Sunday, September 25, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
T.R. Baxter Pass and the Uintah Railway
Uintah Railway the Crookedest Railroad in the West A Short History
Sometimes I like splorin as much as I like riding. But I hate rain!
It was pretty much a mud fest in Fruita Last week. A couple nights steady rain and storms during the day. So the plan was short rides between the waves of rain. I could also drive around on the paved roads and check out a few new places.
Well it started to rain just as I got my tent set up and it rained and the wind blew all night.
Tuesday A.M. light rain and it looked like more rain on the way. Thought it would be a good day to check out Baxter Pass and the Uintah Railway and see if I could find the start of Little Wing. I loaded up the bike just in case the sun came out long enough for a ride.And it did.
looking for Little Wing
Tuesday P.M. more light rain.
Wed. A.M. more rain occasionally I would get a view of the Book Cliffs and La Sal Mountains covered with fresh snow! But it was clearing I thought it was going to be like yesterday. Boy was I wrong.
a moto track somewhere in Colorado
steady rain and I’m about 4 miles from camp!
Soon the tires were caked with sticky muck and wouldn’t turn anymore. I was still about 2 miles out. Oh well. Soaking wet, I scraped as much mud off my tires and bike that I could, hoisted the bike on my back and prepared myself for the hike back. Funny I always try and convince myself this is like backpacking. It must have been my lucky day I got a ride most of the way.
No use in trying to get a fire going in the rain. So I changed my cloths in the out house then it was back to getting warm in the car.
It was still raining. I tell myself this builds character. To pass the time while it was raining went to Fruita to wash the mud off the bike.
Wed. P.M. more rain and top ramen and sitting in the car.
Thurs. A.M. It was clearing. Sitting in the car it was warm. The windows magnified the heat nicely. Decided to cook last nights dinner for breakfast while I waited for things to dry out a bit . Made a couple extra burritos for the ride.
Hard to get excited about a ride now after the last few days of rain. Moab weather forecast called for clearing with a chance of a rain shower nicer by Fri. and a chance of a thunderstorm. If I could get through just one more day.
the old Denver and Rio Grand R.R. grade
For once no rain in the evening. Maybe it was over. It started to rain about 2 in the morning it was still raining when I got up. So much for a chance of a shower! It was a steady rain and everything had turned to mud. I drove to Fruita to waste some time.
Barely made it back to the campground through the slick mud. It was starting to clear a little but I didn’t care I was throwing in the towel. I had already had enough rain for a year. Just enough information to plan my next trip. A little rain it’s bound to happen sooner or latter glad it doesn’t happen very often out there.
There is a lot more to ride in the Grand Valley than just what’s published.
Sometimes I like splorin as much as I like riding. But I hate rain!
It was pretty much a mud fest in Fruita Last week. A couple nights steady rain and storms during the day. So the plan was short rides between the waves of rain. I could also drive around on the paved roads and check out a few new places.
Well it started to rain just as I got my tent set up and it rained and the wind blew all night.
Tuesday A.M. light rain and it looked like more rain on the way. Thought it would be a good day to check out Baxter Pass and the Uintah Railway and see if I could find the start of Little Wing. I loaded up the bike just in case the sun came out long enough for a ride.And it did.
looking for Little Wing
 |
| From May 16-20, 2011Baxter Pass and the Uintah Railway |
Tuesday P.M. more light rain.
Wed. A.M. more rain occasionally I would get a view of the Book Cliffs and La Sal Mountains covered with fresh snow! But it was clearing I thought it was going to be like yesterday. Boy was I wrong.
a moto track somewhere in Colorado
steady rain and I’m about 4 miles from camp!
Soon the tires were caked with sticky muck and wouldn’t turn anymore. I was still about 2 miles out. Oh well. Soaking wet, I scraped as much mud off my tires and bike that I could, hoisted the bike on my back and prepared myself for the hike back. Funny I always try and convince myself this is like backpacking. It must have been my lucky day I got a ride most of the way.
No use in trying to get a fire going in the rain. So I changed my cloths in the out house then it was back to getting warm in the car.
It was still raining. I tell myself this builds character. To pass the time while it was raining went to Fruita to wash the mud off the bike.
Wed. P.M. more rain and top ramen and sitting in the car.
