Ft Bragg- Sherwood Road

Distance:  41.8 miles

Climbing:  5626’

Difficulty:  Hard

Start:  Fort Bragg, CA

On a recent bike tour, I left Highway 1 and cut over to Highway 101 on dirt.  I had just come down through the Lost Coast on my bikepacking bike so I was eager to leave the busy traffic and pavement of Highway 1.  This route was a real surprise.  The first time I tried to ride it, I was stopped by mud in the spring.  This time the road was dry and easy to navigate.  After climbing the first few miles on pavement, you are challenged by some seriously steep gravel grades. Once on the ridge you will be constantly climbing and descending along the ridge towards Willits.  Over the 41.8 miles you will gain 5626 feet.  There is very little signage along the road but most forks are gated and the main road was pretty obvious.

At milepost 6, I was chased by a loose dog at the last house after leaving Ft. Bragg.  It was pretty persistent until I stood my ground.  Judging by the looks of the property, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a regular occurrence.

Once you leave Ft. Bragg, you will be high up on the ridge away from water sources, except for a wonderful year-round spring at milepost 26.  Bring plenty of water during the summer.

The road surface is native dirt with a few ruts.  A gravel bike or mountain bike would be best especially if you are touring with a load.  I road a Salsa Cutthroat in bikepacking mode with a 32 x 46 low gear.  This was a perfect setup, although I did hike a couple of steep sections.

You are traveling through private timberland so expect to see logging trucks during the summer.  There are no public campgrounds or other facilities along the way.

RidewithGPS link Here

Somes Bar Gravel Loops

Distance:  20-50+
Elevation:  3,669’-7,000’+
Difficulty: Hard
Start:  Somes Bar, California

The Klamath National Forest near Somes Bar, CA, has miles and miles of backroads to explore as well as great campgrounds.  The Klamath and Salmon Rivers are a bonus for a great cool down after a long bike ride.  Plus there are remote backcountry campsites perfect for bikepacking or backpacking adventures.  Shown below are two loops that start and end in Somes Bar at the Somes Bar Outpost.  These are just two examples of the potential riding the area has to offer.  You could ride them in any direction, skipping, or adding the lookouts along the way.  I haven’t provided a ton of turn by turn directions so you can choose your own adventure.  I do recommend a gravel bike or a mountain bike with good climbing gears.  There are springs and streams along the way so bring your water filter.  Summer temps can reach into the 90s.

Offield Mountain Lookout (site) Loop

This 20 mile loop includes a few miles of Highway 96.  It can be completed clockwise or counterclockwise.  If you do it clockwise you will do the highway segment first, climb up gravel road 12N52, and descend on paved Camp Three road.  If you do it counterclockwise, the climbing is easier on the pavement, you descent gravel, but have to ride the highway back.  There are pros and cons to each way.  The Offield Mountain Lookout is an optional out and back (1.5 miles each way) with a steep grade up to the old lookout site. There is no longer a lookout at the location, just a rock monument.  There are however great views on the way up to the site. It makes a good picnic stop halfway through the ride.

Ukonom Lookout Loop

This 53 mile loop is tough with over 7,000 feet of climbing.  It would make a great overnight bikepacking trip.  There is a nice campground with picnic tables at Stanshaw Campground on the edge of the Marble Mountain Wilderness.  You could camp there and then hike into the wilderness from the trailhead located a the campground.  We did discover a slide at about road point 40, but you can safely walk across the creek.  The lookout is a permanent structure that is staffed during fire season.  It is a 4 mile one-way ride out to the lookout with a steep final climb.

Butler Valley Loop

Distance: 50 miles
Climbing: 5,549 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Start: Arcata


