A black
Lamborghini Countach racing down a California highway at break neck speeds;
what impressionable young man can ever forget that opening scene? So I’m standing at the trailhead just off the
Brainard Rec Area parking lot contemplating the Waldrop or N. Sourdough
trail. According to most trail guides
I’m in for a black diamond run whichever route I choose and at first I feel
like Burt Reynolds but soon I’ll feel like Dom DeLuise.
Right out of
the gate and past the 814/835 split the tread is absolutely amazing – a superb
mix of moist Dirt, pine needles and fine Rocky Mountain gravel. Waldrop (trail 814) slopes gradually on tight
single-track before the cannonballs make their first appearance. The insanity continues as the descent
progresses, sometimes steeply, over boulders that would give any would-be
Cannonballer pause.
A rider with
supreme rock hopping abilities cold probably make it down on two wheels but for
an intermediate rider like myself, with a mortgage, I thought it wise to avoid
Dr. Nikolas Van Helsing and dismounted where appropriate. Your sense of smell will be overcome with the
aromas of pine forest, rain and moist Dirt kept ripe by the abundant shade;
will surely take your mind off the treacherous terrain.
At 1.68 miles
you reach a trail junction with the Brainard Snowshoe trail. Clouds were building and I didn’t have much
time for exploring more unfamiliar terrain so I stuck to the main trail to the
right. Here it got a little wet but the
black clay mud stuck to the ground which made for nice traction, for mud
anyway. You’ll roll along a couple of
raised platforms to keep you above the really soggy stuff – they’re about 6 to
8 inches wide and will test your balance – before reaching a sweet bridge over
the South Saint Vrain creek at 1.84 miles.
The rushing water was quite a sight and flows west in case you lose your
bearings – also a nice boardwalk at 2 miles.
From here it
is a short climb to another trail split at 2.17 miles with South Saint Vrain
trail No. 909; I chose to stay right toward Sourdough Trail 835. The trail in this direction starts flowing
nicely but the rocks reappear with a familiar vengeance. You reach another split at 4.05 miles and
here’s where I made my first mistake.
Having caught up with some other riders I decided to head in their same
direction or left on Sourdough 835; that worked out about as well as a couple
of priests in a red Ferrari trying to win a date. In hindsight I probably should have gone
right toward the Red Rock trailhead but I was riding solo and if I had any
trouble out here in the wilderness I thought it would be safer to be near other
trail users.
This section
of Sourdough was gnarly (see opening paragraph pic) I found myself dismounting often to avoid any pain
and suffering. I soon lost track of my
comrades and after about half a mile I finally spilled out onto an isolated
forest road tucked away within a canopy of pine trees now simmering in the cool
mist of cloud cover. The trail sign
pointed left so naturally I went all Bradshaw/Tillis and headed right to a dead
end at the private and secluded Duncan Park.
After the short detour I was back on track, so I thought. Having passed a few feeder roads and missing
the trail along the way I was relieved to catch up with a firewood delivery
truck and followed them out to Hwy 72.
From here it was one long climb back to the Brainard Rec Area parking
lot.
Turning
around and retracing my route would have meant more hike-a-bike and could have
felt longer than sitting through Cannonball Run 2. You’ll quickly find that Black Diamond up
here in the Rockies means boulders and the Waldrop/Sourdough tandem is full of
‘em. I wouldn’t recommend riding alone
out here but if you do make sure you stick close to other trail users. I had the wherewithal to bring along my Garmin
handheld but thankfully I didn’t need to use it.
You can find
the route profile at Waldrop Sourdough North; this was one heck of a ride and one I won’t soon
forget. Thanks for clicking in and hope
to see you on the trail.
Dirt Life
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