RR: Waterman and Hilyer for some

[dstepper]

Thanks to all that showed up. Dillon, John, Mike, Matt, Tin, Lynn, Scott, and I. Hope you all enjoyed the ride up to the Waterman Vortex. Vortex because we could see the sun shinning up on the summit has we climbed. Snow on sections of the trail, not very rideable uphill but mostly rideable on the way down. Matt (Burner) seemed to do very well coming down. For those that chose not to come because of the rain you blew it. Never rained on us at all, it got a little cold when we stopped in the wind. For sure one of the best locals rides I has done this year. Stunning Trail.

After Waterman John and Dillon came off the mountain and the rest of us when on to Mt. Hilyer. I will let Mr. Freak tell his story, hint...it was just Scott, Lynn and I that made it up and over Hilyer.

Second to last and last pics are from Hilyer. That is Scott cleaning that nasty climb to the way up to Hilyer Boulder Field. Nice job Scott...I have never seen you so out of breath before.

[Pain Freak]

Typed up a rider to your rr and my freekin PC ate it. I deleted some thing call broad something and now my PC is back on track.

Really beautiful place to ride, Mt Waterman. The air was a little thin and the temps were a little on the downside, but the riding and people were great. The ride here is on the short side and it's a long drive up, so if you're going to head up, it's best to plan two rides. Mt Waterman and ??? Some of us ended up riding the Silver Moccasin twice cause we liked it so much.

Johnny Dirt and his cohort Dillon joined us and Dillon has one really sweat ride. I'll post a pic of it.

I want to go back to this place and ride it again when the snow is gone. It wasn't really bad, but it made for some interesting riding and like Dean said Burner did good riding it. I went down at least 3 times and don't let it fool you...Snow hurts. I even got a pic of a snow tire.

[VTVic]

Nice shots guys. Wish I could have made it.

[Johnny Dirt]

Dean, Mike, Matt, Lynn, Scott & Tin-- Dillon and I had a great time riding with you guys. Dillon really enjoyed his first "thin air" ride and snow is really fun to ride on(in small doses). Wished we could of stayed for 2nd ride but the boy had science homework to finish up. He is studying how mountians are made, so basically, he has been "studying" all day.
Here are some pics.

[tkblazer]

looks cold as F up there... how did you take to the cold mikey boy?

[Pain Freak]

It was cold, but not unbearably so. I had foot and hand warmers going and they really work well for a while. At the top I'd guess the temps were somewhere in the high 30's to the low 40's. The beauty of the place keeps your mind off it.

[Burner]

What a great day! I had so much fun out there. We had a really good fun group out there. The mt waterman trail is short, but awesome. Great trail, great scenery. Riding on the snow can get interesting, got to keep going straight and carry a little speed... or else it's wheel washout time. Made for some good comedy. Oh and fresh snow is much easier to ride than the old re-frozen stuff

I was feeling good on the bike, and the altitude didn't affect me for some reason I think everyone had a blast on Waterman.

So then.... We decided we wanted to do some more riding, and since Chilao was close, we decided we'd head over there to do a short out and back to mt hilyer.... until a few of us got a little ahead, that is.

Dean hinted at it, but Tin and I found out first hand just how "directionally challenged" Mike is, and how he likes to "investigate alternate destinations". So we're heading down silver mocassin, Mike's in front, Tin and I following... we get dumped out on to the pavement, and Mike turns up the road, and we follow (idiots!). We get a good way's up the road and realize we are doing a tiny loop back to the car, mostly pavement. We try radios to find out where Dean, Scott, and Lynn are, but all communication was broken up and not understandable. So back at the cars, we decide we'll do another loop down the trail to try to find them, this time we take it all the way to horse flats, passing right by the hilyer trail, back on the pavement for an even longer climb back this time. Ended up that Mike gave us the (mostly) road tour of Chilao

No matter how hard you try Mikey, you're not going to make a roadie out of me!

on to the pics
Beautiful Scenery


Scott using some body english on the snow.


Tin and a stream xing


rider's eye view of some of the deeper stuff, no bike tracks... yet!


first time I've ever had snow on my bike


Mike and Johnny Dirt in the background


Dean enjoying himself


Rock at the summit that made a nice wind shield


at the summit, any time a tree tries to grow taller than another, the lightning takes care of trimming it back down. it was amazing, EVERY tree at the top, had been struck.


Mike and Tin at the end of the Waterman descent


all packed up... what homer drives this truck?


I think Scott might have some action shots

[Pain Freak]

I can't get the rest of my photos to go to My Pic's folder???

How many times do I have to tell you guys "Don't follow me?". You forgot to tell them about your "senior moment....

Since were on the fact telling part of the ride...We are barrelling down Silver Moccasin for the second time and we are really moving along and I know Burner is not to far back when all of a sudden I hear this sand crunching noise and then a big "OOF". I stop on the dh turn around and look back up the hill to see Burner on the ground. I asked are you okay and he say's he's fine. I ask him what happened and he says "I don't know", now is where I think he should chime in with what he forgot to do.....

Still you got to admit that section was worth doing twice.

[Burner]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I know Burner is not to far back when all of a sudden I hear this sand crunching noise and then a big "OOF". ...I ask him what happened and he says "I don't know", now is where I think he should chime in with what he forgot to do.....

Still you got to admit that section was worth doing twice.

There's a waterbar drop onto a rock in a turn, my front wheel hit the rock and I got instantly bucked. I'd forgotten that I had my fork locked out from the FIRST PAVEMENT CLIMB and I was expecting some squish.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by Burner

and I was expecting some squish.

Right! blame it on the equipment.

[Burner]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Right! blame it on the equipment.

heh, yeah it was my fault, I just felt like rubbing the pavement loop in more to Mike. I probably would have handled it better on the rigid bike, truth be told.

[sheclimbs]

Thanks to one and all. I had a great time hangin' with all the boys on Sunday. John and Dillion it was nice to meet you both. Sorry we lost a few of you on the extra credit ride. (I'm not so sure we should leave Mike and Matt alone to find their way in the forest!)
It's not often you get to hit two great places in the same day as Scott said, "It's worth the long drive" ...thanks for driving!