about as nice as you could want

For the first time in what seems like ages, it was sunny when we rode at Round Valley.  I didn't even have to wear long sleeves!  We got up and got going, not super early but enough to get ourselves over to Park City before mid-morning.  It was a gorgeous day - sunny but not hot - and we were surprised that the parking lot wasn't fuller than it was.

Rusty Shovel

Not ones to look in the mouths of gift horses, we hopped on our MTBs.  Passing mid-week rain showers had tamped down the dust somewhat and the trails were in good shape.  After warming up around the Ability Center, we cut over to the north side to climb Happy Gilmor and Tin Man.  I really like those climbs: although there is a lot of up, none of it is particularly steep so you can just fall into a rhythm and crank your way to the top.

From Rademan Ridge, we went down Rambler, across Round Valley Express and back up Rambler via the sagebrush switchbacks, where I got passed by a sixteen year old kid and managed not to take it personally.  Then we did more climbing (yay climbing!): up PorcUClimb, down Down Dog and back up PorcUClimb again.

Rambler

To finish out the ride (which would end up being around seventeen miles, my longest of the summer), we went down Rusty Shovel and then back to Quinn's trailhead via Rambler - or Ramble On, whichever one has the climb with the three stair-steps.  At the truck for beers and snacks (since the Park City Brewery still hasn't reopened a tap room), the sun was strong but still pleasant.  Truly about as nice a day for MTBing as you could ask for.