Purple Heart & Kung Fu Theater -
Great Ones By Any Name

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PURPLE HEART wasn't the original name of this beloved Galbraith trail.

It was originally known as Pick Up Sticks, because that's all its creators  -- Mark "Tread Mark" Wilkinson, Doug Demars, Keri Demars, Jackie and Brad Wilske and Delaine Olsen -- had to do to make the trail.

Then on Valentines Day 2000, someone brought a purple heart balloon up to the top of the trail, and tied it to a tree. This affectionate gesture seemed to strike a chord with many Galbraith Mt. riders, who feel a great deal of affection for this twisty trail of technical delights. 

So the name Purple Heart stuck, but the fact is that this is a great trail by any name. It's more than the plethora of sweet, slow-speed root and rock rollovers, more than the big old cedar log crossing, and more than the Double Log Drop -- it's the way all these elements combine. 

Purple Heart is a trail with a great sense of rhythm and dynamics. It'll surprise you too. Near the end, for instance, when you're just about out of the dark woods, it throws a seriously tricky climbing switchback and big rough rollover into a rock garden just as you hit the blindingly bright light in the clearcut behind.

Although they have traditionally have been called by different names, Purple Heart and Kung Fu Theater are very similar. Kung Fu connects directly to Purple Heart, and continues its path parallel the 2000 Rd. for much of the distance between Arsenio and the Blue Rock.

From the cave-like entrance, Kung Fu snakes tightly down through a series of tasty technical delights. Like Purple Heart, Kung Fu is all natural single track -- no 2x4s here -- using natural terrain to create technicalities, like the neat optional rock pile punch up at the start.

Kung Fu are both well connected. Kung Fu gives easy access to a plethora of great Galbraith trails: 911, Shawn's Trail, Mullet and Kaiser, while Purple Heart connects with the Log Cabin Trail, 187, 2 1/2, Arsenio and SST., plus there is also a fork to Fire Ring, El Pollo Elastico.

It's also worth noting that Purple Heart (like Kung Fu Theater) rides well both ways, so you can use it as an alternative to riding the 2000 Rd. either way from Arsenio to the Blue Rock.

	On Valentines Day 2000 someone brought a Purple Heart balloon up to the top of the trail and tied it to a tree...
	Scott Anderson slices the top of Purple Heart...
	The big log rollover on Purple Heart -- note it is head tube high on the bike -- in February 2000. It has since been pounded into oblivion and disappeared from all but memory...
	Mark Adriance going off the Double Log Drop on a blazing summer day. In the last couple years, this stunt has evolved into a single log drop (the second log got pounded to bits by the thousands of riders who have passed over it), but it remains a thrill, especially if you get air going off it...
	Jerry hums over a minor old cedar log issue...
	Russ Lambert, AKA Guano, attending to snow in his gears in February...