(upbeat music) - Throw your leg over a mountain bike in big wonderful Wyoming and a world of adventure is just a pedal stroke away.

Wyoming native and author Jerimiah Rieman should know.

He has written "Wyoming Singletrack", a mountain bike guide; 97 routes covering 650 miles.

Our conversation with the author, next on "Wyoming Chronicle".

(uplifting music) - [Announcer] Funding for this program is made possible in part by: The Wyoming Humanities Council, helping Wyoming take a closer look at life through the humanities, thinkwy.org, and by the members of the Wyoming PBS Foundation.

Thank you for your support.

- And as we begin this Wyoming Chronicle, we're very pleased to be joined by author Jerimiah Rieman, author of "Wyoming Singletrack: A Mountain Bike Guide" here in Wyoming.

Jeremiah, welcome to "Wyoming Chronicle".

- It's an honor, thank you so much.

- The book you've written is really neat.

It's full of graphics, of maps, and we're gonna get to everything about the book in just a moment, but mountain biking in Wyoming has, as you have talked about in the book, really changed over the last 15 years.

Take us back to 15 years ago.

- 15, 20 years ago, the predominant surface for mountain biking in Wyoming was old two-track roads that might exist or perhaps historic horseback or hiking trails.

And we've really seen a renaissance and part of that started right here at Curt Gowdy State Park, where we're at, with the state investing in the trail system here, that really kind of put this region on the map and has helped to fuel development in a lot of other places, many of our state parks, a lot of activity on Forest Service trails adjacent to many communities, and it it's really been a blessing for those of us that enjoy getting out on two wheels.

- This really has now become almost a statewide effort.

There's really not a part of Wyoming that doesn't have accessibility, I guess, to mountain bike trails.

- Yeah, I was really pleased and shocked with how much activity is happening in all of the regions, whether that be up in the Northeast around Newcastle with a couple of gentlemen that just really are interested in seeing outdoor activities available for their community, and for their children, for that matter.

And we've seen investment really just grow like wildfire across the state and in trail systems that really are purpose built for mountain biking.

- When some people think about mountain biking, if they've never experienced it, Jerimiah, they might be thinking of these Facebook videos that they've seen of people just screaming down these mountains with cliffs on either side and you're just watching these thrill seekers doing their thing, but it can be that, but it also can be a family-oriented kind of activity, if you will, and everything in between.

- Yeah, and I would actually say, in Wyoming, the vast majority of it is family focused.

You certainly do have some trail systems that are for the elite, for those expert mountain bikers and the YouTubers, but what we've seen in all of the communities is, "Let's start with beginner trail systems.

"Let's get our youth out on the trails, "allow for people to build up their skills "and then move up to more technical trail systems."

And I think that's important as part of this development process, because if we scare off too many people, they're not gonna get out here and enjoy these resources that we have available.

- And your book "Wyoming Singletrack" really has that family focus in mind and you really go out of your way to very graphically tell people, "These are the easy trails.

"These are the moderate trails.

"These are the expert trails."

- Yeah, that was important for me.

You know, my wife and I are proud parents of identical twin boys and we've grown up going on family trips across this state to mountain bike.

And we wanted to be able to showcase what was available to everybody.

And when you came to a place like Curt Gowdy, not that we would just showcase the regionally-known trails, but, what is that youth or beginner trail system that exists and start there and then give that progression of what exists in a particular region.

So I wanted to make sure that was showcased.

I wanted to make sure that the photography reflected that and allowed people to see themselves, see children, people of all types out enjoying these systems across the states.

It was important for me and I'm glad that we were able to accomplish that.

- People can spend thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars on bikes, or not, to begin to enjoy the sport.

- Right.

Yeah, and that's something that I tried to highlight in the book.

Enjoy the bike that you have.

You don't have to have the $5,000 to $10,000 bike.

Every bike, with some exceptions, you're going to be suitable for most of the trails that you'll find in the state.

So, get out, enjoy that.

And as you have the opportunity, if you wanna continue that progression and invest in a higher end component, then go about that.

But again, enjoy what you have and Wyoming's trails will reward you.

- We were talking off camera where some states have the limitations where you can bike on trails on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but maybe not Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Wyoming is unique that we don't have those pressures yet.

