Vapor Trail 125

No.....I'm not doing the Vapor Trail, but wanted to throw it out there since my SPOT link on this page will show that I'm doing it.....rather, Mr. Handlebarsandwich is, and he will be using my SPOT unit.  So starting 10pm on Saturday night, you can check him out on Trackleaders along with the other sufferers.....use that link instead of my SPOT link....it's way better.

Ramble Post 4: Respite

This Labor Day Weekend, I hosted an old work mate and his brother for a few days camping and riding.  These guys have only ridden Fantasy Island in Tucson....so I knew they were in for quite "the ride".  Given they are taken to triathalons and such....I knew I could throw them a challenge and they would not complain....especially when they saw what was blowing up at the base of Schultz.....

 After setting up their camp, I took them out for a quick late afternoon ride up Little Gnarly and Brookbank with a zoom down Sunset.....the smiles on the obligatory HAB let me know this crowd was high on morale and low on the "gripe-factor"....

Given that these guys don't really ride mountain bikes and don't spend much time above 2,000ft.....they held their own with the zoom down Sunset generating comments like, "that was the best ride I've ever been on".....mission accomplished.

The next day, I planned for a bit more mellow, but longer loop around the NW side of the peaks to include some AZ trail goodness.....the robust ferns this late in summer leave me speechless.....

Heading south on the AZ trail from 418, we took the Bismark turnoff to start our loop....Tanner playing on a trail that was under 3 inches of water last time I rode it......

As we headed south on 151....I heard the guys jaws hit their toptubes as they came around Fern Mountain and took in the Kachina's for the first time.....

Late summer color was all around in the form of yellows and a few elusive blues.......except for the bluebird which was dominating the day..........

 Transitioning back to the east towards Aspen Corner, we slowly gained elevation on Hart Prairie.....

The prairie grasses were in full late-summer effect......lichens and tundra flora above treeline were just starting to show a hint of color which forebodes the coming change in season and it's sunburst of yellow in the Aspen below.........

Pausing for a burrito break at Alfalfa Tank, we watched dogs play in the water and clouds march north......

The grasses were starting to dry with the end of the summer rains...........

Yet the color freak-show continued along the AZ trail as we returned on our loop.......

I was so stoked to be able to share the passion with two folks who had limited experience on the mountain bike; but solid fitness and even greater attitudes.  By their comments this weekend....I know they'll be back.

Ramble Post 1: My Grass is Blue

So my last post may have been cryptic, so here it is....my first stop on my ramble was the White Mountains Bluegrass Music Festival to see these guys.

Before heading out at 11pm on Friday to camp in the forest at 3am....I threw a ton of chlorine in the pool knowing full well what was pooping in it while I was gone.

Waking up at 6 in a forest surrounding I'd only seen in the dark 3 hours prior; I packed up my sleeping bag and iPod, threw them into the truck and drove to the festival grounds.  I thought about going back to sleep, but the squirrel activity was starting to concern my dogs too much.  Much of day one was spent lounging in a chair, listening to bluegrass and sipping some of grandfathers cough medicine.  I did manage a bike ride in the afternoon which turned out to be the best cure for a good time ever.....a 1.5 mile hill climb, in pea gravel, up to a cell tower, with 500vf gained on a lap of the climb, and no promise of singletrack.....hill repeats suck...especially when it's 93 degrees out at 7500ft.  I spent the rest of the day trying not to puke.  The final indignity came when I passed out during my brothers band's performance of "Black Eyed Suzie"....he called me out during the audience participation section, to which, apparently, my participation was drooling.

The next day, I tried a bit harder to get back into the spirit.....hanging out backstage, I shot some good action.

Daniel Foulks and Michael Morrison jamming backstage before their set..........

Michael is the fastest picker on guitar I've ever heard....it rivals mandolin players.......

Daniel...................

Longview of the bass-bomb...........

Kendall "Bass-man" Murphy.....

Some mando action...............

Once IIIrd Generation took the stage, I transitioned up front for some shots:

Mark "The General" Phillips is so in command of the show, he closes his eyes to let the world relax.......

It's always a joy to watch live music and the awe and respect some show for others on stage........

Transitioning backstage for some oblique shots, I spied 6-hands, 3 instruments & 1 sound...............

Daniel looking on at some awesome mando and banjo picking.......

