Map Guy and I were in a spring state of mind last Friday when we loaded the mountain bikes into the back of the pickup and headed for Skull Hollow.

The state of reality when we pulled up at the campground was decidedly different from the birds-chirping-fluffy-white-clouds ideal. Snow falling but not sticking. A cool wind. Sky the color of a World War II battleship. All in all, a perfect Central Oregon day to hit the trail.

Brisk spring-like days a la Bend and Redmond are probably the best time to explore the dirt double- and single-track paths that crisscross the hills and gullies on the back side of Smith Rock.

Summertime brings dust and heat to this juniper/scrub terrain and a ride can quickly turn into a thirsty, fly-blown affair.

We saddled up at Skull Hollow Campground and started pedaling west up the 5710 Road.

For those who pay attention to such things, my anachronistic sidekick was riding a 3-year-old Gary Fisher Tasajara without front suspension.

I was on a Trek 4900 hardtail, the latest rental in a search for the perfect mountain bike to solve my Mumm’s appetite on a Hamm’s budget dilemma (nice ride for the money).

We spun up the road about a mile until we came to a pullout on the right and an overflowing, spring-fed water trough on the left.

From there we turned left, pedaling up Road 5720 until we came to a closed gate across the road.

We angled right just before we reached the gate and hopped on a single-track that follows a dry creek bed. It’s a thigh burner with a few steep spots that may have you sorely tempted to hike-a-bike. Go ahead. This is an outing not an endurance contest (for most of us).

This stretch of single-track dumps you out on the road up Gray Butte. We turned left on the Gray Butte Trail just across the road and soon came to a saddle, the junction of several roads and trails. We crossed the junction and headed gradually right toward the back side of Smith Rock State Park along another single-track section, this one known as ”the traverse.”

That advice about keeping your eyes on the trail several feet ahead is valid. A glance down at your shifter or up the slope on the left can mess up your line and send you careening perilously close to the edge. It’s steep enough on the right that you wouldn’t want to plunge over the side.

After coming to another gate, we continued on, but not before savoring the view. Clouds, snow and chill breeze don’t diminish this classic Central Oregon landscape.

A short pedal and another hike up a super-steep section of road took us to a ridge overlooking Smith Rock, Terrebonne and Redmond. Then it was back the way we came.

After a brief stop at the saddle to chat with another rider, we capped off the ride with a quick and thrilling single-track descent along that cussed streambed. Gravity’s a powerful tonic.

It was all over way too fast but, now that spring has sprung, there will surely be many more beautiful days just like this one.

From Redmond, turn right at O’Neil Road Junction off Highway 97 just north of town. The intersection is marked with a flashing light and a sign pointing to Lone Pine. Follow this road about five miles and keep an eye out for a junction with another sign pointing to Lone Pine. Take a sharp left at this junction and follow Lone Pine Road to a sign on the left leading the way to Skull Hollow Campground. We parked just outside the campground and off-loaded the bikes.