Yesterday San Jose MTB hosted yet another weekly Saturday ride. This time we headed out to El Corte de Madera (a.k.a. Skeggs) for one on my long routes that feature many of the best parts of Skeggs in one ride, dubbed Scrambled Skeggs. I've decided to keep Dean's original theme of a play on the Skeggs name that he started using a few years back. It surely isn't a completely original idea, however I think SJMTB uses it more than any other organized group. Hosting rides such as Green Skeggs and Ham, Fried Skeggs, Fried Skeggs over easy, etc... Scrambled Skeggs is by far the longest and hardest rides we host of this series and as a result usually brings out some really dedicated and strong riders.
This ride stayed fairly small (I think the 20 mile prescribed distance scared people off) with only five riders coming out. A plenty big enough group for Skeggs given it's size and scope. Our ride started off to a great start with some always great single track along Sierra Morena and Blue Blossom trails. The dry winter has made certain areas a little dusty while others have remained wet and tacky as is usually the case with the area. Traction was great and the group was really making great time on the ride. We had made it down Blue Blossom and back up to Crossover with little need for pause. Then we began our trip to the creek by way of Giant Salamander, one of the best trails the bay area has to offer. We took a couple photos at the creek but didn't stop long, I think everyone was motivated to keep moving since we still had over half the ride to go. From the decent on GS we headed back up the hill along some of the most technical trails Skeggs has to offer. The Leaf trail section, offers plenty of tight passes (a royal pain with my Renthal's), rock gardens, as well as root steps. It truly takes skill to be able to clean the entire thing, not to mention some rock solid nerve. A few sections had the entire group walking, and by the end of the trail everyone was feeling a bit beaten. Of course we were now near the top on the opposite side of the preserve. Only one way to go from there we headed back down the hill to our second creek crossing.
Things were going great and everyone was having a blast catching air off the water bars. The everything came to a screeching halt. As with any ride there is always a chance that something bad is going to happen and this time it did. Matt, one of SJMTB's most dedicated Orgs, hit a rut just right (or just wrong depending on your perspective) and it sent him flying. I was just behind him and came flying around a downhill corner to find him face down in the dirt. The cloud of dust still settling from his impact with terra firma. While we tried to asses his injuries we had to clear the trail and get him somewhere a little safer. He was conscious, thankfully, and aware of what had happened (although not quite sure how). We let him catch his bearings first and offered him what first aid we could (that's another post altogether). He was bleeding quite a bit from a cut on his lip and tongue, but didn't seem to have any serious injuries that required professionals to be called in. He was definitely in pain, but insisted that he could make it out under his own power. So after a visit from some fellow riders (Matt was definitely getting the female sympathy vote, which I think helped to lift his spirits a bit.) we started heading back up the trail. Leave it to Matt to wreck at the very bottom of the trail with no way out but up. We opted for the most direct route, but it also happened to be the steepest. Matt soldiered through the entire way, and though he was injured and sore he still made it back to the cars before everyone else.
Back at the trail head we all seemed a little more relaxed and at ease. No longer fighting our way out we were able to joke about the incident a little and get Matt some real first aid attention. It may not have been the best outcome for a ride, but I think everyone still enjoyed themselves and had a great time. It was definitely a teachable moment as I don't think I'll ever ride without my first aid kit again. Nothing sucks more that having a buddy down and knowing that you can't help more because you didn't want to carry an extra pound of supplies. I think my next post will have to address the issue of what to bring with you on rides. Our site has a page dedicated to this, so maybe it's time we expanded on the idea and tried to spread the word a little.
Thanks for tuning in. Until next time, ride safe!
David
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