I'm trying to get in shape for the semi-annual Bike The Swell festival organized by the MECCA bike club at the end of this month in the San Rafael Swell, so AmyZ and I went up into Parley's Canyon today to bike the Alexander Creek Trail.
Alexander Creek is in Parley's Canyon, which most skiers know as the route I-80 takes from Salt Lake City to Park City. Home for us is right at the mouth of Parley's. I-80 tops out at 7,000 feet at Parley's Summit. This trail starts at 5,500 feet near Mountain Dell Reservoir in the lower canyon and meets the freeway at the summit, but it follows the Alexander Creek drainage which is one valley north of the route that the freeway takes, although Alexander Creek isn't much of a creek at this time of year. As a result of its divergent route, there's a ridge separating the rider from the highway so you have no clue that it's even there.
Click here for an interactive map with our GPS track
Now, I'm not much of a climber -- I prefer downhill trails, or at least relatively flat ones -- so the fact that we made it 800 verts up the trail made me happy. Unlike most trails around here it's surprisingly devoid of rocks, roots and sand. We didn't make the top -- I was a mile short of Parley's Summit when I was shot. I'm pleased, though, that I only had two short moments of hike-a-bike. AmyZ kept saying that it "builds character" -- screw that! :roll: We should've had Mrs. Admin drop us at Parley's Summit and ride the trail as a downhill. Now that would've been fun! We could've then ridden the shoulder of I-80 right back to the house.
Alexander Creek Trail - about a mile in, looking east
Alexander Creek Trail - about a mile in, looking west
As you get higher up the route of the trail joins an underground gas pipeline, so you're riding through an artificial meadow that looks for all the world like a ski run. Unfortunately, that means little shade.
Alexander Creek Trail
Alexander Creek Trail
AmyZ
Eventually the views become rather sweeping.
The down was a heluva lot more fun than the up.
AmyZ
AmyZ
I'm thinking that we may hit the Wasatch Crest Trail before Bike The Swell.
Alexander Creek is in Parley's Canyon, which most skiers know as the route I-80 takes from Salt Lake City to Park City. Home for us is right at the mouth of Parley's. I-80 tops out at 7,000 feet at Parley's Summit. This trail starts at 5,500 feet near Mountain Dell Reservoir in the lower canyon and meets the freeway at the summit, but it follows the Alexander Creek drainage which is one valley north of the route that the freeway takes, although Alexander Creek isn't much of a creek at this time of year. As a result of its divergent route, there's a ridge separating the rider from the highway so you have no clue that it's even there.
Click here for an interactive map with our GPS track
Now, I'm not much of a climber -- I prefer downhill trails, or at least relatively flat ones -- so the fact that we made it 800 verts up the trail made me happy. Unlike most trails around here it's surprisingly devoid of rocks, roots and sand. We didn't make the top -- I was a mile short of Parley's Summit when I was shot. I'm pleased, though, that I only had two short moments of hike-a-bike. AmyZ kept saying that it "builds character" -- screw that! :roll: We should've had Mrs. Admin drop us at Parley's Summit and ride the trail as a downhill. Now that would've been fun! We could've then ridden the shoulder of I-80 right back to the house.
Alexander Creek Trail - about a mile in, looking east
Alexander Creek Trail - about a mile in, looking west
As you get higher up the route of the trail joins an underground gas pipeline, so you're riding through an artificial meadow that looks for all the world like a ski run. Unfortunately, that means little shade.
Alexander Creek Trail
Alexander Creek Trail
AmyZ
Eventually the views become rather sweeping.
The down was a heluva lot more fun than the up.
AmyZ
AmyZ
I'm thinking that we may hit the Wasatch Crest Trail before Bike The Swell.
