tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688812369771408342024-03-13T04:55:01.907-06:00MTB/RC MusingsJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-86822167608333302172011-06-06T15:16:00.010-06:002011-06-06T16:22:21.401-06:00The Afton Loop--August 18, 2010The Wyoming Range out of Afton. Rugged, remote, and relentless. More than eight hours on trail, I saw no one, came across no tracks, and pushed through a route that--to my knowledge and the all the locals I know--had never been attempted on a mountain bike. What else could a solo backcountry mountain biker ask for? There were times I thought I'd bitten off more than I could chew, but perserverance paid off in the end. <br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13112247.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13112247.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><br /><br /><br />I've spent quite a bit of time in Afton, Wyoming for work and last year I took my bike up to ride after work. One of the guys that I work with who lives there showed me a couple of trails right out of town, but after I got to looking at the map, I realized I could potentially make a good loop in the Wyoming Range on very lightly used trails.<br /><br /><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/AftonLoop.jpg" border="0" width="750"><br />I started in Afton early in the morning. The temp was just at freezing. The first part of the ride was up a well used gravel road to the Periodic Springs on Swift Creek.<br /><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13073331.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13073331.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13075112.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13075112.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><br /><br />The next part was where the singletrack leaves the gravel road. This singletrack is not for those who doubt their skills. Although the trail was not overly difficult, a fall to the downhill side could've easily spelled disaster on this solo adventure.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13081204.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13081204.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-06-23175142.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-06-23175142.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><br /><br />After the first section of Swift Creek trail, the trail turns and continues to climb up from the valley to the crest of the Wyoming Range.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13091544.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13091544.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13100150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13100150.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13100200.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13100200.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13103414.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13103414.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13105351.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13105351.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><br />Once on the crest (after quite a bit of hike-a-bike), there appeared to be a new trail that didn't follow what I had planned for based on the USGS Quads. I figured I'd take the new trail since it appeared to go in the direction that I wanted to go without dropping as far into the valley as I had originally planned for. Once I dropped over the backside, I knew I was relatively committed to completing the loop, as it would be a long, long, slog if I couldn't get back over the crest. I'm glad I decided to go that route. It went directly by a couple of lakes in the leeward side of the ridge with beautiful views.<br /><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13112019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13112019.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13112738.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13112738.jpg" border="0" alwidth="750"></a><br /><br />The next section was the start of the climb back to the crest. After the initial hike-a-bike, there was some great sections of singletrack. Then there was the long carry-a-bike to get to the top of the slope the locals call 'Balls'. I guess it gets its name because it takes big ones to drop this leeward slope on a snowmobile. More than one snowmobiler has been killed in avalanches here.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13120151.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13120151.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13123710.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13123710.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13124349.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13124349.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><br /><br />Once over the crest, I could've just dropped down the ATV trail to the gravel road on Cottonwood Canyon and got back out to the pavement, but what fun would that be, I decided to take the road way less traveled and hop over the ridge to extend the adventure. It started out great, nice trail, somewhat rideable...Then the trail disappeared all together leaving me hunting for even a reminant of an animal trail to make riding (instead of pushing/carrying) even an option.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13133013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13133013.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13135755.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13135755.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/?action=view&current=2010-08-13143326.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Afton-2010/2010-08-13143326.jpg" border="0" width="750"></a><br /><br />I started cramping on the climb which didn't make it any easier to get over the top. But once I did find the top, I needed to try and find the trail. When I did find the trail, it was steep and loose. I chased a moose, and then it was back down the dirt road to town.<br /><br />Here's the stats:<br />35.52 miles<br />7500 ft of climbing<br />7:43:36 moving time<br />8:24:39 total timeJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-83953967310437740382011-05-13T12:22:00.014-06:002014-10-06T18:34:49.762-06:00An updateWell, these updates are turning into almost annual updates...I promise to do better in the future...I might take a step back and blog on some of these 2010 events in more detail in the future. For now, here's a recap:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N9sasNfPMrvIm1vizTVjToXxCWGm6y3cu3xvlGui5rJHge63b5mUbq6jWhLSuOoDSBewERHhjcbYqh0GoxVTq1R3dAyzb52-NtCYAi5ihnjszYnurEQXpWU8eIdV_6iOZAAB0k5YdJQ/s1600/2010-06-09+20.49.59.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N9sasNfPMrvIm1vizTVjToXxCWGm6y3cu3xvlGui5rJHge63b5mUbq6jWhLSuOoDSBewERHhjcbYqh0GoxVTq1R3dAyzb52-NtCYAi5ihnjszYnurEQXpWU8eIdV_6iOZAAB0k5YdJQ/s400/2010-06-09+20.49.59.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605920616350881378" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Let's see...I spent a lot of time hiking around Idaho collecting water samples for work.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz41wB4wx7us6qX17DR7VdZdrupIvzRY35YpVttifpIYjJ7lZdG-uFyuTWW8fyZySrdp5-rvLbZEvLFN_uWXQbI84mHYIzWJyY2W_2MRuVgOxYIGJtXYXI1e-5Zv6Fo9OxQq6LZQ4jRr4/s1600/2010-06-08+12.04.16.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz41wB4wx7us6qX17DR7VdZdrupIvzRY35YpVttifpIYjJ7lZdG-uFyuTWW8fyZySrdp5-rvLbZEvLFN_uWXQbI84mHYIzWJyY2W_2MRuVgOxYIGJtXYXI1e-5Zv6Fo9OxQq6LZQ4jRr4/s400/2010-06-08+12.04.16.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605920802095708994" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Went to Teton Pass to do some riding...A little too early for the first trip but nailed it on the second trip...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFa3HRVk6KZEu55VZTRnB92MTBNzN5kohxAYGL9Nz3qTNhNolwGbi1prdAfhJcc_fDQhK0OXKd_igRhXJh-bBJ5tSeOCs8NOahti2EN8I2wrFuAaM7BsoltekQDrWSFTvhctm5n8OFY0/s1600/2010-06-11+12.03.58.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFa3HRVk6KZEu55VZTRnB92MTBNzN5kohxAYGL9Nz3qTNhNolwGbi1prdAfhJcc_fDQhK0OXKd_igRhXJh-bBJ5tSeOCs8NOahti2EN8I2wrFuAaM7BsoltekQDrWSFTvhctm5n8OFY0/s400/2010-06-11+12.03.58.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605921076957475874" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFGPLO4hgpDrr5ABWoaTl70XZVZ2TDn1R52xvmp4WgVsfLyV0gHpgA-4KgYPXbyt1imTy0FpKyyhDOr9cCrKM7-dvIo2_60EuICEQXcU4kMhYybrqnaffcneEsd1XtCkpG9o9MZZkGmE/s1600/2010-06-11+15.52.16.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFGPLO4hgpDrr5ABWoaTl70XZVZ2TDn1R52xvmp4WgVsfLyV0gHpgA-4KgYPXbyt1imTy0FpKyyhDOr9cCrKM7-dvIo2_60EuICEQXcU4kMhYybrqnaffcneEsd1XtCkpG9o9MZZkGmE/s400/2010-06-11+15.52.16.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605921738274731490" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Got a chance to do a solo trip outside of Afton, WY in the Wyoming Range. I saw absolutely no one (and no one bothered to tell me that riding with my headphones was illegal). I think it was about 30 miles and some of that had no trail. I was waaaay out of shape to be doing it but it was still fun.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfug3DNJMna1FsVQL4jXsRwEgESQcjxHV08pA6DJ0rIcUUXnXLl7N_WVmQYJX7vA0wXzEcKwQt8FgS641Xvsj5aQXnaLakSnOOMK2keYfftQDXcORQ4Nkikg_PxbCOOJWQA83tcrI5tKw/s1600/2010-08-13+11.20.19.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfug3DNJMna1FsVQL4jXsRwEgESQcjxHV08pA6DJ0rIcUUXnXLl7N_WVmQYJX7vA0wXzEcKwQt8FgS641Xvsj5aQXnaLakSnOOMK2keYfftQDXcORQ4Nkikg_PxbCOOJWQA83tcrI5tKw/s400/2010-08-13+11.20.19.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605922228230743378" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga15ycxkeHIC3kS2btTDYxIE5cLpqoHyicjnpMnfIpZYiA2THwoAlRdjwHVGVYJP-4GavZcxbNrIlbtV7Fsjod0l77JE3l7sVwjSysSYnFyMbqJCamALNBnwY9vPtzDPagx_2gJaqnmXA/s1600/2010-08-13+14.33.26.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga15ycxkeHIC3kS2btTDYxIE5cLpqoHyicjnpMnfIpZYiA2THwoAlRdjwHVGVYJP-4GavZcxbNrIlbtV7Fsjod0l77JE3l7sVwjSysSYnFyMbqJCamALNBnwY9vPtzDPagx_2gJaqnmXA/s400/2010-08-13+14.33.26.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605923058372585362" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Rode in Green River, WY on my travel day to SE Idaho.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHczl-Lwt4y6KyiAB9wcV7EKi6Qr0W1oDwlYtArNKRzs7LpfYxZcCfTG-LLgMkMObhkdoZcJJ9JWSrjXONyh11r0vVLy4bl_RqTyw1WFfpO-heaIjjfKOPg8mBlyhyphenhyphen-wISghsT8bzzxVw/s1600/2010-08-09+15.05.28.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHczl-Lwt4y6KyiAB9wcV7EKi6Qr0W1oDwlYtArNKRzs7LpfYxZcCfTG-LLgMkMObhkdoZcJJ9JWSrjXONyh11r0vVLy4bl_RqTyw1WFfpO-heaIjjfKOPg8mBlyhyphenhyphen-wISghsT8bzzxVw/s400/2010-08-09+15.05.28.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605923965995817154" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgyhLN1KU612POIx_SFZwswt-U0iooW5LsFDbgqSzoiAZtX9r_u4pYYXX1sNG-wULRbwtNJ7BHPyFfmHsMe223EEiSGPPXHX0W_BGLhSR1pVnjkROxepe-SUC3VELPGwd3juSsL4FLPE/s1600/2010-08-09+15.18.21.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgyhLN1KU612POIx_SFZwswt-U0iooW5LsFDbgqSzoiAZtX9r_u4pYYXX1sNG-wULRbwtNJ7BHPyFfmHsMe223EEiSGPPXHX0W_BGLhSR1pVnjkROxepe-SUC3VELPGwd3juSsL4FLPE/s400/2010-08-09+15.18.21.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605923796968743858" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GERBWqwsO8ZyZnkpZAOWGRnLM-RxrQ0fMSO9TeOvFWqqxzjpYu5HwPTs1yL_ZxwW50BT907NGrFH9YJQhAJmxrGhB1zqYUrA1pGK4NQwThGNRMYi5ZOoiv8XD77WxYh3IMMj45ic8uU/s1600/2010-06-29+11.22.50.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GERBWqwsO8ZyZnkpZAOWGRnLM-RxrQ0fMSO9TeOvFWqqxzjpYu5HwPTs1yL_ZxwW50BT907NGrFH9YJQhAJmxrGhB1zqYUrA1pGK4NQwThGNRMYi5ZOoiv8XD77WxYh3IMMj45ic8uU/s400/2010-06-29+11.22.50.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605923641513310882" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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I took my family on vacation to WY, ID, and MT.<br />
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Raced the Dakota-Five-O (didn't do so well)<br />
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I started taking glider lessons out of Boulder and soloed in October<br />
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Took a tow out of Driggs, ID in a glider and stayed up for 2hrs right next to the Grand.<br />
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Went skiing with my daughter.<br />
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Went skiing with a good friend from Montana.<br />
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Built a couple new RC planes, went RC flying with friends, and wrecked a plane.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNc8xmuOLACgc5vOWLvtQFXb2xWfyA5hg2b23ZTYGqnThf6bGqahkXbNcO5Er8MBFFqAblYicFrC8rbtmeah01v4x4dgL-wRLLLFJSHghwbRRaDo8PHpuYKyjBWrWtJffo_2nhyoMy-LU/s1600/IMG_20101127_155104.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNc8xmuOLACgc5vOWLvtQFXb2xWfyA5hg2b23ZTYGqnThf6bGqahkXbNcO5Er8MBFFqAblYicFrC8rbtmeah01v4x4dgL-wRLLLFJSHghwbRRaDo8PHpuYKyjBWrWtJffo_2nhyoMy-LU/s400/IMG_20101127_155104.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606271001814543490" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAFtE85eoxtOXNQoKNhmMlIV9mjE8FDE6uIrYAqAPq5GOSi7UCcFysbXDspueuLep0FcoB7ymJYcO2hKmz1jpN9CZYiHbN9apaNLkL9sHF1RiFSawttHTdoqqRL_49KTq7uWaff6unYs/s1600/IMG_20110116_095934.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAFtE85eoxtOXNQoKNhmMlIV9mjE8FDE6uIrYAqAPq5GOSi7UCcFysbXDspueuLep0FcoB7ymJYcO2hKmz1jpN9CZYiHbN9apaNLkL9sHF1RiFSawttHTdoqqRL_49KTq7uWaff6unYs/s400/IMG_20110116_095934.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606270875911596370" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 299px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-69095056221454219712010-02-28T21:52:00.003-07:002010-02-28T21:53:39.295-07:00What have I been up to?Well...Not enough of this:<br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9810606&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9810606&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/9810606">The Annual Jackson Hole Backcountry Trip -- Feb 2010</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1312181">Jim Jonas</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />No really, mostly work, flying my planes, and skiing/riding at Loveland with my daughter.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-40783292619448986682009-08-01T23:18:00.006-06:002009-08-05T06:53:13.578-06:00Argentine->Lenawee->Loveland LoopThe Argentine->Lenawee->Loveland loop is a ride that I've done the last three years. The last two years, I did it solo and about a month earlier. This year, I was fortunate to have a good friend send me an email on Thursday asking if I was up for a ride. So I told him my plans and he and a friend were interested in joining. They didn't think they'd have the time to complete the whole loop so we met in Keystone at 6:30am, dropped a couple of cars, and made the shuttle back over to Georgetown. We were on the bikes by 7:30am and headed up the first climb (Bike path to Pavillion Point).<br /><br />I was shocked on the drive up to see so much snow on Bard Peak, Torrey's and even a little on Lenawee Ridge. I was glad I threw my winter hat and a pair of long underwear in my pack before I left.<br /><br />Within a couple of hours, we were within sight of the top of the climb (Argentine Pass)<br /><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/?action=view&current=Pic021.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Argentine Pass" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/Pic021.jpg" width="600" border="0" /></a><br /><br />With lots of snow in sight too.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/?action=view&current=Pic023.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Argentine Gulch" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/Pic023.jpg" width="600" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After the Waldorf mine (~12,000ft), the real work began. It had been a railroad grade up to this point, but beyond was granny gear and walking to reach the pass. I kept thinking on the way up that we would top out around 13,100ft, but my GPS told me I was off by about 400ft...The pass is at 13,500ft...When we reached the top, it was time to put on all the clothes in the pack to manage the cold and the wind. Just as I started down the pass, my rainpants get caught on the seat and I rip the butt out of them...The rip just got worse and worse on the descent.<br /><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/?action=view&current=Pic025.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Dave pointing at Lenawee ridge" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/Pic025.jpg" width="600" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For one of the guys, it was his first time riding at this altitude. I think that the mixture of the altitude, cold, and exposure of the trail was a bit intimidating for him. He took two good tumbles off the downhill side of the trail onto the scree (OUCH!!!) Here's a shot of where he fell off the first time.<br /><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/?action=view¤t=Pic033.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/Pic033.jpg" width="600" border="0" alt="Don's tumble spot"></a><br /><br />He ended up banging up his knee and wrist pretty good. But continued to push through his fears and remount his bike to ride through the loose talus that composed the trail.