Smith Creek

Rob, Jack, Dave and I rode the Smith Creek loop on September 5th. With the extra distance from Marble Mountain, we finished with 35 miles and 5,000 feet of climbing.

Jeep and Jack

The tread was in great shape after the recent rain, and we had a good pace on the climb up from the trailhead. Rob finished in 53 minutes. Jack, Dave and I got there in 56.

We hit a strong head-wind on the Plains, but still made it to Windy Ridge in 2 hours and 12 minutes (from the Ape Canyon trailhead).

The descent into Smith Creek was brushy, but the bottom and the climb up Lava Canyon were wide open, thanks to the hard work of Jerry de Ruyter and the PUMP crew.

We didn’t see a single person until mile 33 on the way back.

North side of the Plains of Abraham

If you do this ride, it’s a good idea to go with someone who has been there before. Also, it’s wise to have someone with a pump so that you can filter water out of Smith Creek since hydration can be an issue.

Jack with Smith Creek in the distance