tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39436278087703183792024-03-15T19:10:15.469-06:00Big Wheel BuildingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger888125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-43968662476556407842024-03-07T14:25:00.005-07:002024-03-14T17:39:14.288-06:0029+ conversion wheelset for your fatbike.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> I've long believed that a fatbike isn't truly complete until it has a second set of wheels. Sure, true fatties are mandatory for low-pressure riding on soft substrates. But for most of us, that's 1/3 of the year, maybe less. And the rest of the year we have firmer surfaces and higher speeds.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To the end of being faster/more efficient when things are firm, I install 29 x 3" wheels/tires on my fatbike. I have a few sets of these laced and ready to go right now.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYO6saE7Zg5xxkXF70nqeVq4vmbfa9Ewv-I66BNIIc8QG9CaEz2QSoCBk12oADQkcFMmd-j0DoyrkKcQWvaOPsvjvxH4O4i-8j7ThV3XUl8saIRxGxTUzy6AsUGP-7Q1WUyvGD4GyJo9ADP9t7wJln3BwGRntr1O2PRkHrYUzkA6uCZlcmabqQE0lKhy9M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYO6saE7Zg5xxkXF70nqeVq4vmbfa9Ewv-I66BNIIc8QG9CaEz2QSoCBk12oADQkcFMmd-j0DoyrkKcQWvaOPsvjvxH4O4i-8j7ThV3XUl8saIRxGxTUzy6AsUGP-7Q1WUyvGD4GyJo9ADP9t7wJln3BwGRntr1O2PRkHrYUzkA6uCZlcmabqQE0lKhy9M=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hubs are the venerable DT Swiss 350 in 6-bolt, 150/197, with whichever freehub you need.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: arial;">*I have these hubs in 12 x 177 (or 170 QR) and am happy to use that if that's what you need. No change in price.*</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxuDVIOmyYpU4w6GX3oN5dz1qBc1j5ranOQ40HwGx3Nxr3NJXnZDwDgqgN2PEVNBV-RCpy7e_JJCNfD1-RIDkyuF8Y5UYPEdxWfMLSrMtbkA_CYKUlRDvqCD-rIG4zizNPKrq8mxCIY5HI1VfFdcRAXMK_J5eorbiI7PW25k0MRAjMJ1Vl4tepTS1eUUF/s1500/IMG_8537.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxuDVIOmyYpU4w6GX3oN5dz1qBc1j5ranOQ40HwGx3Nxr3NJXnZDwDgqgN2PEVNBV-RCpy7e_JJCNfD1-RIDkyuF8Y5UYPEdxWfMLSrMtbkA_CYKUlRDvqCD-rIG4zizNPKrq8mxCIY5HI1VfFdcRAXMK_J5eorbiI7PW25k0MRAjMJ1Vl4tepTS1eUUF/w640-h480/IMG_8537.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rims are Alex MD50. Spokes are DT Swiss Competition, nips are DT Swiss Prolock.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFrae-wplPnwFBC3EAVi3nOTauJhlnLQ3cKsHKAi6Jlr3OkqliswZ6rNbCEvP1xTwwXGARmugroHscA3sB0F8pa6-CFiVwQrJNA6fSQXL7ZHbKlcXLj8Y14Yj30sTrKUIOGEN8uDuPiNvObUCWNgbkbSndCD9OQqT_W_3bNEivNKbs5B04sIhyphenhyphenc6J7hjY/s1500/IMG_8540.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFrae-wplPnwFBC3EAVi3nOTauJhlnLQ3cKsHKAi6Jlr3OkqliswZ6rNbCEvP1xTwwXGARmugroHscA3sB0F8pa6-CFiVwQrJNA6fSQXL7ZHbKlcXLj8Y14Yj30sTrKUIOGEN8uDuPiNvObUCWNgbkbSndCD9OQqT_W_3bNEivNKbs5B04sIhyphenhyphenc6J7hjY/w640-h480/IMG_8540.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">*You can choose from white, silver, or black on the spokes*.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">*You can have any color of tubeless valves that you like.*</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tires: </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 29 x 3" you can choose from Surly Knard or Dirt Wizard, WTB Ranger, Maxxis DHF/DHR.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 29 x 2.8" you can choose from Maxxis Rekon, WTB Vigilante, or Terevail Coronado.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19UbcLedjf9aWSj5FpMPeg6ozCz-RgjONhntAv66tt5HMyk9Tm-jxyuFMJzrdEc1A8MJ_AfPq5Z8odkiR_X1X_J32gyH9uG_XoYIoerZF1UU-fUND9QyPUjEWuMzmLzm94oh5CuxvY8S_mdAVYrHkrNb7uejWoXD_F1sqPAvsFJr8wsAA3Mh1Muuuhzy_/s1500/IMG_8541.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19UbcLedjf9aWSj5FpMPeg6ozCz-RgjONhntAv66tt5HMyk9Tm-jxyuFMJzrdEc1A8MJ_AfPq5Z8odkiR_X1X_J32gyH9uG_XoYIoerZF1UU-fUND9QyPUjEWuMzmLzm94oh5CuxvY8S_mdAVYrHkrNb7uejWoXD_F1sqPAvsFJr8wsAA3Mh1Muuuhzy_/w640-h480/IMG_8541.