<br /><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/?action=view¤t=Pic035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/Pic035.jpg" width="600" border="0" alt="Argentine Pass"></a><br /><br />Anyone who's ridden Argentine Pass into Peru Gulch will remember the 'step' about half way down. In the previous two years, I've had to traverse steep snow fields at the step which really increased the difficulty of this loop. Traversing the snowfields was considerably more difficult that the cornice on Jones because you're always off balance when you move the bike or have to kick in steps to the side instead of straight up. Moving this ride to early August made it much more enjoyable.<br /><br />The Step<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/?action=view&current=Pic030.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Argentine Pass" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/Pic030.jpg" width="600" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A short video of Argentine Pass:<br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5MRss4qsgm0&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5MRss4qsgm0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />When we reached the base of Lenawee, I was able to convince DK to continue up and over to A-basin with me while DD parted ways and headed down the road to Keystone. We didn't get but a few feet up Lenawee when DK's cassette came loose. Of course, we didn't have a cassette tool so we had to try to tighten it as best we could with my leatherman. It ended up holding the rest of the ride. I didn't get many shots of Lenawee because DK was kicking my butt on the climb and every time I was able to get the camera out he was out of view.<br /><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/?action=view¤t=Pic040.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/Pic040.jpg" width=600 border="0" alt="Lenawee trail climb"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/?action=view¤t=Pic042.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/Pic042.jpg" width=600 border="0" alt="Lenawee Trail"></a><br /><br />It only took us 2:10 to reach A-basin from the Peru Gulch Rd(including the mechanical issue) and we bombed down the service road to Loveland Pass.<br /><br />A view of the last climb of the day from the top of the second.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/?action=view¤t=Pic043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/Pic043.jpg" width=600 border="0" alt="Top of A-basin"></a><br /><br />I almost had DK convinced to finish off the loop with me...But it was down to just me climbing up and over Loveland Pass. I made a quick stop at the top to get on more clothes (again) and then it was coasting and cruising down Loveland Pass, BLT, the frontage road, and finally the bike path back to the car.<br /><br />It took a little over 9hrs this year.<br /><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-08-01/">More Pictures here</a>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-17277437227914071402009-07-27T10:35:00.003-06:002009-07-27T11:55:15.257-06:00My other passionI love flying just as much as I love biking.<br /><br />It's always an internal conflict on the weekends...Do I go flying or do I go biking? The videos below show what kind of fun we have in the mountains with our RC gliders. Just a bunch of boys playing with their toys! Karl took the first video up on McClellan Mtn near where I'll be riding next Saturday. NO MOTOR on this RC plane, just using the wind like a wave and the backside of the mountain like an eddy behind a rock in a river (dynamic soaring). The whole group of Front Range RC slope pilots are a blast to hang out with. Sometimes we do combat and try to knock each other out of the sky, sometimes we do fast dynamic soaring circles going for personal speed records, and sometimes we just get mezmerized by the fluidity and grace of riding the wind. You can bet that while I'm grinding up Argentine Pass, I'll be thinking about the wind conditions on McClellan.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5769001&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5769001&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br /><p>(Video from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user979676">Karl Decker</a>)</p><p>Here's another video of Nick reaching unreal speeds with his glider (from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/daemn42">Ian</a>)<br /></p><p><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m4_yqX4Lx5s&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m4_yqX4Lx5s&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></p><p>The sounds of DSing at Jones Pass (from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/daemn42">Ian</a>)<object width="560" height="340"><param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x9HMI5SThBU&hl=en&fs=1&" name="movie"></param><param value="true" name="allowFullScreen"></param><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"></param><embed height="344" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x9HMI5SThBU&hl=" fs="1&" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /></p>Combat on Lookout Mtn (Zion) (from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/daemn42">Ian</a>)<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4qIjwinxedU&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4qIjwinxedU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><p></p>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-42404558955025957312009-07-20T10:45:00.014-06:002009-07-21T16:29:58.361-06:00West Empire LoopJuly 18, 2009<br /><br />Solitude or companionship. Both can bring joy to our lives. In the past, I've done the majority of my big rides solo, but this time I had an opportunity to ride it with other like-minded mountain bike junkies. I relished their company.<br /><br />Although the physical path my be the same, a solo adventure creates vastly different memories from a journey with friends. Teamwork and comraderie don't exist on solo adventures. These aspects of riding were missing from many of my previous adventures.<br /><br />I rode out of Empire by myself at 7am. I rode Hwy 40 and Jones Pass Rd with the conviction that I could make it this week without stopping. Besides having to check my front quick release near Empire, I was able to accomplish that goal. I made it to the top of Jones in 2:30 with less than a minute of stop time (yeah!)<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=Picture030.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Jones Pass-last bit of snow blocking the road" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/Picture030.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=Picture031.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Jones Pass cornice" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/Picture031.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />Just as I was about to climb up the last pitch of snow to crest the cornice, I saw three bikers coming up the road. I thought it may be the group of guys I'd been emailing over the past week about doing this loop together (<a href="http://goatshell.blogspot.com/">MGE</a>, Bad Andy, and <a href="http://lubessummer.blogspot.com/">Lubes</a>). I figured I somehow got the start time wrong. I was elated to see them because the thought of riding Bard Ck solo just gives me the chills. There's something about that trail that just freaks me out. I don't feel comfortable riding it solo (but I would if I couldn't find others to ride it with me).<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=Picture034.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Lubes climbing Jones cornice" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/Picture034.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=Picture036.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Bad Andy! climbing Jones cornice" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/Picture036.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=Picture039.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="MGE climbing Jones cornice" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/Picture039.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=Picture032.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Jones Pass July 18, 2009" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/Picture032.jpg" width="600" /></a><br />Once on top of Jones Pass, the fun began. I was able to ride more of it this time than last week.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=Picture040.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="CDT south of Jones" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/Picture040.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qKcb-J7Xxic&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qKcb-J7Xxic&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br />The wind was pretty strong out of the WNW and every time we hit that aspect along the continental divide, trying to stay on the trail got harder. It would have been a great day to fly my RC glider atop that ridge. A few of my flying buddies were headed over to McClellan Mtn that day and they asked if I was coming too, but biking has been at the top of my list the last few weeks. Additionally, other flying buddies were asking if I was going to compete in the LoveAir precision aerobatics competition that weekend too...but biking takes top billing this time of year.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=Picture041.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="View of Greys/Torreys from CDT" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/Picture041.jpg" width="600" /></a><br />Coming down off the divide into Woods Gulch was as fun as ever...except for my flat...It was a good thing that I went back for my tool bag after initially leaving it behind when I left the house this morning.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=Picture042.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="CDT downhill" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/Picture042.jpg" width="600" /></a><br />Before we hit Herman Gulch, we spotted another rider coming down the trail. It turns out that it was someone else from MTBR. We hit the crowded Herman Gulch trail as a group to try to minimize conflict on the trail. All of the hikers were courteous as we passed them on the way down. Lubes was right beside me when he inconceivably propelled his bike on top of a log bridge but for some reason he couldn't ride it out and had to abandon the attempt. He ended up breaking his front brake lever so I thought his day was over...But I was wrong...He was able to rig it and ride the rest of the day.<br /><br />Sidenote: I took my cousins from Virginia up Herman Gulch about a month ago (that was my first time up Herman Gulch) and they really enjoyed it. Afterwards, he couldn't remember the name of the trail and kept calling it 'Homer's Gap'. It made me laugh and for some reason, the name just seems to fit.<br /><br />We stopped and rested at the base of Homer's Gap before tackling the next uphill (Watrous Gulch). I was able to ride more than I expected up Watrous and when we reached the Bard Ck Trail, we stopped and filtered water before continuing to climb (now even steeper).<br /><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=Picture043.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Bard Ck Trail" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/Picture043.jpg" width="600" /></a><br />The Bard Ck Trail was more difficult this year compared to last year. I think it was because of all the miles we had already put in at altitude. In any case, I walked more this year than last year (but I didn't go over the bars at all on this ride). We made slow but steady progress as we contoured around the mountain. Everyone was feeling the miles of very difficult terrain by the time we turned the corner into the last basin before Bard Creek. As soon as we hit a defined trail in Bard Ck drainage, Lubes took the lead with determination. Within what seemed like minutes, we were back at the car.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=WestEmpireDeathMarch_GE.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="West Empire Deathmarch Jul 18, 2009 (Google Earth)" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/WestEmpireDeathMarch_GE.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/?action=view&current=profile-Jul-18-2009.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="West Empire Deathmarch Jul-18-2009" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/2009-07-18/profile-Jul-18-2009.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />Overall Stats:<br />37 miles<br />10,000 ft of climbing<br />13:36 total time<br />4:43 stopped time<br />4.2 mph average speed<br />37 mph max speedJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-75981819475650420402008-09-02T11:08:00.002-06:002008-09-02T11:25:11.032-06:00Bard Creek TrailBard Creek Trail is EPIC!!!<br /><br />After last weekend’s adventure into a known area (Williams Fork Loop), I was having a hard time deciding what trail to ride during the Labor Day weekend. I had initially thought of going up to Spearfish, SD to ride the Dakota 5-0 but the cost of gas and the time spent in the car for a single day of riding just didn’t seem like a worthy tradeoff. With the good days to spend above treeline waning, Monarch Crest came to mind but I really didn’t want to drive that far to find out everyone else in Colorado had the same idea. I started looking closer to home for some unknown trail that meandered around 12,000 ft and could be turned into a loop. There’s something about loops that make them so much more appealing to me than a simple out-n-back. Maybe it’s the fact that you’ve got to commit to a loop at some point in the ride…I guess that would be the ‘point of no return’, huh?<br /><br />I had talked with a co-worker about the Bard Creek Trail that connects Herman Gulch (along I-70 near Loveland Pass) with Empire, CO (on Hwy 40 going to Berthoud Pass). He is a trail runner and always had good things to say about this trail. His only hesitation is that you never really get away from the noise of traffic down below on I-70. The advantage of this trail is how close it is to home, however, and that out weighed the disadvantages. So I started looking at it on the Forest Service maps and came up with a loop out of Georgetown. Initially, I wanted to complete the loop counter-clockwise which would have me climbing up the jeep road and descending down pavement…I’m glad I decided to switch it around and do the climb up the pavement because the descent down the rocky jeep road was arguably the best part of the ride.<br /><br />Last week, I put out an open invitation to ride Williams Fork Loop and ended up with a very nice, very capable, and intelligent riding partner. I’d been burned by putting out open invitations before so I was a bit hesitant this last time. But with last week’s ride going so well, I thought I’d try it again for the Bard Creek Loop…I got one taker.<br /><br />We met at the vistor’s center in Georgetown and headed up the road to Bakerville. We chatted as we climbed and I found out that he had never ridden above treeline before. If I had known that ahead of time, we probably would’ve ridden a different trail—likely Monarch Crest or Kenosha Pass—something that I would’ve known to be more rideable and enjoyable for a first ride above treeline. But we were committed. We continued to chat up the Bakerville-Loveland Trail and as I spotted the Herman Gulch I-70 exit through the trees, I thought we had gone too far and missed our turn so we bushwacked through the willows and walked through the creek.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3122.jpg" border="0" alt="Clear Creek Crossing" width=600></a><br />We still didn’t find the trail on the other side so we climbed up to the shoulder of the interstate and rode down the entrance ramp to the exit. At the exit, I realized that we hadn’t gone far enough and if we would’ve ridden up the trail a few hundred yards, we would’ve had a bridge to cross on…Oh well, next time. There were already a good number of cars in the parking lot at the trailhead but I knew that once we got off the Herman Gulch trail, we’d see little to no people. We started the steep climb up Watrous Gulch.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3125.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3125.jpg" border="0" alt="Watrous Climb" width=600></a><br />As soon as the trail mellowed out, we crossed a small creek and found our turn off.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3126.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3126.jpg" border="0" alt="Watrous Creek" width=600></a><br />It didn’t take long until the trail had a good deal of exposure. I guess I’ve somewhat calloused myself towards exposed trails more than I thought over the years. I forget how intimidating trails that have ‘no-fall-zones’ can be to the uninitiated. Although my riding partner this weekend was new to this, he did a good job with learning what he felt comfortable riding and what not to try.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3131.