Not the worst, but close...

Kannah Creek trail is a gnarly trail. Most people don't enjoy it at all. When conditions are at their best, well....they really aren't the best. I've often described it as a trail that is fun in a "rip your derailleur off kind of way." But with 6000ft of elevation loss its hard to go wrong....unless it rains!

From August 2010

The shuttle for this ride is long. So long, that I only do it once a year. In 2008 we ended this ride in the dark, which was really bad. This year we started earlier, but there was still a chance that a few mechanical problems could leave us in the dark. So to test that possibility, not far down the trail, Keith ripped his derailleur off!

From August 2010

(Noah shows off his Cindy Crawford mud mole)

From August 2010

The rain came and with it our tires clogged to the point that they would not roll. Due to the massive amounts of mud stuck to them the bikes were also impossible to carry.

From August 2010

I had also broken a time honored rule. I had met a guy at the bike shop who wanted to do a "big downhill shuttle." NEVER NEVER BRING A NEWBY ALONG ON AN EPIC RIDE! I know this, but his contribution to the shuttle gas money seemed like a good trade, and how bad could it be? Poor guy ended up lost in the woods screaming for help. I'm still not sure how he found a nearly invisible trail leading off the well worn main trail. To his credit he pulled through and only hates me a little bit.

From August 2010

After dragging and pushing our bikes downhill for miles the trail finally started to dry out and we got to ride...kind of... we finished with the last of the Suns light in the sky. It was one of those rides where I focused on the beauty around me, being alive, and still being able to ride a bike, healthy and happy. In a few years we won't even remember how bad it was...right?

Two Years Later...

From August 2010

It was two years ago that I started this blog. One of my good friends back in Missouri has complained for those two years that all he sees are pictures of me, or other "dudes." "I just want to see a few pictures of Mary," He would say.

From August 2010

Well, there was good reason that Mary was absent from my blog. My best friend and number one riding partner couldn't ride her bike. In fact, it was nearly two years ago on this trail that she finally realized she would have to hang up her helmet for a while and try to get some medical help so she could regain the full use of her hands.

From August 2010

It's been a long couple of years, filled with many false starts and lots of pain, more mental than physical. Todays ride marked the feeling of a real return to form for Mary. She rode Butterknife, legally this time, as it was so new two years ago no one even knew it was there. She rode it strong, she finished it strong. I have never been so proud!

From August 2010

Mary launches a drop!

From August 2010

And then washes out the front tire on the sandy landing. She got up and nailed it two more times.

From August 2010

From August 2010

I wasn't aware that it was "wear yellow and green day," but appently this lizzard was.

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

My only real claim to have done anything photo worthy today was to have fixed a hole in my tire with a stick. Who needs tire plugs?

From August 2010

A fire was blazin' somewhere near Fruita, out there in the real world, but for us it was only something to talk about as we climbed back toward the trails end.

From August 2010

From August 2010

TWO YEARS!

From August 2010

Hows this Dan? Not a single picture of me.

From August 2010

(Sorry Leila) We celebrated being human by consuming another animal, yummy!!!!

MOAB 9! Getting Mooned....

From August 2010

No photoshop here! Old Man Moon, in my face!

From August 2010

And a little Moonshine on Keith's back.

From August 2010

And a couple more....

From August 2010

After work Saturday, Keith and I headed for Moab. We stopped at the Kokopelli Trails on our way out of town for an evening spin. This years training schedule called for a "rest day" so I let Keith go hammer his brains out by him self while I posed for pictures with the moon.

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

Obligatory Trek product shot...

From August 2010

The day finished with a flurry of color as I sat in a lawn chair, not doing really anything in particular.

From August 2010

I had hoped that the evenings camp would be restful, but it was anything but. We opted for a lower elevation campsite on the Sand Flats Interstate Highway just above Moab. It was HOT! There was a a buzzing insect around my ears, and at one in the morning our nearly empty campground was invaded by Mr. and Mrs. Boulder CO, in their Toyota truck, with what I am sure would be two Yeti 575's on top of it, once I could see them in the morning. I gleaned all of this information simply by listening to the annoying, loud, holier than thou sound of the womens voice. (I apologize in advance to those who may identify with parts of this scenario, but please know that it takes the entire package to be an annoying Front-Range Moab invader. Much to my dismay, Colorado plates have replaced our beloved Utah plates on our Toyota truck. I realize the irony in this...)

From August 2010

Keith was just as awake as I was at this point, so we decided to head for higher, cooler ground. We found Mary and I's once secret campsite adorned with a big "No Camping" sign in front of it. This, I appreciated, because it will mean that the next time I go to camp there, it will be empty. Thank you BLM! A strong wind was blowing out of the canyon ensuring no bugs buzzing my ears. However, the wind was a little too strong, whipping sand in my very much awake eyes for the rest of the night. Oh well, not every camp-out is perfect. We started out for Burrow Pass the next morning still a little sleepy.

From August 2010

The climb to the 11,000 ft Burrow Pass quickly awakened me. The mountain was alive with flowers and the dampness of a recent rain. The trail conditions were as perfect as trail conditions can get.

From August 2010

From August 2010

We started down, stopping to enjoy a few trail side jumps and to rest the hands.

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

It was an awesome day. One of "THOSE" days.

From August 2010

I had hoped this photo would be a dazzling end to this blog post. It was supose to be me jumping over the entire roadway with the mtns in the background, a stunning feat.... Instead, I got some "Coloradbro Air"---At least a few inches off the ground! SWEET!

SHE'S BAAAACK!!!

From August 2010

From August 2010

It's amazing what she'll ride when she can actually hang onto the bars.

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

It was like old times today, just me and my girl out shredding sweet trail and jumping off of rocks. Its nice to have her back.

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

From August 2010

Always Trust Your Cape...

From August 2010

Due to a technical glitch I didn't get this posted last week. On August 8th, I celebrated an anniversary. I know its not like a guy to remember too many anniversary's, but this one is special to me. Six years ago on August 8th is when I injured my back. I celebrated with Greg by riding Butter Knife Trail, happy to be alive, and always trusting my cape!

From August 2010

(Song Lyrics by Guy Clark--The Cape--click on blog post title to hear song)

Eight years old with a flour sack cape
Tied all around his neck
He climbed up on the garage he
Figurid what the heck
He screwed his courage up so tight
That the whole thing come unwound
He got a runnin’ start and bless his heart
He headed for the ground

From August 2010

He’s one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold you breath
Always trust your cape

From August 2010

All grown up with a flour sack cape
Tied all around his dreams
He’s full of piss and vinegar
He’s bustin’ at the seams
He licked his finger and checked the wind
It’s gonna be do or die
He wasn’t scared of nothin’, Boys
He was pretty sure he could fly

From August 2010

He’s one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath
Always trust your cape

From August 2010

Old and grey with a flour sack cape
Tied all around his head
He’s still jumpin’ off the garage
And will be till he’s dead
All these years the people said
He’s actin’ like a kid
He did not know he could not fly
So he did

From August 2010

He’s one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold you breath
Always trust your cape

From August 2010