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mix and match the tires in whatever way suits your particular needs.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Total for wheels, tires, and shipping is $929 USD.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes, I'm happy to ship to AK, Canada, or EU, but actual shipping costs apply.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Contact: mike.curiak@gmail.com</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-52481016346932262322024-03-05T15:50:00.002-07:002024-03-05T15:58:52.146-07:00Fat tire clearance.<p style="text-align: center;"> The end of the winter season is in metaphorical sight. Need to clear out some of the inventory that is filling up my shelves.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><u>All tires sold in pairs</u>. All new in packaging. <u>All prices include shipping to the lower 48</u>.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Absolutely happy to ship to AK, Canada, or EU -- actual shipping costs apply.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">+ + + + +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Schwalbe Jumbo Jim 26 x 4.8" Addix pair = $212.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQuJLyF6HSOxKzXhjQoPh5_ppqKF-634SviS6_PfTKTB9GOAF1_NyY2HyRvmnkLVavUTKHpzCoU7q0oxRaoGY386fzlYLuJjvZTNB69OrJ7fHGpgQjfez-c1_79vefO6QGj3o20n8knbtyAs9MRLeSbGU5IBunJoCW6s05lu3tJPogimWYPqSoG48Sb87N" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQuJLyF6HSOxKzXhjQoPh5_ppqKF-634SviS6_PfTKTB9GOAF1_NyY2HyRvmnkLVavUTKHpzCoU7q0oxRaoGY386fzlYLuJjvZTNB69OrJ7fHGpgQjfez-c1_79vefO6QGj3o20n8knbtyAs9MRLeSbGU5IBunJoCW6s05lu3tJPogimWYPqSoG48Sb87N=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Surly Bud and Lou pair = $205.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgivhd90EHxalVt1MtD_Ox0HyEXT1gjRwEqYNNs354DpVHyb1clv_vEdnjku8X0MjWQH5MuiOOlrhmN7TQC3mo2_qPORhDqGOcQ78eEZUIAbYtX0OsGMRKRKWGbAvBxIHFi27Na30r4-Dg7myb0TqWAJHi5IKVzG6l83TqtQB0_T4kC1eU8GHJPDAOeVoLT" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgivhd90EHxalVt1MtD_Ox0HyEXT1gjRwEqYNNs354DpVHyb1clv_vEdnjku8X0MjWQH5MuiOOlrhmN7TQC3mo2_qPORhDqGOcQ78eEZUIAbYtX0OsGMRKRKWGbAvBxIHFi27Na30r4-Dg7myb0TqWAJHi5IKVzG6l83TqtQB0_T4kC1eU8GHJPDAOeVoLT=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Schwalbe Al Mighty pair = $212.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYSIvB0DO-lSnqo0OzG09RdtKu27upDGG1S-sai4-tTpw5kJ3quGvGwExcwAbQ-6OXboLGPk_et3gUu9XriOSD9vyzUlCGjivm4ODgtDk692DC3VJ31vcJdPaXZ2xZmZZiLR7xsFvNomCULy-aW-pOx9H9EwlmpmOYMKPI5a3COxrNzpW7SrAGsy2iX2gt" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYSIvB0DO-lSnqo0OzG09RdtKu27upDGG1S-sai4-tTpw5kJ3quGvGwExcwAbQ-6OXboLGPk_et3gUu9XriOSD9vyzUlCGjivm4ODgtDk692DC3VJ31vcJdPaXZ2xZmZZiLR7xsFvNomCULy-aW-pOx9H9EwlmpmOYMKPI5a3COxrNzpW7SrAGsy2iX2gt=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Terrene Cake Eater 27.5 x 4.5" <u>studded</u> pair = $250.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt1JLtwcmsvGVr73byVpHkSfd9kbA57PhXAGBiTca2R3mDrMLs4DvJ5BfA1kVIQiqgvS3eKq7OrBmlp7ylTAZIgstXvVHBsZVvYuUo515COuBEwcsmda0xpthrXlcWljM1usEZIneEykG24ANhAEkDqPyZIY-hfQY1y1-NtdqY2fJi_syVSXKBHzBjqSLQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt1JLtwcmsvGVr73byVpHkSfd9kbA57PhXAGBiTca2R3mDrMLs4DvJ5BfA1kVIQiqgvS3eKq7OrBmlp7ylTAZIgstXvVHBsZVvYuUo515COuBEwcsmda0xpthrXlcWljM1usEZIneEykG24ANhAEkDqPyZIY-hfQY1y1-NtdqY2fJi_syVSXKBHzBjqSLQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Dillinger 5 27.5 x 4.5" pair = $200.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYdodgpS7Am3PGp21fqy2jqtficzuIHOeqij6SIX6SfsgtA7JbmiZpJxc-0k2yaV0B7l_owzwohAkULRPYTPW_4SJqypE7pN5ptwnYS5ALyuQiuxwtJ6NpTmLjYPigpmync3LycCGt-d-djfgqSmmni7gY2jLLkkJuDx9JVKGiyOdIDMRceF3xJRUWR4tB" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYdodgpS7Am3PGp21fqy2jqtficzuIHOeqij6SIX6SfsgtA7JbmiZpJxc-0k2yaV0B7l_owzwohAkULRPYTPW_4SJqypE7pN5ptwnYS5ALyuQiuxwtJ6NpTmLjYPigpmync3LycCGt-d-djfgqSmmni7gY2jLLkkJuDx9JVKGiyOdIDMRceF3xJRUWR4tB=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Terrene YKY 27.5 x 4.3" pair = $200.