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3131.jpg" border="0" alt="Parnassus Face" width=600></a><br />The trail traverses a couple of 13,000ft peaks along treeline, descending, climbing, and wrapping into little hidden drainages. There are a number of cool bristlecone pines along the route.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3132.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3132.jpg" border="0" alt="Bristlecone Pine" width=600></a><br />And there are times when the trail just completely disappears…only cairns to follow…<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3138.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3138.jpg" border="0" alt="Can you see the trail?" width=600></a><br />We continued to traverse across the mountain to a good vantage point that had a large cairn on it. There was quite a bit of hike-a-bike involved and route finding. I stopped and waited for Shane at the cairn and took a panorama of the vista.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3141.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3141.jpg" border="0" alt="The narrow traverse" width=600></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3143.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3143.jpg" border="0" alt="Panorama 2" width=600></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3148.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3148.jpg" border="0" alt="Steep Face" width=600></a><br />Then we continued on into this hidden basin. The saddle at the far end of the basin was the top of the downhill segment of our ride.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3150.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3150.jpg" border="0" alt="The Bark Ck Saddle" width=600></a><br />We encountered our first person for the day near the top of the saddle. He looked like a hunter out scouting. We continued on and Shane refilled his camelback at a cascading creek. I found out at the same time that my iodine tablets had become powder after living in my first aid kit for over a year. We treated his water by estimating the dosage, but I don’t think he drank from it the rest of the voyage.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3157.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3157.jpg" border="0" alt="Bard Ck Drainage" width=600></a><br />The trail continued to get better and better as we descended. There were still a few obstacles that had to be crossed by carrying the bike, however.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3160.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3160.jpg" border="0" alt="Bard ck Rock Garden" width=600></a><br />We finally hit the trail head, and the jeep road dropping back to Empire Pass was some of the most fun I’ve had in a long time…Loose rocks, big water bars, fast flowing sections…Then we hit the last bit of singletrack down Empire Pass and we were back at the cars in about 7 hours.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/?action=view¤t=IMG_3163.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/BardTrail2008/IMG_3163.jpg" border="0" alt="Empire Pass" width=600></a><br /><br />As a sidenote, I fell more times on this ride (all over the bars because of getting the front tire stuck in a hole) than I have all season. I knew when I could take risks and when I couldn’t so I didn’t have any nasty falls. The worst fall was in a mud hole when it ate my front tire first and then I smelled bad for the rest of the day.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-79218910387674861972008-08-25T14:29:00.001-06:002008-08-25T14:34:39.769-06:00Williams Fork LoopFinally got a chance to ride the Williams Fork Loop!!!<br /><br />A new friend and I were able to get this loop completed yesterday. We opted to drive over Jones Pass and start from the Bobtail Mine. This cuts out about 5,000 feet of climbing-half at the beginning and half at the end-and alleviates the fear of getting caught on the wrong side of the pass if a thunderstorm pops up. <br /><br />The loop was roughly 33 miles, 4,400 ft of climbing and took us about 9 hrs. There was a lot of hike-a-bike (but that was expected) so the stats don’t tell the whole story…<br /><br />We left the car just before 8am and the sun still hadn't hit the valley floor. The loop began with a VERY COLD creek crossing followed by a couple more while still in the shade. Brian did the first crossing while precariously stepping from rock to rock using his bike for balance, while I just decided I might as well start with cold, wet feet.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork005.jpg" border="0" alt="First creek crossing" width=600></a><br />It turned out that there was so much dew and frost on the vegetation that Brian’s feet were quickly soaked anyways. It didn’t take long before I didn’t have any feeling in my big toes. After all the creek crossings were done, we finally made it into the sun, stopped to eat and change socks, then started up the first climb. It’s almost all hike-a-bike to gain the ridge from the creek (~1,500 feet).<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork008.jpg" border="0" alt="Bobtail Drainage" width=600></a><br />This trail gets so little use that it’s difficult to find at times. We saw no human tracks, only moose and elk for most of the day just to give you a sense of it’s usage.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork006.jpg" border="0" alt="I think this is the trail" width=600></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork007.jpg" border="0" alt="Climb, Climb, Climb" width=600></a><br />The views to the east at Pettingale were spectacular during the climb.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork009.jpg" border="0" alt="Some okay trail on the climb" width=600></a><br />We took the obligatory photo next to the sign at the crest of the ridge.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork010.jpg" border="0" alt="Top of first climb" width=600></a><br />The first drop-in over the ridge was a little daunting…<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork011.jpg" border="0" alt="That first steps a doozy" width=600></a><br />In spots, the only way to identify where the trail went was by the sporadically spaced cairns. It is fun but bumpy riding across the tundra.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork012.jpg" border="0" alt="Where'd the Trail go?" width=600></a><br />There were some incredible views and riding along the ridge but the riding goes through many ‘no-fall-zones’.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork013.jpg" border="0" alt="Tricky Trail" width=600></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork014.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork014.jpg" border="0" alt="Steelman Drainage" width=600></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork015.jpg" border="0" alt="Ridge Riding" width=600></a><br />There was quite a bit of riding from cairn to cairn along the ridge and it is slow going at times. I remember looking down at the GPS and seeing that it had taken us 3 hours to go 5 miles. Then we reached the drop into the west valley.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork016.jpg" border="0" alt="Drop into West Fork Drainage" width=600></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork017.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork017.jpg" border="0" alt="West Fork Beaver Pond" width=600></a><br />There were at least four creek crossings and only one had a bridge. On the plus side, the trail is MUCH more defined in this valley than the first valley making the riding go much faster.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork018.jpg" border="0" alt="West Fork Broken Bridge" width=600></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork019.jpg" border="0" alt="West Fork Bridge" width=600></a><br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork020.jpg" border="0" alt="West Fork Trail" width=600></a><br />We stopped and refilled our water at the campground where the two forks meet. It was odd to get to a deserted campground and refill at the hand-pump. Since this area was heavily infected with pine beetles, they had done a bunch of logging within the campground. We left the campground and headed for the boardwalk that crosses the swamp/marsh. We saw our first person of the day at this trailhead…Looked like he was going fishing. Then we found out that they had removed the center section of the boardwalk so we had to once again get our feet wet.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork021.jpg" border="0" alt="What happened to the boardwalk?" width=600></a><br />Then it was onto the ‘new to me’ Darling Creek trail. In the past adventures on the Williams Fork Loop, we had always crossed on the boardwalk and headed upstream on the South Fork trail. But this time, we headed downstream on the Darling Creek trail.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork022.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork022.jpg" border="0" alt="Beetle Kill" width=600></a><br /> I had no idea what to expect, but I knew that the trail would lead us to the aquaduct road that I had ridden a few weeks prior. This area had been heavily hit with beetles so I was expecting a lot of downed timber. The trail started out really rocky and I was starting to think that this could have been a mistake. After less than a mile, we found out that we could’ve bypassed the boardwalk by starting up Darling Ck trail by the portal for the Henderson Tunnel. There were signs at the portal saying the trails (I presume both Darling Ck and South Fork) were closed for logging operations but we had no option other than heading up one of the two to get back to the car. I was expecting the worst from Darling Ck (since I had never been on it before) and was pleasantly surprised at how much was rideable. As soon as we got around the portal, it actually turned into a decent climbable trail.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork024.jpg" border="0" alt="Darling Ck" width=600></a><br />Once the trail crosses the creek and turns up a tributary, it was more hike-a-bike than riding but there were still a few sections worth attempting.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork023.jpg" border="0" alt="Darling Ck - Brian" width=600></a><br />Then it was a fast cruise down the aquaduct road.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/?action=view¤t=WilliamsFork025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/WilliamsFork2008/WilliamsFork025.jpg" border="0" alt="Aquaduct" width=600></a><br />We saw only 2 people on the entire trip: one at the campground going fishing, and another on the aquaduct trail a couple of miles from the end. The second guy was stashing a bunch of coke cans in a creek and was pulling a Burley trailer loaded with a hunting camp. He asked if we were out there scouting (I think he was afraid that he’d have to share his hunting spot). Somehow, we avoided all the storms in the area.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-66421017901502861652008-08-05T11:43:00.004-06:002008-08-05T12:30:36.461-06:00Copper TriangleNo, I didn't ride the sanctioned <a href="http:\\www.coppertriangle.com">Copper Triangle</a>. In fact, I didn't even know it was going on until I pulled off I-70 at Copper only to see a cop sitting at the intersection and the outer parking lots COMPLETELY FULL!!! I asked a couple of guys working the parking lot what was going on and then I asked them about the trails and they replied, "Oh, you won't see anyone up there today." Although I didn't quite believe them, I was at least relieved to find out that there wasn't a race on the trails...But the <a href="http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=436927">CTR racers</a> had been through here earlier in the week and it was because of watching the <a href="http://www.tourdivide.org/ctr/leaderboard">blue dots</a> that I got the urge to ride what I call the off-road copper triangle (although it's really more of a rectangle than a triangle). Anyways, it had been since 2005 that I had ridden this route and on that trip I had my wife meet us at Camp Hale with food and water. I remember it being difficult for me at the time and I really needed the resupply of food from my wife. I remember we had a rough time climbing Resolution Creek Road in 2005 and we had lightning striking around us at the top that made us cower under some trees until the storm passed. I broke one of my wisdom teeth that day requiring me to get it pulled later the next week.<br /><br />This trip was a solo endeavor with no support. Once I got out of the center of Copper and onto the trail, I was able to enjoy some solitude.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/?action=view¤t=IMG_3084.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/IMG_3084.jpg" border="0" alt="Copper Triangle - Start" width=600></a><br />Climbing to Guller Gulch was not as difficult as I remembered it being, plus it went by rather quickly. Although I took my MP3 player, I didn't turn it on at the start. I wanted to ride without it for a change but told myself that I could listen after I reached Searle Pass. Instead, I replayed portions of songs in my head...It's funny how you sometimes have complete control over what songs you replay, while at other times you have no control...Today I had control...<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/?action=view¤t=IMG_3085.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/IMG_3085.jpg" border="0" alt="Copper Triangle - Guller Gulch" width=600></a><br />I stopped and talked with a few hikers coming down from spending the night at Jenny's Cabin. I also ran into a family that was thru-hiking the CT (they had planned on taking 7-weeks to finish). It wasn't too long and I was at Searle Pass. When I stopped I noticed an that one of the wings on my new Crank Bros eggbeater pedals was cracked through and twisted. No wonder it sometimes felt sloppy on the climb! Well, there was nothing I could do about it now so I didn't fret over it. I ate a Snickers Bar, refilled my water bottle with Gatorade, and talked with the local fauna.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/?action=view¤t=IMG_3089.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/IMG_3089.jpg" border="0" alt="Copper Triangle - A little friend" width=600></a><br />Then it was off to Kokomo Pass. I really love this section of trail above treeline. As I crossed the alpine tundra, I wondered if the tracks left in the few muddy sections were from the CTRers.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/?action=view¤t=IMG_3091.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/IMG_3091.jpg" border="0" alt="Copper Triangle - Kokomo Pass" width=600></a><br />The wildflowers coming down Kokomo Pass were really spectacular. This is such a fun descent!<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/?action=view¤t=IMG_3092.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/IMG_3092.jpg" border="0" alt="Copper Triangle - Down Kokomo" width=600></a><br />When I got to the bottom, I went to shift gears only to have my chain get stuck between the 2nd and 3rd chain rings...Great...I thought I was going to be stuck in Camp Hale. I had lost 2 of the 4 chain ring bolts but luckily I was able to move them opposite each other so I could complete the ride. I also realized that the broken wing had fallen off and now the opposite one was cracked and ready to fall off! I continued on down the CT along the road and spooked a coyote who ran alongside the trail through the sagebrush at almost the same speed as me riding. It was cool to see him cruising along next to me for about 100 yards.<br /><br />After leaving the CT, I cruised down the road and ate a few crackers/PB. It was a short ride to reach Resolution Peak Road. Then 2500ft up to the pass. I felt really good during the climb and only had to stop once or twice for a couple of seconds to refill my water bottle, grap some more crackers, and wait for jeeps or ATVs to pass. <br /><br />It was like deja vu when I neared the top. Dark clouds started rolling in and then there was thunder just to the north. I had about 500 ft to get to the top so I stepped on it a little harder knowing I was starting to dig a hole but it would soon be over and I wouldn't have to wait out the storm. I quickly made it over the top (through a herd of sheep...but no sheep dog?) and started dropping into Wilder Gulch. It was packed with hikers which really slowed the descent and then I saw my first mountain bikers of the day less than a mile from the bike path.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/?action=view¤t=IMG_3094.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/IMG_3094.jpg" border="0" alt="Copper Triangle - Wilder Gulch" width=600></a><br />After I reached the bike path, the Copper Triangle riders were everywhere. I came around one of the first switchbacks to find an ambulance blocking the trail. I guess someone went down and they had him strapped on a backboard. I was really surprised at how slow alot of these riders were going. It seemed like I was passing them all. As I neared the village, the race volunteers were directing all the riders towards the center of the village--and I guess they all assumed I just lost my number so I was grouped in with the rest of the riders. It was interesting to finish off the ride by going through the start/finish line, having strangers clap and say good job to me even though they had no idea of where I went.