Updated May 23, 2020


The Butler Valley Loop is a favorite among area cyclists because of its challenging climbs, beautiful scenery, and limited car traffic. There are several historic points of interest to visit during the ride. The ride is not for the beginner. It is about 50 miles in length and has two difficult climbs. The weather can be variable as you ride from sea level at the coast to just over 2000 feet inland. It is often 10 or more degrees warmer inland than at the coast. In contrast, it could be beautiful on the coast and socked in with fog or drizzle up in the mountains. So be prepared for all weather conditions by carrying extra clothes such as arm warmers, a vest, or a rain jacket, especially during the winter. During the summer bring plenty of water because temperatures can reach over 90 degrees inland. It is a loop so once you are committed to the ride there are no real short cuts home. The road conditions are variable and include short sections of gravel and rough roads with potholes. Be sure to bring a spare tube, patches, and tools. Most cyclists ride their standard road bikes with 23-mm racing tires and do just fine. The ride should take between 4 or 5 hours depending on your fitness and how often you stop for breaks. The following mile points are based on one bicycle computer so pay more attention to the landmarks.
Detailed Route
Mile Point 0- Start in Arcata at the Jacoby Building, California Historic Landmark No. 783. This is located in the Arcata Plaza at Eighth and H Streets. Head north on G Street; it’s a one way. You will pass four bike shops as you leave town. This is a good time to stock up on supplies. As you head up G Street you will pass the following: Pacific Outfitters at 737 G Street, Adventure’s Edge at 650 10th Street, and Revolution Bicycle Repair at 1593 G. After you pass Life Cycle you will want to follow the signs towards Humboldt State University and Sunset Ave. by keeping to the right.
0.8- At the stop sign at Sunset Avenue turn right and then left on to L. K. Wood Blvd. Follow the bicycle lane north on L. K. Wood Blvd.
1.4- Bear left over Highway 101 on the St. Louis Overpass.
Side trip: To visit Camp Curtis, California Historic Landmark No. 215, go straight a short distance on L. K. Wood before going over the highway. The marker is at the end of the road. The monument is the only evidence that this was a historic military camp from 1862-1865. It marks a dark period in Humboldt County history when the "Indian Wars" were taking place.
1.5- Turn right onto St. Louis Road.
1.7- Turn right onto West End Road at the roundabout. You’ll follow a nice smooth road and bicycle lane as you head through Arcata’s industrial section of town.
2.8- Go straight at the intersection to Giuntoli Ln, staying on West End Road. Here is where you leave the comforts of a bike lane.
3.3- Cross the railroad tracks. The road narrows here and becomes more rolling in nature. Traffic will begin to lighten up also. You will start to enjoy the scenery of the country as you travel through the picturesque Warren Creek Valley. The road surface is in good condition.

9- Turn left onto Hatchery Road and head north towards Blue Lake. In less than a mile you will pass over the Mad River.

Side trip: The Mad River Hatchery is located about a mile down the road if you turn right on Hatchery Road. The hatchery is open to the public and has a small picnic area as well as several ponds of young salmon. There is a restroom at the far end of the parking lot.
10- As you come into Blue Lake bear left towards the Blue Lake Museum. Note: local riders will want to bear right on H Street towards "The Famous Logger Bar" established in 1899. About 100 feet west of the museum on Railroad Avenue is Arcata and Mad River Rail Road Company, California Historic Landmark No. 842. To continue the ride, head east on Railroad Ave. from the museum towards "The Famous Logger Bar." Continue east on Railroad Ave. to the next road point.
10.9- Turn right onto Blue Lake Blvd. You will start to notice a lot of log and lumber truck traffic as you head towards Korbel.
12.2- Korbel Post Office, established 1891. You are in the historic milling town of Korbel owned by the Simpson Timber Company. Follow the road over the historic Blue Lake Bridge, dated 1928. After crossing the bridge you will begin the first of two big climbs of the day. This is a good point to shed some clothes. You will climb an average 8% grade for approximately 2.6 miles and gain about 1100 feet in elevation. A triple crank or large rear gears are recommended for all but the really fit rider.
13.2- The Old Arrow Tree, California Historic Landmark No. 164. Over the years hundreds of people, when passing the tree, would place a twig, an arrow, or a feather in the bark. One story is that Native Americans respected a tall and straight redwood tree and considered it a great warrior and they would shoot arrows into it as a form of respect. Another story is that the Hoopa and Korbel tribes were at war. The Korbel indians won and Native Americans passing the tree would shoot an arrow into the tree to show they came in peace (Turner, 1993, Place Names of Humboldt County, California).
14.9- You are at the top of the climb at the intersection of Bald Mountain Road and Maple Creek Road. Once you start descending into Canon Creek, you may as well do the whole loop. If you turn back now you will have about a 30-mile out-and-back. Turn right onto Maple Creek Road. After a couple miles you start the bone jarring descent to Canon Creek. Use caution on this descent because there are a lot of curves and potholes on the way down.