Thurs. A.M. It was clearing. Sitting in the car it was warm. The windows magnified the heat nicely. Decided to cook last nights dinner for breakfast while I waited for things to dry out a bit . Made a couple extra burritos for the ride.
Hard to get excited about a ride now after the last few days of rain. Moab weather forecast called for clearing with a chance of a rain shower nicer by Fri. and a chance of a thunderstorm. If I could get through just one more day.
the old Denver and Rio Grand R.R. grade
For once no rain in the evening. Maybe it was over. It started to rain about 2 in the morning it was still raining when I got up. So much for a chance of a shower! It was a steady rain and everything had turned to mud. I drove to Fruita to waste some time.
Barely made it back to the campground through the slick mud. It was starting to clear a little but I didn’t care I was throwing in the towel. I had already had enough rain for a year. Just enough information to plan my next trip. A little rain it’s bound to happen sooner or latter glad it doesn’t happen very often out there.
There is a lot more to ride in the Grand Valley than just what’s published.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Baxter Pass
Ok I’ve been looking at this area for a couple years now. Baxter Pass was the old Uintah r.r. Grade. Indians also used the route to go Between White River, Gunnison and Green River. Two of my favorite things exploring old passes and R.R. grades
I recently heard of a new trail in the area Little Wing
http://www.btrails.com/trail/little-wing/58/
A related article I found on OutThereColorado.com
http://www.outtherecolorado.com/Mountain-biking/fruita-co-beyond-the-zion-curtain.html
So now its three of my favorite things.
I am now more intrigued than ever.
I recently heard of a new trail in the area Little Wing
http://www.btrails.com/trail/little-wing/58/
A related article I found on OutThereColorado.com
http://www.outtherecolorado.com/Mountain-biking/fruita-co-beyond-the-zion-curtain.html
So now its three of my favorite things.
I am now more intrigued than ever.
Monday, April 25, 2011
North Fruita Desert
 |
| From North Fruita Desert |
I have been lost half a dozen times trying to find my way to Hunters Canyon from RD 18.With all the people in town for the FFTf thought it was a good time to try again. Someday I will make it up Hunters Canyon and back the Edge. This trip I wanted to map and gps the route from RD 18 campground to RD 21. Once I have tracks down I can figure out the best route. There are quite a few options. Should be able to put together a route that is mostly singletrack.
Couldn't find a empty space in the campground. I decided to camp somewhere down by the OHV area. It was a good choice, right in the middle.
Thursday- crazy wind!
The moto singletrack was easy to find although it look like no one had ridden it in awhile.
The BLM has put up new trail markers at the road crossings.
Friday - the sun came out!
Got lost trying to find my way to RD 21. DRAT! I did eventually make it to RD 21 and found more moto singletrack. Now I think I have it Figured out. We'll see.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Hmm……West Chicago Creek to Georgetown on a bike?
Beautiful Day ! Went for a hike up West Chicago Creek.
Still trying to connect West Chicago Creek with Georgetown . I found a short section of singletrack that tied into the old road to Alpine Peak. There has to be an old road or trail to Griffith Mountain. I have also heard there is an old road from Silverdale to the top of Alpine Peak. I still think this is a real possibility.
Still trying to connect West Chicago Creek with Georgetown . I found a short section of singletrack that tied into the old road to Alpine Peak. There has to be an old road or trail to Griffith Mountain. I have also heard there is an old road from Silverdale to the top of Alpine Peak. I still think this is a real possibility.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
OH My Gawd > Central City Parkway
It was nice to get out this week. Been kinda boaring around here.
 |
| From Oh My Gawd Central City Parkway |
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Kerr Gulch Grapevine Loop
A good option when the trails are covered with snow.
It was a beautiful day! About 65 degrees.
It was a beautiful day! About 65 degrees.
 |
| From Kerr Gulch Grapevine Loop |
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
JUMPS
Gonna start doing jumps on the bike this year. Thought I would start on skis. Might help me get over my fear of flying! Theory should be the same? I just wonder if age and fear of hurting myself will prevent me from accomplishing this. I don't have insurance and my body doesn't heal as fast as it use-to. So my plan is to ease myself into it.
surfing notes:
Perform a Ski Jump
Things You'll Need
>Ski area with a ramp
>Helmet
>Experience skiing
1
Start on a small ramp that will only get you a couple of feet into the air. You must master some of the techniques of a ski jump before you go for the distance. The smaller the ramp, the better you can practice your beginning and ending positions.