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxNM2aK-rapouZtRjAX5n_C88D4iJ5MDtAlyEqp_yokjcIqQln4IPCxSk67UfsAYUXdqSOA_9ZKGBFUWhcWWpKDqynhpV9zM5NOQlOmcs8GNdBZgDErBWFRQX54iqnsu00z5vWOzfkQrutFifOT4my-_uwniS0HlYTTp0Xkx9cR-lko_KS7mfM3JHuolWF" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxNM2aK-rapouZtRjAX5n_C88D4iJ5MDtAlyEqp_yokjcIqQln4IPCxSk67UfsAYUXdqSOA_9ZKGBFUWhcWWpKDqynhpV9zM5NOQlOmcs8GNdBZgDErBWFRQX54iqnsu00z5vWOzfkQrutFifOT4my-_uwniS0HlYTTp0Xkx9cR-lko_KS7mfM3JHuolWF=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Dillinger 4 27.5 x 4" pair. NOTE one is studded, one is not. $200.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKrctArgPWRIDXFwqM97Ha9688hxLag1l59WCJM6ggqwndkKMAApJubprSB3bET02HaZONZAJZhxlMfEsScwZap7J5sXB7iUBu0Oil2Y9W_pwP07K4mFeb-kKzS_K3rhHnGzUunDiCWX3RZmREXd7kQhd8tt73gnF49sm0NNCc_4aiTwSNxXOOK_YLGIG9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKrctArgPWRIDXFwqM97Ha9688hxLag1l59WCJM6ggqwndkKMAApJubprSB3bET02HaZONZAJZhxlMfEsScwZap7J5sXB7iUBu0Oil2Y9W_pwP07K4mFeb-kKzS_K3rhHnGzUunDiCWX3RZmREXd7kQhd8tt73gnF49sm0NNCc_4aiTwSNxXOOK_YLGIG9=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Terrene Johnny 5 26 x 5". NOTE one is studded, one is not. $255.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfJ0rXuwmKPj65oDVFlMZigReR6BgjGdalaZi7kCiDFf-O28KGwU6bsf9JfyL8f_FqCpAMCZTUqiNiMzhL3wN6jBUiJ8Z3qNsbxzOAXSXF088aTfJ4xB58fzCsVTY4jd56RXNCm4lyBtZZig26Hp77X9V4laNZz5ApWIaBle0OqHKyH4PlU3y7zt32JdTY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfJ0rXuwmKPj65oDVFlMZigReR6BgjGdalaZi7kCiDFf-O28KGwU6bsf9JfyL8f_FqCpAMCZTUqiNiMzhL3wN6jBUiJ8Z3qNsbxzOAXSXF088aTfJ4xB58fzCsVTY4jd56RXNCm4lyBtZZig26Hp77X9V4laNZz5ApWIaBle0OqHKyH4PlU3y7zt32JdTY=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dillinger 5 26 x 4.6" pair = $200.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpKOvBHSWLvkbWU3xLXwZ7oLUBAxWemnEpt-kZQLadQhchaevDMBgvRxpT5NmGYtXB1UjwX4mrwdaDAnw0jixWbnexY_uHosXmiBsLmJd_JqqdXUbPvSsBk2x2QECOGAHpy6LcTrztgpCkESKbGPbxJpdtk3ilDLO6e8AMRfAVxvff31ZtJW-OPe12WYpX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpKOvBHSWLvkbWU3xLXwZ7oLUBAxWemnEpt-kZQLadQhchaevDMBgvRxpT5NmGYtXB1UjwX4mrwdaDAnw0jixWbnexY_uHosXmiBsLmJd_JqqdXUbPvSsBk2x2QECOGAHpy6LcTrztgpCkESKbGPbxJpdtk3ilDLO6e8AMRfAVxvff31ZtJW-OPe12WYpX=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Dillinger 5 27.5 x 4.5" tanwall studded pair = $306.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHXzOekTEMI95LvrWYyzuK9UC5Vxta-I5P7zOmysa7tHxVsoGlWQIBAqLaKXkJL7NA2L8B0XTl-txZv5TfD9rBGPtDDIqTMiCTWPsz4qJSeLUod7m4eIq0_Qcp_s7bvLe5oHRlrSsMe5gvpYF5JxeE1rvYLGXIxWbNM6vymd2-TaxLvSZFbodpWfdip1aj" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHXzOekTEMI95LvrWYyzuK9UC5Vxta-I5P7zOmysa7tHxVsoGlWQIBAqLaKXkJL7NA2L8B0XTl-txZv5TfD9rBGPtDDIqTMiCTWPsz4qJSeLUod7m4eIq0_Qcp_s7bvLe5oHRlrSsMe5gvpYF5JxeE1rvYLGXIxWbNM6vymd2-TaxLvSZFbodpWfdip1aj=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Vee Snowshoe 2XL 26 x 5.05 PSC compound pair = $250.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Automotive lighting Vehicle door Automotive exterior Auto part Machine" class="bbImage ls-is-cached lazyloaded" data-src="/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/https://www.mtbr.com/attachments/1709516438913-jpeg.2084260/" data-url="" data-zoom-target="1" height="480" src="https://www.mtbr.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/https://www.mtbr.com/attachments/1709516438913-jpeg.2084260/" style="text-align: left;" width="640" /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">In some cases I have more than one pair available.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I have *heaps* of 45N studs in stock, and am happy to offer package deals on those. Inquire.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Need some?</p><p style="text-align: center;">mike.curiak@gmail.com</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-62861059997030025122024-01-21T20:25:00.000-07:002024-01-21T20:25:51.285-07:00Nano.