18.3- Canon Creek Bridge. You will start a short climb out of the creek. This is where you will encounter the first gravel section of road. Ride cautiously for the next 7 miles because there are several short sections of gravel road. You don’t want to be going 30 miles an hour into a curve and suddenly hit gravel. This is a good time to enjoy the scenery and keep your eyes out for wildlife. This section of the ride offers the most solitude and there is very little traffic. The road is narrow and rolling with a few short ascents and descents.

26- Turn right onto Butler Valley Road. You will come to this intersection on a fairly fast descent which makes it easy to miss.
26.8- Mad River bridge stop. This is a beautiful bridge overlooking the Mad River. There are very few cyclists that can ride by without stopping to check out the view. This is a great place to eat some food and stretch your legs. There is a popular swimming hole just below the bridge. Don’t bother bringing your fishing pole. This area is off limits to fishing. As you leave the bridge you will have a short climb up to Butler Valley and the start of the longest climb of the day. From the bridge to the top of the climb, you will ascend 1660 feet in 7.8 miles. This climb is not as steep as the Korbel climb.


32.9- Fickle Hill intersection. Fickle Hill Road is a shorter way back to Arcata, but it is not necessarily easier since the road has several short climbs and one gravel section. However, it is a way to bypass the narrow and busy Old Arcata Road. Continue up Butler Valley Road past this intersection.

34.7- This is the top of the climb. Turn right on Kneeland Road towards Eureka.

36.75- Greenwood Heights Road. Stay on Kneeland Road bearing to the left. Greenwood Heights is an alternative way down to Three Corners. It is approximately the same distance. The descent is more variable in slope and includes some steep descents, flat sections, and one short climb. The Kneeland descent is more gradual and steady. You can easily go over 40 miles per hour on parts of the descent.

41- Freshwater Park. This is a great picnic spot with restrooms. The creek is dammed in the summer to create a swimming pool. As you continue past the park you will pass through the community of Freshwater.

44- Three Corners. Turn right on Myrtle Avenue. This is by far the busiest section of road. The road is narrow and has no shoulder for about 3 miles. This is an especially busy road during the morning and evening commute.

45.8- Go straight past the Indianola Cutoff.

47.7- Go straight past the Bayside Cutoff. The road gets better and there is a wider shoulder.
50.2- Go straight over the 101 overpass.
50.7- Turn right onto G Street and continue north until you reach the Arcata Plaza.

50.9- Arcata Plaza. You are done.

MTB- Tish Tang

Distance: 18
Climbing: 3,826 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Start: Willow Creek

UPDATE December 29, 2019
The trails have not seen regular maintenance and/or have been obliterated by logging.  The Corral trail, Shale trail, and Roller trail are unrideable.  The main roads are still open for a good gravel exploration ride and you can still  hit the downhill trail on the way back out.  I’m preserving the original text below, but be warned it has not been revised.

The Tish Tang DH and access road are on Trailforks but not on MTB Project.

This is a popular mountain bike ride, which is about an hour drive east of Arcata. The course is covers the majority of the expert race course from the old Tish Tang Mountain Bike Race. The trail was established and maintained for many years by Willow Creek mountain bike pioneer John Dostal.

To get to the start take Highway 299 to Willow Creek. Turn north onto Country Club Road, which is the cross street at the Chevron gas station. At 0.9 miles turn left on Patterson Road. Continue on the main road which will pass the Bigfoot Golf Course and wind its way into the forest. At 3.4 miles the road narrows so drive carefully. At 5.1 miles continue straight on Forest Service road 8N03 towards Horse Linto Campground. From this point on the road is poorly maintained. During the winter of 2008 a slide deposited on the road, which is still passable with a 4X4 vehicle or vehicle with good clearance. Horse Linto Campground is located next to Horse Linto Creek and is a simple pit toilet site with no running water. There are three campsites if you choose to spend the night in bigfoot country.

Listed below are some map points. The distance between each point is shown as well as the distance to some of the points from the Horse Linto Campground. Here is what each point represents:

1- Bottom of the downhill trail.
2- Bottom of the roller trail.
3. Intersection of the downhill trail.
4. Intersection of the 8N37 road.
5. Top of the roller trail.
6. Sign Board Gap.
7. Intersection with 7N09 road.
8. Intersection with 8N03T road.
9. Turn right on singletrack beyond the corral.
10. Bottom of singletrack and intersection with 7N09 road.

