Gold Ridge summit.

Got another cool ride in before the access roads close for the season. Decided this morning to head up to Farmington Flat via the Skyline Trail above Bountiful, Utah. I didn't get a ton of elevation gain in on this one, maybe a cumulative 2,000 feet with ups and downs. Though it was a great ride on new terrain with fall colors starting to come in. Also a new peak was bagged, Gold Ridge's summit at 8,396 feet.

I parked the truck at the north end of Farmington Flat, rode around the loop and headed north to connect with the ridge. Once on the ridge I headed south. ATV's and motorcycles have ripped the trail up there badly. That and a lot of erosion forced many portages all the way to the summit of Gold Ridge. I was able to carefully descend the nasty portions for much of the way, though some were so rough it required slingage. Once back at the Flat's southern end by using a bypass trail, I found the main route up higher was a total blast to ride. Smooth butter in some sections, nasty ruts, rocks and loads of tech on other portions. A nice balance.

Once back at the truck I drove to the flank of Bountiful Peak, left the bike in the back and hiked up to the summit. All in all a great day to be out.

This photo is looking west over Farmington Flats at Bountiful Peak's east face. In the center of the photo you can see the road looping it's way through the flats, a fine ride which is also written about in several mountain bike guidebooks for Utah. The fall season is here and the colors are starting up! 9-30-2011.