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/?action=view¤t=IMG_3095.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Summit%20County/IMG_3095.jpg" border="0" alt="Copper Triangle - Finish Line!" width=600></a><br /><br />Stats:<br />(I'll post them up later)<br /><br />PS...<br />This was the first trip with the Ergon grips I got for my birthday and I really LOVED THEM!!!Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-10578457969080530152008-07-28T12:55:00.008-06:002008-07-28T19:41:24.188-06:00Jones PassHeaded up to Jones Pass again on Sunday. I really wanted to explore the aquaduct trails/roads on the west side that I didn't get a chance to visit last weekend when I was sidetracked on the CDT.<br /><br />Quite a bit had melted since last weekend.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/?action=view¤t=JonesPass2008001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/JonesPass2008001.jpg" border="0" alt="Jones Pass July 27, 2008" width=600></a><br />I took a more challenging line up and over the cornice this time. I really had to make sure that the bike was acting as a good anchor because the steepness of the snow was over 40-degrees and a slip would've resulted in a lot of pain.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/?action=view¤t=JonesPass2008002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/JonesPass2008002.jpg" border="0" alt="Cresting the cornice" width=600></a><br />There were already clouds building and it was only 11am...I knew I was taking a risk by dropping down the west side of the pass and I've been stuck on this side before but what the heck, I'll take that chance. Here's the aquaduct trails/roads I was heading towards<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/?action=view¤t=JonesPass2008003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/JonesPass2008003.jpg" border="0" alt="Looking down from Jones Pass West" width=600></a><br />The first one was a mellow road to begin with<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/?action=view¤t=JonesPass2008008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/JonesPass2008008.jpg" border="0" alt="Aquaduct south" width=600></a><br />Then things got a little more techincal as I neared its end<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/?action=view¤t=JonesPass2008009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/JonesPass2008009.jpg" border="0" alt="Fun Aquaduct trail (south)" width=600></a><br />As I was cruising back, I came across a moose! I must have spooked her because all I saw was a BIG dark brown butt! I had seen a pair a few years ago up here but it still startled me. I stopped, turned around, and went back to take a picture but she was gone. Here's about where I saw her (you can see Jones Pass in the background).<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/?action=view¤t=JonesPass2008005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/JonesPass2008005.jpg" border="0" alt="Jones Pass West" width=600></a><br />So then it was back to the bottom of Jones Pass to start the next aquaduct trail. As I stopped to refill my water bottle this little chipmunk just about ran up my leg. I turned around and he was sitting on my seat. I scared him a bit but he came back, this time up my front tire. I gave him a piece of dried mango and we talked over lunch.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/?action=view¤t=JonesPass2008017.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/JonesPass2008017.jpg" border="0" alt="My little buddy" width=600></a><br />Then he went back into the woods and I went off down the other aquaduct trail. Here's a shot of the second one from the first one. You can really see the devistation the pine beetles have caused in this valley.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/?action=view¤t=JonesPass2008006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/JonesPass2008006.jpg" border="0" alt="Aquaduct" width=600></a><br />I haven't downloaded the GPS yet so I'm not sure how far I went but I made it all the way past the campground at the confluence of the two Williams Forks (but it was 2,000 ft below me). I ended up riding off the map I had on my GPS and I found an interesting fact: If you ride beyond the GPS map, it disappears completely only leaving your track. I finally reached my turn around time and reversed course. Back up Jones Pass I went. I saw zero people once I was off of Jones Pass...Just the way I like it.<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/?action=view¤t=JonesPass2008020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/JonesPass2008020.jpg" border="0" alt="Jones Pass West" width=600></a><br />Denver has been experiencing a heat wave these last couple of weeks. We're going for a record number of days over 90F (I think we're at 15 now) and we're already on record for the driest year ever up to this point...But on top of Jones Pass below the undercast sky, I needed to put on my jacket because I was starting to get really cold.<br /><br />Next time I'll be ready to hit the Williams Fork Loop. I really wanted to scope out the aquaduct trails to see if it would be any easier on the Loop to hike up to one of these trails instead of taking the trail that was littered with downed timber the last time I was one it. My conclusion was that the hike-a-bike up to the road wouldn't really save that much time because it was at most 2,000 feet (near the campground) with no trail and lots of downed timber too (due to the beetles). At least I had a nice day of 'alone time'.<br /><br />Here's the stats:<br />Distance: 44.8 miles<br />Total Time: 7:08<br />Stopped Time: 0:42<br />Climbing: 6237ft<br /><a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/?action=view¤t=20080727.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/JonesPass%202008/20080727.jpg" border="0" alt="Profile" width=600></a>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-81413563267317164862008-07-21T21:15:00.002-06:002008-07-21T21:36:07.048-06:00Continental Divide TrailI headed up to Jones Pass on Saturday. I took one of my rc gliders but the wind wasn't good enough so I left it in the car and headed up the pass. The climb over the cornice was interesting but not as challenging as it has been in years past. I was planning on dropping into the valley to check out Bobtail Ck and a little more of the Williams Fork loop but I was just drawn to the CDT snaking it's way down the ridgeline. It was calling to me. I'd never ridden this section of trail but I knew it would be very technical. So I planned on doing it as an out-n-back, but the boy in me continuously asking the question, "What's around the next corner?" kept me going further down the trail. I saw a sign a couple of miles in that said Wood Creek was just a few miles. I thought I could drop down it and hook up with a trail/road that *I thought* connected Woods Gulch to Butler Gulch...Well...There's no trail from the CDT down into Woods Gulch...I had to bushwack back down below treeline before I saw a crushed beer can and I knew I was back near a road. A few minutes later, I found the singletrack that climbs up to Hassell Lake. It was tough...So steep in parts I could barely carry my bike (which, by the way, I did a lot that day). Once up to the lake the trail disappeared. I had been up here before but it was in the wintertime and we skinned back up and over the ridge into Butler Gulch. I knew there was a road that switchbacked up the trail but I was sure where it was. I totally missed it and ended up hiking almost straight up the hillside until I reached the top. Again, I thought there'd be a trail since this little saddle gets skied alot. But once again I was bushwacking back down the hillside to the trail.<br /><br /><embed src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F564190930rqgFpm%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D564190930%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fsports.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F564190930rqgFpm&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsports.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F564190930rqgFpm&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" width="425" height="384" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer"base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" allowScriptAccess="always" loop="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer"></embed><br /><br /><a href="http://sports.webshots.com/album/564190930rqgFpm">Jones Pass 2008</a><br /><br />It was definitely a technical day so the stats aren't that impressive (but the views and the difficulty level kinda made up for it)<br /><br />Distance: 14.24 miles<br />Elevation: 5100 ft<br />Total Time: 5:31<br />Stopped Time: 0:54Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-54856413943729695452008-07-13T13:03:00.003-06:002008-07-13T14:15:30.692-06:00Greys & Torreys Ring RideI started off the day on the wrong foot…Didn’t hear the alarm at all (and I had set three times on my watch) so I over-slept and got a late start. It was right after 7am when I started from the visitor’s center in Georgetown (8,500ft) and still a bit chilly compared to the morning temps in Denver.<br /><br />Up the road and by the RR station to the bike path and then the pungent smell of burning brakes.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2241108320053140866XAzsLF"><img src="http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/3256/2241108320053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Georgetown to Silver Plume Bikepath"></a><br />That didn’t last that long at least and it was on to the Pavillion Point RR trail. The first part of the trail is two-track but then it turns into this wonderful singletrack that meanders along the railroad grade. It gets tricky in spots where the short trussels are gone or the drainage as eroded back to its former morphology.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2477682870053140866fpouHQ"><img src="http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/39669/2477682870053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Pavillion Point RR grade"></a><br />It connects at the point to a road that traverses the hillside-with a few ups and downs- to the Argentine Pass road. Argentine Pass is also a railroad grade converted to 4x4 road. It continues at a consistent grade all the way to the abandoned Waldorf Mine (11,600ft).<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2303182430053140866CurLbk"><img src="http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/32921/2303182430053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Waldorf Mine looking up at Argentine Pass"></a><br />Above the Waldorf, the road gets more difficult to climb. It’s loose and rocky plus the air gets quite thin. I reached the top of Argentine Pass (13,200ft) in just over 3hrs and was greeted by a group of hikers that had come up Argentine from Peru Creek. That was great timing. I wouldn’t have wanted to meet them on the Peru side of Argentine. I didn’t spend much time on top with the group…<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2320289160053140866ZRgcTm"><img src="http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/21946/2320289160053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Argentine Pass (13,200ft) trail to Peru Ck"></a><br />This first section is really loose scree but it’s wide and rideable. Just don’t fall to the right…I don’t know when you’d stop tumbling (notice that the camera’s a little tilted towards the rock I’m leaning against—think I’m a little nervous?). The rideability of the descent waxes and wanes. There’s no way I can even picture myself trying to ride all of it. I think there’s always sections I’ll walk.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2504691020053140866ZkKdSj"><img src="http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/41122/2504691020053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Argentine Pass"></a><br />Some sections are nice singletrack and then other sections are boulder fields. There’s even one step that requires lowering the bike first (ensuring that you don’t tip it over because it’ll tumble off the trail), then climbing down the 5’ step.<br />Last year, there were a couple of large snowfields that I had to kick in some steps but this year there was barely any snow at all—only one 10’ section.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2637461370053140866MQWwkL"><img src="http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/513/2637461370053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Argentine Pass & Greys"></a><br />Didn’t take long to get to Peru Creek and the ride down the road was uneventful. When I reached the bottom of Lenawee, I ran into an older guy whom I stopped and talked with for a few minutes. Then this golden retriever showed up and walked with me up the trail. I don’t know whose dog it was but he had this big note on his collar so I figured he was a local just out for a stroll. Up the trail we went.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2350194730053140866wYiqJu"><img src="http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/17199/2350194730053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Lenawee blw treeline"></a><br />After climbing a bit, I realized that my balance wasn’t quite on…Maybe it’s because I hadn’t ridden much technical trail in a while or I was just having an off day, regardless I just couldn’t seem to clear obstacles that I know I could clear. At one point, I lost forward motion and started rolling backwards, tried to put my foot down on the downhill side only to tumble off the trail over a downed tree and come to rest upside down attached to my bike. I walked a little bit more than I needed to after that. I was really starting to feel the climbing when I rounded the corner into the basin so I stopped for a few minutes. I had set a goal of reaching A-Basin by 6hrs into the ride…It was already at 5hrs and I didn’t think there was a chance. I knew there was still some climbing to do.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2168484220053140866RFeZTt"><img src="http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/30296/2168484220053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Lenawee @ treeline"></a><br />Once on the traverse, my mood switched around and it started to look like I could indeed make 6hrs so I started pushing a little harder.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2939012210053140866jSnLNE"><img src="http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/41972/2939012210053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Lenawee Basin"></a><br />Just before the last switchbacks, I ran into biker coming down and we talked for a couple of seconds. I told him where I started from and he gave me a big high-five and seemed more excited about it than I did. It was just the boost I needed to finish off the climb with fortitude and perseverance. My traveling companion turned around and headed home.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2309662280053140866UPRnsv"><img src="http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/43774/2309662280053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="My climbing companion on Lenawee"></a><br />I reached the top right at 6hrs WOOOHOOO!!! <br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2543968590053140866wVCLKT"><img src="http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/24247/2543968590053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Montezuma Bowl @ A-Basin"></a><br />Then it was riding the brakes coming down A-Basin. I hit the pavement only to be greeted by mobs of road bikers coming down the pass…I mean MOBS…It was a never ending stream of spandex and flapping jackets that consumed the entire downhill lane, sometimes 3 to 4 abreast. Cars coming downhill were overtaking them on the wrong side of a double yellow line coming straight at me…NOT a good feeling…and the roadies wouldn’t scoot over one bit. At one point, I heard a semi coming up behind me and the downhill lane ahead was full of 2-3 abreast riders. They weren’t going to give him an inch so guess who ended stopping their bike in a ditch until the semi passed? I thought about stopping and getting water at the Snake River above the road but I still had about a quarter of a 100oz bladder and I really didn’t want to stop. I crested Loveland Pass out of the saddle and accelerating. I wanted to get beyond the mob as quickly as possible. I was able to keep up with traffic all the way down the pass. Then it was on to the Loveland-Bakerville trail (which looks like they built it to be a road).<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2541069780053140866NkKsbU"><img src="http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/16564/2541069780053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Loveland-Bakerville Trail/Road"></a><br />Even though it looks lame, after all the climbing done it’s nice to have a long gravel downhill that requires little pedaling and barely a touch on the brakes. It wasn’t long before I reached Bakerville and headed out on the road only to pick up a 3-inch nail. I dinked around with the tire and tube for way too much time. I pinch flatted my replacement tube trying to get the tire back on so now I was down to patches. I really don’t like those self-adhesive patches…They’d hold just enough to get it pumped up and then blow out…But I finally got one to hold long enough to get back to the car. I knew I should’ve done the chamois cream on the bead from the start but I was lazy and didn’t think I needed to…lesson learned.