Newer trail at Highland

[flamingo]

I'm a fan of any trail at the end of the day, but it's just dishonest calling that the E Loop, because it is absolutely nothing like the actual Highland loop, haha. That's just a beginner/warm up flat trail. Keep Highland away from the n00bs plz.

We have not had a heatead debate on this forum for a while. So lets just start arguing whether the North/E loop should be considered part of Highland trail given its "lame" aspect.

On the other hand I can appreciate the purist approach to Highland trail. Highland has become sort of a cult trail for some riders including myself. Maybe we should design and order T-Shirts or Jerseys with the map of the trail and a text "That's where Real Mountain Bikers ride"

[RazBarry_KB]

Maybe we should design and order T-Shirts or Jerseys with the map of the trail and a text "That's where Real Mountain Bikers ride"

That's all a matter of perspective. If you've never been outside of SE MI, then yeah. It's one of the area's "harder" trails. Compare it to stuff in the UP, well then it becomes a green trail.

[flamingo]

Maybe we should design and order T-Shirts or Jerseys with the map of the trail and a text "That's where Real Mountain Bikers ride"

That's all a matter of perspective. If you've never been outside of SE MI, then yeah. It's one of the area's "harder" trails. Compare it to stuff in the UP, well then it becomes a green trail.

Been to UP, Carolinas and out West. No doubt that there are harder trails. Somehow I always come back to Highland with a big smile. There is just something about it. I Maybe because it is a constant grind or because it still is a true old style single track.

[crustaceous_flora]

Maybe we should design and order T-Shirts or Jerseys with the map of the trail and a text "That's where Real Mountain Bikers ride"

That's all a matter of perspective. If you've never been outside of SE MI, then yeah. It's one of the area's "harder" trails. Compare it to stuff in the UP, well then it becomes a green trail.

Been to UP, Carolinas and out West. No doubt that there are harder trails. Somehow I always come back to Highland with a big smile. There is just something about it. I Maybe because it is a constant grind or because it still is a true old style single track.

Same. I was in Pisgah in April, and i just got back from ripping some of the gnarliest free ride/downhill tech trails in Marquette last weekend, and I still love riding Highland probably the most out of any trails around here. It's the only one around anymore that's still true, tight singletrack with some fun rooty/rocky off camber sections and non stop tight turns. There's a reason why you'll only ever see a couple of cars in the parking lot.

[Critter7r]

Similarly, Holdridge's east loop is all tight, twisty singletrack. And while it has less climbing than Highland, I don't think it's any less of a "pure mountain biking" trail than any other.

[RazBarry_KB]

No doubt about the fact that Highland is a fantastic trail. I love the old style singletrack - that's probably my favorite style of trail to ride - it's a true gem and wouldn't change anything about it. If you were to ask me when I started mountain biking if I liked Highland, I would've told you that it was too hard and technical. Now it's just a nice change of pace.

Riding stuff like that is a treat especially for our area with all the flowy machine built stuff. But I'm not complaining about the latter either. We do have a good variety of trails here.

[flamingo]

Similarly, Holdridge's east loop is all tight, twisty singletrack. And while it has less climbing than Highland, I don't think it's any less of a "pure mountain biking" trail than any other.

Some people say that Holdridge is monotonous but I would rate it close to Highland. When I started mountain biking it was my second trail ridden after two months of riding Stoney (which I hardly visit now). I remember after 3 miles I was " what the .... is this I will not get out of here before dark". I surly bailed out after 7 miles. Year after I tried Highland. Similar story, by the time I got to the D loop I could barely walk and I bailed out.

[santaclausersolo]

Highland and east loop are my two favorite trails in all of the lower peninsula.

I’d ride them with flamingo, but due to injuries I have zero conditioning right now and could never hang. But I’d buy flamingo a beer after he whooped my ass any day of the week.

[flamingo]

Highland and east loop are my two favorite trails in all of the lower peninsula.

I’d ride them with flamingo, but due to injuries I have zero conditioning right now and could never hang. But I’d buy flamingo a beer after he whooped my ass any day of the week.

White Lake Inn it is then !! Best place for beers after riding Highland.

[Robert Yankus]

I know where the "real" E loop was going to be proposed.
When designing & laying out the loops I had many other options and revisions. Can you believe I also left out some great sections to be added later. Trust me, the trail as you ride it today is nowhere like it was the first 3-4 years.Those early years it was almost as smooth as a paved bike path.

FYI. To all those that help build it, I gave them a tee shirt that said" NOT A STRAIGHT RIDE".

My last trail (2018) built was at Stokely Creek Lodge in Ontario.
It starts at 1800ft. And goes to 4 mountain top views.

I

[santaclausersolo]

Highland and east loop are my two favorite trails in all of the lower peninsula.

I’d ride them with flamingo, but due to injuries I have zero conditioning right now and could never hang. But I’d buy flamingo a beer after he whooped my ass any day of the week.

White Lake Inn it is then !! Best place for beers after riding Highland.

We usually go the skybox I think it's called on duck lake just north of 59.

Once I get my shoulder in order, and get some miles on my legs again, I'll get you that beer my friend

[Critter7r]

Similarly, Holdridge's east loop is all tight, twisty singletrack. And while it has less climbing than Highland, I don't think it's any less of a "pure mountain biking" trail than any other.

Some people say that Holdridge is monotonous but I would rate it close to Highland. When I started mountain biking it was my second trail ridden after two months of riding Stoney (which I hardly visit now). I remember after 3 miles I was " what the .... is this I will not get out of here before dark". I surly bailed out after 7 miles. Year after I tried Highland. Similar story, by the time I got to the D loop I could barely walk and I bailed out.

I think the monotony on East Loop is because the downhills are short, but the uphills last forever. There aren't a lot of steep climbs, but there are a lot of long climbs. I really think that East would be a (relative) breeze riding the other direction.

[Robert Yankus]

[quote]
On the other hand I can appreciate the purist approach to Highland trail. Highland has become sort of a cult trail for some riders including myself. Maybe we should design and order T-Shirts or Jerseys with the map of the trail and a text "That's where Real Mountain Bikers ride" /quote]

Regarding the "Cult trail".
One Sunday morning while working on a reroute, I heard a rider on the other side of a ridge yell "This trail is better than religion".
It made my day and is what motivated me to do the best I could. That was almost 25 years ago. How many people have be "converted" since?
Bob

[crustaceous_flora]

I know where the "real" E loop was going to be proposed.
When designing & laying out the loops I had many other options and revisions. Can you believe I also left out some great sections to be added later. Trust me, the trail as you ride it today is nowhere like it was the first 3-4 years.Those early years it was almost as smooth as a paved bike path.

FYI. To all those that help build it, I gave them a tee shirt that said" NOT A STRAIGHT RIDE".

My last trail (2018) built was at Stokely Creek Lodge in Ontario.
It starts at 1800ft. And goes to 4 mountain top views.

I

Come back and build the real E loop! Please!

This trail is also my SE MI religion

[Loren]

FYI. To all those that help build it, I gave them a tee shirt that said" NOT A STRAIGHT RIDE".

I was gifted one of those collector item shirts a couple years ago. You need to be confident of your sexuality to wear that shirt these days.