Old Wards Canyon Road 7-5-09

[smallfry]

After completing my move into my new apartment and unpacking I needed to get out and enjoy some fresh air. What a better way to do so than to go exploring a new to me trail system.

The trip began by taking Skyline Drive. I had originally planned just to take Skyline Drive all the way though to the end to see where it ended up.

View along the way up Skyline Drive:

Part way though I came to the turn off to Old Ward Canyon Road. I have only heard about this road/trail from other members and from doing some additional research on it. Granted I've never ran this trail and I was solo my sense of adventure got the better of me. So off I went.

The trail started out like any other trail with some rock gardens to crawl though, then followed by rutted off camber sections, confusing ATV tracks cris-crossing the road, backing down trails a number of times (due to later and unfamiliarity with the trail), some great views and finally an off-camber drop/dip with a nice long roll to the left-side if you missed placed one wheel.

So on to the pictures:

Trail Down

First Rock Garden section

This section sent me into the left-hand side wall nearly taken off my driver's side fender flare and raising my passenger-side rear wheel into the air. No photo's other than this since I was trying to get though this section

I came across one other section like this at the bottom and made it across it with less trouble but still nerve racking for me.

Views from the trail

 

[smallfry]

This next section took some nerve on my part (maybe not for others) and ability to with stand the laughs of passing ATV'ers. To the right you have an off-camber section and a dip on the left-hand side.

It took me a bit to figure out the line I was planning to take and some additional rock stacking to bring the left-side up a little to where I wanted it.

And here I go (just skip the first 25 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JclZSQuR73s

At the end of this section and back on flat ground

 

[FireEngineer]

Those look like some awesome trails!

Good looking 4runner and great pics. I would like to take the runner or the mountain bike down that, hah.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[smallfry]

I would like to take the runner or the mountain bike down that, hah.

Thanks for sharing.

I did take my mountain bike down it about 2 weeks later. It was a hoot.

 

[bak3rme]

This next section took some nerve on my part (maybe not for others) and ability to with stand the laughs of passing ATV'ers. To the right you have an off-camber section and a dip on the left-hand side.

if you die..you die with the 4runner