<br /><br />In the end, I was way ahead of last year’s time until the flat. But I still managed to better my time by 5 minutes.<br /><br />Here’s the stats:<br />Distance: 45.6 miles<br />Climbing: 8919 feet<br />Total Time: 8:11<br />Stopped Time: 1:09 (40 minutes for that stupid flat)<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2556909860053140866zBBbKG"><img src="http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/43093/2556909860053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="20080712"></a>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-82684475656674963002008-07-09T15:33:00.002-06:002008-07-09T15:41:15.708-06:00The Black Hills Tour - Part 2Day 2<br />The second day started at the southern campground at Sheridan Lake. The first segment of the Centennial Trail was the Samelius section that connects Sheridan Lake with Hwy 16A via a steep and rocky ascent and descent. I started up the climb expecting my legs to begin to complain from the previous day’s ride but they seem ready and willing to tackle the task at hand.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2723955580053140866htYiyk"><img src="http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/12750/2723955580053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Rough riding on Samelius"></a><br />Near the top, you get a good view into Hill City so I thought I’d try the cell phone. Yep coverage here:<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2619592460053140866lCsauE"><img src="http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/42278/2619592460053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="View from Samelias Ridge"></a><br />Somehow on the descent down the jeep road, I missed the turn off for the last segment of singletrack. Darn! I really like that section, so much so, that I *almost* went back up to find it. Instead, I pushed on through the rolling hills and meadows between 16A and the railroad tracks. Next was the steep climb up to the Big Pine trailhead. I remember coming down this section on my first Centennial Trail excursion but I’d never been up it. I’d have to say that 95% was not rideable (by my standards). It was so eroded, loose, and steep that I’d have to say I didn’t even try to ride much because I knew it was a fruitless endeavor. From reading the tracks left by previous hikers, I was thankful that I didn’t have to slip, slide, and struggle through the mud like they did. Once at the trailhead, I sat down, ate some food, and waited for Misty. I had debated riding the road through Needles Hwy but I decided not to although I was feeling fine. It turned out for the better because on our drive to the Iron Creek trailhead, we encountered golf ball size hail. The first one hit the windshield in front of Misty with such force that we thought it was coming through (or at least cracking the glass) but neither occurred. The intensity of the storm heightened so I pulled off the road and tried to get my sister’s van under a tree to protect as best I could. The hailstones were ripping right through forest canopy and bouncing 2-4 feet in the air after impact.<br /><br />I could only image how this storm would feel if I had been cruising on the bike down this section of the Needles Hwy. That first hit would have been so much of a shock that I sure I would’ve thought someone threw a rock at me. After looking at the dents on the van, I’m sure the hailstones would’ve left bruises.<br /><br />I waited for the hail to pass before starting off down the trail. I was excited and anxious to ride the southern parts of the Centennial since this would only be my second time on the trail and my first time riding south. I remembered small portions of the trail but much of it was still a blur. My anxiousness stemmed from the encounters with buffalo I had the first time I rode this section. They are so big, seemingly intelligent, and unpredictable…You never know when you’ll come around a corner and be face-to-face with these giants so you’ve got to keep on your toes. <br /><br />The GPS actually got used for navigation within a few miles of the trailhead. Somehow I had missed a turn, evident only be the absence of “89” trail markers. I had to derive the track on the GPS for the entire southern section of the trail using only waypoints I had created on my first ride, aerial photography, and topo maps. My old GPS had very limited capabilities when it came to saving tracks (in fact all I had of a track from that first ride was from Elk Ck to Bear Butte) so I compensated by trying to save lots of waypoints. It didn’t take me more than a few minutes to find my error in navigation and I was back on track.<br /><br />Remnants of the hailstorm quickly disappeared but that only meant more puddles and more flowing water on the trail. There’s one segment just south of Legion Lake that has great flow, good views, but it was over way too soon…And now it looks like another storm is approaching.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2630434080053140866gDknMr"><img src="http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/9022/2630434080053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Storm a-comin by Mt Coolidge"></a><br />There was only one segment of the Centennial through Custer State Park that really stood out in my mind…the climb into and out of French Creek. There is what looks like a minor pass on the map just north of French Creek that should not be disregarded because of its small stature. This year I realized that approaching this pass from either direction involves a fair bit of hike-a-bike. The trail was a poorly designed, fall-line trail with no water bars or breaks. Erosion had converted this presumably once nice trail into a never-ending series of loose rock and gullies. I was happy to reach the top and be able to look down into French Creek gulch. But the darkening overcast skies and rumble of distant thunder shortened my break.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2521332360053140866xVFnfd"><img src="http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/41720/2521332360053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Top of French Creek Pass (Hike-a-Bike Up, Hike-a-Bike Down)"></a><br />I started off trying to ride this trail down but after almost losing it over the bars more than once (the last time while trying to stop and dismount) I decided it was best to just walk it (although that option brought on other concerns of twisting an ankle). About a third of the way down, sections were rideable again with occasional sections that needed to be walked. I was really looking forward to cruising up the old jeep road that follows along French Creek to the horse camp, however, the mental image of an easy spin up a road gave way to the harsh reality of a road overused by horses during a muddy period. When it wasn’t full of hoof potholes, it was loose sand. On top of that, French Creek was thigh deep and there were at least a handful of crossings. I did happen to run across this prairie rattler.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2239782240053140866lAKyQH"><img src="http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/43904/2239782240053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Prairie Rattlesnake on the French Creek Trail"></a><br />The road climbing out of the French Creek horse camp was no better. I guess it doesn’t matter by whom a trail is overused…Overuse = poor trail conditions.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2925005230053140866YOrRhb"><img src="http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/42030/2925005230053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Horse Divets outside French Creek Camp"></a><br />By this time, the threat of a serious thunderstorm was eminent. The thunder was rumbling ever closer but I knew I wanted to try and get well clear of the overused section of trail before the rains came so I continued to push on. Hailstones arrived shortly thereafter but they were small and sparse when the storm started so I continued to push my bike up a short, steep hill. By the time I got to the top, the hail was coming down in sheets so I tried to take cover near a rock outcropping but it didn’t seem to help. The waterproofing job I had completed at home on my backpack proved to be a waste of time. No beading at all, it was soaking through. I quickly dug out my jacket and put it on to lessen the sting of the hailstones. As I sat with my eyes closed, knees tucked into my chest, and tense from the beating, I began to take control of my situation in best way I could. I created a soothing mental image of being a subject of some ‘new-age’ massage therapy where they implemented a shower of hailstones for deep muscle massage. Even to my surprise, this mental exercise seemed to work by relaxing my muscles and helping me happily accept these circumstances.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2823435760053140866zuEAAf"><img src="http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/37796/2823435760053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Hail Storm Massage"></a><br />Once the hail stopped, I got back on the bike and headed down the trail. I went to put on my glasses but the advantage of wearing them to keep the mud and water out of my eyes was trumped by their fogginess. The sound of hail crunching under the tires was odd but interesting and not as slippery as I would have expected. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds within a half-hour as I entered onto a large, open ridge. The incident afternoon sunlight on the grasses induced a surreal experience while splashing through this open area. An encounter with a turkey heightened this feeling even more. <br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2304767890053140866czpURD"><img src="http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/43372/2304767890053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="The Good"></a><br />But just like a drug-induced euphoria is followed by a crash, the sunlight I had welcomed just a few brief minutes before had almost instantaneously transformed the hailstones into torrents emanating from every small drainage. The trail had become a river of mud that I knew masked gullies and debris below its surface. I had no choice but to choose a route off the trail where the water was only ankle deep.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2959062660053140866VMCvCA"><img src="http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/42506/2959062660053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="The Ugly"></a><br />I pushed on down the trail (or at least right next to it) only to encounter a buffalo around a downhill corner that was guarding his wallow. I chose not to ride by him, rather, I chose to walk right along the edge of this open area to at least give me a false impression that I could climb a tree (or hide behind them) if he decided to charge.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2429061030053140866GxHgtg"><img src="http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/41957/2429061030053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="His Wallow"></a><br />The landscape through this portion of Custer State Park had changed since my visit a couple of years ago. Fires had swept through the area and it looked nothing like I had remembered. The GPS reminded me that I was nearing the end of the trail and I knew of one more prominent landmark that I had yet to cross. It is a large meadow where I encountered my first buffalo a couple of years ago. That experience was somewhat unnerving because there is an 8-foot fence and a gate on the south side of the meadow that I needed to get through but the buffalo wanted to go through too. As he walked towards me smelling the air to sense me, I dropped the bike, ran up the hillside, and climbed the fence until he passed. This time, it was ironic that a buffalo was standing in almost the exact same spot. But once he was aware of my presence, he bolted at a gallop up the hillside and into the trees. I’d never seen a buffalo move so fast.<br /><br />By now, the results of the hailstorm had turned the trail to a slippery gumbo that was beginning to build up on the bike. I knew I only had a few miles left so I struggled through the best I could hoping not to break anything when I came across a herd of elk.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2723588540053140866UUWlWf"><img src="http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/40783/2723588540053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Elk Herd on the Run"></a><br />Less than a mile to go now but the bike was starting to make crunching sounds that usually precede some kind of mechanical failure. I hobbled my steed to the end of the trail and promptly stopped in the creek to clean as much of the mud off as I could.<br /><br />I looked at my time…Almost exactly 36hrs.<br /><br />Since Misty and Aspen weren’t at the trailhead, I took the dirt road heading southeast across the prairie mesa towards Red Valley at a leisurely pace. Just before dropping into the valley, I took out the cell phone and gave Misty a ring. They were in Hot Springs and we planned to meet at the end of Red Valley Road. The jubilance of finishing the trail swept over me as I coasted down the desolate dirt road, out of Wind Cave National Park, and away from the next impending storm…which, by the way, dropped another massive amount of hail.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2178950890053140866Hmnypa"><img src="http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/21160/2178950890053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Resting through Red Valley"></a>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-48529223540037702992008-07-03T16:02:00.001-06:002008-07-03T16:17:34.279-06:00The Black Hills Tour - Part 1The Black Hills Tour…I’ve been thinking about this ride for over a year now. There are two long trails (>100miles) that traverse the Black Hills north to south. They are the Centennial Trail and the Mickelson Trail. Both have unique character but in completely different ways.<br /><br />The Centennial Trail starts out in the prairie outside of Sturgis at Bear Butte, continues on through the central rocky area near Mt. Rushmore, and ends at the southern prairies of Wind Cave National Park near Hot Springs for a total of around 114 miles. It is mostly a hiking trail but it utilizes jeep roads throughout the Hills. There are two sections that cannot be completed by bike. The first is the Black Elk Wilderness area near Mount Rushmore and the second is the last few miles within Wind Cave National Park. As far as I know, the record time for completing the Centennial Trail is 21 hours but that should either be omitted or caveated because the rider ‘poached’ the Wilderness area.<br /><br />The Mickelson Trail starts in Edgemont and ends in Deadwood for a total of 109miles. This trail is a rail-to-trail conversion and passes through Custer and Hill City with maximum grades of about 5%.<br /><br />I spent a lot of time up in the Black Hills for work around 2000 and I got to know the trails and all the back roads pretty well. I used to do sections of the Centennial and Mickelson but it wasn’t until 2006 that I attempted to ride the entire Centennial Trail. That was my first multi-day ride and I completed with the support of my wife and daughter. They would meet me along the way at the various trailheads, feed me, and refill my water bottles, etc. It took me 36 hours going south to north (and I portaged around the wilderness area in the car) but I was completely spent after both days to the point that I could barely eat even after hours of being off the bike.<br /><br />Last year, Marshal and I attempted the Black Hills Tour in late-July, but the record high temps in the mid-100s were too much to cope with. Marshal called it quits about 30 miles into the Centennial and I left the trail after about 75 miles (~36hours). The heat just sapped the energy out of you and I couldn’t keep up with my intake of water and electrolytes.<br /><br />This year I was back doing it solo. I would have limited support from my family again, but I felt more confident that I could travel more trail without support than I did in 2006. My sister let us borrow their van for the trip which was more than considerate of her. I had plans of camping at Bear Butte and getting a pre-dawn start, but when we arrived in Lead, my friend had cleaned his house and offered us his bed…How could I refuse? So I opted to stay at his house and then get a dawn start the next day instead. He had a telescope so we set it up and checked out the rings of Saturn before we called it a night.<br /><br />Day 1<br />We packed up and left Tony’s house around 4am. By 5am we were at the campground in Bear Butte State Park. There was plenty of light to see by so I didn’t need a light and I started off across the earthen dam just before the sun peaked over Bear Butte.