<p style="text-align: center;"> That's roughly how big I feel whenever I get the chance to be humbled within the Grand Canyon of the Colorado.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitalegHPJ-A67NGCRJt4MJIImPyi_mL-KRv0HvHEYwE8vi8Evyga-oxrCFQv8Eel4zkGgCLoKoT9PcduJVhBfQiko4iRWs6qqohcbI_zl5ESArLjhtsLxRchiSh_75CnRlgjMyqXRdMxs041QB7H4tKrLdwUm-W8quJMKaenC_7ZOYz-PCLYAVNXzaYkA1/s1500/0R7A4639.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitalegHPJ-A67NGCRJt4MJIImPyi_mL-KRv0HvHEYwE8vi8Evyga-oxrCFQv8Eel4zkGgCLoKoT9PcduJVhBfQiko4iRWs6qqohcbI_zl5ESArLjhtsLxRchiSh_75CnRlgjMyqXRdMxs041QB7H4tKrLdwUm-W8quJMKaenC_7ZOYz-PCLYAVNXzaYkA1/s16000/0R7A4639.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I literally leap at that opportunity every time it is offered. So far I've always found willing accomplices, but should the day arrive where solo is the only way it's gonna happen? Then that's exactly the way it's gonna happen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqENaU_4Z-2JsxVum6NAeO-9opd2W_p-FVGjIB4IW97Gn27cJEN6C8JS_vxCIaWFUGmRd5cpTfnOoN4IhMyuCfncb441pj1xdn5WHXFDOjCbZwJD7cgt7E3wgjzB3YNnMqZicyEr0VQmboJdTnIDRbWSaoaDHfhzS9wlpPdwu_h4CP5XzmiKgOVpTl1M1/s1500/0R7A4694.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqENaU_4Z-2JsxVum6NAeO-9opd2W_p-FVGjIB4IW97Gn27cJEN6C8JS_vxCIaWFUGmRd5cpTfnOoN4IhMyuCfncb441pj1xdn5WHXFDOjCbZwJD7cgt7E3wgjzB3YNnMqZicyEr0VQmboJdTnIDRbWSaoaDHfhzS9wlpPdwu_h4CP5XzmiKgOVpTl1M1/s16000/0R7A4694.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We launched at the start of a cold snap that brought overnight temps in the 20's, as well as a few nights of snow down to the redwall. Frozen bottles and shoes every morning were welcome inconveniences to be savored, to remind us how lucky we were to be where we were.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMudMLwKHzXaJvZ5cHtn28bl402vHz_8EqrRNRw2kcGR_DhGi0nyLP9vWlIwtWo2ds16mqUIIM0Aw1kuCyK2GZweJGx9VJ8sW3pV3E3I_vtOVE4hT3ipRK__Kno8V7YTpJ_BXwIbzGs5NnNL9hEWTq2ao45Iv5G2m59eAWZTf03JmD0a6ZgkUNUEBL2VH/s1500/0R7A4773.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMudMLwKHzXaJvZ5cHtn28bl402vHz_8EqrRNRw2kcGR_DhGi0nyLP9vWlIwtWo2ds16mqUIIM0Aw1kuCyK2GZweJGx9VJ8sW3pV3E3I_vtOVE4hT3ipRK__Kno8V7YTpJ_BXwIbzGs5NnNL9hEWTq2ao45Iv5G2m59eAWZTf03JmD0a6ZgkUNUEBL2VH/s16000/0R7A4773.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Many short hikes were punctuated by a few extended versions, allowing us to experience some of the special places that lurk between river and rim.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3amqlS5tqmEuAYhb2BvrlE7yexuQGdWPFpWaumtHMeLuTxl1KlyyVwlNkER8XXzEX_tUy-lj7F_IqoMtFcOHzkiUG2FkhaqdytDIPBnfKBJpYaWqlcFnRV_SN_D8bHZyMgFrer2bPmS-scVhyphenhyphen9l_XssmGlWXXfxgSYbbgVnG9jbGtbMF3iciuJgNtMS7/s1500/0R7A5018.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3amqlS5tqmEuAYhb2BvrlE7yexuQGdWPFpWaumtHMeLuTxl1KlyyVwlNkER8XXzEX_tUy-lj7F_IqoMtFcOHzkiUG2FkhaqdytDIPBnfKBJpYaWqlcFnRV_SN_D8bHZyMgFrer2bPmS-scVhyphenhyphen9l_XssmGlWXXfxgSYbbgVnG9jbGtbMF3iciuJgNtMS7/s16000/0R7A5018.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Highlights of the trip included campfire cooking, deviceless time spent watching shadows transform walls, and sponging every iota of rock-talk that we could crowbar out of our resident geologist. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MF8xzIo3zqmJF2IRWQqE5YhP2qXgjKEXwOnLr4hLksfPQxuySPiSl9Fq_yiLLohfLVlnUItAMY3BtJwC9NV4jdsmrZkr7r0LsxAMyZkMkJp_fllrn2QA-0SAV1jz0pEbQ5CZC9ZdIF3Mu1LDVAYsYyqAQ7qLWA1Uv5eeuhyphenhyphenSVw3JNOtVa0AbbZOCIJnT/s1500/0R7A5245.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MF8xzIo3zqmJF2IRWQqE5YhP2qXgjKEXwOnLr4hLksfPQxuySPiSl9Fq_yiLLohfLVlnUItAMY3BtJwC9NV4jdsmrZkr7r0LsxAMyZkMkJp_fllrn2QA-0SAV1jz0pEbQ5CZC9ZdIF3Mu1LDVAYsYyqAQ7qLWA1Uv5eeuhyphenhyphenSVw3JNOtVa0AbbZOCIJnT/s16000/0R7A5245.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was my tenth trip down the Grand. In some ways it was the best one yet. I hope, hope, hope I have ten more in me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please enjoy a few moving moments:</div><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="647" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/905034892?h=c0f355bda3&portrait=0" width="1151"></iframe><div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks for checkin' in.