Ride 2 Stucki and Beaclaw Poppi

I arrived in St George by 9:30pm and after a bite headed for the Trailhead near the morings ride. It was a huge dirt hill with lots of space to camp and do whatever anyone wants to do. It skirted homes so I figured I would park fairly close to have some sort of comfort for safety. I pulled in and it was dark, there were lots of cars around, I figured most were kids hanging out but everyone was scattered. Not wanting to hit people with my lights I found a spot and parked. I unpacked my stuff and happily got in the sleeping bag and tried to relax. I was eager for the moring to come, I fell asleep only to be awoken again and again by people coming and going in the parking lot. When morning did arrive I geared up and set off to a confusing begining. There are lots of roads and confusion in the dark, I was surprised to stumble upon others who spent the night there with their bikes and were in the same boat as me. I began a climb up a dirt road which then lead down to Stucki, as I climbed I realized this trails was to be ridden in the other direction kind of since it had DH flow, I ignored it since I didn't want to turn around and kept fighting the mess of trail brading. It was really bad, really really bad, motos currently use the area or used to, the trail was mostly ATV trail the entire loop. Once I started descending and the sun shown itself I began to carry speed and enjoy the ride, then it was onto Poppi which was disapointing considering it's popularity. I mean it was ok, but really nothing special. I climbed out of there and back to the car to switch bikes and clothes and onwards to Zen trail.

Ride 1 Monolith Gardens

Wow Wow Wow, a real trip of a lifetime pulled together this week. With a ticket to Rampage in Virgin Utah I had the opportunity to travel to and from with lots of riding opportunity in between! I had absolute freedom to pick and choose the next 4 days, the only certain thing was Rampage from 10-3 on Friday. I heade out eagerly after my Mother in law flew in to take care of my son while I would be gone. I must say I felt pretty selfish putting this together but his Grandma absolutely adores Landon and she has lot of paid time off and she was happy to do it. As I loaded up the truck with all my gear I could not believe this was really happening, I manged to squeeze both bikes in the cab of my tacoma pretty nicely by the way! This made for excelletn security while I was away on one bike or leaving the car parked with both bikes. So I set off by 11:30am and up I went thru Phoenix and on to Kingman Arizona where my first ride would be at Monolith Gardens. I knew nothing much about the place othere than it was about halfway between Gilbert and St George. After a sight filled drive I arrived by 3pm and eagerly got the Trek Superfly ready to go. The landscape was very very cool. A geology person could probably describe it in detail but for me it was absolutely pleasing. You start off in a series of valleys with large rock and small cliffs. It's higher desert with lots of small cactus. The trails was swoopy and rocky and smooth in the beginning. As I climbed it became quite rocky, a bit shaky for the rigid but managing just fine. The scenery opened up and could see various features as I went about. This was becoming quite the scenic ride as it went on, climbing higher and higher it was spectacular. Once I reached the tip top I had to detour a trail closed blockage, lame but I had another option. I was finally going downhill and it was pretty good, a bit chunky for my Trek but managing just fine, then I made my way back to the rim trail and descended some more. Then a short climb thru a nice area and a few mellow loops and back to the car. As I look back at it this was a very good ride, with better scenery than the trail which is just fine. I later found out the multiple trail blocks were from a race coming up, kind of lame they set up the markings before the event so someone thinks the trail is closed who doesn't know better. With some riding done I could now relax a bit and enjoy the drive thru Vegas which was amazing country as the Southwest is. I still could not believe this was all happening, so happy to be on my own and a few days of adventure.

Back in the AZ

Was hoping to get a ride in before the week ended. I chose Gold Canyon for Saturday morning. With low ambition once I got pedaling I felt pretty blah about riding, I think I was homesick and jut not feeling it. I managed to ride on although I almost headed home twice. Cut the ride 30 minutes short but got a 90 minute helping of Gold Canyon. Rampage is days away can't wait!

The Final Day

The time had come for just one more ride in Utah, sad but happy to be out on the trail just one last time, I was dropped off at Corner Canyon Flight Park. This gave me a different route in with a nice change in scenery. A cold front rolled in and I was actually a bit chilled with a 48F breeze. Once I got moving it was glorious temperature though. I climbed up Ann's and zipped down to the tunnel, then up to the top of the trails and made my way to the new Mercer Hollow Trail. Looking down at the fresh cut swoopy trail I was excited. Hoping for a more jumpy trail it was good for only being a mile long so far. Nothing too wild but well built and hopefully they continue it down to the valley floor. I pedaled back up it and went for a Rush Run and then a Ghost Run. That would close up the ride, very very much enjoyed my time in Utah, wish I got in higher elevations and less ridden spots but I can't complain

