I debated weather or not to add the waldo canyon fire to my blog since it has always had a positive theme focused on the out doors. But this was an event that will impact me for the rest of my life and will never forget. The pictures of my bike were taken inside the burn area less than a month from the fire.
So I have always loved the Sangre De Christo Mountain Range. When I talk to people about this range most have never heard of it. Its just far enough away from Colorado Springs and Denver that people choose to go elsewhere and when I go down there it feels like I have the whole place to myself. I have been coming to this range since I was a child and would go camping with family and close friends. The first time I ever road a motorcycle was off of the 4×4 Hermit road before I could bearly ride a bike. I always had a special place in my heart for these mountains…
This is one of 2 weekends of backpacking alpine lakes on the east side of the Sangre range. The pics are good but do this area no justice. Each weekend I took a separate trail from the Horn Creek Trail Head, the first weekend was up to the Horn Lakes and the Second weekend was up Macey trail and up to the Macey lakes.
Friday, 6.22.12
I get up to the trail head about 7:30pm or so and get off to a long night hike.
Its late June so I still have about an hour left to hike with some day light.
This trip I brought my night rider and used it as a head lamp. Worked very well for lighting up the trail and scoping out the route.
Deadly tree I had to cross under. The winds were very high and this tree was about to snap!
I hiked for about 5 miles in the dark up hill to almost 12,000′ to the main Horn Lake. One of the cool things about hiking up in the dark is when you wake up the view is a suprise! This morning I woke up to this, Mt Adams lit up with alpen glow.
Trees were hard to come by and this small out cropping of ancient pines was what I despaterly needed in order to set up camp. As luxourios and comfortable my hammock is the down side is you need to trees spaced just right to hang it up. Usually this is not a problem but up at 12,000 feet trees are hard to come by.
Self portrait
Horn Lake was awesome. I would definitely come back.
Time to have lunch and start to pack up camp to get ready to hike to the next lake. Oh, look who shows, up some friendly visitors. The marmots were every where and used to people. Later there was a grumpy old marmot that chased this one off.
On my way out, one last look back to the lake before it goes out of view.
It took me a while to find the next camp spot. I hiked for about a mile or two trying to find the trail that was on my map but later found there was no more trail (map is old) and had to bush wack my way around the side of the mountain to find it. There it is off in the distance. This was a highlight of the trip when I finally found this hidden lake!
See no trail…
Probably one of the most pristine lakes I have been to.
Rare view inside my hammock with my feet hanging out the entrance.
Hennessy hammock with tarp and under quilt.
The awesome wooden spoon I made since I forgot my plastic one.
I hiked up the side of the mountain and got a good shot of the area I was staying in.
This was a really good camp spot. Seating every where and a nice fire ring. No fires alowed on this trip due to national forest fire restrictions.
Word, time to head back down.
Saw lots of interesting things on the way down..
Usually I am not an advocate of a shuttle ride and prefer to “earn” my down hill,… whatever.
Kristian, Keith, and I loaded up k-mans hybrid Civic and effortlessly ascended to the Cascade Drop TH. The start to the trail is immediately in your face steep, loose and fast, and that over the years have learned to hang on and ride it out. Since no effort was spent climbing. It was really nice to have all my strength for the awesome downhill ahead.
This dude was superfast. Even with use using a shuttle he climbed his way up and passed us on the Waldo section of this route.
Rampart Range Road always has the best views
WTF is this!!!!!!!
And we make it to the top.
Kristian smiling under his full face
Rock on brutha Keith
LIVE ACTION!
Time for a break, mmmm cookies thanks Kristian guess who forgot to pack food???
Jaydude approves of this trail!
Angry clouds, lets get to riding.
Kristian on his Knolly
Keith on his Transition
I heart Williams Canyon! Back in the day I used to hike many of the cave systems in this rare Colorado limestone canyon.
witchway??? We did get rained on for just a bit.
Williams is sooo much FUN!
Keith dropped a chain so I had some time to be artsy……
Sweet little video to finish the post. Better when you click full screen.
http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786
So do I regret taking a shuttle? Nah not really.
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The start of a very fun race. 12 Hours of Mesa Verde is located outside of Cortez Colorado at a trail system called Phils World. Phils world is a mountain bikers paradise consisting of twisty, incredibly flowy single track. There were amazing roller coaster type sections of trail that would drop you almost weightlessly from one end of the gully and up the next with a huge fast berm to turn you right back into the gully to do it again. You never had to touch your breaks or pedal, brilliant trail design there!
