Biking the Wild Turkey Trail
I decided to go out for another mountain bike ride before a final snow storm worked it’s way through the area mid-week. Only two days after my last mountain bike ride, the original plan was to tackle two other nearby trails, but as is the norm with any plans I am involved in, they are inevitably changed in the final moments.Instead, Conor and I chose to finish off a trail we have long neglected; Wild Turkey Trail, part of the Heil Valley Ranch just outside Lyons, CO.
To get to the Wild Turkey trail requires hiking or biking up one of two other trails; Wapiti Trail or Picture Rock Trail. Conor and I had already hiked and biked Wapiti last year, and although I just biked Picture rock only two days prior, it is such an enjoyable trail I was all too excited to do it again and Conor had yet to bike this trail. So the plan shifted to riding up Picture Rock to the Wild Turkey Trail (a loop) and back down Picture Rock… a total of 13 miles of trail and 1,400 foot in elevation.
The first 3 miles (the same 3 I had just done solo) were smooth going and ideal. It was nit until we passed the old homestead that the trail turned on us. What was a nice smooth trail changed to rocks, rocks, and more rocks. From small tire-puncturing rocks poking out from the trail to fist sized loose ones that tried to throw me from my bike every so often. Then there are the large boulders that you are forced to ride directly over that sometimes grab hold of both front and rear tires at the same time forcing the bike to an abrupt halt while I nearly go over the handle bars. Sprinkle in a little bit of mud on the trail and you have one heck of an adventure!
By the time we completed the 5 miles to get to the Wild Turkey Trail we were already pretty well worn out, but the challenge was right there. We took a break long enough to consume a PB sandwich before moving on. It was here that we realized that were were in for a long ride back to the car. Even though it would be down hill, it would be rough and rocky terrain that jars the wrists, shoulders, and knees.
We did finally make it to the overlook we had tried to hike to once before. A few snapshots and a quick break and we were headed back towards the car. Conor took a nice spill about half-way down, followed by a spill of my own a few miles later. Neither were serious, and no mountain biking trek would be complete without a little blood so we kept motoring on. Again, the final 3 miles were smooth sailing and very fast over an ideal trail downhill. By the time we reached the car the total mileage clocked in at 16 miles (we parked 1.5 miles away from the trail head). Both of us could only barely walk, but neither of us were doing much complaining… it was a sweet 16!
