Some sketchy moments today as it seemed to be a bit icy and then it transitioned to super sketchy icy as I started in Turner park and made it down the steep hill thinking things would be ok.
It was fine until I got past the new railroad bridge detour. It was a bit icy on the way up but those Dillenger's seemed to do what they were supposed to and I rode up with zero issues. After that all the sun exposed trail sections were pure ice and those areas are in the steeps.
I awkwardly carried my bike up and down those hills until I found a way up to the paved. I could have stayed on it but I'm old and have a job that relies on me with no broken bones. I felt no shame cradling my bike down some of those sections.
I rode lame paved up to the boat launch and knew the easy side of this trail system would be fine and it was. The ride on that section made the whole paved section that much more worth it. I grew a lot of respect for the Train in Vain section of the trail which I wasn't all that impressed with before. Is it a winter bike thing? better in the winter?
Will see come summer. I did try to ride most of the new trails dug in on that side over the last five years. I have been avoiding them because I tend to stay in my lane a little too much.
So you ask… Fort Saskatchewan again? I figured it had the best snow based on my last ride in the south Henday area.
The fun ended when I returned to the boat launch and wanting to avoid hurting myself rode a fat bike all the way back on the paved. Oooooof… I missed my new gravel bike in those moments today.
All in all.. Top notch ride kids.