Catching air off of one of the roller coaster sections
Wow what a great time! This race was much tougher than expected and the course was a blast. All in all Mike and I rode over 100 miles and came in about 27th out of 40 teams in our bracket. I take that as a huge improvement over our last endurance race (Rage in the Sage) where our team came in last.
Mike did a great writeup of the race on his blog here
It was a good weekend to spend in Buffalo Creek. I dusted off the camping gear, headed out a night early, relaxed with a nights sleep in the hammock, and met Mike the next day for some sweet 30+ miles of single track.
There is a cool little hideaway camp spot right off of the colorado trail that I know about. This tree is the biggest one in the area and has a wicked knot on the bottom from it pushing against a boulder.
A welcome crossing at the top of Gas House. From here you can hit Charles cutoff and sandy wash that combine to what seems like 7 miles of fun flowy buff singletrack awesomeness.
common resting spot at the intersection of Shinglemill and Morrison Creek
Weather was excellent
29ers Rule!
Colorado Trail all the way back to the car. This section of CT is one of the best for MTB.
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March was a great month full of riding. Some of the warmest temps of all time. Many days of 70 degree weather.
Sooooo here is a big photo dump of all the great riding!
Jeremy and Luis ripping jacks after a fresh spring snow!
Miguel
two white hecklers??????
best bike eva!
Keith and I rode “upper williams” and it was epic!
Keith stoked about the new sign!
Bee Rrrripppp
Jay Woods
Thursday Monument ride!
So Yeah March 2012 kicked ass and it had nothing to do with NCAA basketball!
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I have been on the fence for awhile about snow shoes. It looked like there is
potential for some fun but wasn’t sure it would be worth getting a pair. I had a chance to try a couple different sets and was able to get a good idea of what I wanted in a snow shoe.
I ended up with a set of Atlas 1230s that had a floating binding, suspension, and lots of traction. They are long too! I think it was worth it especially after going on that adventure last night. Even with a dry winter like this year, these shoes could get a good bit of use.
I have only used snow shoes in Monument, but wanted to give the Crags a try after a decent snow storm hit the area.
On they way up the pass there was not much snow and was wondering how conditions would be. When I got up to the trail head there was at least 2- 3 feet of fresh snow!
So after a little adjustment, the new snow shoes were working perfectly and was was making some ground. I started late in the day and only ran into other people on my way up but nobody on the way down. It was a perfectly clear day. Probably about 15 deg so the air was cool and crisp.
The snow was very deep and going off trail was very difficult. So it was a blast to stay in the “rut” so to say.
The Crags
So I took a break, melted some snow in my jetboil and made some hot coco while I ate a turkey sandwich. The sun had gone down and it was getting dark. I could not believe how quiet and peaceful it was…
So the moon came out and it was time to put the lights on.
Back to the car and about a 45 minute drive home. I am really looking forward to taking out the snow shoes again. Great way to enjoy the trails in the dead of winter.
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Great 3 night stay in New York City with Seth. Great way to see the city in a short amount of time. We had a great deal on an awsome hotel in a great part of NYC.
Wandering around the city looking for a good place to eat.
Oh we recognized this and the next day visited the top.
Found and outstanding burger joint called Bear Burger. MMmmm so good.
Time Square
Rockefeller Center
We visited the MET Museum and loved the priceless Picasso paintings.
Brooklyn Bridge
9/11 Memorial
Getting dressed up for a night on the town.
Awesome steak house that has been in continuous business in New York since 1885
It was fun to eat here. Thanks Seinfeld!
In front of our hotel before leaving….
100 Cones 11.20.11 from Jaydude on Vimeo.
I was much more mentaly prepared for this 24 hour race. Lot more things going in my favor.
~I have already done a 24 hr race and had a much better Idea of what to expect.
~I signed up for a 4 man team vs duo.
~New 29er race bike!
We kicked ass out team of Keith, Arin, Becca, and myself came in 11th out of 30+ teams. For only my 2nd 24hr race and the 1st for the rest of the team I will take mid pack any day!
The Village
Good Friends came out and showed their support.
Racing was fun to..
journeyvision 