(Lander, WY) – Fall is a special time for all Wyomingites. Hillsides change colors quickly as leaves go from green to yellow, to orange, and to red. The days become noticeably shorter, and sweltering summer temperatures begin to subside, making it prime time for being outside. In this mini series, my aim is to show a window into Fremont County locals recreating outside in the peak conditions offered by our short but sweet fall season.
Trails around Lander begin to clear up near the end of summer and early fall as the tourist season winds down, right in time for the conditions to shine for mountain bike riding. Amongst Lander’s riders chomping at the bit for perfect days bombing down the trail, one will struggle to find any one biker more excited than John Westenhoff is for crisp fall conditions and the ‘hero dirt’ that comes with them.
In the heat of summer, when the dirt doesn’t have enough moisture, tires slide around too much on the trail. When it’s too wet in early spring, bikers are discouraged from riding because of the damage potential to the area’s well-kept trails. ‘Hero dirt’ is just what it sounds like. The community throws this slang around to describe conditions when the trail has the perfect amount of moisture and consistency for traction, which is great for riding hard.
John, who moved out to Wyoming to get his undergrad degree at UW, got his start riding bikes when he was growing up in rural Virginia.
“I loved that independence you get as a kid on a bike,” said Westenhoff. “I’d take my bike around old horse trails back home… I really got into it once I moved to Laramie, where I got into (mountain bike) racing.”
Out of all of the outdoor rec opportunities in Wyoming, mountain biking offers a unique balance of impact, skill, and neurological stimulation for Westenhoff.
“It’s skill-based, so you’ve really got to learn to turn your brain off,” said Westenhoff. “When I’m riding a really fun trail and I can get my brain to switch off and find a flowstate, that’s what I’m really looking for.”
Four years ago, Westenhoff moved to Lander for his dream job working as a project manager for the Abandoned Land Mine division of the Department of Environmental Quality, making Wyoming safer by safeguarding abandoned mines across the state. The job takes John around the state to obscure places, presenting him with opportunities to taste test trails far and wide, but Lander riding remains his favorite.
“We’ve got a super community-driven mountain bike scene here in Lander,” said Westenhoff. “And we’ve also got the most diverse styles of riding anywhere in the state.” The diversity Westenhoff refers to lies in the desert ecosystems of Johnny Behinds the Rocks, and the mountain riding of brewers on the shady side of Sinks Canyon.
As a board member and the Forest & State Land Trail Coordinator for the Lander Cycling Club, Westenhoff enjoys hero dirt for more than just riding on it.
“The right mix of moisture is just as crucial for digging and building new trails,” said Westenhoff. “The other day, when we were out building a new trail at JBR (Johnny Behind the Rocks), we probably got twice as much done as planned because the soil was just perfect for it.”
The biking community in Lander has seen substantial growth in the last 10-15 years with locals, like John, working alongside state and federal agencies to get high-quality trails built on public Lands in the area. The area’s main trail attractions are the Bus Loop, Johnny Behind the Rocks, the Alpine Science Institute trails at the CWC campus, and the trails in Sinks Canyon, including the Sunny Side Trail, as well as the crown jewels of Lander Mountain Biking, Upper and Lower Brewers.
John’s latest concentration lies in spearheading the brand-new Sunny Side Trail connecting the visitors center at the bottom of the canyon to Bruce’s parking lot up top. This new addition is a hot ride on a summer day, but it’s coming into season this fall before winter snow hits the canyon, which could be any day now…
For more information about the mountain biking community in Lander, please check out the Lander Cycling Clubs site, where more details about trails, community events, and volunteering opportunities can be found.