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-75983534919736948372023-12-22T12:24:00.002-07:002023-12-22T12:24:19.609-07:00Low tide.<p style="text-align: center;"> Winter, such as it is, has not really arrived in SW Idaho as yet -- despite the fact that solstice was yesterday and we gained ~a minute of daylight today.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3OmoKiZx4m1TPoZJomvAjkRODVPHXOsKoj-fD_YhCoQLXNvQvAq9pUxEr9xGYZS2GbZNFJJ6VNo_a6JNxBDnFyTCE-nqX9JYjqgfvZQp5B2BLvXlI2nM6g92hEBeHNMte1eauoGJe2n-yH98Orv-sRwmLJy2lcBXLZcFiOlu5ONY0dN9vF7KqZsII2SX/s1500/IMG_7704.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3OmoKiZx4m1TPoZJomvAjkRODVPHXOsKoj-fD_YhCoQLXNvQvAq9pUxEr9xGYZS2GbZNFJJ6VNo_a6JNxBDnFyTCE-nqX9JYjqgfvZQp5B2BLvXlI2nM6g92hEBeHNMte1eauoGJe2n-yH98Orv-sRwmLJy2lcBXLZcFiOlu5ONY0dN9vF7KqZsII2SX/w480-h640/IMG_7704.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Any snow that has fallen has been followed by rain and above freezing temps. Thus, as beautiful as the moment below was, it didn't last.<iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="619" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/897263498?h=24181d056e&portrait=0" width="1100"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;">Sort of a bummer to not be able to slide through or roll over snow, since those things, um, require snow.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Instead we've been walking icymudroads and doubletracks in the evenings, observing elk having an easy time maintaining their weight since there's not really any snow to plow through. They're due for an easier winter -- the last few have been tough.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmE2xII9GCEiFIiHWj1f4Xj2TwB-qU-qopog_Ke4usOGjHtPl0Po1GIiWldt_k5YEwSaHx-qoBbIdO7MVUO0xV_NKv5N5MxbHRukIPwezcscDk-mLDujMDOS7cqtJM7sl5xFMcshEErUD5EJwiNV0TOlOj5lGbbaiCG_n7DQbN_fYF3-43XTTAI0mwDv9B/s1500/IMG_7707.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmE2xII9GCEiFIiHWj1f4Xj2TwB-qU-qopog_Ke4usOGjHtPl0Po1GIiWldt_k5YEwSaHx-qoBbIdO7MVUO0xV_NKv5N5MxbHRukIPwezcscDk-mLDujMDOS7cqtJM7sl5xFMcshEErUD5EJwiNV0TOlOj5lGbbaiCG_n7DQbN_fYF3-43XTTAI0mwDv9B/w640-h480/IMG_7707.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Usually different is good. In this case, different is just different.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Which is another way of saying that I'm getting heaps of wrenching done on projects that I've been procrastinating for ages. Skis are all waxed, skins cut and waxed, new wheels built, old wheels moved out, tire piles culled, some hub shelves reorganized. Even got heaps of trail work done before the first real snow came. Just too slippy/sloppy to continue that, now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZcOxK5ZF_8lEp_1yiKA71ZqyjafWNq3AgSXoGK5tt2Qh3feXicmQ6bDLgNsH-hlpzMPdqvHz50kUnEcBdVPFiRvj0G6d_BMQ1adjohRG38Mdu9UuksmlbINr_8geOsRktisSqhhjbnWOYFklHn6MdHIz-0G_EGim6sFMSB2CClXXQ5iK37OnvD8nbn9s/s1500/IMG_7713.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZcOxK5ZF_8lEp_1yiKA71ZqyjafWNq3AgSXoGK5tt2Qh3feXicmQ6bDLgNsH-hlpzMPdqvHz50kUnEcBdVPFiRvj0G6d_BMQ1adjohRG38Mdu9UuksmlbINr_8geOsRktisSqhhjbnWOYFklHn6MdHIz-0G_EGim6sFMSB2CClXXQ5iK37OnvD8nbn9s/w480-h640/IMG_7713.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hoping that if your winter is also of the <i>different</i> sort, you're finding ways to enjoy it for what it is.</div><p style="text-align: center;">Thanks for checkin' in.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-26482278700778828622023-12-06T17:57:00.001-07:002023-12-06T17:57:39.116-07:00Punch.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I f<span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b;">inally carved out time to lace my own Drunk Rhino rims, using Onyx hubs and Berd spokes.