The most popular ride would be to climb the fire road all the way to the corral trail at point 9, descend down the corral trail to point 10, climb back up to point 7, descend to point 5 on the fire road, take the "roller trail" from point 5 to point 2, ride up to point 3, descend down the "downhill trail" to point 1, and return to the campground. This would give you a total of 18.2 miles and 3826 feet of climbing. However, there are several other trails that are worth checking out. The shale trail is accessed from sign board gap on the 8N14 road. The upper section is steep with a loose shale surface which is very challenging. The upper downhill course is steep and challenging as well. I don't highly recommend it because of its steepness and low frequency of maintenance.


Tish Tang A Tang Map Overview, Click on the image for a larger view or to print it out in landscape view:




Horse Linto Campground:


The top of the roller trail is difficult to find because of recent logging. Look for a large oak tree with a burned out hollow in the base. Head straight downhill to the right of the oak tree and you will pick up the singletrack.


At the top of the corral trail you will enter an old growth Douglas-fir forest:


The main fire road has seen little to no maintenance by the Forest Service and is starting to revert back to nature. At some point we are going to have to clear the main road too:

Banana Slug #2 Butler Valley Winter Training Ride 2017

Fantastic sunny day after days of rain.  We had a great turnout and some very fast times.  For results and more information about the Banana Slug series click Here

Butler Valley Loop Updated

I updated the Butler Valley post and added this video. 

Nordheimer Trail Loop

Distance: 24 miles
Climbing: 3,763
Difficulty: Hard
Start: Nordeimer Campground

This ride is hard to categorize. The ride isn't hard because of the climbing or distance. The challenges are numerous including stream crossings, unrideable switch backs, hike-a-bike sections, skinny single track, mosquitoes, rattle snakes, poison oak, and true isolation. Once you drop into the Nordheimer canyon you are really in the middle of nothing where you would be in real trouble without a partner or survival skills. The best way to describe this is an adventure ride. All of the challenges are worth the beauty, isolation, and satisfaction of completing the ride.


If you are going to do this ride I have a few recommendations. First, don't do it alone. Once you drop into the Nordheimer canyon there are only two ways out and that is up or down the trail. Second, bring a few extra items like extra water, food, clothes, and a good map and/or GPS. The mosquitoes were swarming us in August so I recommend some type of bug repellent if you plan on staying in one place for a more that a couple of minutes. Third, plan on doing this ride in the late summer or fall. The stream crossing are difficult to negotiate in the winter and spring due to their large size and no bridges. You will be challenged to keep you feet dry even in the summer or fall.

The route involves 4 miles of road, 12 miles of fire road, and 8 miles of singletrack. Believe it or not, but the 8 miles of single track will take longer to ride than the other 16 miles even though you are descending over 2,000 feet along the way. The first single track section involves some steep narrow trail where you will be skidding your back wheel downslope. The next few miles involves narrow single track that requires intense focus to stay on track. The last 3 or so miles follow an old mining flume, which parallels the slope and rewards you after a challenging day.


Directions
0- Start at Nordheimer Campground. If you want to avoid the day use fee drive about 100 yards up the Nordheimer road and park in a turnout at the base of the Orleans Mountain Trail. Head up the Salmon River to Forks of Salmon.
4.0- Turn right onto Cecilville Road.
4.25- Turn right onto Forest Service Road 10N04. Stay on this main road for the next 6 plus miles.
10.7- Continue right onto Forest Service Road 10N03.
11.9- Turn right onto Forest Service Road 10N05.
15.54- ***Turn left onto the Nordheimer Trail. This is an important and difficult turn. The trail is not marked with a sign and it is not obvious. We piled some branches and rocks in the road. The only way Errin Odell found it was by hiking from the bottom. There are no intersections going down the trail, but there are a few places where the trail disappears near the stream crossings.
24.25 End at Nordheimer Campground.












