26 August 2011
07 August 2011
Twin Cities Bicycling Club Sunday Ride
Just like the ride schedule said - "Beautiful quiet ride through
Washington County. Rolling hills, stops at Scandia, Marine on St
Croix." Rode to the start about 7 miles to the Mahtomedi High School
parking lot and was blown away by the number of riders. We get
surprised with 6-8 riders on a Sunday ride in Port Townsend and here
were 40-50!
Enjoyed the terrain immensely - even though I grew up here, many of
the roads I had never spent much time on, so this was a perfect way
to sample the local fare. Riders were really hospitable to this
wayward visitor and I had some good conversations with Lyle, Pete and
Steve, the latter being a member of the illustrious Gentleman
Cyclists who put on the Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour I've always wanted to
do.
The ride itself was about 60 miles and I added my to and from and
popped off a good 75 miles all told. The sun came out midway and it
was a perfectly splendid day in the saddle! Thanks to Rebecca the
ride leader and all the wonderful folks at TCBC!
If you are in the area, check out the massive ride schedule (about
2000 rides a year) here: http://www.biketcbc.net
Washington County. Rolling hills, stops at Scandia, Marine on St
Croix." Rode to the start about 7 miles to the Mahtomedi High School
parking lot and was blown away by the number of riders. We get
surprised with 6-8 riders on a Sunday ride in Port Townsend and here
were 40-50!
Enjoyed the terrain immensely - even though I grew up here, many of
the roads I had never spent much time on, so this was a perfect way
to sample the local fare. Riders were really hospitable to this
wayward visitor and I had some good conversations with Lyle, Pete and
Steve, the latter being a member of the illustrious Gentleman
Cyclists who put on the Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour I've always wanted to
do.
The ride itself was about 60 miles and I added my to and from and
popped off a good 75 miles all told. The sun came out midway and it
was a perfectly splendid day in the saddle! Thanks to Rebecca the
ride leader and all the wonderful folks at TCBC!
If you are in the area, check out the massive ride schedule (about
2000 rides a year) here: http://www.biketcbc.net
 |
| Snacks and conversation at the Scandia Store |
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| Heading back on the Gateway Trail from Hwy 7 |
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| One of the amazing bridges on the trail...it's really not bent like that... |
20 June 2011
A Busy June!
Lots happening this month as the weather improves (sort of) and we are getting out and around the trails and roads of the lovely and very green Olympic Peninsula. We started off with Peri and I making a hike out on the Dosewallips Trail on a beautiful Sunday!
The next week David, Alan and I headed to the Miller Peninsula to explore some of the trails in the new State Park. We had a great time, the weather was pretty good and the trails were fabulous. Great views of the back of Protection Island from the beach and not a soul in sight anywhere.
On Father's Day, Peri took me to brunch at Sweet Laurette's then we spent the day riding the Longest Day of Trails event along the Larry Scott Trail. Rained most of the time, but we kept smiling - I love my girl!
Also had a spectacular Quilbilly Hilly in Quilcene with a few friends spending all day riding hills - a wonderful day all around and one of the best places to ride ever and I won a bar of Jasmine soap! Check out the great photos here >>
Can't wait to see what this week brings!
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| Peri on the Dosewallips Trail |
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| Dosewallips River was flowing really high |
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| Peri and I have a little lunch of cherries and gorp near the riverside |
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| Peri tries to take over driving...those days are coming soon! |
The next week David, Alan and I headed to the Miller Peninsula to explore some of the trails in the new State Park. We had a great time, the weather was pretty good and the trails were fabulous. Great views of the back of Protection Island from the beach and not a soul in sight anywhere.
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| David and Alan take in the views |
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| David regaining MTB skills on his huge yellow Cannondale |
On Father's Day, Peri took me to brunch at Sweet Laurette's then we spent the day riding the Longest Day of Trails event along the Larry Scott Trail. Rained most of the time, but we kept smiling - I love my girl!
 |
| Damp but happy! |
Also had a spectacular Quilbilly Hilly in Quilcene with a few friends spending all day riding hills - a wonderful day all around and one of the best places to ride ever and I won a bar of Jasmine soap! Check out the great photos here >>
 |
| Jasmine soap...needed after a lot of climbing |
Can't wait to see what this week brings!