Dark Flying Doggy

Well Saturday came and an order to squeeze one ride in on this trip with my good friend Brent it meant an early one. My alarm was set for 4:20am but I found my eyes open at 2am, congested and groggy I could not get back to sleep. I went for the ride anyway on a little 3 hours of sleep, I didn't feel that tired so no big deal. Was very very excited to be getting up higher in elevation, I love the high mountains, especially in the fall. I met with my homie at the base of the canyon and headed up and by 5:45 we were chugging up the mountain in complete darkness. The darkness of the morning was long, the deer eyes were plenty, and the air was chilly! As we climbed higher it warmed, I kept expecting some sort of daylight to come as we rode but for an entire hour there was no sign. There began a scent of elk, then we heard bugles, we had to stop and listen for a minute, I absolutely love that noise they make for some reason. Continued on and the leaves got thick in color, only illuminated by my headlight and nothing else I knew I was missing out. Whats that thing moving, oh it's a procupine! He began to move off the trail and I got closer and he turned around to battle possibly so I cowardly got out of his space and looked on further away. Getting into the aspens as sun finally began to dimly light the sky, I could see the surroundings finally. Such a long climb to the top, but always rewarded with a long downhill ride. At the top sun graced the hillside and as we rode through firey Maple and Oak leaves it was dreamy. It all went by too fast, got a few pics but none could fully interpret the moment. I was happy, my homie was happpy, while our kids were sleeping we were living it up, what crazy people. It all ended too soon, a mighty fine week, 100 mile week with 85 in Utah. Thank you wife :)

Second Helping

We are here in Utah and it's amazing! The weather is so glorious, the time is precious. Again my wife wanted to hang with one of her friends so we had Landon under proper care and we were off to Eagle Mountain. My wife dropped me off at the trailhead and off I went. Now Eagle Mountain is not my favorite place to ride, but heard of a few new trails and was looking to check them out. The first helping was a session on the dirt jumps, wanted a pic of me flying, not much of one I got but still counts. Then I hefty pedal uphill and figuring out the best way up without using the road. I found a trail that made it supremely better than the road, with leg power I was on my first new trail calle Cow Tracks. Then onwards to Road Runner which was begging for more descent, a pretty fun run on it left me wanting more. I noticed the trail signs banning equestrian and motos, first time and kinda proud. Made my way to the real gem, Deadwood. This trail swooped around you called it, Dead Trees. No steep descent but fast and swoopy and long enough with the little area they have to work with. After that was over I crossed the road and back uphill I went on Treadstone, once I reached the summit, lightning began to rang and rain dribbled on me, a potent mini storm was only 3-4 miles away. I was concerned but after the most fun trail descent I put the storm at my back and headed away from it. Back up the to the ridge and Flintstone, a no holds barred rough n tough trail. You can get silly on a DH bike here for sure with some drops and gaps. Me on my rigid just took it easy and rode down clean. A bland dirt road ride into the neighborhood and back to the trailhead and up the ridge again I went this time legs slightly weak but happy to perform. I went a bit up cow tracks and hit my goal and headed for Hidden Canyon on a short ride and then to the gas station for pickup. Fun ride, wish I had the chance to get up high in the mountains where I life it best but this works.

Corner Canyon Wednesday!

The time arrived on wednesday evening, I had my lovely wife drop me off as she was headed to hangout with some of her friends. I had a hefty 4+ hour window to spin around and was absolutely thrilled! As I began pedaling I was steady but breathing was a bit rough, maybe altitude I dunno, SLC is not very high. It was an absolute beaut of a day, warm in the high 70's with fall in full effect. The trail were tacky and absolutely prime. As I climbed higher I began to try to make out a plan, I was climbing for Eagle Crest loop, I felt better as I got higher. I finally got a little DH for relief that was very short lived until I would reach toe Top of Rush, I kind of cutoff a group about to enter, I didn't want to be stuck behind anyone let alone a group. Good thing I did since the endure bros couldn't hang with me on my Rigid :) It was a fast run down and felt like one of my best, the trail was primo! I then climbed back up and all around for another two hours. At about hour 3 I felt my legs beginning to wear but still had plenty left. I hit 30 miles shortly after and then headed for one more run down Ghost falls. Then over to shoreline as far as I could take it and then few miles of pavement to Dimple Dell. I planned to end the ride at Cafe Rio in Sandy. I needed my headlamp once I got to Dimple Dell, was bummed to find the mount missing, so I wobbly held it in my hand for 20 minutes as I went down the path. Once I hit 1300 E I was very close to my old home in Sandy. I looked for my wallet and it was not to be found. My wife was 8 miles away with her friends so instead of sitting around I decided to ride to her. It was interesting riding through the neighborhoods and I got it done. 46 miles, about 35 on dirt. My kind of start to the trip!