DuPont Ride

I went out for a quick ride at Dupont yesterday. I hadn't ridden from Corn Mill Shoals access in a while, so that's where I parked the Grand. There were only a few cars in the lot when I started, and it was a really sticky and dreary morning. It only took about two pedal strokes before the sweat started pouring down my face. I need to get one of those headbands with the sweat gutters built in.

I headed down Corn Mill Shoals and the trail was pretty wet, but this area holds up to wet conditions really well. My first destination was Burnt Mtn (clockwise), and it was great as usual. I was a little worried about the rocky downhill being slick, but it wasn't at all even though the rocks were wet. After Burnt, I rolled down Little River and took the second Cedar Mtn Trail on the left. I pedaled some and walked some. The slickrock was surprisingly grippy considering how wet it was. Once up on Big Rock, I stopped at the usual overlook, and knocked down a small can of Pringles.





It was so nice up there, I think next time I'll pack my hammock and take a nap. After flying down Big Rock, I took Longside, which is always a lot of fun, and then turned left on Pine Tree. I rode the new connector section of Pine Tree across the street, and then Cascade Trail. This will be a nice little trail once it's worn in a bit. I only wish it looped. I did it as an out and back, retraced my steps a bit, and headed up Rock Quarry Rd. I had only taken this up to Micajah, and over to and down Wilkie in the past. This time, I stayed on Quarry Rd. up to the actual quarry and looked around for a bit.





After leaving the quarry, I climbed up Buck Ridge, and took the new part of Micajah. This is a really awesome, new section of trail. There is a big slickrock section, and then the singletrack is nice, flowy, and fast, even though it isn't settled in yet. This was so much fun that I stayed on Micajah all the way back to Quarry Rd and did the loop again, and then finished the ride by coming down Wilkie, which is always a lot of fun, too.





Dupont is such a unique place, and I'm always discovering something new there. I'm really glad the Legislature gave it the State Recreational Forest designation.