Additional Trail Photos are HERE

Hayfork Century

Distance: 115 miles
Climbing: 9,000 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Start: Hayfork, CA

This ride isn't really a northcoast ride. It's in Trinity county and a full 2 hours east of the coast. But, about half of the field on the 2010 115 mile route were from the coast. It is a must do ride for anyone that enjoys big climbs, great roads, and lots of scenery. The first two rides have been poorly attended so I hope the organizers continue the event. The word will get out that this is a wonderful event. I know I will be coming back every year that I can!

This is an annual event put on by the Hayfork Rotary Club. There is a lot of information at the event's website

I have 3 words to describe the ride: Spectacular, Solitude, and Support.

Spectacular
There is beautiful scenery around every corner. If you bring a camera beware, you will be stopping a lot.

Solitude
Talk about lonely roads. There is very little traffic even on Highway 3 and 36. This is a truly rural route with very little car traffic, especially the first 70 mile loop.

Support

The rest stops were well supported with cheerful volunteers. There is the potential for a lot of heat on this ride and there are few places to get outside help so the frequent rest stops were welcomed. The 115 mile option is a tough ride with a lot of climbing. My GPS recorded over 10,000 feet of climbing for the ride, but it tends to over-estimate elevation change. However, most of the climbs have moderate gradients and the last big climb has low gradients, which make it more palatable.

Here is a link to the Garmin GPS data:
Garmin Connect Data

Hayfork is a small town with few accommodations. If you plan on camping at the fairgrounds expect few amenities. There was plenty of space and nice warm showers. But, the tent sites have no fire pits or picnic tables. I recommend bringing a small BBQ, camp chairs, and a small camp table. If you have a RV you are in luck because there are full hookups.

MTB- Orleans Mountain Trail

This is a special ride which takes an adventurous attitude. I'm not going to post directions or a map because I don't want anyone to get lost. Hopefully, some day I will if the trail conditions improve. There are a couple of tough hike-a-bike sections where the trail disappears and you need a guide or good GPS. For now, check out these fantastic photos from Errin Odell's and Sean Tetrault's recon mission. How does 5,000 feet of descending over 7 miles of singletrack sound?? Not only is the ride epic, but check out the scenery!



Click on a photo for a larger view

Dyerville Loop Long

Distance: 64 miles
Climbing: 6,206 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Start: Weott

This ride is an extension of the shorter Dyerville Loop, which is only 23 miles. The long ride is much more challenging and includes about 18 miles of gravel road. There are no services from mile point 4 to mile point 40 so be sure to have plenty of food and water. Expect the ride to take at least 4 hours, but most likely it will take 5 to 6 hours depending on your condition. I have completed the ride on a road bike, cyclocross bike, and on a 29er mountain bike. The best bike is a cyclocross or touring bike set up with 35 mm tires and a triple chainring crankset. The ride includes quiet country roads, gravel roads, and old growth redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants. Once you reach Garberville you have the completed all of the difficult climbing. There are many options for refueling in Garberville, Miranda, or Meyers Flat.

Notes / Cue Sheet
0- Start at Humboldt Redwoods Visitors Center located at 17119 Avenue of the Giants, Weott, CA. Head north on Avenue of the Giants.

4-Right Dyerville Loop Rd

4.13-Founders Tree stop with bathrooms. No other facilities until Garberville at mile point 40

10.04- Start Gravel

10.65- Continue straight at McCann Rd

13- Right on Dyerville Loop Rd at Sequoia Rd intersection (End of Gravel)

14.12- Straight at 4-way intersection to continue on Dyerville Loop Rd. Turning right takes you back to the Avenue of the Giants.

16-Check out the cool yard art!

17.3-Bear right to stay on Dyerville Loop Rd

18.39- Start of gravel

25.7-Bear right to stay on Dyerville Loop Rd at the Fort Seward Rd intersection

33.2- Right Alderpoint Rd (End of Gravel)

40.24- Left Redwood Drive

40.54- Left to Highway 101 North or straight into Garberville for food and water

46.81- Exit Highway 101 to Avenue of the Giants

47.27- Chimney Tree Attraction

49.4- Phillipsville

53.21- Miranda- food and water

59.33- Meyers Flat- food

64- End

Below is a link to the Garmin Connect website which has ride data and a Google map of the ride.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Dyerville Loop Long


Below is a map from MapMyRide.com. Clicking on the map will direct you to the website where you can view the map through Google Earth or download a Garmin Course or GPX file. You can also print the map with notes. However, MayMyRide.com now charges to print out the map.