26 March 2011
"Jon, you really need to get a life"
An here's how it's turning out on a Saturday in March...
Now that's a life I can live with.
Thanks to Copper Mountain, the sun and a really good snow-filled weather pattern from Mother Earth.
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| Union Bowl from chair - boot climb to top next |
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| Union Bowl cornice view one |
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| Union Bowl cornice view two |
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| All mine... |
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| First tracks Enchanted Forest 9AM |
Now that's a life I can live with.
Thanks to Copper Mountain, the sun and a really good snow-filled weather pattern from Mother Earth.
23 March 2011
North Ten Mile Creek Ski Morning
Got out this morning for a little ski up North Ten Mile Creek...the weather was gorgeous with blue skies, puffy clouds and lots of sun. New snow the night before was perfect. A little bushwhacking after the Eagle Nest Wilderness boundary, but mainly the trail was etched out enough.
Planned on going up to the meadows below the Gore Range but saw some deep footprints and scat that were fresh and when I looked up there was a huge moose cow just above me. I stayed on the edge of the open space thinking she might amble off, but then she lay down, yawned a few times and made herself comfortable...
So...thinking that I wouldn't disturb her any more I just turned around and headed back. Probably could have made it by her, but at under 100 yards, and downhill, she would charge me faster than I could get by if she felt like it. Cowardly? Maybe. Respectful. Very.
I did take a little fun video on the way down - and nearly took out a dog laying in the middle of the trail, not to mention a few hikers...fortunately nobody panicked and all was well.
Planned on going up to the meadows below the Gore Range but saw some deep footprints and scat that were fresh and when I looked up there was a huge moose cow just above me. I stayed on the edge of the open space thinking she might amble off, but then she lay down, yawned a few times and made herself comfortable...
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| Very sleepy moose... |
I did take a little fun video on the way down - and nearly took out a dog laying in the middle of the trail, not to mention a few hikers...fortunately nobody panicked and all was well.
Music: Saltwater by Chicane
19 March 2011
Buffalo Mountain Hike
Finally got up the trail to scout out a possible ski descent of Buffalo Mountain. Decided to use YakTraks and hiking shoes, just to see if I could get past treeline. Getting to the top of the Wildernest development in Silverthorne put me around 9700 ft at the trailhead. Ran into a couple folks already having breathing difficulties (even the rescue team was called), but the thin air felt fine to me. Broke a strap on the YakTraks and had to rebend some wires to make them functional again, but they worked surprisingly well. The trail was pretty hard packed, then slowly softened and deepened as I went up. The goal was to was to get to the north side of Buffalo where there's an incredible 30 degree slope devoid of trees.
After two hours of climbing I reached it and the wind was howling, but the vews were impressive.
The choice to not take gaiters made the final 1/4 mile a post-holing slog, but it was enough to get the idea of where to go next time with skis.
Hopefully this week we'll have a nice, calm sunny day and I'll skin up for a few runs - after doing some avalanche testing of course....
After two hours of climbing I reached it and the wind was howling, but the vews were impressive.
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| View of the north side of Buffalo Mountain |
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| View toward the north |
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| Overlooking the town of Dillon and the dam |
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| I met up with this fellow on the way down... |
09 March 2011
Snowy Steep Wednesday
A good 4-6 inches on top of the 12" this week and things were looking up on the mountain. Headed up first chair to Copper Bowl and had the whole place nearly to myself for almost an hour. Winds were gusting over 25mph at the top of Union Peak. Took a few pics of the morning...
A few diggers as the snow got heavier and the sun came out, but it was a glorious way to start the day!
