Wanting to ride, but not wanting to suffer too much from the heat, Creighton and I hit Hewlett Gulch. This affords the hot and sweaty mountain biker two ways to cool off: a big elevation gain, and multiple creek crossings. Plus, the trail is relatively easy, not being too steep or rocky. But, it has its moments!
Back in the day, Mr. Hewlett built a cabin up a gulch, said gulch being just above the small community of Poudre Park, up the Poudre Canyon. After he set up his homestead, the local indians came by and told him that he built it on a sacred burial ground. Hewlett wisely said, "Ooookay!" And promptly left the valley to mountain bikers. Where now we desecrate the valley with our hoots of a fun descent.
This is the view from the trailhead. It looks hot and parched, and some of it obviously is, but the reality along the trail is lots of flowing water, and a lot of shade.
Here is what is left of Hewlett's cabin. It is at a very pretty place, with water flowing pretty much year around.
Creighton poses for a pretty picture. He is a very nice fellow, super fit, and an excellent mountain biker. He didn't mind at all my wanting to stop along the way and take pictures.
Up towards the top, the gulch widens out.
There are lots of wildflowers still blooming, including my favorite white colchortus. My goal is to get a few of these blooming in my garden.
As I mentioned before, there are also many water crossings. The bike gets a bit muddy and the biker's shoes get completely soaked. But, it is cool, cool water.
Several of the water crossings make for an interesting level of technical riding; because the tires are wet, and the creek is often a dip down and then a steep climb out, it often is quite hard to ride out of the creek bed. Here I am, attempting to struggle out of a particularly challenging spot. And failing.
Lastly, a spot which I used to dread. An impossible, steep, dangerous rock garden. Used to scare the dickens out of me, and I always walked it. It was fun today.