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2935411100053140866dAxTwB"><img src="http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/38943/2935411100053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Bear Butte Sunrise"></a><br />Leading up to this day, I was mostly concerned about how I was going to cross the first creek (Bear Butte Creek) near Sturgis. I really didn’t want to start the day off with wet feet so I was playing the scenarios over and over in my mind: Do I take off my shoes and socks to wade through or do I deal with wet feet? After the first mile of riding through the dew laden prairie grasses, my dilemma was mute…my feet were soaked and I hadn’t crossed ANY creeks. All of the rain that they have been getting was evident in the green hue and thickness of the prairie. In some places along the Bear Butte bluffs, the grasses were hitting my handlebars.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2305930140053140866VDcZGE"><img src="http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/35977/2305930140053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Bear Butte Bluffs"></a><br />I picked up my first tick just before getting into Fort Meade. I caught him before he had burrowed in so I didn’t have to dig the head out. In Fort Meade, evidence of torrential rainfall caught me off guard as I was able to make a quick dismount over the bars when the trail dropped off into a deep erosion gulley. As I rode on, the evidence became more pronounced. I stopped at the cemetery to take a quick picture from outside the gate.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2908451560053140866gvJsuW"><img src="http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/41085/2908451560053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Ghost at Fort Meade Cemetary"></a><br />I think the aberration may be a ghost…I didn’t feel a presence, but my MP3 player skipped at that moment. The next flood-induced obstacle was the new underpass at I-90. In years past, you could just ride right into the underpass and through it, but this year they constructed a new underpass and they didn’t amour the downstream side adequately resulting in a 6-8 foot drop that made even climbing in from the streambed impossible. My solution was to drop into it from the side which resulted in about a 4-6 foot drop. Directly upstream of the underpass is this trestle:<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2643053980053140866aqvZrD"><img src="http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/24601/2643053980053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Alkali Creek Trussel"></a><br />The climb up Bulldog Hill was everything I remembered. My new back tire really started to show it’s benefit on the loose parts of this climb.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2255375800053140866UOUVlk"><img src="http://thumb6.webshots.net/t/24/665/3/75/80/2255375800053140866UOUVlk_th.jpg" alt="Bulldog Hill"></a><br />It wasn’t until the descent off Bulldog that I was again caught off guard by the erosion gullies which again resulted in a quick dismount over the bars. However, this time I ripped the rear derailleur cable from its clasp. I quickly fixed it and was again on my way up the climb to reach Elk Creek. There’s usually a dry creek that is crossed a few times on this section and I was surprised to see that it actually had flowing water.<br /><br />The Elk Creek trailhead was just like I remembered and I was anticipating the steep, rocky descent to the creek where Marshal and I had taken an extended break last time to fill up our water and soak in the cool waters during the heat of the day. As I rounded the corner to the descent, there were a couple of logs across the trail that took me off the bike. Hmmm. Sure enough they re-routed this section but because of all the rain, the new trail was not evident, in fact, it looked like it never existed.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2494044950053140866ZIaDJA"><img src="http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/43242/2494044950053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Elk Creek Re-route"></a><br />The re-route was a more mellow approach to the creek, but the roar of the creek told me it wasn’t going to be like last year. Elk Creek was more swollen than I had ever seen it before. Although it was running clear, the swiftness of the torrent made me question whether it was passable. It was moving so fast and looked so deep that I was concerned about all my electronics so I took my MP3 player and camera and put them into the top of my pack before attempting a crossing. That first crossing was nearly mid-thigh deep and swift enough to force me to angle the bike with the current to keep it from either being ripped out of my hands or having it run into me taking my feet out in the process. The thrill of crossing the creek without going down put me in an ebullient mood. Even the downed trees crossing the trail couldn’t extinguish the feeling of joy. With each creek crossing the joyfulness of being in the situation continued to grow.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2110775580053140866LqmFXA"><img src="http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/41577/2110775580053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Elk Creek knee deep"></a><br />The climb out of Elk Creek was riddled with downed trees slowing my progress much more than I had expected. Eventually I neared the rim of the canyon and soaked in the view before moving on.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2519837600053140866DMsDlk"><img src="http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/38656/2519837600053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Elk Creek Bend"></a><br />I don’t think I will ever be able to complete the remainder of the climb without thinking of the tribulations that Marshal and I had last year on this climb. Last year, we climbed this section in the middle of the day when it was 106F. We struggled but we eventually made it to the top. This year was completely different, it was still mid-morning with mild temps and it didn’t seem to be nearly the obstacle that it was last year. Upon reaching the top, I called my wife to let her know of my progress and we planned to meet in Nemo for lunch. As soon as I reached the road that used to be the end of the singletrack, I found that they have re-routed the trail directly across the road. I don’t know if the re-route was there last year or not. I was too concerned about getting to Dalton Lake to even look for it. But this year, it was right across the road clear as day.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2448092120053140866guCmzH"><img src="http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/41198/2448092120053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="New Descent to Dalton Lake"></a><br />It is a great edition and continuation of the singletrack coming out of Elk Creek. It follows along the ridge for a few miles before dropping down to Dalton Lake. I relished every new foot of singletrack soaking in the new terrain and trail. The only problem was that it is slower than the old route which put me behind my time schedule and I was going to really have to push it to get to Nemo by the time I told Misty. I ran into the first person on the trail since starting right at Dalton Lake.<br /><br />The next section of trail is where ATV traffic begins. Upon the first mud hole, I realized that all the ATV traffic did not bode well for me through this segment. There were mud holes, and slippery rock everywhere which just put me that much further behind when I told Misty I’d meet her. However, I took my time through this rough and rocky section because I knew that pushing it at this time would only end in disaster. I skipped the section of the trail that circumvents Nemo because I was already late and I knew that it would be just as bad, if not worse, than the section I just came through. We sat down and ate lunch (which took over an hour) and I was back on my way. We discussed where to camp for the night and I thought that the southern end of Sheridan Lake would be a good spot. I knew that getting a record time on the Centennial was out of the question considering the trail conditions to this point and that would still put me about 60-70 miles into the ride. Box Elder Creek TH to Pilot Knob was a series of mud bogs. Some I could navigate around but most I just had to walk through and hope I didn’t lose a shoe.<br /><br />While the section from Bear Butte to Dalton Lake was very overgrown in some areas needed more trail use to keep a good base, Dalton Lake to Pilot Knob showed serious signs of overuse.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2489774570053140866thCDtB"><img src="http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/37679/2489774570053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Box Elder Mud Bogs"></a><br /><br />After Pilot Knob, the trail returned to singletrack and the undulating trail through the forest under overcast skies with slight sprinkles required very little effort to travel down. Mostly downhill, this section was covered quickly and before I knew it I was meeting with Misty and Aspen, cleaning the mud from my shoes and socks in Rapid Creek. The climb up Tamarack Gulch was uneventful but the solitude of a rarely used trail was welcomed.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2153819750053140866qxyjFc"><img src="http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/41220/2153819750053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Green Grass Up Tamarack Gulch"></a><br />The Bald Hills past the Brush Creek TH were more green than I had ever seen them. Last year, I had to stop and rest before pushing through the Bald Hills because I knew that there would be no shade on the climb because sun+heat made these otherwise beautiful hills formidable. This year, I had an overcast sky which tamed the climb.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2415075200053140866UKXKuv"><img src="http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/42739/2415075200053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="The Bald Hills of the Black Hills"></a><br />Crossing Sheridan Lake dam marked the end of the day. I pulled into camp right at sundown.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2985390490053140866fVYhjB"><img src="http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/43256/2985390490053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="Southside of Sheridan Lake"></a>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-59670009336307189942008-06-30T15:58:00.003-06:002008-06-30T21:01:13.834-06:00SD trip report to comeIt was a heck of a lot different than last year! A more complete trip report to come...<br /><br /><embed src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallslideshow.swf" flashvars="playList=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2Fmeta%2F563957835lpTbRO%3Finline%3Dtrue&inlineUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.webshots.com%2FinlinePhoto%3FalbumId%3D563957835%26src%3Ds%26referPage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F563957835lpTbRO&postRollContent=http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2Fws_postroll.swf&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fgood-times.webshots.com%2Fslideshow%2F563957835lpTbRO&audio=on&audioVolume=33&autoPlay=false&transitionSpeed=5&startIndex=0&panzoom=on&deployed=true" menu="false" quality="best" width="425" height="384" name="WebshotsSlideshowPlayer"base="http%3A%2F%2Fp.webshots.com%2Fflash%2F" wmode="opaque" allowScriptAccess="always" loop="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macromedia.com%2Fgo%2Fgetflashplayer"></embed><br /><br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563957835lpTbRO">South Dakota 2008</a><br /><br />Water and mud were everywhere. Even got hailed on while out on the trail. Temps were mostly in the 80s with tons of humidity. Rained or hailed everyday at least once.<br /><br />I completed the Centennial Trail in 36 hours (with a car ride around the wilderness area) and the Mickelson in 9.5 hours. I decided not to ride most of the connector route between the two on the southern end so that I could spend the day with my family. A total of 222 miles and 25,000 vertical feet.<br /><br />A great tour with diverse scenery and trail conditions...more to come...Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-51902843563336587592008-06-18T10:53:00.002-06:002008-06-18T12:01:28.808-06:00The SD trip is ON!The good news is that we're still going to try and make our trip...The bad news is we have to wait for the bodyshop to get the van fixed before we can leave. Hopefully, it will be done on Friday but I'm not holding my breath. We'll get out of Denver when we can and we'll do what we've always done and make the best out of our vacation. We've had hang ups like this before on vacations and what I've learned is that you can't really 'plan' a vacation. What I mean is that they never end up like the preconceived vision you built before you left. I like to think that vacations are not necessarily about relaxing but more about building life experiences. Let me give you some examples:<br /><br />Summer 2005 - Wyoming<br />I was changing jobs and we decided to spend a couple of weeks in one of my favorite areas, NW Wyoming. The trip started out great, we did some camping and backpacking in the Bridger Wilderness (it was Aspen's first time backpacking) and then decided to head to Jackson to lay the ashes of my beloved dog, Maggie, to rest at a spot we had grown to love in the foothills overlooking Teton Valley. Maggie was the one that 'introduced' me to my wife many years back when I was at a low point in my life. I was calling my mom back in Ohio to wire me money because I was broke, didn't have a job, living out of a tent, and no plates on my truck. Misty agreed to hold on to my puppy while I talked on the phone (I didn't even know her name at that point). This was right on the main square in Jackson. Anyways, back to the story...We got up to the campsite, set up the tent, and headed back down the mountain to get something to eat...We still hadn't gotten Maggie laid to rest yet...Right in front of where we met, the car died...Coincidence or fate? I'd like to believe it was Maggie telling us we needed to spend a couple of unplanned days in Jackson on foot. Rather than wallow in our misfortune, we made the best of the unexpected time to explore Jackson with Aspen on foot.<br /><br />January 2006 - Jamaica<br />A friend of mine from Montana Tech had decided to join the Peace Corps and was stationed in Jamaica. We decided to take a week and go visit him. We get to the airport to find out United's computer system was down. The lines were horrendous, we were destined to miss our flight to Chicago. Somehow we were able to weasel our way onto a flight but our luggage didn't make it and we had to sleep on the benches outside of ticketing at O'Hare. At some point in the night, Aspen threw up and the janitor had to come by and clean it up. The next morning we're getting our tickets when the agent tells Misty that her birth certificate is not valid for travel...WHAT?!?...Yep, we still need to get passports...Anyways, Misty could not get on the flight and being the considerate and caring person that she is, she suggested that Aspen and I continue on with our vacation and she'll fly back to Denver. That decision was hard enough on Aspen and I but we could only imagine how hard of a decision that must have been for Misty to make. <br /><br />We made it to Jamaica but first I got lectured by the customs lady for not having a certified letter from my wife stating I was allowed to travel with my daughter out of country (I later found out that they could've taken Aspen into custody until I could produce the letter). My friend was in utter disbelief that Misty wasn't there. He kept waiting for her to pop out from around the corner and say 'surprise'! Still didn't have any luggage except for our carry-on bags (and mine contained mostly stuff for him and the kids he taught--4 microbrews, chocolate bars, crayons, coloring books, a change of underwear, and a toothbrush). We talk to Misty and find out that she's going to try and get a valid birth certificate and she plans on being on the island in a couple of days. Aspen was excited to be there and really wanted to go to the beach. We tried to convince her to wait until we got to our final destination--half way across the island. She was a real trooper while driving the 'no rules' roads full of pot-holes and quick swerves by only getting sick once (and she gave me plent of warning so there wasn't a mess in the car). We get all the way to our destination in Boston Bay only to be stopped a few hundred yards short of Great Huts. My friend tells us to go ahead that it's just a little ways up the road so Aspen and I head down the dirt road. We pass by the first wooden fence but I believe we need to go to the next gate. Aspen disagrees with me and says we went too far and should wait for Brian. We start approaching it and a pack of dogs stands on the other side of the open gate barking and growling at us. Within a couple of seconds, the dogs charge us. One goes for my ankle but misses and rips my pants. Another one gets around me and goes after Aspen. She turns to run and it grabs her by the calf and shakes her to the ground with her shoe flying off in the process. I will NEVER forget the image of her running and being shaken to the ground nor will I forget the feeling of dispair because I was not able to save her from this trauma. I quickly picked her up and we got away from the dogs. By this time my friend had arrived and people from Great Huts came out after hearing all the screaming and barking. The puncture wounds weren't bad but there was massive bruising. The manager at Great Huts said that we needed to get her to the hospital. I was sweating bullets...She got cleaned up by the nurse and I found out that there is no rabies on the island so I didn't have to worry about that, but I still had trouble sleeping that night. The next day I went to pick up Misty while Aspen stayed with Brian and a local boy her age. She ended up having a great trip (it's me who's still overly cautious around dogs I don't know) and talks about Jamaica all the time.