Levis-Trow Mound Epic

Let me start of by saying that I always feel a little funny with more than a few days off of hard riding. From the various sources I was expecting 25 miles plus of riding, so I stayed mellow as  I followed the IMBA Epic arrows. On the Onset, I often fear that I will be disappointed, I am looking for Epic rides you know. This feeling grew as I continued on Lower Glen and Swamp Cut. I was like"This is nice" but it seemed like I was getting closer and closer the north end and the miles were really not adding up. But 15 minutes to warm up is not a bad thing eithrt, then I get onto Yellow Jacket and I started to get interested. The Goat Dance climb started to bring it and the backside delivered the goods. I prefer the Yellow jacket climb up to the top of Buck hill, but there is less doubling back using Secret trail out and the Buck Hill switchback up to Sidewinder to Upper Hermosa (one of my favorite flows), finished up Hermosa and Lower Hermosa and use Dead Turkey to connect to the Corkscrew climb to Toad road that leads to (the banner trail) Plumbers Crack, Switchback, Cliff Hanger, North Face by the bench if you need a rest and a view. Continue in Porky's Point to Upper Glen. Part of which is under a reroute. Back down to Lower Glen and the IMBA loop is complete.

The Reroute did not move the IMBA sign yet, so I missed it at first.  It looks Like that reroute will eliminate a fall line portion o f trail and also connect to other parts of the trail system. The North Face DH looks to soonly boast a bunch of berms, as well. Maybe making a flow trail finish near the trailhead. Being an old fogie I like old school trails best, but flow trails are a fun variety, getting very popular, they help get new riders hooked and are good for a change. I have to learn to berm.

Levis Mound is a well marked trail system. For the most part, the IMBA loop is marked and easy to follow, mostly. The IMBA sign after Dead Turkey for the turn on to Corkscrew needs to be replaced, or you might just go down the wrong part of Toad Road and miss Plumbers Crack.

 The IMBA loop is a little short as Epics go, at just 17 miles, not 30 as the IMBA website states (did I miss something?). There are about 25 miles of single track in total. Only a few trails are one way; Sidewinder and Lucy's trail (Which I never found the start of) for example.

After my recon IMBA ride, I rode a bunch of the trails in reverse, that and being warmed up led to a much better experience on Lower Glen/Swamp Cut. So I made sure to warm up for ride two a couple days later, which made Lower Glen/Swamp Cut come alive in the IMBA direction as well! Other trails I liked in both directions were; Toad road (including Plumbers Crack), Corks Screw, Yellow Jacket, Select Cut, Snodgrass.

The sandy switchbacks become a climb in reverse on Goat Dance and Switchback and are definitely best in the "IMBA" epic direction.

The Reroute did not move the IMBA sign yet, so I missed it at first.  It looks Like that reroute will eliminate a fall line portion  of trail and also connect to other parts of the trail system. The North Face DH looks to soonly boast a bunch of berms, as well. Maybe making a flow trail finish near the trailhead. Being an old fogie I like old school trails best, but flow trails are a fun variety.  They are getting very popular, they help get new riders hooked and are good for a change. I have to learn to berm.

Levis Mound is a well marked trail system. For the most part, the IMBA loop is marked and easy to follow, mostly. The IMBA sign after Dead Turkey for the turn on to Corkscrew needs to be replaced, or you might just go down the wrong part of Toad Road and miss Plumbers Crack.

 The IMBA loop is a little short as Epics go, at just 17 miles, not 30 as the IMBA website states(did I miss something?). There are about 25 miles of single track in total. Only a few trails are one way; Sidewinder and Lucy's trail (Which I never found the start of) for example.

After my recon IMBA ride, I rode a bunch of the trails in reverse, that and being warmed up led to a much better experience on Lower Glen/Swamp Cut. So I made sure to warm up for ride two a couple days later, which made Lower Glen/Swamp Cut come alive in the IMBA direction as well! Other trails I liked in both directions were; Toad road (including Plumbers Crack), Corks Screw, Yellow Jacket, Select Cut, Snodgrass.

The sandy switchbacks become a climb in reverse on Goat Dance and Switchback and are definitely best in the "IMBA" epic direction.

They have a 100 miler next Saturday August 24th .

They have a 100,50 and 25 miler on Saturday August 24th http://wemseries.com/levistrow-100/

See other Links Below.

Great views abound. Be sure to hit Clarence for the coolest overlooks, like:

http://www.levismound.com/conditions.html

Here is a Singletracks.com article on Trevis Mound And Trail Info

Here is one From Greg Rides Trails