So how does Wyoming's trail systems compare to other states in the region?

- Yeah, we're really lucky.

In certain parts of the state, you're starting to see a little pressure put on them, but I think in general, particularly if you come out on a weekday, you're gonna find that you have the trail systems to yourself and can really go and enjoy things.

And we're very fortunate in that regard that we haven't had the pressures and the primary user conflicts between various groups that you have seen in some other regions.

But I think, and I hope this comes through in the book, it's important that those of us that are out recreating and mountain biking, that we follow the rules and ensure that we yield to other users that are on the system and preserve our space out here, because, if those conflicts build, unfortunately we can lose access and that's not what we wanna see.

- Give us some general tips, if you would, on etiquette.

What should people know when they take their mountain bikes out on some of these trails?

- Yeah, I think the first one is, we are to yield to all other users.

If there's a hiker or a horseback rider, you need to yield to them.

Get off the trail, let them move through.

Particularly if you're encountering horses and livestock in Wyoming, get off of the trail, 10 yards, if possible, make sure that you're communicating with the rider and the horse, look them in the eye so that you don't have that conflict.

I think that's the most important thing.

I also think, we're in Wyoming.

If you find a fence, that's open, leave it open.

If it's closed, then close it.

So, do consider those and try and leave the trails that we find across the state in the same shape that we found them and pick up a piece of litter here or there, if we can, and just respect the good nature that we have.

- We're gonna to your Top 10-ish trails here in just a moment, that you highlight in your book, but I'm curious, what are the challenges that the mountain biking industry faces here?

What are some of the things that you're concerned about as this industry really starts to grow?

- Yeah, I think that the primary issue and it's something we all have a responsibility in, that is the care and maintenance for the trails that exist.

A lot of these are cared for by one or two people that have a particular interest in a region and have invested in that.

They may be hosting races in order to bring some financial resource to caring for them.

We're lucky in some places where we have investments, some small endowment that might be helping to support that.

But if there's a trail day, volunteer for it, get out, help to maintain the system that you enjoy.

If you can't do that, put a little bit of investment into it, send a few dollars to the local trail group that is working on that system.

Maybe buy them lunch or a beer when they're out doing that work.

I like to donate a lot of my used equipment to the local mountain bike club and the high school youth group so that they can have some equipment and hopefully them seeing others give to them builds a respect towards the trail systems, but it's all a community and we all need to be investing in it.

- Jerimiah, at the top of the show we noted that your book "Wyoming Singletrack" highlights 97 trails.

Who plans these trails?

Who gets the idea that, "We're in Curt Gowdy State Park, what a beautiful place.

"There ought to be a trail right here."

We're on a trail, right now!

Who gets to plan these things primarily on public lands?

- Yeah, it really varies and I don't know that there's one particular model.

Here at Curt Gowdy State Park, it really was the vision of a number of people, the community and the neighboring Cheyenne and Laramie wanted to see some additional trail systems.

The state saw the opportunity to expand visitorship to the state park, and so this vision was built and a plan was developed with the International Mountain Biking Association and others to begin laying the framework for something to happen here.

- Before we get to some of your favorite rides, I got to ask you, my wife and I are proud owners of class one e-bikes, and you talk about e-bikes in your book.

There's some tension, sometimes, between e-bikes and folks that have traditional bikes.

What are your thoughts on folks that own e-bikes?

To me, it seems, it opens maybe some trails to folks that might want to have a little more assistance.

They kind of age like me yet still want to experience things like this.

- Yeah, for me, it's an evolving space and there are certainly opinions on all sides of that particular issue.

I felt it was important to highlight where you can and where, in some ways, you can't use e-bikes so that people are responsibly recreating where it's acceptable.

I'm personally a proponent for class one e-bikes on our non-motorized trail systems and class one are pedal assist, so you actually have to pedal in order for the- - No throttle.

- There's no throttle.

That really is the mechanism to engage that motor and there is the governor, of course, to limit its assist.

But, you know, for my wife, somebody who has had, dealt with a lung tumor and had some lung capacity issues, her going out and seeing me mountain bike and feeling like she was going to be left behind, the e-bike that we purchased her really has been an equalizer for her to come out and really enjoy this space.

