Back on the … bike

Published 3:38 pm Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Due to kids, work and life in general, It had been awhile since I hopped on my mountain bike and actually took it into the woods (and yes I just blamed my kids).

Tuesday I finally got the chance to do it again. I hit Paradise Lake mountain biking area with a co-worker Dave and his friend Scot

ty. Paradise Lake isn’t a supremely challenging track — in fact the folks at Trails.com panned the area and gave it faint praise, saying it’s a “viable alternative to not riding at all.” — but it was perfect for someone just getting back into the groove.

Though it was raining in Everett most of the day, it was dry and warm at Paradise Lake, which is outside of Maltby. The trails were not muddy and were in good condition. There is a multi-use trail that heads into the forest and then branches off in a number of directions. We took off into the mountain bike-specific trails, which is two main loops that wind through the forest.

We rode for about an hour-and-a-half and covered probably a little more than half of the park. We missed the Red Alder trail — a large loop off of the mainline trail — completely. I’d say overall I held my own with the salty veterans. Though at one point I hit a large root coming around a corner and went over my handlebars and did a faceplant. Fortunately my facial features hit a nice, soft part of the earth and not another root in the area.

After we were done, I chatted with Dave and Scotty about some other places in the area to ride. I’m planning on writing an article about good places around Snohomish County. Both said Duthie Hill outside of Issaquah was a must-ride. Sounds like it’s off to Issaquah next.

Hopefully my face can take it.