Cottonwood Creek Hike a BIke with the LT

Roughly 23 miles with riding time of 4:20


"I'll choose a route in the mountains that will let us escape the 100+ degree heat this Saturday" suggested the LT. Despite his questionable history of route selection, I agreed-  with the provision that he'd select no motorcycle trails.

This blog would be much better with 3 photos we didn't take- the fancy bridges at the bottom, an angry coiled 3' bull snake, and a deep creek crossing,  - but those photos weren't taken.

After about an hour and half of driving we arrived at the Cottonwood Creek trailhead.  There were 3 steps to start- a questionable welcome for mountain bikes, and within 100', an aggressive bull snake was coiled, raising its head, and hissing loudly at us- giving us a "welcome" or a warning about the ride we should have heeded.

Steve on the wide pleasant section

Will enjoying the views of the bottom section

The first 3 creek crossing were on wide expensive bridges (no photos). At the 4th crossing, there was suddenly no bridge. The water was about 2' deep, and the LT, despite his instinctive dislike of water, was quickly taking off his shoes and fording the stream. I tried pushing my bike through just downstream while balancing myself on two broken logs, but I gave up when the front wheel was completely submerged and the first broken log threatened to roll me. I couldn't find a shallow place (we were hemmed in by the brush), so, I followed the LT's lead fording the 2' cold water. There would be no more bridges, but the other creek crossings were only a few inches deep. Most of this mountain had been burned a few years ago.  Trees haven't sprouted yet and brush is taking over where the USFS hasn't maintained the trail, which is most of the ride. Soon we were riding in conditions like this:

Steve, still riding through the brush!

We were only about 2 miles into the ride when the brush overtook the trail, and I suggested to the LT that we might turn around. He seem shocked at the suggestion. "Of course we would continue through the brush to the top of the mountain" was his attitude.  The brush continued to thicken, and soon we were both forced to push- riding only short sections in thinner brush here and there.  The brush had lower dead branches that were very adapt at grabbing my stirrup style pedals, and bringing my pushing to a miserable end until I was able to disentangled the branch(es) from my pedal.  Unknown to me at 4.1 miles the brush pushed my odometer's magnet all the way to the rim.  When the mileage stayed at 4.1 miles with no mileage gain as I put forth great effort, I thought I'm really not enjoying this route which the LT had chosen. I'm used to magnets turning slightly or even sliding down the spoke an inch or two which is easily adjusted, but my magnet appeared to be gone. After about 2 miles, the LT noticed the same problem with his odometer, and found his magnet had been pushed up against the wheel by the brush.  My magnet had done the same thing, so I slid the magnet back where it belonged, and it started recording mileage again.

Lest the brush wasn't enough, stinging nettles do well in recent burns, and many got us going into or out of the brush. Mosquitoes and cockleburs also left their mark on our insulted legs.

Crossing one of the wet bogs in the brush, the LT saw me step on a little water snake that in response apparently struck at me in my lycra protected legs, but it missed me, and I missed seeing the little serpent.

The plan had been to eat lunch where the trail meets a mountain road, ride up to the old lookout, and then enjoy a fast descent on the USFS dirt road.  We were hungry and I was tired, so we ate lunch at the first shade where the burned area met the remaining forest. Here we both drank the last of our water.  The LT keeps saving weight by not carrying his filter, and I always think I can rely on that water filter that stays on his shelf!  The cool small stream below us was tempting, but there were beaver dams below, and I believe beavers are a source of giardia, so our mouths began to dry.  Here there was no brush to grab our bikes and scratch our lycra clad legs, but it was generally too steep for our tired bodies to ride.

The LT nears the top on a rideable section

we finally reach the USFS road!

The plan to ride from 4,000 ft to 7,000 ft did take us into the cooler air, but without water, we decided not to continue up what was probably another 1,000 ft to the fire tower. Views from the height we reached were great.

View from the top

The LT at the top on his downhill racing bike

enjoying the descent

Nearly all descents are fun, and this one was no exception- meeting no cars on this dirt road with the green grass strip down the middle, it was a great descent. A few short steep climbs kept it interesting, and soon we were back at the hot pickup. I had suggested bringing a cooler with cold water, but the LT thought two quarts of hot gatorade would be sufficient. That drink reminded me of drinking hot jello when a child, but it beat a continued parched mouth. Cold water would have been great, and I believe we'll take a cooler for the pickup next time, and maybe get that filter off the shelf where it looks so outdoorsie!  In a few days our scratched legs should be recovered!

Happy cycling for fun, fitness, and transportation!


Steve