Its been a while since I have posted anything and it sure has been an interesting year to say the least. The move to Denver has been good for me, I can't say that I don't miss certain thing but overall I am happy with the move and how D-town has been treating me. Then I went to Winterpark and hurt my shoulder and that started my unraveling in the first and middle part of the riding season, I was hoping to compete in the CTR but after an injury and some bad luck I was in NO shape for such a big adventure maybe sometime in the future I will be able to tour the entire Colorado Trail, No racing for this kid unless it is a 24 hour race.
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| cool waterfall in CGSP |
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Made my first of many trips to Curt Gowdy State Park and I have to say that I am impressed by the awesomeness of the trails there so flowy and fun I wish my rear derailleur didn't get snagged up and bent to all hell, but what can you do.? Nothing that is what you can do, unless you have been on a bad luck streak then you can get stung by a wasp and have your ankle become a cankle. Worst part is I couldn't ride for a couple weeks, just another set back this year.
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| cankle |
I only got to ride for a couple hours and it made me hungry for more time in Wyoming which is something I never thought I would say at any point in my life. Only next time hopefully my luck will be better because there is nothing I like more than ripping some sweet ass singletrack especially when it is built for bikes by I.M.B.A.
I did the Kokopelli with my good friend Jay in the spring and I have to say it was so much fun. Although it started kinda weird with little truckie not starting after getting gas and having to take the Subaru sporting some "maypop" tires. Despite all of that we were rolling before noon.
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| enroute to Moab |
We made our drop at cowskin springs up on Entrada Bluffs Rd one of the coolest places to camp along the Kokopelli, and then it happened again the Subaru wouldn't start luckily it is a stick and we parked on a hill so push starting was easy and again we are on the road again to Moab. We made it to Moab that evening and set up camp and pack up our packs and tried to sleep but at this point I am super excited to get on the trail and get rolling. We get up around 5:30 so we can meet up with our shuttle driver from Coyote Shuttles to take us to the Kokopelli trail head we had some coffee and something to eat while since we didn't have to drive and as always the driver is pretty cool and drives nice and fast.
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| Jay at Westwater |
The first day was nice it wasn't hot or cold but nice I have done this trail every year and this was greenest I have ever seen the desert it made it feel surreal that and the whole first day we didn't really see anybody out plus the grey skies made it unlike any other time because it is usually hot and windy. Rabbit Valley was fun we even rode bitter creek instead of western rim and it was super fun and the scenery is just beautiful. That first day is always fun because you ride to westwater campground, I love the boaters they always have good food and lots of it and the love to share yum yum steak fajitas!!!!!
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| home on the trail |
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| somewhere along the Kokopelli |
Day 2 we woke up and had coffee and breakfast next to the Colorado River, it was cold and sprikling all morning so we got a late start and had a long day ahead of us to get to Cowskin campground. We had a storm chasing us all day long getting close but never quite catching up all the way, so we had to keep the "MO". On our way thru we pass the memorial site of one "Buck-Fity" one of the great Kokopelli spirits. When we got to the start of Yellow Jacket Canyon we said good-bye to the spirit of "Buck-Fity". We contuined on to Yellow Jacket Canyon and it was so much fun all the moisture had made for a fast decent and the climb out to Dewey Bridge fun from there it is a 3 mile dirt road climb to Cowskin campground.
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| "Toucher" |
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| portrate of a DirtBall |
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I woke up day 3 feeling good, we have a long day of climbing into the La Sal Mountains. I still think that this is the best day of the entire trip because you go from desert to high mountains in one day, is an amazing feeling and what an amazing day it was Entrada Bluffs Rd is such a cool road, then you get rose garden hill I can remeber riding some of it 3yrs before and a little less each year and this year I walk down the whole thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy shit I can't beleive it I think I have matured a little? But I doubt it. A definte highlight of the day is dropping down to onion creek that is one of the coolest valleys I have ever seen. We stopped in hideout campground to get some water before we started our ascent into the La Sal National Forest and eventually our camp spot for the night on Polar Mesa Rd.That night I learned to never try to sleep with your head lower than your feet because I freaked myself out.
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| View from our last camp site |
On the 4th day we woke up to a cold morning with overcast skies and long way to go because their is no more dinners and I know I would like to get home and see Serena and sleep in a bed. This year both Jay and myself rode all the pavement and it seemed easier than in years past. Next thing I remember is getting what is one of the major highlights of the trip you get to rip down Kokopelli connector and UPS and they rerouted the nasty little rock section, LPS super fun across the edge of the cliff the whole way with some uber flowy turny and just plain fun trail, Porcupine Rim, Negro Canyon back to Moab. A little bummed that Utah closed matrimony spring. We made back to Moab that evening and got our first shower in 4 days that was pretty damn epic. Devoured some Mexican Food and hit the road and head for home, me to Denver and Jay to CSprings. Little did Jay or myself know that we were carring a hitchhiker the whole time .....................................................................................................................................................................
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| hitchhilker |
