So, I tried to ride the same route, but as always, curiousity drags me off the plan.
Smoke from the Trail Fire near Foresthill is pretty present.
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030377_zpsrkta3rte.jpg)
A smoky view of the Sierra Valley.
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030380_zpsazoxbs4x.jpg)
Old railroad grade makes for a nice road
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030381_zpsd8k2pp84.jpg)
Waiting for them to fly
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030387_zpsg3zsyuy3.jpg)
I'm having fun!
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030390_zpsxt4lop2i.jpg)
Land Peak, Sardine Point and Sardine Peak
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030391_zpsrcekk88u.jpg)
Old tree by the road
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030396_zps9dfthyf2.jpg)
Oooh, a shiny thing!
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030397_zpsj8aminuj.jpg)
And it looks shiny too!
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030398_zps93dwzpod.jpg)
More nice views
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030399_zps8kheaedg.jpg)
Gettin' up top
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030401_zpsoue9tn5i.jpg)
Rocky
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030402_zpsah4tslgp.jpg)
Grizzly Guy waypointed this as "Rock Garden", and it sure was. I called it adrenaline hill.
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030403_zpsfgvchghg.jpg)
Past the hard part
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030406_zpskd59opyk.jpg)
Trees on top
![Image](http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x5/grizzly55/Ride%20scenery/Cottonwood%20Rd%20and%20Bear%20Valley/P7030408_zpslkm4hiju.jpg)
I don't know how you rock crawlers do it. I got onto one of the Bear Valley trails (one-way) and the climbs kept getting sportier. I don't do the rock stuff and steep pitch stuff, and I was beyond my ability but not the Wolverine's! There's no way I would have ridden my quad up this stuff but the Wolverine did an awesome job. So much adrenaline - those few miles wore me out and a mere 24 miles of cruising felt like 100. Have to admit - it was kinda fun.