In Which I Climb a New Mountain

Bikes parked near start of trail up Mount Trashmore, in the background.

I wasn’t sure whether I would go—I’m very busy this fall—but the opening ceremony for biking and hiking trails on Mount Trashmore was rescheduled for today, after being delayed by high water on the Cedar River.

In the end, I did go. I’m glad I did. I wondered if the views from the top of a closed landfill would live up to the hype. I would say yes. And it was just too nice of a day—a warm fall day—to not bike downtown for the ceremony on the south side of the river.

In case I went, this morning I decided to take my good camera and ride my mountain bicycle to work.

I got done with morning meetings with students, and packed up to leave campus around 11:15. I wasn’t sure if I was leaving myself enough time. But I arrived at the site by maybe 11:50, so I had plenty of time. I chatted with Claire, a former student who is a radio personality in Cedar Rapids, and had time to take some pictures before the brief ribbon cutting took place.

The road up Mt. Trashmore.

Then it was time to get on the bike and ride up the hill. The road up is one of three trails on Mount Trashmore—there is the access road, open to walkers and bikers, a walkers-only path, and a single lane dirt track that is only for bicycles headed downhill. The Gazette called it a “roller coaster for bicycles,” which I think was pretty true.

Anyway, the climb does go on for a while, and is on sometimes loose gravel. I was very glad to be on the mountain bike.

After a climb and a bend, you arrive at the lookout, but you can continue up a bit to a dead end at the top of the hill. The view from both the top and the lookout were quite fine this pretty fall day.

Pavilion to look out on the city.

View from the top.

I parked The Fancy Beast bicycle and walked around some, enjoying the sights, taking pictures and recovering from the ride up the hill. I also had a decision to make: Take the road back down, or try a narrow dirt path with some bumps and switchbacks—a path designed for and only appropriate for mountain bikes.

 I’m not much of a daredevil, and the trail, which switched back and forth in view of the lookout, looked a little dicey. But I decided, what the heck. So I hopped on my bicycle and began the descent.

Watching bikers headed down single-lane dirt downhill mountain bike trail. And, below, the start of the trail, which I did ride down. Wheee!

My free shirt.

Well. It was a good test of my balance and brakes. I did skid on some of those treacherous turns, and rode on air briefly on some of the bumps. I think that my body had a lot less work to do, but nonetheless the downhill ride was probably as much of a workout for my heart as the uphill had been.

At the bottom, I enjoyed a nice cold water bottle and banana, and even picked up a free T-shirt the solid waste agency was giving away. It had been a very fun trip up the mountain, and I was glad I had been there and had climbed it. And glad I had decided to zoom down it.

As I rode back to campus, I was on the trail at Cedar Lake. As if the lake were a bit jealous of a riverside trash heap stealing the day, a group of Monarch butterflies suddenly appeared and began frolicking and drinking in flowers on the banks. Well, the biking day had already been full, but became just a little bit cooler.

Mt. Trashmore trails are only open when the landfill site is, and signs say you have to check in. I would encourage you to go try it on a nice day. And ride a mountain bike, even if you decide to stick to the road. Neither the gravel road up the hill nor the dirt path down it are road or hybrid bike places. But Mount Trashmore is still a nice ride—and one I’m sure I’ll do several times next summer for hill practice as I get ready for RAGBRAI.

Seen on the ride back--Monarchs at Cedar Lake.