Despite Ashe juniper pollen grains being supposedly lower per cubic meter so far this season, I’m still itchy, sneezy, and wheezy. I decided to catch my breath and head to Lake Grapevine for the long weekend. It was a nice change of pace. I didn’t get to sit for too long before branches started attacking me, though. It was windy!
Unlike local limestone, the sandstone around Lake Grapevine is rider-friendly and provides some assistance in identifying a line… nature’s cheat sheet.
The Northshore Trail boasts about 21 miles of trail. I only rode 16.5 miles because I had to give the last section a pass. It was getting late and I had left my light in the car. Later, I discovered that Loop 7 is rated black diamond so I was grateful for the oversight. While that accounted for the loss of 2.7 miles plus 0.6 for the out/back to the Rockledge Park parking lot, I still lost a mile or so somewhere. Loops 1 through 4 are fast and flowy. Loops 5 and 6 are a bit more challenging but fun.
Horseshoe Trail claims about 4 miles of trail of which I covered about 3.5 miles. While the signage is generally quite good, there are a few spots that are a little confusing. Blame it on the gnomes?
“And now I welcome the new year, full of things that have never been” – Rainer Maria Rilke
I haven’t written about it for quite some time but yup, I’m still riding. Central Texas allergens have added some challenges, but I’m still rolling. Today, I sniffled my way along the Hill Top Trails out in Fredericksburg for the first time. The weather was fantastic, the trails were fast and flowy, and I even learned a little history about Easter bonfires. The trail was only accessible for a few hours, so due to the time constraint, I didn’t take many pictures.
I’m still oddly fascinated by animal remains, so I couldn’t resist stopping for a brief moment.
Look! I almost managed to stay on track and ride most of the trails. There are a few spots where you have to choose between alternate lines so I think that’s where the slight variances and loss of mileage stemmed.
Overall, I have to sum up this first day of 2023 as a good one. The combination of wind and sweat didn’t make for the best photo, and I don’t look thrilled to have my picture taken while walking back to my bike, but I definitely enjoyed the day. Hoping your New Year is having as promising a start!
Potentially the prettiest natural landmark in Georgetown, Texas, Crockett Gardens Falls collapsed during the area’s latest freeze just in time for Christmas.
In April 2021, Camino Cowgirl and I hiked to the falls. Like something that would be found in The Shire, it was a charming and peaceful spot.
The start of my return trip to Moab began with 2 days of riding. I intended to ride the Rodeo trail but ended up on the Horse Thief East trail system instead. No complaints and I’m sure I’ll eventually check out the West side on another visit. Unfortunately, I neglected to take any pictures. Whoops!
Camino Cowgirl arrived to hang out so the next 3 days were devoted to hiking.
The first trail, Chesler Park Loop/Joint, was all the way down near Monticello in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. It was definitely worth the drive. The scenery was breathtaking and there weren’t many other visitors.
It was a spectacular day filled with non-stop eye candy.
Our pace was slower than usual probably due to soaking in the ambience, and Camino Cowgirl practically having to pry me out of the narrow fractures. So when the sun started setting and the temperatures began dipping, we started to hoof it. Luckily, we were rewarded with a sign of the trailhead just as I was trying to figure out how to we would navigate with only one headlamp. Wheh, crisis averted.
The next day, we went to Arches National Park since it’s so iconic and I know I’d never visit on my own as there is no single track mountain biking permitted in the park. In hopes of avoiding some of the crowds at Arches and enjoying a longer uninterrupted hike, we opted for the full Devil’s Garden trail system. Even my poor attempts at photography do more justice in describing Arches than mere words. For example, it’s probably not possible to take a bad picture of Landscape Arch.
After Double O, the masses finally thinned and I began to really enjoy the stunning rock scenery.
The formations on Primitive Trail were likely my favorite. I may be biased though as we only encountered a handful of people in that section of the park leaving us to mind the mule deer.
Visiting Moab is like traveling to another planet. There are eerie moments when you can’t spot a bird, bug, hint of vegetation, or even a whisper of wind.
There are serene moments when you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself.
The canyons around Upheaval Dome at The Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands may best capture the feeling of otherworldliness. As much as the fractures at Needles appealed to my climber urges, navigating, stumbling, and class 3 scrambling along the Syncline Loop Trail warmed my cockles.
Despite developing a fantastic case of hives from ankles to upper thighs, ascending about 1,300 feet at nearly a 20% grade for the last mile, getting turned around once or twice, and learning afterwards that most park rescues occur on the “Tourist Eater” the Syncline Trail may very well have been the highlight of the trip.
No, it’s not a terribly original costume but it was apropos as I went to a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I was a tad disappointed that my hair didn’t quite get to Magenta volume but I didn’t have the right products as I usually blow it out straight. I only remembered about half the callouts but that was more than most. The evening was quite fun and rather nostalgic.
