South Fork of Horseshoe to Mahogany RAD Ride - DON'T Try This at Home!

Ryan's been spending the summer at the Teton Valley Resort in Victor.  It's just at the southwest edge of town on Highway 31, and boasts Teepee's, RV spots and luxury mini-Cabins.  Soon to come are a spa and Lodge.  Our family had been up a couple of years ago at Ryan's invitation to checkout the cabins he and his crew had been working on.  We had a wonderful stay then, but the place two years ago couldn't hold a candle to the new digs.  The changes and additions are impressive, and a true testament to Ryan's hard work and craftsmanship!

Since this is Ryan's home base, we started out with a vague idea to go for a gravel ride on the east side of the Big Hole mountains that we know and love.  We've been all over the west side and figured we ought to do a bit of exploring on the "other side of the mountain".

Fateful Crossroads of Decision: Take time to read the whole MTB Project Description!

So we jumped north from Hwy 31 to 8000 North and from there headed west towards the foothills of the Big Hole range.  We passed by my friend's the Kearsley's Tree Farm, and then down through the river bottoms, up to the foothills through the farming communities of Cedron then Bates.

Ryan riding to his peak (Ryan Peak at the head of Horseshoe Canyon Road)

As we passed by 3000 S, we saw signs pointing to Mahogany Creek, but figured we'd continue north to Horseshoe Canyon.  We made the turn west at 1000 N and then onto the Horseshoe Road after a bit.  At that point, the ride could not have been more pleasant.  We stopped at the sign and consulted the MTB project app to see if there was a connector from Horseshoe back to Mahogany.  And, yes, there was!

Here's what we read: “A great climb into the Big Holes followed by sweeping views and fast descending.” — Jake Hawkes

Here's what we didn't read (until afterward):

 Trail

9.7 mile point to point
100% Singletrack
Difficult 

 Elevation

Ascent: 1,589'
Descent: -1,810'
High: 7,873'
Low: 6,257'

 Grade

Avg Grade: 7% (4°)
Max Grade: 23% (13°)

Yeah, I saw the map and was thinking like many trails on the west side that this was going to be an old logging road or ATV trail.  No indeed.  It is a technical, steep, single track.

Beautiful Teton Views, marred by exhausted bodies that couldn't care much

Ryan and I have done some epic journey's in the past - see our description of the Fish Creek to Trail Creek loop which was pit trapped fire roads and then true route finding without any trail at all to single track.  That was intimidating.

We did the Tour of Moody Loop a couple of years ago on the MTB bikes and the lower end of the Webster Dam trail was a true bushwhack.  

This trail nearly killed us.

Topping out: yeah we did a fair bit of walking, and leaning heavily on our bikes

Some day we'll go back on the full suspension mountain bikes and see if it's as bad.  But 7% average grade on a 1x gravel bike (Ryan) or even a 2x (me) was a killer.  When I say "don't try this at home", it's not an exaggeration.  Really, honestly, this is not a trail for gravel bikes.  Only our stubborn stupidity and compulsions pushed us on.  

The trail itself up to the top of the ridge is a very nice single track with challenging roots and rocks but negotiable with the right MTB gearing.  That's in part what kept us going.  We met two guys who passed us on motor bikes on the way up.  At the time I thought they were being overly generous with their praise.  Little did we know.  

We met another group at the junction with the Long Ridge and Canyon Creek Loop.  Those guys had just climbed up Mahogany Creek trail.  They confirmed it was all downhill for us from there.  Yeah, downhill; like for Downhill MTB bikes.  Randy probably would have loved it...

For us the descent was as hard and strenuous and more stressful than the ascent.  Even walking the bikes was a hazard in some of the steep rock gardens.  How we descended with only one flat was a miracle in and of itself, and provided a much needed rest after we'd used all our matches on the climb.  

Ryan narrowly avoids tipping over as we exit at Mahogany Creek

In fact, by the end we were both burnt out - to a crisp.  I didn't realize it until later, but I'd burned both arms in-between the shaded sections of the ride.  Ryan wisely decided to spend a bit of time resting in the shade of the tree farm on our way back.

Casualties: Gloves, Legs, Ankles, and a few of the Horseflies who dared take advantage of me.

So, here's the wrap up.  Don't use the MTB Project to plan a gravel ride.  We didn't die, but probably wish we had.  Humbled and burned up we'll stick with our gravel rides on Roads; gravel, asphalt or dirt are fine, but single track deserves its designed steeds.