</span></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shod them with a new-to-me but very well stretched set of 2XL's (thanks JB) and installed this evening.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Casing width averages 140mm on both tires -- that's 138mm at narrowest measurement and 142mm at widest.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Measurements taken at 10 psi. I will literally never ride them even half that firm.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable" data-attachment="full:2070856" src="https://www.mtbr.com/attachments/img_7679-jpeg.2070856/?hash=32f44b0ec512b09deaa31996967f695d" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; float: none; height: auto; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; max-width: 90%; vertical-align: bottom; width: auto;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Raining on top of snow ATM so still unridden. Cooling trend -- and more snow -- in the forecast for this weekend and next week.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And yeah -- nothing really 'goes' with the creme colored tires. <i>Except</i> the ability to ride more than walk when conditions are bad.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At which point I'm not looking at the bike, and certainly not caring what it looks like.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for checkin' in.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-43536020444123255022023-11-03T13:30:00.007-06:002023-11-03T13:32:42.145-06:0026" carbon fatbike wheelset for sale.<p style="text-align: center;"> <span> DT Swiss 350 fatbike hubs (150/197) laced to Nextie Xiphias 95mm carbon rims.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Hubs are 6-bolt. Freehub config is up to you.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSdEfiI6f_a0UQyNJcOErwrziyXJitEgnb2mfc4GdVtygxpcLbduYSgLHBpRMTi1AqSy8n6NAXa9upkcqyw-DYKcMdbfIjT5qb-Yhmfwg02J51I201Zt60PUvvPe3vk4iQbyD1E5htOmddnu3RZSMUV66iLfBYvA8y3UhiX3rdX-qWAIAlm54NcsiXg/s1151/IMG_4091.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1151" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSdEfiI6f_a0UQyNJcOErwrziyXJitEgnb2mfc4GdVtygxpcLbduYSgLHBpRMTi1AqSy8n6NAXa9upkcqyw-DYKcMdbfIjT5qb-Yhmfwg02J51I201Zt60PUvvPe3vk4iQbyD1E5htOmddnu3RZSMUV66iLfBYvA8y3UhiX3rdX-qWAIAlm54NcsiXg/w640-h480/IMG_4091.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spokes are DT Swiss Revolution butted. Nips are DT Swiss Prolock.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-h_Y6fQFMVT-wRuaICSKBjJYTOtaAV7y0kkA9n9aN_rNQQ-oYfqGyqQOsI24TVJUq2K2_tieGCSPgBP1k9Crxk2f0m6v4UaAVbluC5_9Uj6pEn2GcH_dNc2Hp_Qi3fLUvMvvpiNbzBzVHayMIxTgTMpJFN08epguAVKLLuQBt490xdn69sxuB9cj2Q/s1151/IMG_4092.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1151" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-h_Y6fQFMVT-wRuaICSKBjJYTOtaAV7y0kkA9n9aN_rNQQ-oYfqGyqQOsI24TVJUq2K2_tieGCSPgBP1k9Crxk2f0m6v4UaAVbluC5_9Uj6pEn2GcH_dNc2Hp_Qi3fLUvMvvpiNbzBzVHayMIxTgTMpJFN08epguAVKLLuQBt490xdn69sxuB9cj2Q/w640-h480/IMG_4092.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">They are laced 3x, tension balanced, stress relieved, then balanced out again.</p><p style="text-align: center;">New, never been ridden, never been mounted on a bike. Tires not included.</p><p style="text-align: center;">$1299 includes shipping to a lower 48 address.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Happy to ship to AK or Canada for a few bucks more.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Contact: mike.curiak@gmail.com</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Want tires? I have Surly Bud, Surly Lou, Terrene Johnny 5, Vee 2XL, Schwalbe Al Mighty, and 45NRTH Dillinger 5 in stock. Pick any 2 and I'll install them before shipping. Total for this option is $1499.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-38168280153512988422023-10-25T19:09:00.001-06:002023-10-25T19:09:32.985-06:00A ride, recently: Rounding that bend.