Name is Alex, recently moved to the area from Columbus OH. My wife an I are living right across from Goose Island.
I just got out to the HPT trail and rode deadwood/buck thorn/ob-1/darkside/pud-n. It was a great experience as the trails I used to ride at locally were pretty flat and any interesting features would be removed for "safety". Instead the builders would put logs across the trails only on the climbs to make it "interesting" but would remove any jumps or rough stuff from the downhills.
If you see me out there feel free to introduce yourself. I ride a white Knolly Delerium with a Fox40 and blue wheels and drive a white Tacoma.
