9/50 Moab, UT

Time Travel’n
Moab, UT Feb 13th

I imagine that just about everyone I would call a “mountain biker” has had this feeling. The feeling of being at a cool spot, with an amazing view and the thought crosses your mind “one day I’m going to pack up just a bag and come out here and spend the night”. So with all the trails still covered in snow it was as good of time as any, and with a little spark from Landon, we headed up to a cool arch in Moab (not in Arches NP!). While at Landon’s in-laws, Andy (Landon’s brother-in-law) was easily talked into the little adventure and luckily for us served as guide to our late night hike in.

Our hike was another reminder of why I don’t rock climb anymore, and if there was any remainder of doubt the down climbing on the way back would definitely remove it!! (I suck at it!!)
Looking up at the night sky on quiet, cold (25ish deg low), moonless night really has to be one of my favorite experiences. There wasn’t a single sign of civilization to be seen, our short drive and hike from Moab had seemed to take us a million years back in time, with the exception of a few planes drifting across the night sky. The contrast seems quite stark between my visions of travelers sipping drinks stuffed in an airtight tube thousands of feet in the air to our experience down on the ground.

Definitely something I’ll have to revisit down the road.

On the way out of town I stopped at slick rock and did a few turns on the south slopes.

6-8/50 Sedona, AZ

“Camping”
Sedona, AZ Jan 16th-18th
I guess the cool thing about doing something like 50nights is I can make up the rules as I go along. It seems like the definition of camping comes up a lot for me. It probably comes up the most when I’m staring at a NO CAMPING sign. For me and for the purpose of this blog, Camping is kind of traveling and going without certain comforts of home so as to enjoy new experiences and places. Staying in a small house with lots of people, riding all day, and having a good time all night is much more the “camping” I want to do than say, staying by yourself in a luxury RV in not that cool of a place. So, with that I’m counting my two nights I stayed in Sedona, with the Over The Edge crew.

And man what a time it was… Sedona is a cool place, especially for mountain bikers, tons of trails all ride-able right out of town. The trails are very cool, just that right mix of challenges, scenery, and some sweet flow. It was so cool to meet up with people from home, and local Alaskan snowbird, Doug. We stopped by Doug’s house for a great pre-ride Irish latte then he guided some of the super local trails. I could have easily Hung out there till spring. But after 3 days of riding, it was time to come home. Now, I'm looking forward to some warmer temps at home and the possibility of some more traditional family campouts.

On the way down, I stopped at Mexican Hat (the rock not the town) for lunch. Man that thing looks cool - much more impressive than Balanced Rock. I had a beer for George Hayduke as I’m reading the Monkey Wrench Gang right now, so it was doubly cool to trace through all the same ground they covered in the book.

5/50 Ouray, CO

COLD FEET
Ouray,CO Jan. 2, 2010
I haven’t been winter (tent) camping for about 8 years; the last time I went it got down to -40 at night. Needless to say that kind of put the damper on what was a 3 year stretch of winter trips. So having forgotten most of the bad things about those winter trips, and apparently forgetting some of the how-to’s also, I set out for a quick trip in Ouray.

In-between those winter trips I also managed to get frostbite on my feet, in Northern Georgia of all places. My case of frostbite was very minor, but has left me with feet that get colder easier and are more likely to get frostbite a 2nd time.

So, unfortunately on this trip one of the things I neglected to do was treat my leather boots so they would be waterproof. So to my surprise after a long hike in deep snow and lots of time getting my tent set up etc…, when I got around to taking my boots off my socks and inside of my boots were completely soaked. Lucky one of the few extra items I brought was a pair of socks, so I would have dry ones for my cold night in the tent. But I knew I would still have an interesting predicament the next morning.

I’m sure anyone on Shackleton’s adventures would of happily traded places with me, but there still isn’t anything pleasing about trying to shove your feet into completely frozen boots, even my laces were frozen stiff. Using all my force, I managed to get my feet into my boots after a quarter hour of trying. I guess on a normal day I would have been pretty miserable, but in some kind of twisted way that is one of the joys of winter camping. It must be getting in touch with some kind of prime mortal sense. But when there are no choices, no one to complain to, no warm place to run to, when there is just the “I have to do”, I find myself free and I realize that things aren’t that bad and maybe I just might be a little tougher than I give myself credit for.

3-4/50 Moab, UT & 1-2/50 Gooseberry, UT

Catching UP

Moab, UT – Nov 27th, 28th, 2009
Camped with the dog while the family stayed at a non dog fridenly hotel.

Gooseberry, UT - Nov 10th, 11th, 2009

Gooseberry 2009 from Keith Lay on Vimeo.

More on the trip:
http://gustifson-h-blakfur.blogspot.com/2009/11/fun-with-poo-bike.html