And I see so many benefits for those that have a physical limitation, whatever that might be, aging, to continue to enjoy many of our trail systems.

The reality, based on my own personal research, is that there is no additional impact that happens to the trail systems in comparison to a traditional mountain bike.

And so I really would like to see that opportunity continue to expand and continue to make this sport available to as many people as want to enjoy it as possible.

- At Curt Gowdy State Park, why is this a great place to ride?

- Curt Gowdy, it has so much, really, for everyone that might...

If you're really at the beginner phase up to expert level trail systems, but it's the topography that you encounter.

You have wonderful single track punctuated by these beautiful rocks, which are a challenge for some.

Just incredible backdrop of the two reservoirs here.

You really cannot beat the investment that has happened here.

I'm just floored by the fact that this trail system exists in my backyard and I get to come and enjoy it all the time.

- The next one that you talk about is Laramie Schoolyard, Pilot Hill.

Not far from here.

- Right, not far from here And it's unfortunate, you know, publishing timelines, I wasn't able to demonstrate the full of that trail system there as much as I'd like, certainly continue to do that.

But one of the reasons that I think that that's such a wonderful trail system is you can go right out your back door in Laramie, get on this beginner-to-intermediate trail system.

It's one of the blessings that we've seen over the course of the last couple of years, where the community over there, as well as the community statewide, investing to purchase that property, the Pilot Hill property, and now you're gonna see, and actually, you have, this summer, the development of the Laramie Schoolyard system onto Pilot Hill.

And I'm really fortunate to be a part of a group Wyoming Pathways, that's been developing trail systems all over for hiking and biking.

We're actually signing a contract here in the next week or so, that is going to build the connector trail from the top of Pilot Hill over to the Tie City area and you're gonna be able to access all of those trail systems here shortly.

- A little farther west we go, Rock Creek.

- Yeah, this is an area that really, I'll be honest, surprised me.

I had read about this being a place where you could mountain bike and had kind of done some research around the fact that the Forest Service, about two decades or so ago, went through a planning process and many people said that this area was really deserving of Wilderness status.

And in that planning process, they did, in fact, identify it as a wilderness study area, but because the mountain bike community had used that trail, they carved out that mountain bikes would continue to be allowed as long as the wilderness characteristics of that trail system were preserved.

And so, again, I had done my research, was very fortunate to get on my mountain bike and ride down Deep Creek into the Rock Creek area and was just floored by, not only the topography of the side hills, the scree fields that are in there, the river.

And it's an old mining area, in some regards.

In fact, at the very tail land, as you get closer to Arlington, you can find the old rail tracks that come out of the mountain and tip into the creek below.

And you can just sort of envision these old miners pushing a handcart with some ore out to the river right there.

And so it's all part of this just beautiful trail.

And there are a couple of waterfalls in there.

It's a more advanced trail system and I wanna be clear, I don't want to get anybody into trouble, but it is a phenomenal place to visit in Wyoming, whether that's on bike or on foot.

- I should point out, you have ridden every one of the trails- - That's right.

- That is in your book and your book is complete with beautiful maps.

I find them easy to follow, and they're well-drawn.

Let's head north a little bit to the Casper Mountain Trail Center.

- Yeah, this is another area where the community has done a great job of investing both in summertime trails, as well as winter trails.

They are one of, and perhaps the first region in the state to, in particular, allow fat biking to happen on the groomed trail system there.

And they've continued to invest in the summertime trail systems, Eadsville Trail.

Shorter trail, but it has a lot of nice little deviations off of it so that you can experience some other elements of that particular mountain, and close to the Casper community, so it's well worth anybody's time.

- A little farther north, the Red Grade Trail System.

- Yeah, this is another one that surprised me.

I had read it about the effort to develop out a state parcel there and ultimately, with hopes of going out into the forest service.

And when I got there, I was expecting a trail system very much like the topography that you find in a lot of other places in Wyoming and you do, but what was, it just felt different.

You had what felt like more old growth trees, was a little bit more, there was a little bit more moisture in the air and the groups there have done a great job of developing out just a nice soft surface trail system that's available and the beautiful vistas right down into the Big Horn community.

It's pretty spectacular.