In July, a fire spread along this trail. It jumped a river and continued on the other side burning everything in its path for about a half mile.
About 500 acres burned before it was contained.
When I passed through about 2 weeks later, the air still carried a strong smoky smell and the ash was ankle high in spots. I did get to see a gray fox and wondered if it’d been displaced.
I generally associate it with rock climbing but a recent experience made me aware of how mental resilience also applies to mountain biking.
A fellow mountain biker commented that he didn’t like a certain trail because a fall along one section could have high consequences. I’d never had an issue riding that portion so I hadn’t really thought much of it. The next time I rode the trail, though, I paused. As I gazed down the 30 feet or so of jagged rock to the creek below, I understood what he meant. I was also really annoyed that I’d let one remark make me mentally weak. I knew from past experience that the route was not technically or physically beyond my capabilities but I just couldn’t commit to riding it that day.
Since then, I’ve been actively trying to differentiate between fear and inability to complete a spot. If I think I’m just afraid, I’ll smile and push through it. Sometimes I get it wrong and have the bruises to remind me but more often than not, I’m pleasantly surprised to discover it was just the head game and my day is made just that much brighter.
Little did I know that Austin’s tagline evidently applies to the local mountain bike trails. Technically, these trails are located in Cedar Park, Texas, but that’s close enough. At a glance, this one of many trails at Brushy Creek appears peaceful, serene, and to some, even beautiful.
Then, there is this. WTF?!?
Initially, I thought someone threw this deformed green alien brain looking thing at me. It was a near miss and I was relieved it hadn’t smacked into my shoulder or crashed into a finger. Eventually I realized it had fallen from a tree. I’ve seen some strange fruit in my travels, but this was definitely new to me.
After a little research, I identified it as an Osage orange and discovered that prior to the invention of barbed wire, its gangly, thorny trees were planted as natural fencing for cattle deterrents. The fruit is generally useless and has been known to choke a cow. I suppose worse things could cross my path so I guess I’ll be grateful when I next encounter “weird.”
The plan was to ride trails in each state within about 50 miles of Four Corners. Rain dictated otherwise so I was only able to ride in Colorado and Utah. Poor me. [sic]
The Boggy Draw Loop was far too muddy to ride but nearby Sage Hen Loops saved the day being both dry and scenic.
Phil’s World was also scenic but with over 26 miles of singletrack, I didn’t have time to take pictures.
The trails are directional so you can ride fast and furious through sections like Rib Cage making it crazy fun.
Rain. Moab had not been an intended destination for this trip but it was the only place I knew of that I’d still be able to ride.
Hiking is not my thing but intermittent rain, limited remaining daylight, and a recommendation sent me traipsing along the Corona Arch Trail. It’s a short but rewarding hike with interesting rock formations including not one but three arches, Corona, Bowtie and Pinto.
For my first day of riding in Moab, I decided on the Bar M Loops to get acquainted with the landscape and trail ratings. I was feeling quite discouraged until I came across a sign with a Barbie doll and realized I’d diverted to Deadman’s Ridge.
It wasn’t long before I was rolling along confidently and cheerfully on Rockin’ A, Circle O, and North 40.
The second and last day in Moab was going to be split between the Klondike Bluff and KlonZo systems of trails but after one ride down Gravitron, there was no way I was leaving KlonZo. The trails in this area are swoopy and flowy and oh so fun!
Sadly, I left Moab the next day hoping to fit New Mexico’s High Desert or Zuni Mountains Trail System into the drive home but things didn’t work out. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable trip and it wouldn’t surprise me if I eventually do a Part 2.
The Guadalupe Peak trail is located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park and reaches the highest natural point in the state of Texas. Camino Cowgirl and I decide to take a stroll to the top.
After about a mile and a half, you can look down on the car park and get a little perspective of how steep the trail and how dizzying the switchbacks.
Unfortunately for us, there was a high wind warning in effect for the entirety of the day. The higher we hiked, the stronger it blew. The averages for the day were 30 to 40mph with gusts up to 70mph.
The wind made going “around the bend” and a few other narrow spots a bit precarious. The forest was a welcome refuge.
Occasionally, the sun would break through brightening things up and the trail would even level off.
Some say that the bridge signifies that you are nearing the summit but there’s still almost a mile to go so don’t believe the hype. Next up are more switchbacks, some hitching posts, and rocks to scramble.
Instead of being rewarded with amazing views of the surrounding mountains and desert, we got this…
…and this. Visibility was poor as dust storms swirled all around. Taking pictures was also a bit challenging as gusts threatened to launch me for a tumble.
You know you’ve reached the summit when you stumble upon this steel pyramid. It was erected in 1958 and pays tribute to the Pony Express Riders. You also know you’ve reached the summit when there aren’t anymore rocks to scramble up.
Texas 