2
Gather speed when going down the hill toward the ramp. Ski straight with the ramp directly in front of you. Keep your poles up under your arms once you feel you have a good speed going.
3
Glide over the ramp at a consistent speed. Remember to keep your knees slightly bent at all times. Just before you exit the ramp end, do a little squat and try to point your skis up.
4
Keep your knees bent and your feet together with skis parallel while you are in the air. Keep your body stiff and do not change the direction of your skis in any way.
5
Continue to bend your knees on the landing. In fact, you will be landing in a squat position. From there you will rotate your skis in a forward motion from right to left to finish the trail.
from http://www.ehow.com/how_2065069_ski-jump.html
Remember to stay forward on your skis, even lean forward.
When you lean back, that's when you botch the landing and get hurt
And don't be timid, you have to go over them fast or the landing will be all downward force. If you go over it faster the landing is smoother because you're traveling more horizontally. You gotta hit jumps hard and not chicken out.
I really had some problems with this at first. You need to keep your weight moving forward; this turns some of the impact into momentum. You also need to be able to move your back and arms down. (This is usually natural when landing). I suggest that you use your knees to bend when you hit it in order to absorb shock. Don’t worry, it took me a long time to get landings right
When you set up for a jump, be in a balanced athletic stance. When you reach the lip of the jump you want to pop off of it. Bend your knees and quickly extend your legs to actually jump off the lip of the jump. This will keep you more balanced in the air. While in the air spot your landing and bring your arms forward. extend your legs and absorb the landing
When you go off the jump, pop off of the snow at the lip of the jump. Bend your knees and extend, actually jumping off the jump. this will keep you more balanced in the air. if you have a problem of going forward, reach down and grab your ski under the boot, hopefully this will keep you from leaning forward. spot your landing and reach your arms forward. you want your skis to be parallel to the landing
from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A0WTZWR_JzBNrlsA0ABvxQt.;_ylv=3?qid=20080120153646AA5FYHd
surfing notes:
Perform a Ski Jump
Things You'll Need
>Ski area with a ramp
>Helmet
>Experience skiing
1
Start on a small ramp that will only get you a couple of feet into the air. You must master some of the techniques of a ski jump before you go for the distance. The smaller the ramp, the better you can practice your beginning and ending positions.
2
Gather speed when going down the hill toward the ramp. Ski straight with the ramp directly in front of you. Keep your poles up under your arms once you feel you have a good speed going.
3
Glide over the ramp at a consistent speed. Remember to keep your knees slightly bent at all times. Just before you exit the ramp end, do a little squat and try to point your skis up.
4
Keep your knees bent and your feet together with skis parallel while you are in the air. Keep your body stiff and do not change the direction of your skis in any way.
5
Continue to bend your knees on the landing. In fact, you will be landing in a squat position. From there you will rotate your skis in a forward motion from right to left to finish the trail.
from http://www.ehow.com/how_2065069_ski-jump.html
Remember to stay forward on your skis, even lean forward.
When you lean back, that's when you botch the landing and get hurt
And don't be timid, you have to go over them fast or the landing will be all downward force. If you go over it faster the landing is smoother because you're traveling more horizontally. You gotta hit jumps hard and not chicken out.
I really had some problems with this at first. You need to keep your weight moving forward; this turns some of the impact into momentum. You also need to be able to move your back and arms down. (This is usually natural when landing). I suggest that you use your knees to bend when you hit it in order to absorb shock. Don’t worry, it took me a long time to get landings right
When you set up for a jump, be in a balanced athletic stance. When you reach the lip of the jump you want to pop off of it. Bend your knees and quickly extend your legs to actually jump off the lip of the jump. This will keep you more balanced in the air. While in the air spot your landing and bring your arms forward. extend your legs and absorb the landing
When you go off the jump, pop off of the snow at the lip of the jump. Bend your knees and extend, actually jumping off the jump. this will keep you more balanced in the air. if you have a problem of going forward, reach down and grab your ski under the boot, hopefully this will keep you from leaning forward. spot your landing and reach your arms forward. you want your skis to be parallel to the landing
from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A0WTZWR_JzBNrlsA0ABvxQt.;_ylv=3?qid=20080120153646AA5FYHd
Monday, January 3, 2011
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