And I'm excited to say that the community there has continued to expand, that they now have approval from both the BLM and the Forest Service and have been developing some additional mileage this summer and that will continue and I suspect will be in the range of about 30 miles worth of trail, just south of Sheridan and just outside of Big Horn before too long.

- And not far away is the Grouse Mountain and Clear Creek trails.

- Yeah, this is really a great story of a community that wanted to see a trail system where you could leave downtown Buffalo and go right up onto the Forest Service lands.

And I profile it as a downhill ride.

It would be a rather aggressive uphill, but it provides these great sweeping switchbacks that you can come riding down.

They get tighter as you go, down into the trees, but you come in along Clear Creek and it's just a wonderful raucous good time, all the way into Buffalo.

And as well, they've got an old sort of medieval electrical facility that had been built back at the beginning of the last century and it's in disrepair, but the building remains, kind of the shell of it still remains.

And there's been some colorful graffiti, actually very tasteful, that is there, but it brings you right down into Buffalo and people there, frankly, from my perspective, are pretty fortunate to have that in their backyard.

- Over the hill a little bit towards Cody, the Outlaw Trail System.

- Yeah, Outlaw is a little bit more technical.

Cody does have a system that's been built right outside of town called the Beck Lake Trail System and it's well worth anybody's time.

It's great for beginners, but what I liked about the Outlaw Trail System, it was a little bit more technical.

It takes you up along this ridge line.

You can play on some slick rock.

You have these wonderful vistas up to the Shoshone National Forest, as well as out to Hart Mountain.

And can just make three or four loops and get more technical as you go.

So that one was just a memorable experience for me and a place that I like to sneak off to when I get back to that region.

- And to the southern Winds, the Sinks Canyon Trail System, developing as we speak.

- It is.

There's continued development down in the state park and into the national forest there.

But, you know, if I had to pick three top trails, the Brewers Trail coming off the top of Sinks Canyon into the canyon itself is just a marvelous ride with these wonderful tundra views of the Wind Rivers.

You've got a couple of high alpine reservoirs that are built in there, and then you just drop over the side into the canyon, and it is such a fun ride.

In fact, I got the good fortune of taking my boys there this summer and taking them down that trail system and they just absolutely, smiles ear to ear.

And so you end up with this about a 12 to 15 mile, mostly downhill ride.

It's pretty spectacular, but if you wanna get even more technical, you could make a massive 30 mile loop out of it and perhaps include the Popo Agie Falls.

- Grand Targhee ski area, also an epic trail.

- Yeah, Grand Targhee.

If you want to a place where you're gonna have 60 miles worth of single track and all kinds of different environments, it's such a wonderful place to go.

In fact, we love to pull our camper over there.

You can camp in the parking lot and you have single track right out your trailer.

So you have, again, 60 miles worth of trail and it's so well built of a trail system that there are times where you're climbing and you just feel like the trail's pulling you uphill.

And it just shocked me.

And of course, those vistas of the Grand Tetons from that backside just cannot be beat.

- Well, Jerimiah, the book is "Wyoming Singletrack: A Wyoming Mountain Bike Guide."

How has it been received?

- I've been really excited by the response to the book.

I think people are really impressed with how many photos that we put into the book.

We really wanted this to be as colorful as possible, and really allow everybody that, before they set foot on that trail system, to have some sense of what they were getting into.

And I've been beyond pleased with, again, the response people have given me verbally or reading reviews online, and I'm excited to hear people's experiences finding these trails and I wanna know how we can improve it and what I can do to help continue to invest in this sport.

- Congratulations on the book.

You told me earlier there might be another one down the road.

- Yeah, I'll continue to explore Wyoming's environments.

That's been the best part of this whole thing, is getting out and enjoying our great state, and if we're fortunate to be able to sell out this first edition, I'll certainly do my part to try and get a second one out there.

- Well, Jerimiah Rieman, the book is "Wyoming Singletrack".

Thank you so much for joining us on "Wyoming Chronicle".

- Thank you, Craig.

(uplifting music) - [Announcer] Funding for this program is made possible in part by: the Wyoming Humanities Council, helping Wyoming take a closer look at life through the humanities, thinkwy.org, and by the members of the Wyoming PBS Foundation.

Thank you for your support.