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DANSPANK
Guest
I think Tourne is a bit under-rated. I love this place! I had a great ride here yesterday evening, about 16miles 2500ft of climbing - really nice.
Most people park at the base of Tourne but if you can find the Mountain Lakes swiming lake and park there then you hit some great swoopy singletrack before tackling Tourne. There's a nice steep,rocky climb about 5 minutes in that I've only made once without dabbing - it's my challege spot and if you ride in on the red trail from Mountain Lakes then you'll know exactly where I mean.
After more swoops and a few rocky climbs you'll come across the switchbacks that've been talked about. Personally I love these and "great job" to those who put the effort in.
A quick up past a nice 18-24" rock jump on your left that you hit on the way back, and then it's a nice swoop downwards towards the base of Tourne.
Now you can go for Tourne straight from there or take the road left or right to the bottom of the hill and attack Tourne from there like real men do.
Maybe hit Tourne a couple of times and then make aleft out of the car park down the road hill. You'll pass another car park and portajohns on the right, climb up the road hill and you'll see a gravel trail on the right. This may still be the red trail. Take it and follow it up. You climb alongside a lake. It's rocky but a easy climb. I think some of this trail is hiking only so you "may" have to walk a little.
At the top the trail heads right for some nice rocky/bouncy downhill - just focus, keep the wheel straight, and power through the rocks. You'll eventually come back to the main gravel trail around the lake. If you make a left then the trail will take you back to your car. Screw that, make a right and head back in to the woods.
A lot of the trails criss-cross each other and you may need to do a bit or repeitition but the trails are fun so just go for it.
Extra bonus; aim to be riding right at dusk and you'll see literally hundreds and thousands of fireflies. I'm memorised by these things as we don't have them back home. It's like riding through a kryptonite mine!
Jake, 3 of these rides a week and you've got your 8k ft of climbing, son!
Most people park at the base of Tourne but if you can find the Mountain Lakes swiming lake and park there then you hit some great swoopy singletrack before tackling Tourne. There's a nice steep,rocky climb about 5 minutes in that I've only made once without dabbing - it's my challege spot and if you ride in on the red trail from Mountain Lakes then you'll know exactly where I mean.
After more swoops and a few rocky climbs you'll come across the switchbacks that've been talked about. Personally I love these and "great job" to those who put the effort in.
A quick up past a nice 18-24" rock jump on your left that you hit on the way back, and then it's a nice swoop downwards towards the base of Tourne.
Now you can go for Tourne straight from there or take the road left or right to the bottom of the hill and attack Tourne from there like real men do.
Maybe hit Tourne a couple of times and then make aleft out of the car park down the road hill. You'll pass another car park and portajohns on the right, climb up the road hill and you'll see a gravel trail on the right. This may still be the red trail. Take it and follow it up. You climb alongside a lake. It's rocky but a easy climb. I think some of this trail is hiking only so you "may" have to walk a little.
At the top the trail heads right for some nice rocky/bouncy downhill - just focus, keep the wheel straight, and power through the rocks. You'll eventually come back to the main gravel trail around the lake. If you make a left then the trail will take you back to your car. Screw that, make a right and head back in to the woods.
A lot of the trails criss-cross each other and you may need to do a bit or repeitition but the trails are fun so just go for it.
Extra bonus; aim to be riding right at dusk and you'll see literally hundreds and thousands of fireflies. I'm memorised by these things as we don't have them back home. It's like riding through a kryptonite mine!
Jake, 3 of these rides a week and you've got your 8k ft of climbing, son!