Hoo-Koo-E-Koo Just as Holy The Other Way

Last month I wrote about riding to the top of Mt Tam on Eldridge Grade and then descending on Old Railroad Grade to Hoo-Koo-E-Koo and what a great mountain bike ride it is - http://marinfattire.blogspot.com/2009/02/holy-hoo-koo-e-koo.html. Well, last week I ascended Hoo-Koo-E-Koo and Old Railroad Grade and it was just as great of a ride. Here's the difference.

Up Eldridge Grade to East Peak and Down Old Railroad Grade
Leaving from Ross Commons and riding into Natalie Coffin Greene Park, this ride takes you straight up Eldridge Grade all the way to the top of the East Peak of Mt. Tam. It's the shortest and relatively fastest route to the top, and the last mile of Eldridge Grade is punishing with lots of fist-sized loose rocks that make it more technical. The trip down Old Railroad Grade and Hoo-Koo-E-Koo offers unbelievable views and it's nice to take them in after an invigorating climb and coasting downhill most of the way. The bad news comes when you realize you've descended below 1000' feet on Hoo-Koo-E-Koo and then have to climb back up to around 1200' feet to Blithedale Ridge, and then ride an almost unclimbable section of Blithedale Ridge for only a couple hundred feet up to Indian Fire Road, where you get another .5 miles or more of tough climbing back up to 1450'. The good news is that you're back at Eldridge and have a fast and fun descent all the back down to Ross from there.

Here's a link to this ride: Eldridge-Hoo-Koo-E-Koo Loop

Up Eldridge Down Indian Fire Road Up Hoo-Koo-E-Koo Up Old Railroad Grade and Down Eldridge
People are honestly split between whether they prefer climbing or descending Eldridge Grade. If you like descending it, then this is a the better loop. Of course, you also get to climb up to 1450', where you take Indian Fire Road downhill, hang a right on Blithedale Ridge, and then a hard right onto Hoo-Koo-E-Koo just long enough to get lost in the fun of the downhill when you realize, as with the other loop, that you've just shaved off 500' that you have to re-climb on your way up to the top of Mt. Tam. The climbing up Hoo-Koo-E-Koo and Old Railroad Grade is gradual almost every foot of the way, however. It just seems to go on forever, but it's still a beautiful ride. Once at the top, you'll relish in the fact that you have almost zero climbing to do and can focus all of your strength - what's left of it - and energy on descending Eldridge.

Here's a link to the directions for this ride: Hoo-Koo-E-Koo-Eldridge Loop

No matter which way you go, you can't go wrong. For more great trails, check out www.MarinFatTire.com. And don't forget to check-out www.Alesandtrails.net.