Sounds like a rush, Hibiscus!

Just as a side note to the folks freaking out about taking beginners on a tough course -- 17 miles suggests to me that it was a zigzag across a mountain, not "downhilling" in the traditional sense. Also, bear in mind that just about *any* mountain biking trail is scary as hell when you're used to pavement. The descriptions I would have used to describe the first trail I rode aren't the same ones I would use now that I've seen much more technical stuff. That being said, it sounds like the guides could have provided a little more, you know, *guidance* rather than just shooing everyone down the mountain.