Steve's Mountain Bike Page
Turlock, California

Fort Ord, Monterey, CA
February 26, 2005

Fort Ord Memories

Although I hadn't ridden at Fort Ord in about a year, last week at Sea Otter I was reminded how beautiful it looks in the spring. So I decided to ride it this week. Coincidently, about 25-30 other folks from mtbr had the same idea. The forecast called for a chance of showers and as we were all getting ready we experienced quite a downpour. However, it only lasted a few minutes and then we set out in "on again, off again" showers for a little bit.

We split fairly evenly into fast and not so fast groups, and made our way (I don't remember the exact route) towards some great downhill singletrack on Trails 50 and 49, eventually going up 43 and then down the Goat Trail (41). Along the way we met up with the fast group for a bit and a few of the "not so fasts" left us in search of a shorter route back. About halfway down the Goat Trail Cohenfive was feeling pretty frisky on his new S-Works Stumpjumper and he did a pretty good jump right in front of me. He made the landing quite well but there was another good sized bump he failed to negotiate, and he did a spectacular endo, tumbling down the trail like thrown dice. I don't know how he survived, but somehow he did. However, he suffered some pretty good cuts and bruises. Cohenfive wasn't feeling too well but he hung on for most of the way back up Jack's Road, at which time everybody but Nativeson (who was leading us) and VTVic left us for a shorter way back. Until that time it was quite unusual riding for me since I was about in the middle of the pack. However, with just the three of us I was back in my more familiar "sweep" position. But both of them were quite considerate and they stuck with me. Shortly thereafter I learned it was VTVic that tended to my serious leg wound on the February Palm Spring trip.

Nativeson seems to know Ord like the back of his hand and he took us on some amazing trails, some of which are not on the map. We had to do a good bit of hike-a-bike up Trails 49 and 11 but we were more than rewarded with fantastic long, downhill singletracks, particularly on Trails 50 and 59. Trail 59, which was quite narrow with dense vegetation, and had a lot of low hanging branches, reminded me of a jungle. I failed to make it under one branch, hit my head, and I was knocked off the bike. We eventually came back via Trail 14 and found several of the fast group enjoying some food and cold beer. I met several new mtb'ers, the trails were in spectacular shape, the weather eventually became sunny and warm, and I had a great time! Thanks everyone, especially Nativeson! 

Click on an image to enlarge it

Pre-ride	Stripes & new ride	Pre-ride	Early regroup	Early regroup	On the trail
Stop	?	BigLarry	Stripes	Both groups meet	Cohenfive
Both groups meet	?	Cohenfive	BigLarry	Stripes	Goat Trail
Jack's Rd.	Victor	Victor	Victor	VTVic	VTVic
Victor	Scenery	Dwight	?	VTVic	?
Nativeson on Red Rock	Dwight on Red Rock	VTVic on Red Rock	Red Rock	Victor on Red Rock	Nativeson on Red Rock
VTVic on hike-a-bike	VTVic  & Nativeson	Trail 11	Trail 50	Trail 50	Trail 50
Trail 50	Vulture	Nativeson on Trail 59	VTVic  on Trail 59	VTVic  on Trail 59	Post ride

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