Looks like we are about to get a break from this frigid weather of late.  Sunny with highs in the 40's in town with snow in the mountains this weekend!  Sounds like a great time to get in some mud/slush riding in the lower elvevations and some face shots at the pass!  Can't wait!  Probably gonna have to stick to some mellow angled trees for the snow riding due to the increased avalanche danger this new snow is going to bring with it but freshies are freshies!  Gonna ride the trails in the Blue Sky valley on saturday and then head up to CP on sunday to get some turns in or visa-versa if the snow is better on saturday.

I am going to start taking some pictures to make this a little more interesting for you to read.  I'm new to the whole blogging thing and still trying to get used to it.

Peace!

The last first day of school for yours truly today.  It feels surprisingly good to be back at school.  I am really excited for this semesters projects and to move on to bigger and better things.  Got a big trip planned post graduation this summer which will be the primary subject of many of the following posts.

Gonna ride a variation of the Great Divide Route put together by the Adventure Cycling Association this summer.  I am planning to ride the route for the most part but I wanna take some detours and ride the Continental Divide Trail in non-wilderness areas to up the singletrack riding and add a little more adventure to the trip.  Also looking at detours through Yellowstone and Glacier as well.

Gonna do the trip solo to really make it an experience to remember and test myself mentally.  I really want to see what I am made of and what better way than to ride 2700 miles and over 200,000 vertical following the Continental Divide through some of the most remote parts of the country alone.  Gonna try to meet up with friends and family as I come through Colorado for a little sanity and friendship.

Gotta lot of planning to do between now and then, and in combination with my school load, I am going to have no problem staying busy this semester.  Gotta make a real effort to keep things balanced and make time for the finer things in life.

Going to Church

Just wrapped up 48 incredible hours.  Wednesday was Tom's b-day and to celebrate we headed up to Cameron Pass to get a couple turns in.  With the high in the -15 to -5 range, and a 20-30mph wind gusting to 50, it wasn't the warmest day i've ever had.  In addition to the bone chilling cold, I was way off my game when it came time to point the board downhill.  The day's redeming quality was that Tom and I skied some incredible lines that pushed our comfort level with the snow pack.  The snow was very confidence inspiring and felt very solid under the board but still remains extremely dangerous.  This is the type of snow pack that breeds the big ones. So if you do manage to trigger an avalanche chances are you won't be seeing the sun ever again.  Just a little sobering thought.  Gotta stay safe out there but at the same time you have to take risks to enjoy the rewards. Its a fine line to dance on. Here is a quality video documenting the consequences of making a bad call in the B.C.

Something very sad happened this weekend.  I removed the fat knobbies and Maverick fork from my Karate Monkey and replaced with them with skinny commuter tires and a rigid fork.  Of course, as soon as I did this, the weather starts warming and the skies have been clear melting the snow on the southern exposed trails at an alarming pace.  The trails are definitley rideable now.  DAMN!  

Took the road bike out last week during the big thaw and covered every component with a thick layer of road salts, sand and general winter road crap.  The shifters don't even want to work now.  Looks like an overhaul is in order.  The first in many years.  Of course I don't have time to complete this task on my own or the funds to pay a "professional" to do it for me.

Not riding is not an option so it looks like I will just rock the fender clad Surly commuter for all my endeavors until I get the road bike working again or decide to re-evolve the KM back to its preferred outfit of big knobbies.  

Gotta a shit-ton of work to get done these next few months. Where riding will fit in in the equation is a mystery.  All I know is that has to fit somewhere and hopefully it will not destroy the other parts of my life.  Time to see what I am made of.  Looks like I need to start waking up at the butt-crack of dawn and start cranking.

Its time to rock and roll.  Now I am going to stop being dumb and get back to work.  Until next time..