|   Up and Down in Downieville | TimL
Jun 8, 2003 1:51 PM | | Thursday I wanted to go to Auburn with my buddy Holden to pre-ride the course for a race we are doing in a few weeks. No problem, right. Enter Fast Eddy.
Me: Hey you wanna go ride in Auburn, stay up in Tahoe at Holden's house and catch another ride on the way home Friday?
Eddy: Downieville
Me: Isn't there snow up there still?
Eddy: Downieville
Me: uh, OK...
We loaded up my truck and headed to Auburn Thursday morning. The race course is going to be fun. It starts right at the American River Confluence, has two moderately pitched open climbs and some nice singletrack. It was hot and dry though and I'm thinking it will be even warmer in a few weeks.
Alright, back on track...Downieville. We roll into town around 6PM and meet up with Greg at Yuba Expeditions for a trail report. Snow still on the steep section of the road to Packer Saddle and on the higher elevation trails. How much? Not too bad, clear at the top of Pauley Creek and maybe some patches on Smith Lake OHV. Sweet we are in for a big loop.
Camped near town and got a reasonably early start to a long day in and out of the saddle. The lesson in pain we chose went like this:
Up First Divide, Up Third Divide, Up Butcher Ranch, Up Pauley Creek, Up Smith Lake OHV, DOWN (at long last) Big Boulder, Down Second Divide, Down First Divide to back to town.
I was surprised at how rideable the trail was, not that I wasn't off the bike pushing more than usual. Some loose and steep sections of Third needed walking, as well as some of the steep or real rocky sections at the top of Pauley Creek. There was a bit of snow (10' wide patches) on the Smith Lake trail before the turn down to Smith Lake. After the turn the going got slower as we had to walk through snow and do a bit of route finding until the trail came a little more around the west flank of the ridge. It was totally worth it though.
Big Boulder is in perfect shape. Totally snow free. We stopped occasionally to pull dead fall off the trail, but it was tight and technical and left me grinning. Second Divide was the best I have ever ridden it; a fast smooth roll that kept me spinning the middle ring. Oh yeah and First was fun also.
Burritos at the new taco shop next door to Yuba. Gregs wife's place? I believe. And then the long drive home to the Bay Area. Not too many pictures, but here you go:
 Auburn | Culvert Trail? You come flying out of the bright noonday sun into a 100 yard long black hole hoping that the trail through the tunnel is smooth.
 Auburn | Fast Eddy down a rocky bit of trail.
 Auburn | Me same place
 Downieville Campsite
 Fast Eddy climbs a nice smooth section of 3rd Divide
 Snow on Smith Lake OHV a little below the turn to Smith Lake
 The view of the Sierra Buttes from near the top of Big Boulder
 Ed coming down Big Boulder
 Me coming down Big Boulder near an abandoned mine. I didn't want to crop too much out of the picture
Ride some - Tim |
| You guys are killing me.....really | Jrm
Jun 8, 2003 3:29 PM | | I am so looking forward to D-ville.Wanna ride locally next weekend? |
| Thanks...I needed this post....Great pics....2nd Divide is.... | Ebo
Jun 8, 2003 4:40 PM | | is truly one of the best 4 1/2 mile sections of single track you will ever find. Always wonder why most people just shoot down the 2 plus miles of 3rd Divide and skip 2nd. I guess the same could be said for Big Boulder. Great trail and super narrow. Cheers. |
| are those gears on FE's bike? | moschika
Jun 8, 2003 4:55 PM | | what's up wit dat? |
| And what's up with the <I>white socks???</I> | Finch Platte
Jun 8, 2003 7:55 PM | | He must be gay.
fp |
| HEY | Spiff
Jun 8, 2003 8:22 PM | | I use white socks too...got a problem withthat ? hum..at least they were white for the first 5 min into the dirt.
now they are brown (not that I havent tried to clean them)
Gui |
| must think his name is lance armstrong | moschika
Jun 8, 2003 9:14 PM | |  |
| LOL. That's my <I>freeride</I> bike. | Fast Eddy
Jun 9, 2003 11:25 AM | |
I would've had to walk a lot if I'd have gone SS. I've got some new parts on the gearie, and it's the right tool for the job. |
| Sweet, | Zonic Man
Jun 8, 2003 6:08 PM | | That's quite a few of the trails we'll be riding up at the gathering! Alright!
(Thanks for the call, guys, like I wouldn't have rode with ya....at least in auburn!) |
| Sorry man, I thought everyone would be working. nm | Fast Eddy
Jun 9, 2003 11:23 AM | | |
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