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-56451240630070936162008-06-11T12:52:00.004-06:002008-06-11T13:30:15.173-06:00Bad News DayMisty just called...She's been in a wreck and it's her fault...She can't find the registration or insurance card in the car...Thankfully, no one was hurt. I guess we might have to cancel our SD trip to pay for the repairs etc.<br /><br />Read about a lady being hit on my bike commute to work on Monday in the daily camera:<br /><a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/jun/11/cyclist-fighting-her-life-following-monday-acciden/">Daily Camera article</a><br /><br />Now I'm even more nervous about riding on the road...I truly feel sorry for both involved in this accident. Either as a motorist or a cyclist, there are certain roads and conditions that make me nervous to pass or be passed. It worries me to be riding on Simms but there really is no good alternative. Maybe this is the spark needed to get the shoulder improved on this section of road. The construction they're doing on Simms looks like they’re at least improving the shoulder on the corner. Cyclists simply want a little breathing room when being passed…That’s all. Most drivers and cyclists ARE courteous, it’s those few jerks that seem to stand out in our minds. Accidents happen whether you're in a car or on a bike. I pass three roadside crosses on my way to work on Hwy 128…I don’t know if these unfortunate souls were on bikes or in cars, regardless, being on the road is dangerous and these markers are a daily reminder of my mortality. If there was no malicious intent, I'm sure the indelible image of the accident will haunt the driver for the rest of his life.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-28029842760512114062008-06-06T15:01:00.002-06:002008-06-06T15:56:51.672-06:00Colorado Trail - Segments 1 through 5It's been difficult finding time this week to blog about the great overnight trip I had with Marshal over the weekend. In short, we traveled from Waterton Canyon to Kenosha Pass in 2 days. I'll get the data off the GPS in the next couple of days. In the meantime, here's the pictures I took (and some video too).<br />Marshal on Segment 1.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2199173620053140866ivJrQB"><img src="http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/40770/2199173620053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="CT 002"></a><br />Great shot of Marshal on the start of the descent to the South Fork of the South Platte.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2033547780053140866SzISxf"><img src="http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/27542/2033547780053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="CT 004"></a><br />Segment 2<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2202781630053140866lBTsJX"><img src="http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/39992/2202781630053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="CT 007"></a><br />Segment 2 curves<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2448880160053140866soWXBt"><img src="http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/22066/2448880160053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="CT 008"></a><br />Marshal on Segment 3<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2608053950053140866opHJID"><img src="http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/41188/2608053950053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" alt="CT 010"></a><br />Hayman Burn<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2291945070053140866pNdIxZ"><img src="http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/40080/2291945070053140866S425x425Q85.jpg" alt="CT 013"></a><br />Tarryall<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2328452520053140866kHGlgG"><img src="http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/12906/2328452520053140866S425x425Q85.jpg" alt="CT 014"></a><br />Relaxing @ Ute Ck B&B + Snack Store<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2681009380053140866iWVgOU"><img src="http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/42460/2681009380053140866S425x425Q85.jpg" alt="CT 015"></a><br />More detour--Reminds me of the truck/trailer that tried to see how close he could get to us on the road...Jerk...<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2891761190053140866WfQwdy"><img src="http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/19403/2891761190053140866S425x425Q85.jpg" alt="CT 016"></a><br />Segment 6 (I think)--almost to Kenosha (me)<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2104994550053140866ulcmSI"><img src="http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/43033/2104994550053140866S425x425Q85.jpg" alt="CT 017"></a><br />Marshal pulling WAAAY ahead on the home stretch<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2066062650053140866RFqxnw"><img src="http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/42802/2066062650053140866S425x425Q85.jpg" alt="CT 019"></a><br /><br />VIDEOS:<br />Seg 1 descent<br /><embed src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallplayer.swf?videoFile=http://videoserve.webshots.com/video/23616/3004557030053140866mTIcRY_v_0.flv&audio=on&displayImagePreview=http://videothumb17.webshots.com/thumb/23616/3004557030053140866mTIcRYstill_002_0.jpg&videoPageUrl=http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3004557030053140866mTIcRY&autoPlay=false&shareLink=http://cards.webshots.com/ecard/personalize?photoId=3004557030053140866%26source=v" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" quality="best" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed><br/><br/><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3004557030053140866mTIcRY">CT 020.avi</a><br />More of Seg 1 descent<br /><embed src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallplayer.swf?videoFile=http://videoserve.webshots.com/video/24111/3083579750053140866OAKDyv_v_0.flv&audio=on&displayImagePreview=http://videothumb32.webshots.com/thumb/24111/3083579750053140866OAKDyvstill_002_0.jpg&videoPageUrl=http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3083579750053140866OAKDyv&autoPlay=false&shareLink=http://cards.webshots.com/ecard/personalize?photoId=3083579750053140866%26source=v" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" quality="best" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed><br/><br/><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3083579750053140866OAKDyv">CT 021.avi</a><br />Buffalo Ck<br /><embed src="http://p.webshots.com/flash/smallplayer.swf?videoFile=http://videoserve.webshots.com/video/23113/3096706560053140866jjrNDh_v_0.flv&audio=on&displayImagePreview=http://videothumb34.webshots.com/thumb/23113/3096706560053140866jjrNDhstill_002_0.jpg&videoPageUrl=http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3096706560053140866jjrNDh&autoPlay=false&shareLink=http://cards.webshots.com/ecard/personalize?photoId=3096706560053140866%26source=v" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" quality="best" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed><br/><br/><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3096706560053140866jjrNDh">CT 022.avi</a><br /><br />I really had a great time on this trip. I was trying out a bunch of new gear (thanks REI, US Bank, and my previous employer for letting me use my CC for expenses which resulted in a huge dividend this year) including a new thermarest, a snow-peak stove, and a new seatbag. All the gear worked great and I think it all resulted in a compact setup.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2241385220103596000FqvXjJ"><img src="http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/39314/2241385220103596000S425x425Q85.jpg" alt="CT Ride 003"></a><br />The stove and thermarest were SOOOO much better than trying to get a fire going to heat up water and sleeping on the ground in the bivy sack. The stove and 100g fuel bottle fits very nicely inside my titanium cup and it boiled the water in short order even without the windshield.<br /><br />I felt great for the majority of the day, but I ran into the problem of not continuing to eat when I felt good and wasn't particularily hungry. It was much more evident this time than when venturing solo on other trips because Marshal is so consistent even after being on-trail for a long time. As we approached Wellington Lake, I was really starting to feel slooowww. The food we picked up that the little snack shop was a great surprise! V8, yogurt, and Reese cups...mmmmmm...They didn't kick in soon enough to help with Stony Pass, but on the descent I started to feel better. The cow elk that jumped out of the ditch to cross the road RIGHT IN FRONT of Marshal helped wake me up...Wouldn't want to run into her on a bike! Before we got to our turn off, it was time to turn on the lights. We ended up missing our turn on FR221 and dropped down into this quaint little mountain getaway community. Marshal stopped short but I kept going trying to find the way through...When I returned to where I left Marshal, he was gone...I rode back and forth and in circles for awhile and then I thought someone was shining a flashlight at me from up on the hill...I thought that was strange...it took me a couple of minutes to realize THAT WAS MARSHAL going back up the road. If he hadn't turned around so that I could see his red 'blinky' light I might still be confused in that valley...HAHA! On the climb around this little community towards Goose Creek campground, Marshal pulled out in front again showing his dominance when it comes to endurance. We found a place to bed down just before the descent into Goose Creek.<br /><br />I pulled out all my sleeping stuff and my cooking stuff. I had bought a freeze-dried Kung Pao chicken meal for dinner. I specifically chose that meal because it contained over 1,000 calories...Problem was, it was full of brown rice and HUGE portions...As Marshal said, 'calories are only good if you can get them down.' So true...But at least the additional can of V8 I had carried from Wellington Lake tasted SOOO good while laying in the sleeping bag. I tried finishing the Kung Pao in the morning without much luck...The fauna got a free meal at least...<br /><br />***LESSON LEARNED***I think I need to pack more calorie-dense foods. The rice was good but too filling. <br /><br />I fired up the stove and had a nice big, sweet cup of tea before packing up and heading down the road. After filling up at the creek, the next climb ensued through more of the Hayman fire area. The dirt road was over way too soon and we hit the pavement...and the endless dodging of potholes and patches. The Ute Creek store was a very nice surprise...but once again...I sat for awhile and didn't eat a thing...I did, however, drink a couple more V8s. Then it was back on the road towards Tarryall Reservoir. The later it got in the day, the more traffic there was. Most were considerate, but of course it's the jerks that don't give you an inch that you remember.<br /><br />The next surprise was a small bar/grill/store just before our turn off onto Rock Creek Hills Rd. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to eat but we decided to order (and split) a Philly Cheesesteak and onion rings (plus a Coke)...WOW...IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!! Not only did it really hit the spot, but it went down very easy. The lady at the bar was nice enough to let me use her phone so I called my wife and asked her to meet us at Kenosha Pass.<br /><br />Back on the road with a full belly (well, maybe not full but very content) only to have a couple more 'near incidents' in the last 1/4 mile of pavement...Two times the cars that were passing us were also being passed...Doesn't take many incidents like those to remember why I don't like riding on the road. Anyways, once back on the dirt, that meal was sitting VERY good and fueled me well for the rest of the dirt road...But once back on the singletrack, the lack of eating enough was starting to catch back up with me. Marshal pulled ahead and motivated me to try to catch up with him the rest of the way. I ran out of water a couple of miles from the Kenosha Pass trailhead, but it wasn't that big of an issue since I knew the ride was almost over.<br /><br />Misty arrived within about 1/2 hr with fried chicken for dinner. MMMMM.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-69441688122831348292008-05-27T18:07:00.005-06:002008-05-27T19:38:30.226-06:00Colorado Trail (Segment 1) + Indian Creek Loop<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2780142600053140866xhYKUi"><img alt="CT Segment 1" src="http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/35078/2780142600053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" /></a><br />I was able to get out to the first segment of the Colorado Trail on Saturday. It had been a couple of years since I had ridden either this segment or Indian Creek Loop, so I wanted to try and hit them both. I spent the morning getting the GPX track loaded onto my Garmin, then headed out...Only to return a half-hour later for my shoes...I finally arrived at the very crowded Waterton Canyon trailhead, turned on the GPS only to find out the batteries were dead and I had no spares, unlocked the rear shock only to find out it had lost almost all of it's air, and thought "What else will go wrong today?" Oh well, did I really need the GPS? No. Could I ride my Dawg as a hard-tail? Yes. So I headed out. Oh, and I mixed my Gatorade too strong but didn't realize until I was already on the trail...What a way to start huh?<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2048419500053140866WEtuwB"><img alt="Before Lenny's Rest" src="http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/20029/2048419500053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" /></a><br />The ride up the road was uneventful, just lots of people...as usual...but I figured it wouldn't be as crowded once I got past Lenny's Rest...So I didn't stop on top...However, it was unusually busy. Maybe a dozen groups of 2 or 3. I had forgotten how much climbing there was after the first descent from Lenny's. I took a picture and gave some encouragement to an unknown rider:<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2804558090053140866aJxthd"><img src="http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/43394/2804558090053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Unknown Rider"></a><br />Finally got to the overlook, ate a peanut bar, a Gu, and watched other riders pass me by. My goal was to eat at the top before the downhill so that I could quickly turn around and head right back up with little to no rest. I thought about refilling/diluting my Gatorade from the South Platte but I really didn't want to carry that extra weight back up the hill. I checked my bag...still more than half full...So I bombed down the circuitous singletrack.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2570797100053140866Nejrvj"><img src="http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/38473/2570797100053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="South Fk South Platte Overlook"></a><br />Stopped just long enough to get the picture at Gudy's Bridge:<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2790473880053140866TgDjZk"><img src="http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/39111/2790473880053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Gudy Bridge"></a><br />Then headed right back up. I was proud of myself for not stopping. I had never climbed this hill and I was pleasantly surprised that it was pretty easy. Although there's lots of switchbacks, the climbing was fluid for the most part. I filtered some water back at the creek that parallels the trail about half way between Lenny's Rest and the South Platte trailhead.<br /><br />Indian Creek was desolate in comparison to CT01, I only ran into 2 horses between Lenny's and the campground, and then only one group of bikers on the second half. I was starting to feel some fatigue at the campground so I took a couple Excedrin and Endurolytes...Within minutes, I was feeling good as new.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2005096740053140866qcnxSE"><img src="http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/40848/2005096740053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Indian Creek Loop"></a><br />I was nervous that I'd miss the turnoffs for the trail since I was GPS-less but it was well signed and easy to follow.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2301422450053140866PDnjOY"><img src="http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/6205/2301422450053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Indian Creek Loop"></a><br />It was about at this point that I realized my pedal was loose. Lateral play that I hoped wouldn't get any worse. I guess this is a typical problem with the eggbeaters. I've ordered a rebuild kit so I'm hoping to have it fixed in a couple of days.