Roder "Kenny Powers" Starnes owning it as the 12 time Texas State Champion banjo player.....I think he only got 4th national........but if someone asked you to name your 4 favorite beers.....could you REALLY rank which one was better than the other?????

Daniel and Kendall zoning out on the bluegrass.......

The Claw................

And if you're interested of the crappy video I shot, it's below....clearly.....I'm not a videographer since I could not even bother to have a clean lens or a tripod for the shot....my 3rd cofee on the day really challenged me on this.

Kicking around the Kaibab

When the call came to circumnavigate the Kaibab Plateau for a muli-day bikepacking trip with Chad, I threw my desire for rest aside and jumped in.....I would not be disappointed.

Leaving our car outside of Jacob Lake and descending out of the Ponderosa and Aspen forest, we contoured around to the west and then south......

Many lessons were learned by me on this first bikepacking trip.....the first one being to mentally prepare myself for the planned vs. anticipated water stops....and not assume that "Jug" implies water.....

The humid air above the northwestern Kaibab hinted at possible showers....but they never materialized....

40 miles in, we hit the Rainbow Rim Trail in the fading light of day....

Rarely seen western views from the north Kaibab were enjoyed while rolling along....me consumed by visions of running springs to which there were none.

Spotting evidence of folks camped across the way towards Locust point, we pedaled on to find a decent campsite with a good view for the next morning....

Arriving at Locust, we found two gents from Flagstaff, one of which knew Chad from 2 Spring Flings ago.  They invited us to camp next to them and share in some of their PBR, cheese, pickled chiltipin's, fine tequilia and water........for which I contributed genoa salami, chili covered mango slices, and flattened banana.  The conversation and hospitality was very much appreciated while enjoying timeless views of the fading light in the canyon.

Waking on day two, I walked out to the same point to view the suns rays revisiting the canyon once again.

Soft morning light along the rim from our camp exposed features obscured the night before.....

Thanking our friends in the morning, we continued on the Rainbow Rim, hollering out across the canyon at the camp we just left....taking in the echo's and the views alike.....

Transitioning off of the Rainbow Rim and skirting an active burn in progress, we borrowed some water from an unorthodox source before coming into views of Dragon Creek below which is framed by Confucius Temple, Tower of Ra, Osiris Temple.......and the "Leviathon", ably piloted by Chad.

Views of the Kachina Peaks  from 70 miles away across the canyon were appreciated, however the chasm consumed most of our attention......

Moving on to the southern extent of the tour, dusty double track lead us to a detour towards the North Rim Lodge and some Pizza & Beer.....the former to be my downfall the rest of the day.

Dirty....but content....and fascinated how dirt does not stick to scar tissue......

5 of the 6 things I love in life are represented in this photo.....the sixth was in my thoughts.....

Wolfing down extra pizza which was awarded to us for suffering through an hour and a half wait....I soon realized I ate too much as I tried to pedal away and keep up with Chad.......Lesson two handily learned.

Climbing an old watchtower, more views of the Kachina Peaks on the horizon and from across the canyon....

Warning:  After descending the tower, you may find yourself talking to an imaginary person in finely pressed white socks.....not seen here....because they are not real.....

Feeling spent and week, stomach torn asunder; Chad throws some encouragement my way to make camp at the East Rim.....the singletrack through idyllic meadows buoyed my spirits.....

When singletrack goes on vacation, this is probably where it goes.....

East Rim views in the fading light of day came into view, and lifted me even higher.....

Navajo Mountain, 80 miles to our northwest towered over the canyonlands......

The pastel colors of sandstone and sunset last for but a brief moment each day....but leave an indelible impression......

As we prepared for our second night....I savored the last moments before finally meeting the venerated Don Miguel......next time, I'm going to try "The Bomb".....

Falling asleep to views of the milky way, we slept in a bit before making our way to Dog Lake for our final water stop....hope the chlorine tabs work on dog water....

Making our way north along the AZT, we found the treed entrance to Valhalla........

Flowing out of climbs back into meadows, I savored the descents; hoping for more before the next climb.

Where's Chad?......

.........floating on the grass.......

......topping out......

Continuing north, the bowl shaped meadows gave way to flatter expanses of Lupine and Ponderossa.

144 miles later.....our stomaches were rewarded with Jacob Lake Cafe food.....

Driving away....Chad remarked outloud......"It's a good day to be alive"....I nodded in silence, answering only in my mind....."yes it is....yes it is...."