Ever seen a blizzard in slow motion?
The Lost City of Turret
When I’ve mentioned to my new neighbors that I’ve been riding the dirt roads and trails in the Arkansas Hills a couple of them have asked, “Have you been to Turret?”
Huh? Where?
Continue readingLight at the end of the Tunnel
Being of a certain age that qualifies you for such things, Ms. Seeking and I became eligible for our COVID vaccine this week. After a year of weirdness and months of waiting I can honestly say I have never been more excited to receive a vaccination. Come to think of it, I’ve never had a vaccination elicit any kind of excitement at all until this one.
Continue readingThe Weight
If you haven’t heard of Playing for Change and their Songs Around the World you owe it to yourself to check it out. They basically ask musicians from all over the world to play a song on their respective instruments, then edit it together into something that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. You can find dozens of their songs on the YouTube or the Playing for Change website. This is one of my favorites, The Weight by The Band, featuring Robbie Robertson himself. In the key of F-demented, if you’d like to play along.
Lost Wonder
After my Fooses Creek ride a couple of weeks ago I began thinking of other places in the area where I could get the fat bike back into the mountains in snow. Preferably someplace with a well-packed trail that goes a little deeper into the woods.
Continue readingAprès Ski
Besides enjoying our share of the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer, one of the other things that’s been an entertaining part of our relocation has been discovering a whole new assortment of local adult beverages.
Continue readingColorado Trail in Snow
With the in-town trails mostly melted out and muddy I decided to take the fat bike on an adventure a little farther afield in search of rideable snow. I wanted to try segment 15 of the Colorado Trail which runs south from Highway 50 just above Maysville to the top of Continental Divide.
Continue readingWinter Inspiration
I’ve spent the past couple of weeks alternating between skiing and fat biking, depending on the weather in sunny Salida versus up in the mountains. No complaints here, not a one. I found this nice little video about riding the Kettle Valley Railroad trail in British Columbia. And while I have no intention of camping overnight in the snow or riding to Argentina like this guy (check out his other videos if you want to be amazed), I think this video captures the feel of fat biking in the snow as good as any I’ve seen.
Bluebird Day
Winter is finally getting with the program around here! We got two straight days of snow followed by an evening of single digit temperatures which makes for light, dry powder the consistency talc covering everything like a soft down comforter.
Continue readingEarn your turns
Over the past month and a half, snowstorms in the Sawatch have been few and far between. Conditions up at Monarch have been an unpleasant combination of wind-blown hardpack and exposed rocks. Not wanting to break bodies or equipment we’ve been doing far less skiing that we had hoped. In fact, over the past two weeks I’ve spent way more time riding my fat bike than my skis. Then on Monday the high country got 5 inches of fresh powder and with the solid base already laid down we headed up to Monarch to check it out.
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