REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Dodging the storm at Soapstone

903 Views 19 Replies 13 Participants Last post by mtbmike1, Jul 13, 2009

cytoe

Discussion Starter · Jul 3, 2009 (Edited)

17

Picked up Gilbo182 and hit Soapstone today. While the trail was pretty easy (only 1160 total ft of climbing), the views were sweet. We almost didn't ride at all due to the storm clouds, lightning, and light rain...but the rain (initially) subsided. We parked at the upper lot and did Mahogany Loop -> Canyon Trail -> Cheyenne Rim Trail -> Rawhide Flats Road back to the truck; about 20 miles. The Mahogany Loop part seems to drain like Devil's Backbone...no mud sticks to the tires. The rain held off until we hit Cheyenne Rim Trail. The lower part of this trail does NOT handle moisture well... UHG. Fearing more cement/gravel/mud, we decided to take Rawhide Flats Road back up instead of taking Pronghorn Loop. Here are some pics:

Mahogany Loop...

Ugly storm clouds to the left

Canyon Trail

Lots of these signs

Lots of sheep

Cheyenne Rim Trail. Not too many pictures since we were dealing w/ the cement.

The route...

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sgltrak

· #2 · Jul 3, 2009

Oh sure, thanks for calling...

Glad to see some pix of the area. Looking forward to getting out there.

cytoe

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 3, 2009

sgltrak said:
Oh sure, thanks for calling...

Glad to see some pix of the area. Looking forward to getting out there.

oops. sorry, was a last minute thing. Shoot me your cell # so we won't miss ya next time

xcguy

· #4 · Jul 3, 2009

Sweet.

mtn hack

· #5 · Jul 3, 2009

So my road bike would have been fine.

Should have figured a way to go with; I got rained out.

pulser

· #6 · Jul 3, 2009

I was just thinking about heading up there not that the sun is out. Guess im going to skip it till its dry.

onbelaydave

· #7 · Jul 3, 2009

You guys should have been there earlier ! I was done by 1:00 PM.

I agree on the cement, The lower trails are not very fun if they're wet.

Funrover

· #8 · Jul 3, 2009

I think I will be going that way soon

Beaker13

· #9 · Jul 3, 2009

Was up there with my wife today - nice trails but nothing technical at all. The Mahagony Loop section was dry as a bone.

SkaredShtles

· #10 · Jul 3, 2009

I'm starting to get the impression that these trails might be like something you'd find in Western Kansas.

NTTAWWT.

onbelaydave

· #11 · Jul 4, 2009 (Edited)

I'm starting to get the impression that these trails might be like something you'd find in Western Kansas.

Many people say the same thing about Buffalo Creek.

Since when did MTB HAVE to be DH/ technical ? I just thought it was about riding a bike off pavement and having a good time.

There's more climbing on the Soapstone trails than Kansas is high. I rode 21 mi and never saw another human or even saw another tire track except for 1 set, 1 mi before I got back to my truck. There's a lot to be said for solitude.

DanD

· #12 · Jul 4, 2009

onbelaydave said:
Since when did MTB HAVE to be DH/ technical ? I just thought it was about riding a bike off pavement and having a good time..There's more climbing on those trails than Kansas is high. I rode 21 mi and never saw another human or even saw another tire track except for 1 set, 1 mi before I got back to my truck. There's a lot to be said for solitude.

I think the "M" in the acronym for mountain biking implies technical. In your own thread you called it Prarie Biking. Not saying it isn't still fun, but hey whatever works. I look forward to getting up there soon to do some riding.

onbelaydave

· #13 · Jul 4, 2009

I think the "M" in the acronym for mountain biking implies technical

What ever floats your boat.

Depending how fast you rail the turns ( or miss them) coming down on Cheyenne Rim, you could very easily end up like this

I'm going to quit posting the postives, so all the nay sayers can bury the topic and I can continue to ride all by myself

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timroz

· #14 · Jul 4, 2009

Which one of you guys rode that with a coaster brake?

cytoe

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 4, 2009

Soapstone...think Bluesky with a different view. I'll definitely be bringing my SS next time.

schnauzers

· #16 · Jul 4, 2009

DanD said:
I think the "M" in the acronym for mountain biking implies technical. In your own thread you called it Prarie Biking. Not saying it isn't still fun, but hey whatever works. I look forward to getting up there soon to do some riding.

Why, oh why does MTB imply technical? You are all very jaded. Live 18 years in southern NJ and then tell me that MTB has to be technical.

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pulser

· #17 · Jul 4, 2009

schnauzers said:
Why, oh why does MTB imply technical? You are all very jaded. Live 18 years in southern NJ and then tell me that MTB has to be technical.

Im with you 34 years in PA. I love riding fast flowing single track. I say stay away it sux i like trails that aren't full people.

SkaredShtles

· #18 · Jul 5, 2009

onbelaydave said:
Many people say the same thing about Buffalo Creek.

Since when did MTB HAVE to be DH/ technical ? I just thought it was about riding a bike off pavement and having a good time.

There's more climbing on the Soapstone trails than Kansas is high. I rode 21 mi and never saw another human or even saw another tire track except for 1 set, 1 mi before I got back to my truck. There's a lot to be said for solitude.

I *DID* say there wasn't anything wrong with that.

pulser

· #19 · Jul 5, 2009

Got 25 miles in up there today. The trails are allot better then i expected. The heavy sand in places really sucked and there was allot more dubble track then i expected. I can see places ware it might get technical over time. I really enjoyed the fast off camber sections that it felt like i was on the edge of control. And whats up with all the mounds of dirt in the middle of the trail every ware?

mtbmike1

· #20 · Jul 13, 2009

Dodging the rain is not good enough...

Rode Soapstone first time today... Lovely place, rode, Pronhhorn up to Mahogany, to Canyon over to Cheyenne Rim.

When we got to the Canyon/Cheyenne Rim junction (7200') we saw a thunderstrom brewing to the southwest. We headed south on Cheyenne Rim and the rain moved past us to the south.... but not south enough.

When we decended down into the final 2 miles of Cheyenne Rim, the trail was wet and slimy. The mud was a nightmare. After 20 miles of excellent riding and scenery, it was 2 miles of holy hell.

So beware, do not get caught out on these trails when the rains come. And for those of you who would suggest that we wait for it to dry out(I'm sure it's quick), there was another thunderstorm queueing up and heading our way.

Looks like this is an early morning ride; riding after 1pm is not a good idea in July.

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