First Ride to The Altar (Rock Pile?)

Some call it the Rockpile, others call it the Altar. I like to call it the Altar because it is the biggest rock pile I've seen around the Timpanogos trails and I always feel like giving a prayer of thanks once I've made it there.

The Altar Rockpile on March 21,2009, 12:15PM

Spin Classes Helped
I start the ride to the Altar from my house, about two miles of asphalt and I am on singletrack. Usually the climb to the dirt takes me 16-18 minutes, but today I was elated to make it in 13 minutes. I have to give credit to Audra and Kristin's early morning spin classes that I went to during the winter at the Orem Fitness Center. That has really helped me to keep in shape during this winter.

Up to the Altar
I took Oly's shortcut up to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and then over to the watertank road and then Rollercoaster to Betty's to the Altar. The trail network was clear of snow and mostly in good shape. There are more loose rocks than I remember on the first ascent up rollercoaster but that is not unusual for early spring. Horses sure can take a toll on the trails but I didn't see too much damage on this section.

That first ascent up rollercoaster is a real challenge. I hardly thought it was possible to clean until Steve Anderson rode with me one weekend and to borrow from climbing vernacular, he on-sighted it. That means he climbed it first time without dabbing. Ever since then I've been able to climb it most of the time without dabbing.

Me, just after the first rollercoaster summit

I saw Chris Cockrell at the Altar he was on a single speed 29er this time. Last time I rode with him he was on a Gary Fisher geared 29er. He is responsible for getting me interested in 29ers. I'm really happy with my Niner EMD, I don't think I'll ever be able to handle a single speed bike, but I respect those that graduate to that level.

Chris climbing up past the altar


Since Lament was still snowed over, I backtracked down the way I came. On the BST I ran into Jilene and Bry with a group of bikers. Those two are great mountain bikers, some day they may actually invite me on one of their epic rides.