I rode the loop last night and it was wicked fast. The trail is bermed on both inside and outside corners making it a total blast. Steamer Alley was close to normal after recovering from a good overdue cleaning earlier this year. It is not totally covered with screed but it is getting there. There were not a lot of big steamers but enough to ruin your day. Trail conditions were perfect 64F nice sunset and a big almost full moon. Did not see anybody else on the trail which makes it that much faster. Once I got on the South section there were no footprints and only a few tire tracks Happy loose rock strewn chutes and climbing trails.
Sorry, I did call this a loop. It is really a lollypop. The first and last 4 miles is an out n back. 99.99% single track. Two sets of Railroad tie steps, they are rideable but they do not have even spacing or even drops so if you were going to go OTB this is the place. The trail follows the contour 1/2 the time so it is very twisty and fast.