The Whole Enchilada - Frozen then Reheated

 The makings of this trip began in February of 2007 when, for my Dad's 70th Birthday, we decided to buy him a skydiving pass at Sky Dive Moab. In October he decided to finally use it so we went down to with him to ride the Whole Enchilada from Hazard or Kokopelli, not the full 28 miles, but substantial none-the-less, while he jumped.

We left our house at 4:30 AM Saturday morning (we let my 70 YEAR OLD dad sleep in a little). Unknown to us was the fact that the road to Hazard was closed due to mud slides the night before, since we had already driven that far, we decided to just head up geyser pass, and hit up Burro. We would hike if we needed or carry our bikes if necessary, but we were determined to ride the trail having come so far.

Due to the icy conditions on the road, the car couldn't make it up so we ended up pedaling the rest of the way to the top.

In the Distance you can see Burro Pass, it was blowing snow. No other tire tracks.  We did see a set of hiking tracks, but no people. The solitude was golden.

As we neared the top, the snow was about six inches deep, we did more hiking than biking...at least I did. Guthrie machined his way through most of it. 

Finally at the top. We put on some warmer gear and headed down. Through snow, rocks and roots. We loved it. Perhaps the last tracks this year ? 

After we left the snow behind, Burro was Hero Dirt, tacky and fast.

Climbing Hazzard offered some great views and great riding. Still with no other bikers in sight.

Things were going well until we hit Kokopelli, where the mud stopped us in our tracks. You could tell others had tried to ride and ended up walking. We just walked, but only for 1/2 mile or so, then, Hero Dirt again.

Finally, at the beginning of UPS we encountered other riders. Most asked us where we started, we mentioned "Burro Pass". They said something about snow and cold, we said it was awesome.  We've come to realize, over the years, most people don't see adventure as we do. Maybe they are lucky, maybe they are missing out.  

Guthrie did the diving board, I did not. Last time a combination of my way-over-average-weight and older-than-average-bike broke, I decided even with a newer bike and still over-than-average-weight, I would not attempt said obstacle that day.

It was a great ride and a great day. 30 degrees and snow at the top, 70 and sunny at the bottom.

 However, under girding this entire experience and day, was the fact that my 70 YEAR OLD father left his house at 4 AM, hiked Negro bill canyon, went skydiving (which he said was "the most fun he has ever had')and finished it off with a bike ride on the deadhorse point trail system finally arriving home at 11:30 PM. 

I've never wondered where we received our adventure gene...he taught us to keep on living, hiking, riding and having adventures One Trail At a Time.

Enjoy the Harvest (Moon) - Provo Canyon Night Ride

As the colors change and people flock to the canyon in seemingly countless crowds, other almost evangelical events begin to occur with the die hard mountain bikers...that thing know as the Night Ride.

For weeks now we have been preparing our lights. Mind you, we do not own any high lumen exorbitantly expensive name brand light that can equal or surpass the car headlight. Instead we ride with 200 lumen flashlights,purchased at Costco, mounted to our handlebars using zip ties or even electrical tape. 

When the sun goes down and the lights turn on, frequently ridden trails turn into new adventures, where the uphill seems less steep and the downhill much more so. As the light flashes from side to side, eyes dart in and out of the oak and brush, triggering stories in the mind of what may lie waiting. 

This Saturday night was one of those nights, with exception, batteries were not required. 

We heard the Harvest Full moon would be at its crescendo this weekend and decided to venture out. So about 9:30 we attached the lights, headed up to Timpanogos park, put tire to dirt and rode for the next hour or so with only the moon to light our path. 

We began climbing from timpanogos park and left our lights off as climbing a dirt road is no technical task. Upon reaching the top where road turned to singletrack much to our amazement the trail and surrounding terrain was illuminated my the Harvest Moon, now high over head. We continued climbing to the water wank road then further up Betty and eventually to Rollercoaster. It seemed the higher we went the brighter and clearer it got. This was a good night to be in the mountains.

Arriving at Rollercoaster we took a left and began descending towards the road with the lights of Orem shining below.  No Strava speed or segment records were broken in the descent, but amazingly, the moon continued to lite our path ahead so that we could comfortably descend. 

After reaching the water tank road we were a little nervous to descend the cliff portion of the trail, but found that again, no light was needed. We made it down the cliffs, through the race course, to the car all-the-while commenting what an amazing night this was and how lit up the trail and mountains were. 

It was a night to remember and a great beginning to exploring at night, one Trail at a time.