downhill on a doubletrack that just flies.  Real fun ride this day.

Riding through the trees - very forested through the first part of the loop

Looking up at Ben Lomond

Early Spring Riding in North Ogden

My dad and I got out for an early spring ride.  The trail was mostly dry, except a couple snow patches.  We just did what I've called the Mason Cove Trail that starts at the end of 3500 North up to the Shoreline doubletrack trail, and then shot down to the road to make a loop.  Mason Cove was in great shape, it was just the doubletrack that will still need some time to dry.

However, it may take more time for me to get back in shape than it takes the trails to dry.  I just got over being sick and the trail really kicked my butt this time.  This trail is already steep, but when you haven't done much riding, and you're out of shape, it was quite formidable.  It was fun to get out though.

Fall North Ogden Shoreline Ride

Looking down the trail that connects to the Shoreline trail

I went for another ride up the North Ogden Shoreline Trail the other day.  We started this day at the end of 3550 North again, rode up the trail that connects to Shoreline.  We didn't go far and only went west on the trail for about a half mile until we hit a closed gate where some hunters were.  We could have went around it, but I'm not sure whether or not it would have been legal.  Fun quick ride with my dad and brother in law.  Finding opportunities has been a bit tougher as my wife and I recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl to our family - she has been absolutely adorable and brings us such joy.

Mason Cove Trail

Coming down a steep section on the newly constructed trail

Starting up the trail from 3500 North

 I went out and hit, shortly before the snow storm struck, a trail section in North Ogden.  Most of the trail, other than the Shoreline section you are on briefly, is unnamed, so I've dubbed the trail the Mason Cove Trail until further notice.  You start from the eastern end of 3500 North, and after 50 yards or so on a doubletrack it swings up into a singletrack trail that climbs up to the Shoreline trail.  This section starts out okay, but gets tricky to find as it intersects several trail, occasionally forks out, and you have to keep your eye out.  Most of the time you just keep heading north on the trail and up when you can.  One section, about a half mile up, pops out on a doubletrack, but about 30 yards later you see a singletrack split off to the left again and take that.

Cranking up the first section before it gets steep

After you make it a little way up it starts to get really steep and more technical.  It is narrow in some sections, with little cacti on either side that you have to be careful of, and then occasionally goes through a grove of trees becoming very steep and very technical.  I took it slow this day so it wasn't too bad, and it was a lot of fun to come down - tight turns, narrow track, high speeds.

Particularly steep, technical part on the first  trail section

About a mile or so up you hit the Shoreline and follow that west for a half mile or so until it has another trail intersecting it up to a retention pond, which you take and at the end of that you pop onto a trail that has been in the works for about two years and is still incomplete.  This trail again is pretty technical, and since I last rode it they have fixed it up again, but it got even more technical.  It was still pretty dry and fun to ride, with occasional snow patches to the sides of the trail.

It was pretty cold this day, but was a lot of fun to get out.  Might be the last time I get a dry trail until the spring.

Just leaving the retention pond and heading onto the new trail

The trail pops out into open rocky section on occasion - this spot is shortly before trail end

On the new trail coming through a forested narrow singletrack section

Mason Cove/North Ogden Shoreline Update

Just a quick update on this trail - I went riding this trail the night that there was a fire up in North Ogden and the rains from earlier in that week had done quite the number on the trail. Just as you're heading around the retaining pond there is a section you have to hike your bike around (I nearly endo-ed trying to ride it), all of the rocky areas have been washed out and are unrideable, and the trail itself has become rough and tough to ride. I'm guessing the phone will be repaired soon and rideable, but it was a bit rough this ride.

UPDATE 10/2011 - I hear that the trail is mostly fixed now and rideable again.

Ventures into the Dark - Night Riding

I got my first taste of riding in the dark. We left about 8:30pm and didn't get back down until somewhere around 10pm. Luckily we made it most of the way up in the dusk, but riding down was very dark for the most part. The only one of us smart enough to come prepared was my dad with a headlamp.

