Jvv, are you starting at the balloon at the top, past the castle? And getting 18 minutes or less? Wow! That is where I am getting 22:23:38. But I have only done that run a couple of times, so have a lot of polishing to do. And I lost my kitty this time. I probably would have beat my record if I had kept Kitty.

Yes I start at the grass knowl up the mountain by the 2 rocks. 1st balloon is there. Go clockwise downhill. I do use cheats (cliff jumps and pets) I don't know how many times I tried today but although I got better every try I only trimmed about 1 sec off time. I believe 17:50 is possible if your pets behave themselves
Do you post your times on the stats cheet? it's fun to compare.

I will. I sure would like to look better there tho! But hey, I'm burning calories and improving my health, or so I hope.

Here's another death plummet:

Below the high green on the Castle Loop Trail, anti-clockwise from the green, there is a knob of rock that you can see outside the trail. There is a saddle of rock inbetween the trail and the knob of rock. Fall onto that and you appear on the sand pit (dry lake bed)- facing directly towards the balloon!

Awesome find! I was always disappointed that there didn't seem to be any way down to the sand pit, but I was wrong...

And that is why I think we will get shorter times yet. Thanks for the new tip.

Amazing! I am now going to stay up past my bedtime to try that! Now how do we fit that into a good route?

Heh, not bad for a jogger.

OK, since I was ready to start up there at the balloon on the lower green, I went up up to the upper green and then continued up the path. I saw the rock, you have go head for the middle of the rock from beside it. First try, down to the dry lake bed! It didn't work out so easily with the next few tries, and that is how I learned that you have to cut straight across to head for the middle of the rock. Then I sat down to devise the perfect route.

AND HERE IT IS, WITH A TIP OF THE HAT TO LA_JOGGEUSE:

Start up on the plateau at the top of the metal ramp. This avoids climbing to get there. Hit #1 up there and head down the ramp. At the bottom, turn right to get #2 on the grassy knoll. Ride out to the ruins, getting #3, 4 and then 5 behind the temple. Head back to the lighthouse for #6. Go to town for 7, 8 and 9. Ring for your kitty and go over the red bridge and pop 10. Now go left on the dirt road to the waterfall, behind it and up to get the balloon #11on the grass before the castle, then 12 behind the castle, and up to 13. Now head for the death plummet and down into the dry lake bed, #14. Go out to the road and turn left, squeeze between the lower end of the fence and it's tree to stay on level ground heading for 15. Backtrack and cross the road to head for 16 above the man made tunnel, then down to 17 below the resort, and finally out the beach to 18, 19 and 20. TA DA!!! Who can do it fastest? I'm about to try it now.

OK, I made my best time ever, so it has to be the best route yet. With several mistakes, I did it in 21:53:71! So if I decide to stay up and work on it all night, I may regain my crown, and will give half my kingdom to LJ. However, on considering that, I've decided I don't want to waste away to nothing until summer, so will get my sleep. There is an advantage to being the westernmost person on this blog. I'm up way later than you all.

The biggest problem with the route is that you don't get a pet any too soon. Kitty in the City is the first. And I lost him goofing up on the jump from the bridge. I goofed up on choosing a direction once, and then when I got up to the top of the world, I missed the very tiny window to hit the rock right twice! On the third try, I was in the lake bed and back in action. I nearly missed the fence/tree turn, but recovered fairly well on that. The rest of the ride was a breeze, but I never had help from a kitty until the very last balloon! Since the castle kitty was of no help- you ride right through that balloon on the route anyway and he is not all about diving into the rock.

Anybody see a faster way to get a pet on this path? Or any improvement on the route?

Whew!

I will try later today but the only change might be after the dry lake bed use Methusalem newest jump. coming out of tunnel cross the road to where the fence is and jump off just to the right of the 2 last posts( I rode the ledge just a bit) You will reincarnated on lower ledge heading for that balloon then back to the one above the tunnel by rocks and on to last 4 on beach. I couldn't see where to use the cheat on the mountail tail on my route but will try yours