Timing

#followcamfriday proving once again that timing is everything. 

The outdoor industry is booming right now. Covid has caused everyone to reevaluate and reset and trend towards spending more time outside than ever before. As good as all of this is for my livelihood and greater humanity as a whole, the Front Range cycling experience is leaving something to be desired lately. 

Now I can't really complain, because obviously I produce videos that make people want to go outside and ride, and am certainly contributing to the over crowded trail situation, but things are getting a bit out of control. This was my first time riding Falcon a couple of years and I was astonished at how much traffic this old trail has seen since Covid. The trail is basically three times the width. They even added another huge parking lot to meet demand. I will say this again- more people outside is a good thing. But, where is the tipping point? When is the outdoor experience forever altered enough to lose its original appeal? These places were once for escaping the crowd and communicating with nature. Again, I can't really complain, I am the guy with 3 cameras and a drone chasing me, but where does it end?

The best way to avoid the crowd is with proper timing. Timing is everything. Rule number 1 is to start late enough in the day that you will be finishing in the dark. If you are heading up the climb when all of the hikers are headed down for the day, you are off to a good start. Pack clear lenses and maybe a light. You are going to need them. Rule number 2- pick a day where it rains in the morning. There is something about a gloomy morning that demotivates people from even thinking of going outside. The key is to let the dirt dry out just enough to not leave a track, but still provide amazing traction. On this particular day, the rain made the trail completely unusable until about 5pm. Perfect timing. Your patience will be rewarded with an empty trail and hero traction. 

We are very fortunate to have these resources available to us, so close to a major city like Denver. Looking down into the city is surreal as you descend some of these high speed sections. There is certainly something special about this trail and it is easy to see the appeal. It's just not that appealing to me when it is littered with people. It's not even fun. Timing is everything. 

No one trail users experience is more important than another's, but overcrowded trails are not fun for anyone. I am not sure that there will ever be an answer to this issue, I certainly don't have one. Best thing you can do is keep the expectations low, be nice to everyone, and start as late in the day as possible. We all desperately need the release that outdoor recreation provides, now more than ever, just be wise with your timing and set yourself up for success.