<br /><br />I think it was roughly 45 miles, 8,000 ft of climbing, and it took 6:20. I was pretty happy with my efforts, and my calves have been hurting for the past couple of days. I know I didn't eat enough, but I think I kept up with my liquids. When I finished, I had almost no liquids left...I estimated that I drank somewhere around 150oz.<br />Sunday was flying and a family gathering.<br /><a href="http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2048898950053140866DEUmjs"><img src="http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/40359/2048898950053140866S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="Edge 540"></a><br />And Monday I wasn't able to get Misty to shuttle me so I stuck around the house. Not all that disappointing considering the weather wasn't all that great<br /><br />I'm thinking of starting at the South Platte trailhead next Sunday for a 'lollipop' ride around Buffalo Creek. Anyone interested?Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-56698075768050487342008-05-23T08:16:00.003-06:002008-05-23T08:32:42.912-06:00Black Hills Date SetWe’ve decided on a date for our family vacation to the Black Hills (June 21-29th). It’ll be fun to see old friends, get some riding in, and go camping with my wife and daughter.<br /><br />This will be my second attempt at trying to link the Centennial Trail with the Mickelson Trail. Last year <a href="http://desertmountainride.blogspot.com/">Marshal</a> and I tried it at the end of July but it was way too hot (~105*F) and we cut it short. I'm hoping that trying it a month earlier will keep temperatures in the *comfortable* range. I'll write more about the upcoming trip and last year's attempt in the next few blogs.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/South%20Dakota/100_1775.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/South%20Dakota/100_1775.jpg" border="0" /></a>(I always like riding the Penny when I go up to see Tony. We like to do the 'old-timer' family portraits and the last time we were there we used the Penny as a backdrop. You get the funniest looks riding down Main Street on it...Or maybe it's just that I'm so funny lookin') </p><p>Sounds like Tony's thinking about closing up shop at Deadwood Bicycles...I know he's been struggling but it's always sad to see a friend's business dry up.<br /></p>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-44420159342704972922008-05-21T13:03:00.003-06:002008-05-21T13:33:41.729-06:00Another White Ranch WeekendMy daughter got bronchitis last week and was coughing so much that she had these horrible looking bloodshot eyes. I stayed home from work Thursday and Friday taking care of her. We watched some of her favorite movies (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings) and I introduced her to a new one (the original Indiana Jones). At least she was still smiling most of the day (the middle of the night coughing fits were a different story).<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2256226550053140866RuTzTl"><img alt="Brochitis and Bloodshot" src="http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/31823/2256226550053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" /></a><br />Marshal had invited me out to the Kokopelli Trail but between Aspen being sick and a poster I had to make for an upcoming conference, I really couldn't leave the front range...Bummer...After reading his blog and others that rode it, I wish the circumstances had been different...Maybe next year...<br /><br />Instead, I rode White Ranch on both Saturday and Sunday (<a href="http://home.comcast.net/~jpjonas2/GPX/2008/20080517_WhiteRanch.gpx">GPX Saturday</a>, <a href="http://home.comcast.net/~jpjonas2/GPX/2008/20080518_WhiteRanch.gpx">GPX Sunday</a>). I hadn't ridden all the trails yet this year and decided to not use my smallest chainring at all. I wanted to break-in my 'new-to-me' 7" discs and experiment with different shock pressures. I lowered the shock pressure before heading out and boy what a difference it made coming down Longhorn. Much more cushion and it made it easier to launch off the waterbars instead of rolling them. The brake pads took a while to seat with the rotors. I had to really work them on/off/on/off, front/back/front/back for the first few downhills so that they wouldn't overheat and squeal. By the bottom of Mustang they were feeling better but I could tell they still weren't up to full braking power.<br /><a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2418176460053140866LCoRze"><img alt="White Ranch/Rawhide" src="http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/41624/2418176460053140866S500x500Q85.jpg" /></a><br />Back to commuting to Boulder (<a href="http://home.comcast.net/~jpjonas2/GPX/2008/20080520_Commute_am.gpx">GPX</a>)...I'm starting to get more comfortable on the roads but the semis still bother me. Last night my nephews asked me to come and talk to their Boy Scout troop about biking...Funny, some of the questions they ask were hilarious. I told them about Marshal and I's experience last year of running across a black bear cub and their question was: "What do you think the mama bear would do to you if you ran right into her cub?"<br /><br />I think this weekend I'll head over to Segment 1 of the CT and maybe add in Indian Creek Loop on Saturday, rest with the extended family on Sunday, and on Monday have my wife and daughter drop me off at Wellington Lake and meet me at Waterton Canyon. I really can't get myself to drive I-70 this weekend.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-38406878648907798862008-05-12T20:05:00.005-06:002008-05-12T20:38:57.206-06:00North Jeffco Open SpacesI decided to head out on Saturday to do a longer ride. Nothing all too special, just some of my local favorites. The weather was cold and windy. I wore my jacket and leg warmers most of the day. Every once in a while on the climbs I'd have to unzip the pits and roll down the warmers.<br /><br /><div>I tried to start out the day with a little flying since the field is on my way to White Ranch, but when I got to the field and checked the wind speeds (>30mph) I decided to skip it.<br /></div><br /><div>White Ranch--Mustang: <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199678324597076258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRinUm9krZRFJrXja4ATmxDF38F7qKWd94ad5kdW_vXTTD8gfjAZNfLfs7K23gBg6wosehsGr-_t-7uUhX1uTOSWcn-0RxFIR64tfxBLRNbDcHMofGysg6N-AEevQWmAZW_hRxoWLDHkw/s400/IMG_2871.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div>White Ranch -- Longhorn:</div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199679862195368242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCviJ7E3GpqekEXEzXnsjqAwwm6wcAaugrgBLsHvh2BUaF35SRaLSF6C53B4qn1uSvcI1qGVWczqMf2Q0RoGe7yca0XpRy6aLGbbDNe0tIs-EckqHW3AIZzSU0ZQsXp8DUkPBs9Uam2Ac/s400/IMG_2873.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><div>The start of Chimney Gulch:</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199680862922748226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu6uvS0Nyk3VScXUAW_WX99bM8x1JOOL45IA-_cBR256NgGYcp6C5ElvL0nlgyWqFnK_IfI6PFs3orjOF670Wb7deEtirvNIYc4IZJUOPLaiC3FS7WdErA5vfmyP7g1bekBszwlk4Iec/s400/IMG_2874.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Apex--Pick-n-Sledge:</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199680867217715538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYl5LrRZF7CBosS4ausMm8rWWKFHdAd_l-qEfoYHvVUzkrjcvKdPZQSAea7lAw1I5Ll_1tO62irvfL8SBarFwnm6ffzsSB-EQDpPN1IP925IklGU7oR0b8VRs3_t6Lia5su6zPurt7zbw/s400/IMG_2875.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Bike path--notice the snow coming over the mountains? I thought I was going to get hit with it but everytime the clouds would leave the front range, they would quickly dissipate to nothing but a cold wind...</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199680875807650146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WZ6iVp5qhID4VZGu0xoBehCnprlqKtlO447N2Eh-0VgJsbgDikJP6QBV0vzHkIZ-JtZuyLudkHqQvdj8Zyhof0v9ql2I6Fbdbt_XLGCzoyDPomuELcHS01KG30xkK4mhU2-dFGFlHqc/s400/IMG_2876.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>North Table Mountain with Denver in a graupel storm:</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199680884397584754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZphXczkjyKELOSj1tSSH4LOrFgBBqHJsFiKB3S3ViOXc93brB8GYWyWN0nbJ-tbnoEGEyvxGp0_F7GXRp3ty9fwF9_CDEGtM1Ri6F2ZDOrIELc5aq3n49NtXsrFM20DYfNsWtZZS9RA/s400/IMG_2877.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>North Table Mtn--West side:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199680892987519362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHzF0UwnKgy4f4kQY3ArxfQht51Kz4sAFNrcroGRbEi0ActhSxz-yxrM_3Qi7xR3zoKFS0fbuIEpNAVHK20_oxYTz19zIxBwMNATp9YO5P2j9wT5RVLO6vfhUE30cTWRPR5sIc7NiqZI/s400/IMG_2881.jpg" border="0" />All in all, I had a good time even with the cold conditions. My goal for the day was to stay on the bike for more than 5 hrs and I ended up at a little over 7hrs. I purposely didn't look at the stats on the GPS until today. I thought I would be really disappointed...40 miles, 12K vert...no...12K? Really? I didn't believe it...No way...The GPS MUST be wrong...So I downloaded the DEM elevation instead of relying on the GPS...Even with a modest correction of only accepting elevation gain if it was greater than 2 meters the vert came out to 9K. Still much better than I had thought.(<a href="http://home.comcast.net/~jpjonas2/GPX/2008/20080510_NGolden.gpx">GPX</a>)</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-50749199053158621632008-05-09T08:39:00.000-06:002008-05-09T08:46:08.185-06:00Traffic JamsYesterday...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5aSrlygBzwzzGAjbIaSBGq9P0_51v1K7TTwbpEt_UQJHz07PVyB9lrp3229MkZxrCcJDsYmvtjYnI-lLw1PvEHb3gbVz5tLdEHwrT1LdAH6r6PVIwc1BZoqOte9uuG7PIrRRC7qkkCk/s1600-h/Picture+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198387963649941490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5aSrlygBzwzzGAjbIaSBGq9P0_51v1K7TTwbpEt_UQJHz07PVyB9lrp3229MkZxrCcJDsYmvtjYnI-lLw1PvEHb3gbVz5tLdEHwrT1LdAH6r6PVIwc1BZoqOte9uuG7PIrRRC7qkkCk/s400/Picture+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198388113973796866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VQtB9RL14cL51RtpLjEeYH3apF_RQcmoCeEoo_aDaqkTAR5gTBxYCvxULGZJahUPRCJiuUNVLI2TCOI655fj1AV9m2uAkB1RvKdbqNCjLwUK8M3_BXh0JTDxZdH5Gq1hH8orVBoBz8s/s400/Picture+007.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p> </p><p> </p><p>Funny thing is these pictures were taken less than 100 yards from each other.</p><p> </p><p>I think I was anxious to get back on the bike this morning. I was up at 5am in a really good mood and joking with my wife and daughter over breakfast. I purposely took it slow on the way into work and surprisingly it only added 10 minutes. Those 10 minutes really didn't matter in the big scheme of things but it really helped my overall attitude and feeling about the ride. I can't wait to ride home.</p>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-74909759716809165552008-05-08T08:53:00.000-06:002014-10-06T19:05:48.661-06:00Nostalgic Flying<object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RdvWuSTSxDI&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RdvWuSTSxDI&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Flying had been a major part of my life when I was growing up back in Ohio. My dad was in the Air National Guard and he was an instructor on the weekends. My mom was also a pilot and a vivid memory from when I was 3 or 4 was watching her walk out to an airplane with a bulky parachute strapped to her back when she was taking aerobatic lessons. I used to spend many weekends with my dad at the airport when I was little. I would mostly sit in the pilots lounge while he taught and always try to score a ride from whoever happened to come in that day or I'd wander around the hangers to see who was working on their homebuilts. He quit teaching about the time I got out of grade school and we were really strapped for cash so we couldn't afford to get out flying all that often.<br />
In my early teens, I begged my father for over a year to get us a remote control airplane. He was reluctant for a long time, but eventually I won him over. It wasn't long before he was hooked. It was a great father-son activity that really brought us together during my otherwise tumultuous teens. We even started flying full-scale again with the intention of getting me my license. <br />
Unfortunately, life got in the way of my plans. My father was diagnosed with cancer in spring of 1990. This completely put an end to full-scale flying but we continued on with RC building and flying together throughout his remaining 9 months of life. After he died, I don't think I went flying even once by myself. It was always something we did together so it didn't feel right to go to the flying field by myself. I tried to keep the full-scale dream alive by enrolling in aviation maintenance school after high school. I made it a year before I realized it just wasn't for me and dropped out. I looked at pilot school too, but I just couldn't pull the trigger for some reason. After my uncle (dad's brother) also died of cancer less than a year later, I left home at the age of 19 with my destination being 'somewhere away from my troubles'.<br />
Although I had thought about flying many times in the years since my life was turned upside down, it seemed like an unobtainable goal. It took my 6 year old daughter to light the match that would reignite the flame on Father's Day 2006 with a little AirHog like this:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAgjE931w3XQGIaoElJIgV308rcXMd5i2dDvcQc971YZ6glX1ZnFSqPNkR5aauPvs546Hfqcwj2lKlUWuxk5SK0JCYHzLFDLdzFLSj5iByuefpilYuMurQHoIUY1_Kl94QLPN3mn8X7I/s1600-h/airhog.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAgjE931w3XQGIaoElJIgV308rcXMd5i2dDvcQc971YZ6glX1ZnFSqPNkR5aauPvs546Hfqcwj2lKlUWuxk5SK0JCYHzLFDLdzFLSj5iByuefpilYuMurQHoIUY1_Kl94QLPN3mn8X7I/s200/airhog.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198035986468481314" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
I didn't realize how much I missed flying until she innocently re-introduced me to it. She had somehow found the tangled and tattered end of the thread that was my childhood and helped reconnect it to my life today. <br />
Although my free time now has to be divided between biking and flying, I have no regets on exchanging hours spent in the saddle for hours spent at the sticks. It's finding the balance in life that's imporant to me now.<br />
<a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Flying/GreenMtn_20070223003.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Flying/GreenMtn_20070223003.jpg" style="cursor: hand; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Flying/MothNCAR.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Flying/MothNCAR.jpg" style="cursor: hand; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Flying/MothNCAR.jpg"></a>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768881236977140834.post-58351221385355303832008-05-07T08:57:00.000-06:002008-05-07T12:58:41.039-06:00Commuting to work<a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Denver/Picture004.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/JJonas/Biking/Denver/Picture004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p>In the past couple of weeks, I've started to commute to work on my bike again. (<a href="http://home.comcast.net/~jpjonas2/GPX/2008/20080506_Commute.gpx">GPX</a>)</p><p>It's funny...I took a job closer to home a couple of years ago and because I was always running errands I never really had a good opportunity to commute by bike. There were always trips to the hardware store, the post office, FedEx. etc. etc. that had to be done and since I was the only one in the office all of those responsibilities fell on me. They laid me off just before christmas so I went back to the company I was working with before and asked for my job back. Luckily they welcomed me back and now the commute is further (into Boulder).</p><p>I used to commute to Boulder quite a bit when I worked for them before. I took the bike paths, bike lanes, and shoulder of the road to get home. I changed my hardtail into a full-time commuter bike complete with slicks, then got an old used road bike. I enjoyed the riding but I've always hated riding on the road...It's the risk of getting hit by a car that bothers me. I had some good climbs along the way and would average about 15miles each way. I started having problems with my knee from always trying to beat my last trip time. I just had such a hard time not pushing myself to the limit everyday, every ride.</p><p>Since then, Boulder County Open Space has built a new trail (High Plains Trail) that parallels Hwy 128. I figured that I'd try using it on my commute and bypass a lot of the road that I was riding before. What a change! Although it's added about 20 minutes to my commute, the change has made a big improvement to how I feel about the commute. Now I've only got to spend 30 minutes on the road. But I've still got to watch how much I ride so that I can avoid that dreaded overuse injury. Thankfully, the weather has been helping me. The last two days were wonderful weather, the next two rainy, and then sunny again on Friday. Gotta love it when the weather cooperates.</p>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05385525295916803985noreply@blogger.com0