Читать книгу Mountain Bike: Park City - Jared Hargrave - Страница 12

Utah’s Wasatch Mountains are famous for getting a ton of the “Greatest Snow on Earth.” Park City Mountain’s average annual snowfall is 360 inches, which precipitates from late October through April. As a result, mountain bike season is generally from April through October in the lower elevations, and more like June through September above 8000 feet. After big snow years, trails like the Wasatch Crest might not be rideable until July!

Cornering through a break in the rock fin on Glenwild Loop (Route 22)

Springtime is mud season. As the snow melts and trails reappear, cooped-up mountain bikers are excited to ride. But pedaling in the mud damages the trails in many ways. First, bike tires leave ruts behind, which channel water to low spots that create puddles. Then trail users go around those puddles, which eventually widens the trail. Keep singletrack single! Wait for trails to dry out before riding. A good rule to live by: If mud is sticking to your tires, it’s time to turn around.

In the summer, Park City’s weather is very pleasant. The trails are dry, even dusty, and the temperature rarely gets above 90 degrees. Likewise, overnight lows stay well above freezing. However, with trails at elevations from 5000 feet to nearly 10,000 feet, there is a lot of variability in temperature range and weather. Although it doesn’t rain very much in Park City, afternoon thunderstorms are common, especially during late summer’s monsoon season. It’s important to check the weather forecast before heading out for a ride. Skies could be sunny and warm when you hit the trail down low, then turn into a nightmare of hail and lightning as soon as you top out on an exposed mountaintop (I know this from experience). The high elevation also means the sun can be quite intense, making a cool day feel a lot hotter than it really is. Be sure to drink plenty of water and slather on that sunscreen.

Autumn is my favorite time of year to ride, with cooler temperatures and brilliant fall leaves to enjoy. A little more rainfall leaves behind tacky trails that bike tires stick to. We call it “hero dirt.” Unfortunately, the autumn window is far too short, and winter always arrives too soon.