Bruce & Betsy Blais
Richardson, Texas USA

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Mountain Biking - Special Trails - SYLLAMO Mt.

In October of 2009, the men of the church picked Blanchard Springs as the location of their annual campout that year. It just so happens that National Park there is at the foot of Syllamo Mt., another IMBA EPIC trail. Naturally, I was "in" and even convinced a few guys to bring bikes. We rode the Bad Branch and White River Bluff trails. We would have done more, but it was very rainy that weekend.

The photo below shows my buddies Dave and Dave at the entrance to the Bad Branch Loop.

This loop is not highly technical, but is is long and physically demanding if you ride at a fast pace. Climbs are not steep, but some do go on for a good ways. The trail has some sharp rocks in places and I sliced a sidewall near the end of the loop. Fortunately, I had a spare tube, splint and cable ties with me to repair it.

The next day, Gary, Fr. Bob and I did the White River Bluff Loop. The photo below shows us at the trailhead.

Fr. Bob is in the Sewanee jersey and Gary is in the black and yellow jersey.

The photo below is one of the vistas near the beginning of the loop where you get up on the bluff. It is looking "up river".

The following photo is another one further down along the bluff looking "down river", and shows a bit more of the river valley.

The trip was well worth it. I am planning on going back in the spring of 2010 with a group of "hard core" riders and do the whole thing. There is a fish camp and hotel near the entrance to the trail system that will make a great base of operations.

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Version 0.1, January 25, 2010