Archive for April, 2010

I had a brief, but action packed break at home between trips this weekend with family. Today, I’m heading for Alaska to climb Mount Huntington with Mark Cartier. We’ll be up there until May 7th.
Besides some quality time at home, sipping margaritas, spinning some vinyl and hanging out with my family, I was able to get in three great rides at the Lunch Loop. The cactus is starting to bloom here and the temps are quite pleasant: mid 70′s. The desert should be in full bloom when I return.
Here are some photos from this weekend’s rides.

I just returned home from teaching a ten day AMGA Rock Guides Course in Red Rocks. I caught a nasty cold while there so didn’t do much biking; only one ride. I was able to get on some great rock climbs and had a lot of fun with the students.
The one ride I did was awesome. It was at the nearby Cowboy Trails on a trail called Bob Gnarly. It lived up to it’s name as it descended a smooth, water polished, limestone dry streambed with numerous gaps, ledge drops and spooky technical sections. The surrounding desert landscape and views into the canyons of Red Rocks were equally amazing. I’d highly recommend this place for riding to anyone visiting Vegas.
Climbingwise, I was able to get on some popular AND neglected classics like Bruja’s Brew, Lotta Balls, Bullah’s Book, Johnny Vegas, Community Pillar, Group Therapy, Tunnel Vision, Fiddler on the Roof (highlight of the week) and Black Orpheus.
I get to spend a restful weekend at home with my family before leaving for Alaska on Monday. I’m going on my annual “Freeze Your Ass Off Trip”, this time to Mount Huntington.

I just finished up three days of riding in Moab with my wife and am now heading to Vegas to instruct an AMGA Rock Guides’ Course: sunny, warm rock climbing and, perhaps a bit more riding on the Cowboy Trails near Red Rocks.
In Moab, I was able to ride the Slickrock, Porcupine Rim and Svereign trails, all considered area classics. Though I have yet to do Amasa Back, I have to say that what I’ve experienced of the mountain biking in Moab is way over-rated. The scenery, however, is not and that is the main reason to go duke it out amongst legions of other bikers, jokers, motorcyclists and jeepers on the (scenery withstanding) miles of mediocrity.
I’ll still put Gooseberry & Little Creek at the top of the list for high quality riding in the beehive state.

Slick rock yesterday. Porcupine Rim today. With luck, we’ll ride the Sovereign Trail tomorrow morning (pending wine consption tonight) before heading to Vegas.

Grinding it out on the SS this week! I put in a bigger cog, 22 tooth, and lowered the psi to 25 to help the mashing up three miles of steep slickrock. It’ll be fun as hell going down!

Farmboy made it back to Oregon where he’ll be mending for a while. I made it back home, too. Spring is well underway in the Colorado Desert and I’m enjoying some time with my family. Oh, and I’m back on the bike!