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| First run down Julie's Vision, nice soft deep powder on the leeward slope. |
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| So good I had to do it twice... |
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| Hike up the West Ridge to drop off the ten foot cornice just past Bradley's Plunge. |
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| Feeling mighty good and the ice beard had not yet grown to its full extent yet! |
04 March 2011
Sun and Snow
Good to be back in CO. Have enjoyed some tele skiing at Copper and snow shoeing up Ten Mile Creek, some productive working and hanging out with my parents. So many cool things about this place, hope to soon have some ski videos and trip reports of another winter of exploring the Rockies.
07 February 2011
29 January 2011
One Week to 26.2 and 5-0!
The final longer run is done as of today and now a very mellow week as we get ready to fly to CA for the Surf City Marathon. Despite the emergence of a rather annoying plantar faciitis issue, I am ready. It is getting better with massage, stretching and ice bottles and I'll make it through. Big thanks to Ian Fraser for some tips to help solve it. Hey, it's just pain, which is just a subjective mental effect from what I read ;-). It won't be a deal breaker, but will make for a slower more relaxed run than I'd planned. No biggie, I'm just so happy I've made it through 4 months of training and can actually do the marathon now!
I can't say enough about Hal Higdon's Training Plans (Novice 2)...it was a reasonable way to give this endeavor a shot and I'm ready. Thanks Hal! That, and support from Carrie, Laura and my charming daughter Peri have made this process enjoyable. There's so many talented runners around here it's crazy.
The weather in Huntington Beach, CA looks like it'll be spectacular compared to Port Townsend's abysmal weather the past few weeks. Just to see actual sunlight would be a miracle. Heck, I might even be able to wear shorts! I have run through rain, sleet, hail, snow, temps from below zero to 60 degrees F and to imagine running in the sun all morning on February 6th makes me smile.
On February 7th I move into my 50th year. Whoa. Time to work on the next goals!
I can't say enough about Hal Higdon's Training Plans (Novice 2)...it was a reasonable way to give this endeavor a shot and I'm ready. Thanks Hal! That, and support from Carrie, Laura and my charming daughter Peri have made this process enjoyable. There's so many talented runners around here it's crazy.
The weather in Huntington Beach, CA looks like it'll be spectacular compared to Port Townsend's abysmal weather the past few weeks. Just to see actual sunlight would be a miracle. Heck, I might even be able to wear shorts! I have run through rain, sleet, hail, snow, temps from below zero to 60 degrees F and to imagine running in the sun all morning on February 6th makes me smile.
On February 7th I move into my 50th year. Whoa. Time to work on the next goals!
03 January 2011
Wild Olympics Wilderness Meeting
EMBA (Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance) will be hosting a meeting regarding the Wild Olympics proposal on January 13th from 6:30-8:30 PM at the Jefferson County YMCA in their multi-purpose room. The YMCA is located in the Mountain View Commons complex: 1919 Blaine Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. This invitation is to any mountain bikers or off-road touring cyclists in the area who would like to join the discussion about the proposed changes to access on the Olympic Peninsula due to proposed Wilderness designations. The proposed changes can be found here: http://evergreenmtb.org/php/show_page.php?page_id=322
For more info contact: Elizabeth Salvo, Member of the Board, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance (206) 524-2900.
This is an important meeting to get your input - the current plans call for increasing the boundaries of the Wilderness area on the Olympic Peninsula and could very well spell the end of off-road touring here...they have made corridors for existing MTB trails, but those are mainly for drive-in, vehicle access only gravity riding, not for those of us who ride in to the woods to camp and explore. While I applaud them for trying to keep out motorized access, the current Wilderness designation includes bicycles, which is archaic and lacks foresight in the human-powered access to wild places.
For more info contact: Elizabeth Salvo, Member of the Board, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance (206) 524-2900.
This is an important meeting to get your input - the current plans call for increasing the boundaries of the Wilderness area on the Olympic Peninsula and could very well spell the end of off-road touring here...they have made corridors for existing MTB trails, but those are mainly for drive-in, vehicle access only gravity riding, not for those of us who ride in to the woods to camp and explore. While I applaud them for trying to keep out motorized access, the current Wilderness designation includes bicycles, which is archaic and lacks foresight in the human-powered access to wild places.
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