Trail Review : Blankets Creek

I attempted Blankets Creek this past summer and didn't have a good time. I blame it on having done a 30 mile road ride beforehand, but regardless, I had been putting off going back for the longest time.
Today, I wanted to tackle a longish day on the bike without having to go too far from the city. When my friend suggested Blankets Creek, I knew my time of avoidance was coming to an end.

An impending rain storm shortened our day a bit so we decided against tackling South Loop. I'll tackle that one day, I'm sure.
Also, these trails are directional! This post is written going the Monday, Wednesday, Saturday direction. I assume you could just read this post backwards if it's Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, or Sunday??

From the parking lot, you head onto Mosquito Flat, a relatively flat, short trail. It's the perfect place to give your legs a chance to wake up before spitting you out at the trailhead for Dwellings Loop, Qhuel Holler, and South Loop.
Dwellings Loop was the only one I had ridden previously. Second attempt left me feeling much more stoked on these trails.
For my skill level, this trail is decently gnarly. It doesn't consist of too much climbing, but it's short, punchy climbs are full of roots and rocks to navigate over.
What I missed out on the first time was enjoying the awesome features of the downhills. Any sort of grief you're feeling from technical climbs quickly vanishing the moment you start descending.
Berms, table tops, rock gardens, and switchbacks galore! Everything you want in a descent, Dwellings delivers.
There are some additional alternative lines that I was pretty sketched out on, but was stoked to have a friend who highly recommended them. If you're a tenderfoot like me, I'll offer you the same advice I was given: roll it or stop to check it out first!
I was almost unknowingly introduced to my first drop today but hydraulic brakes saved me from a probable trip over my handlebars. (But a quick trip back up the trail a bit and a second take, I was able to clear my first two drops!)

After Dwellings, you arrive back at that first trail head (ya know, cause it's a loop...). From there, you'll hit Mosquito Flat again, take that to Mosquito Bite, which is basically Mosquito Flat with a few more roots and some wood features.
The real challenge comes when you arrive to Van Michael. This is one of those trails that got talked up soooooo much that when the time finally came for me to hop on it, all I could focus on was the video game style boss music that was playing in my head.
It's SO! MUCH! CLIMBING!
Luckily, I found out that, despite how much I abhor climbing, I'm actually kind of okay at it.
Van Michael is one of the more technical trails out there (I've heard South Loop is the most technical but, as I said, haven't ridden it yet). Much like Dwellings Loop, you've got a whole lot of roots and rocks to navigate over while you're climbing.
The descents offer HUGE berms and table top opportunities that I assume are used by folks who go a lot faster than I was.

After Van Michael, I was pretty much done for the day. We did a quick cool down on Mosquito Flat to Mosquito Bite which popped us back to the parking lot right as the rain was starting.
I definitely conquered my fear/hatred of Blankets Creek. I can now very happily recommend it to anyone who is looking for a solidy technical day of riding without having to go too far outside of the city.