Solo #optoutside Black Friday ride. 29 mile loop. 2400 ft climbing. Started in Parsons, WV at Mill Race Park on the Highland Trail. Headed out of town to the southeast and rode through Hambleton and Hendricks on my way to connect to the Blackwater Canyon Trail. The sun came out as I climbed up toward Douglass Falls. I met a hunter on the trail not too far from the trailhead parking. As I pedaled along I heard an animal noise on the left side of the trail on the uphill side. I thought it was a deer but when I looked to my left there was a black bear running along side me about 50 feet upslope. I stopped. The bear stopped. I got a photo of a bear butt as it ran away from me. I guess the bear didn’t think I was fat enough yet.

I took the shortcut from the Rail Falls Road to Douglas Road and cutout the climb to Coketon. Douglas Road turns into a gravel road and the start of Canyon Rim Road (18). I rode across one of the two stream crossings this time. Multiple puddles and rock garden sections. From the car to Olson tower is a 19.5 mile climb topping out at 3800 feet. The temps at the top of the climb were in low 30’s and had dropped from the low 40’s when I was climbing up the canyon trail. The lookout tower building was locked and halfway up the metal steps became really icy so I took pictures from some of the landings. To get back to Parsons is a 7.5 mile downhill with a loss of 2000 feet elevation. I hit 35mph on my way down the 6% grade pavement and turned off on a side road to take me back to the trail.