We rode the road up the small connecting trail that would take us to Mason Cove, and rode that (pictured is the retaining pond that takes you from Shoreline to Mason Cove). The way down was pretty dark, but when we were out in the open you could see well enough to anticipate challenges for the most part, but a lot of that trail takes you through the woods, and those portions you could just barely make out the trail, but not much of the obstacles. Taking connecting trail back was again a challenge to even make out the trail. My brakes more or less got down to the metal by the end, which also made it interesting.

The interesting thing about night riding is that you basically know where the trail is, and you know there are going to be challenges, so you just keep moving forward, even though you can't see very far in front of you and can rarely anticipate the challenges, but know if you keep on the trail and keep a constant speed, and trust your bike, that you will basically roll over everything. It reminds me of having faith in God in that you know the path, but can't always see very far down the road, and can't always see the challenges in the way, but know that as you move forward with faith in God that you will constantly be delivered and life will be a thrilling experience.

North Ogden Shoreline and Mason Cove Trail

The most common routes I've taken to the North Ogden Shoreline Trail is from the North Ogden Pass directly onto the trail, or from the end of 3550 North (the east end) taking steep trail that connects up to it. On this particular ride we turned north just before the church on 3550, and rode the rodes up all the way to the highest street, Nebo Ave, where you turn left and then look carefully on the right for a faint trail that is much shorter and less steep that connects to Shoreline.

This ride we actually didn't really ride Shoreline, except to cross over it, and went straight from this connector trail (where the first two pictures are from) to what I will call the Mason Cove Trail, until I hear its actual name. You actually keep riding up the Shoreline Trail by the powerlines until you come to an empty retaining pond, ride around that until you see the trail heading into the forest, without any trailhead or signs. This is the new one that I started riding a year ago that is not quite finished, although everytime I ride the trail it is a bit longer.

Mason Cove is a beautiful trail, with lots of winding through forested sections, occasionally popping out on rock slides with great views over the Ogden valley. I highly recommend the trail. It is not too strenuous aerobically, although it is fairly technical. It is fairly short right now, although if you decide to add the loop that splits off right on the way back down you get some decent length and good climbing on it.

North Ogden Shoreline Trail backwards

We started this trail from the North Ogden Pass this time. It was one of the first few trails dry at this time. It starts out with some nice singletrack for a short jaunt, and then turns into doubletrack the rest of the way. It eventually connects with a new fun trail system that is still being constructed that we generally shoot off to.

Starting from the pass you hit two long brutal climbs. One of them had a small stream trickling down it at this time of year. They were real lung busters, but coming back they were a lot of fun to go back down on. The trail is fairly low on the technical end except for these climbs. Once you shoot off onto the new trails they become a bit more technical, but still overall fairly easy. At least for now - we'll have to see as it develops more.

Bonneville Shoreline Trail - North Ogden Section

The trail system I have probably rode the most is the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. I've spent most of that time on the Ogden section, where I surprising have zero pictures presently. Its my dad's favorite ride, and one of mine.

These pictures are from the North Ogden section. You can start on it at the North Ogden Pass, or like we do there is also a trail that starts at the end of 3500 North, that takes you more or less straight up the mountain. Its a pretty stiff climb for the first portion, but after a bit the singletrack pops you out on a dirt road that goes either direction - we normally head west on it until we hit a gravel pit, then head up again at that point.

From that point you are climbing on a new trail that is still in the process of being made. Its a pretty ride and lots of fun. On the way back we normally split off to the right before we get back to the gravel pit, and it ends up taking you through some more climbs, and then eventually takes you down a long, fast downhill that offers high speeds and eventually pops you out back on the dirt road. At one section, however, there is a quick little downhill that takes you to this interesting stone monument - no clue what, if any, significance it holds, but it is kind of fun.

This trail is fairly strenuous aerobically, probably an intermediate for technical ability, and is great for a quick ride.