<p style="text-align: center;">Fall is arriving in fits and starts. Incrementally cooler each night for awhile, then in comes a steady rain, temps plummet, and before you know it your bird baths are frozen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUQcI5GPbMOnLmaY6sAppt_g1JSm2aeYmHfQLKN4jC3UPccydR_hcRvCGKX4IbWmxqmjPiI0l4lSWbCaSH7xqrrKEXQQ2cK5kbljjyHyu5a9sYDYjYkfJCcwDSdqJDvJ7hLHQTdwaHuaWAI09ABqRe998szuwjSu7IBnLkpTP40FQCyMkJbrFSY8SgJV1/s1500/IMG_7203.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUQcI5GPbMOnLmaY6sAppt_g1JSm2aeYmHfQLKN4jC3UPccydR_hcRvCGKX4IbWmxqmjPiI0l4lSWbCaSH7xqrrKEXQQ2cK5kbljjyHyu5a9sYDYjYkfJCcwDSdqJDvJ7hLHQTdwaHuaWAI09ABqRe998szuwjSu7IBnLkpTP40FQCyMkJbrFSY8SgJV1/w640-h480/IMG_7203.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I took the opportunity to explore a few hours beyond the backyard last weekend, while the very last of Phase One Fall lingered.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOnLUt9iZmu93xnvx5fQUCoHgwU0Y3ZTItR5th4F2y5W-nX3dVwnTlFt_Z0ypFV1SujnmtLBaGz9llx9UjN2nIxeq8wiYC-wgQQKUZV_RZb2dM-ndbp1BfwQvcEX67XwsQry7igZAkWuC824Ao_OV0geC50p5uXnvhOVFDsRbOvQIp8r-ROF30AGffLgW/s1500/IMG_7200.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOnLUt9iZmu93xnvx5fQUCoHgwU0Y3ZTItR5th4F2y5W-nX3dVwnTlFt_Z0ypFV1SujnmtLBaGz9llx9UjN2nIxeq8wiYC-wgQQKUZV_RZb2dM-ndbp1BfwQvcEX67XwsQry7igZAkWuC824Ao_OV0geC50p5uXnvhOVFDsRbOvQIp8r-ROF30AGffLgW/w480-h640/IMG_7200.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">POF was clearly past peak, with more leaves dead and slimy on the ground than still clinging to branches.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2Qj1DU3vWuYAZJxbHRhAqgbcR0LiN4CJnZKhTX7g7FUUdwn7QFs7IS-LWIOYoa2gPQYxGw3PzR2SMSBC-f37R4kG0Zn7v7a1cJTYpQyqHtnJIj4K3QMxi6KUjub_tZ7zGF3-OvbHFKjg-SJaT8ypBmtuW5gUFmtOzXMoEKOKpacVjVjotDvTapSPli_u/s1500/IMG_7201.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2Qj1DU3vWuYAZJxbHRhAqgbcR0LiN4CJnZKhTX7g7FUUdwn7QFs7IS-LWIOYoa2gPQYxGw3PzR2SMSBC-f37R4kG0Zn7v7a1cJTYpQyqHtnJIj4K3QMxi6KUjub_tZ7zGF3-OvbHFKjg-SJaT8ypBmtuW5gUFmtOzXMoEKOKpacVjVjotDvTapSPli_u/w640-h480/IMG_7201.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpIt923GOyRlrPcPQpBI_xBte6P8f3Yp3QF0D4Z_tYJnKXHD0Os-oppE2L8gCuDfdnGdfwOV8pE0zhtxap07DU-uZpnnT5iVfJLjuQo6VEX-sYSdA61hKnRhLcYXoETl07VbbQAIxZZxXa-PoDaAF57sw40exR0YOG7aKd516ioqt4v7xetu9Dl4I6iZe/s1500/IMG_7213.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpIt923GOyRlrPcPQpBI_xBte6P8f3Yp3QF0D4Z_tYJnKXHD0Os-oppE2L8gCuDfdnGdfwOV8pE0zhtxap07DU-uZpnnT5iVfJLjuQo6VEX-sYSdA61hKnRhLcYXoETl07VbbQAIxZZxXa-PoDaAF57sw40exR0YOG7aKd516ioqt4v7xetu9Dl4I6iZe/w640-h360/IMG_7213.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And yet so many larch needles remained -- waiting for wind or snow -- that vast chunks of the forest still felt illuminated from within.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2ThkEsifFIfGqngo13G9JLUeWJjZyzmo_MuSymcYZfwks8WLmUcfssl604lei4Pmy5jxdYmDStyM1zQcozMdToYRKLJdKfc5leKO3luxlq9YtKSq4y6oFaM_K4YP5zUBE9QWwJuQLkZupMM3AfReelN29He0kSYU_KCAyWahN_jupMg9tBunT-0WaQtO/s1500/IMG_7229.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2ThkEsifFIfGqngo13G9JLUeWJjZyzmo_MuSymcYZfwks8WLmUcfssl604lei4Pmy5jxdYmDStyM1zQcozMdToYRKLJdKfc5leKO3luxlq9YtKSq4y6oFaM_K4YP5zUBE9QWwJuQLkZupMM3AfReelN29He0kSYU_KCAyWahN_jupMg9tBunT-0WaQtO/w640-h480/IMG_7229.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My chosen route ascended for hours, consistently engaging as it evolved from white oak to big leaf maple to doug fir and ponderosa.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEBsHtEF9xLDPILQne63I48F2lnyzw4LbRLnPoWpuzW2S7ofVzfK-au0aE9MCPzq-JZukzo5Dhv87AQVRKyIZpQpGoRp9OzKl1D5dTxkyHn5GheK-wt4yCD_sHZVUZ-F0bJGfVDfIWh9avF-sh0w-gAYRLt6wAK4gOdNunPy-Fa4v9fRfpkF5fSL7y995/s1500/IMG_7208.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEBsHtEF9xLDPILQne63I48F2lnyzw4LbRLnPoWpuzW2S7ofVzfK-au0aE9MCPzq-JZukzo5Dhv87AQVRKyIZpQpGoRp9OzKl1D5dTxkyHn5GheK-wt4yCD_sHZVUZ-F0bJGfVDfIWh9avF-sh0w-gAYRLt6wAK4gOdNunPy-Fa4v9fRfpkF5fSL7y995/w640-h360/IMG_7208.