Finally! I made it up to Idyllwild with friends for a mtn biking week-end. The trails we rode were out of Hurkey Creek, just below Idyllwild actually, but we opted for comfort in a mtn cottage in town, while friends camped out at Hurkey Creek. The camping area is really a wonderful park, and kept clean and well maintained by the rangers. (I'd still choose the cottage; very charming, cozy and a comfy bed works just fine,TUVM!!) Three of us took a Fri afternoon ride on part of the trail to get acclimated to altitude and to give me experience before the longer group ride Sat. Oh, it was everything promised...a fantastic singletrack, gorgeous meadows, trees, trees, trees, wonderful mountain vibe and there just before heading up a hill, the biggest mountain lion prints any of us had ever seen...a big one had passed this way probably early morning! I made some noises, rang my bell and sang a happy song as we headed thattaway! Me, Al and Adam rode to Exfoliator, which was the most fun, supercool , mostly singletrack downhill I've ever ridden. It felt like surfing (I can only imagine ),as we undulated back and forth, side to side across the trail all the way back to the campsite. I hailed it as the THE BEST trail I've ever ridden. Saturday morning was even HOTTER as we returned to the same trail with 15+ friends, all spread out, heading up the trail at various speeds and groups. The start up was tough as the sun beat on us ...until we got to the top ridge and rode into some breeze. It was necessary to stop frequently under the shady pines to recoup and rehydrate ourselves. Pictures are not enough to show, to share the feeling I have as I struggle to ride up tough spots, view the beauty all around and successfully make it to the top of the hill, pedaling past all my whining! Being there, in the middle of those mountains, the scent of pines and the whisper of the wind in each tree as I pedal past, is heaven for me. I would like to have shared more pix but riding was the thing, and I kept thinking, I'll save this all in my mind, as I whizzed by. No time to take pix as I concentrated on making the switchbacks and avoiding death cookies (hidden rocks), and ducking my head from low branches. We all three stopped to allow a big (very big) rattler to make its way across the trail. You go right ahead! We hurried it along with a stone throw....carefully of course! The various size boulders were worth a pit stop and a photo! Adam took a great shot of me riding up and over a big boulder. I hope he sends it to me so I can share it! I had to make three attempts but I did it! I used it all up by the time our Sat ride was done. The best thing about the campsite was being with all our friends as day turned into night and all those amazing stars hung there right over our heads............