Click on the picture below to print out a route sheet and elevation profile:

Bald Mountain Road

Distance: 46.86
Climbing: 5237 Feet
Difficulty: Hard
Start: Arcata



View of the distance Pacific Ocean from Snow Camp Road.

This route is sometimes called the Snow Camp ride, but I chose to call it Bald Mountain Road because a true Snow Camp ride would involve several more miles of dirt roads. This route follows the gravel surface of Snow Camp Road for about 4 miles before turning on Bald Mountain Road. The ride involves just over 5,000 feet of climbing, including some short 15% gravel stretches. Most riders simply use road bikes with standard tires because 94% of the ride involves pavement. The best seasons to ride are in the fall, late spring, and early summer when the road is clear of snow, but before the temperature rises and the road surface gets loose and full of washboards. The maximum elevation is just over 3100 feet near Bald Mountain, which can lead to significant amounts of snow in the middle of the winter. The majority of the ride follows low traffic roads. However, some riders may not like spending 10 miles riding on Highway 299, so this should be considered before taking on this challenging ride. There is a low traffic alternative that follows "Old 299" but this involves traveling through private timberlands, which I do not advocate. However, I will say that "Old 299" is a popular alternative of local riders.


The following route is based on one Garmin GPS so make sure to look for road signs and don't rely on the mileage markers down to the 100th of a mile.


Detailed Route:

• 0- Start at Adventure's Edge, 650 10th Street, Arcata, CA. Head west on 10th Street and turn right onto G Street.


• 0.7- At the stop sign at Sunset Ave. turn right and then immediately left onto L.K. Wood Blvd.


• 1.4- Turn right onto St. Louis Road.


• 1.55- Turn right onto West End Road.


• 2.7- Go straight at the intersection of Giuntoli Lane (next stop sign).


• 8.85- Left on Hatchery Road.


• 9.8- Bear Right on H Street towards the "Famous Logger Bar." Turn right on 1st Street and merge onto Railroad Avenue.


• 10.43- Turn right onto Blue Lake Blvd. and almost immediately left at the intersection of Blue Lake Blvd. and Korbel Road. This takes you up the "Scales Hill" to the CHP truck scales on Highway 299.


• 12.28- Turn right onto Highway 299. The road has a narrow shoulder averaging 2 feet wide.
Lord Ellis Summit, Elevations 2263 feet. The summit was named after Blue Lake businessman Edward Ellis and gold mine owner William Lord. Both depended on packtrains for business survival. They petitioned the government for improved access across these mountains.



• 22.3- Lord Ellis Summit Elevation 2263 feet. Turn right off the highway and head up Snow Camp Road. This is the dirt road on the right side of the road that immediately begins to climb. You will have just over 4 miles of gravel road that winds its way along the ridge to Bald Mountain. There are some great views coutesy of the clearcuts along the ridge. The condition of the road varies throughout the year depending on the weather, traffic, and road maintenance. Often during the winter the gravel is pounded down and smooth from traffic. During the summer the gravel is often loose and the road surface has lots of washboards.


Climbing Snow Camp Road on road bikes.



• 26.5- Turn right onto Bald Mountain Road. This road is paved most of the way, but has small sections of dirt and lots of pot holes so be cautious.


• 32.4- Turn right onto Maple Creek road and begin the descent down towards Korbel.


• 36.3- Turn left onto Railroad Avenue back towards Blue Lake.


• 36.9- Turn left onto H street, which turns into Hatchery Road.


• 37.9- Turn right onto West End Road. Stay on West End Road all the way to the roundabout on St. Louis Road.


• 45.27- Turn left onto St. Louis Road.


• 45.5- Turn left at the stop sign and continue over the highway and bear right onto L. K. Wood Blvd.


• 45.97- Turn right onto Sunset Avenue.


• 46.1- Turn left onto H Street.


• 46.75- Turn left on 10th Street.


• 46.86- End at Adventure's Edge.

Here is a printable route sheet

Here is a link to GPS data and a Google map via Garmin Connect

Below is a map from MapMyRide.com. Clicking on the map will direct you to the website where you can view the map through Google Earth or download a Garmin Course or GPX file. You can print a copy of the map with step by step notes too.