Escape to the Desert - Spring '08

Thanks to Tom for donating the use of his Jeep, which took 1000 lbs. of payload and some truly nasty roads all in stride and with one flat tire. Ella and Deanna for putting up with us, providing great company, and hauling our stuff around the white rim, and my parents for providing warm meals, cold beer, and cozy beds for our evenings in Junction.  You guys made it possible.

(clickie make biggie)

Loaded down - Gassed up - Heading out


Shaving the last few ounces before embarking on a 115 mile canyonland bike journey.  Meanwhile AJ becomes Old Man Johnson by throwing out is back before even throwing a leg over his trusty steed.  Could that have something to do with sleeping in the desert in March without a Sleeping Bag?  hmmm....


D- First time on clipless pedals rides 20 miles at a very fast pace over technical terrain and only falls once. Impressive.




See those ominous dark clouds out there?


Snowed 2-3" over night with 15 sustained/30 gust winds and lightening. Almost all gone by 9:30 the next morning


New Cables are such a bitch, at least the view didn't suck


Moon Rising in Paradise


The girls disappeared for a few hours so we turned back to find them. As the sun was setting and 5 miles down the road, this is what we found.


We made back to Fruita the next day just in time to get in a few quick laps. Decided to rip Joe's and Prime Cut in the Indiana Jones hat and Carharts. Too bad we were the only ones on the trails...NOT


Gettin ready to drop some serious hot action in the Big GJ. Shuttled from the top of the Ribbon to the Lunch Loop parking lot twice. 15+miles 4,000 vertical feet 2.5 hours.  Borrowed my Dad's Specialized Stumpy full squish and I am now convinced that my next bike after my ride this summer will have a lot of squish in both the front and back.  Sooo much fun.  Thanks Dad


get big session on bentonite hill

Couldn't capture every moment with the lens but that should give you a good idea of how it went down.

 Highlights include:
- DP splitting the uprights of two 800 lb elk at 80 mph.  Boy's got skills
- AJ transforms into Old Man Johnson while stretching before the ride
- Passing every other rider on the trail who started hours before us and only riding half our distance.  There faces when they herd that we still had 45 miles to ride at 4 pm was priceless.  No biggie
- Playing euker and drinking tequila while the blizzard rages
>- Pace lining at road bike like speeds across the white rim.  Rode 50 miles the second day in around 3 hours.  And who led the pack most of the way?  No other than Old Man Johnson with his bad back.
- Finding the Girls half drunk with the donut on the front right and a story to tell
- Riding the last few miles in the dark with the tunes bumpin, and a cold PBR in hand.
- Climbing 1500 vert in under a mile, half drunk, in the dark, no lights
- Ripping Fruita at sunset with not a soul on the trails.
- Great friends, great rides, great memories, good times

I don't ever wanna grow up.