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBWHn0lBkA-CEuN4H-GO0rK7Emy9V4pELUle_bxOoGEk9wEWi2ZPG8Y_DMBCgxm76_yMygoKIzEC95IrQ393Dul07oZwRMlnFTf31au05aRBgqbRvso-gszvTIM5sdrwWZBSwxZ0tWor6hNb-6ssuQhgWc4AcKt9fQHA06vYtYJsFuRYZmqLd9TzrDOyU/s1500/IMG_7209.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBWHn0lBkA-CEuN4H-GO0rK7Emy9V4pELUle_bxOoGEk9wEWi2ZPG8Y_DMBCgxm76_yMygoKIzEC95IrQ393Dul07oZwRMlnFTf31au05aRBgqbRvso-gszvTIM5sdrwWZBSwxZ0tWor6hNb-6ssuQhgWc4AcKt9fQHA06vYtYJsFuRYZmqLd9TzrDOyU/w480-h640/IMG_7209.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tiny eruptions were happening sporadically along the forest floor.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI-vaZW7VwOiIpCPlYQqevDq28dvo-rXvV3yQ4ltE7i6rrDteNnTqpcA_FavBobfl3za19txkOWqtgE8JOnvQx6ec7Ii8Hh13PZMD6cR6HTosLu3vx07csOzH2kghRzSRJBABOwe6zfpdtMHK39oQNTgLAvysbkgSQ2PT4MnM_3QvVKpaRiXpG8OBj83A/s1500/IMG_7217.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI-vaZW7VwOiIpCPlYQqevDq28dvo-rXvV3yQ4ltE7i6rrDteNnTqpcA_FavBobfl3za19txkOWqtgE8JOnvQx6ec7Ii8Hh13PZMD6cR6HTosLu3vx07csOzH2kghRzSRJBABOwe6zfpdtMHK39oQNTgLAvysbkgSQ2PT4MnM_3QvVKpaRiXpG8OBj83A/w640-h360/IMG_7217.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stop in just the right place facing just the right way -- like below -- and you could fool yourself into thinking summer still had a chance.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJ0SQxvrTE8CO9_U_4dBf9IFPcH5dEDB92Hk6C0Ml9IPHXp9FikJdEoTNS58pk5hX5rxjfsnZafxHfLXI5tmN1jKcC-XmwJW6d_Vb50OPuY7YKFe11V9YihrBItj6aQ6ZdQbRYqEs3woFOs0dxnRZkG2a6vbodkrhrPy5IygaCd8itbw99ch5FY4vOMIa/s1500/IMG_7222.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJ0SQxvrTE8CO9_U_4dBf9IFPcH5dEDB92Hk6C0Ml9IPHXp9FikJdEoTNS58pk5hX5rxjfsnZafxHfLXI5tmN1jKcC-XmwJW6d_Vb50OPuY7YKFe11V9YihrBItj6aQ6ZdQbRYqEs3woFOs0dxnRZkG2a6vbodkrhrPy5IygaCd8itbw99ch5FY4vOMIa/w640-h360/IMG_7222.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Turn any other direction, or round a bend, or merely inhale deeply, and...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXk1eajZuYN9dksoBUypVoZjkhIVCYvNQ5vobQuxaVzDPRjiWUhNHrQ1yO5xrTQhdJlYUqAMoFzqvbAAKhmFUzrP9bZB59aeYPR945D8BFh5VrysKW5ACm3BMnYy8Z_5oYwTCme5izuQZjDU_Y1SGKRIKBn6EwmbyMX3sKHENodnyqyTUr7E4e86SWG5I/s1500/IMG_7160.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1500" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXk1eajZuYN9dksoBUypVoZjkhIVCYvNQ5vobQuxaVzDPRjiWUhNHrQ1yO5xrTQhdJlYUqAMoFzqvbAAKhmFUzrP9bZB59aeYPR945D8BFh5VrysKW5ACm3BMnYy8Z_5oYwTCme5izuQZjDU_Y1SGKRIKBn6EwmbyMX3sKHENodnyqyTUr7E4e86SWG5I/w640-h384/IMG_7160.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7iI9HHco9znq96apS73BCAr-ccNmaPVpS9wp-aI0l2T1DWWHCAp8DEoUoXJ9rDj-cMzRdOt7mZhC8fBBg5eQpELSOEHqTGZJKy9KUF74yhC85AJzbNO0TkVwXfZarJQDdy5mvgbDr9mFXz_wSZK0uZ62IvoMLqzsqO4P1QoSdg2MCsh1bJrYkXo9nhR8/s1500/IMG_7225.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7iI9HHco9znq96apS73BCAr-ccNmaPVpS9wp-aI0l2T1DWWHCAp8DEoUoXJ9rDj-cMzRdOt7mZhC8fBBg5eQpELSOEHqTGZJKy9KUF74yhC85AJzbNO0TkVwXfZarJQDdy5mvgbDr9mFXz_wSZK0uZ62IvoMLqzsqO4P1QoSdg2MCsh1bJrYkXo9nhR8/w640-h360/IMG_7225.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...not so much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_qrSoJ1lH3P46L-V3x8slFFsGKu1hr_DRRsQyh3HXFgC51rEJu_VCYW6MygO6Z_KwWXkBXtUqzdjJnmRZaiCFuPk3N1kOqtcRfHt4X2KIT9sn8ooE8DaUboCwj928QO2X0JJeCY-NTvbuZEiXQ1Yzkbrr0LaUWFXfasBbNMcVTjtSxiKUkrKfD23_Sjn/s1500/IMG_7246.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_qrSoJ1lH3P46L-V3x8slFFsGKu1hr_DRRsQyh3HXFgC51rEJu_VCYW6MygO6Z_KwWXkBXtUqzdjJnmRZaiCFuPk3N1kOqtcRfHt4X2KIT9sn8ooE8DaUboCwj928QO2X0JJeCY-NTvbuZEiXQ1Yzkbrr0LaUWFXfasBbNMcVTjtSxiKUkrKfD23_Sjn/w640-h480/IMG_7246.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bebopping along this west facing ridgeline in the afternoon sun, I should have been roasting. <i>Nope.</i> Blustery winds tamped the temps down and foretold incoming precip. Might even be snow there now, a mere day later.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEUfcMX58TLA5HLiRJflCql9ad2XmCCdmxVIB0sk9qZgsj_CLTphiWbbEWy7ZtW1H6CsxAqE4r2J-pqHH20mGqHXoOAdY6RudXpXm8MDzNjHg72-zA5xNJlz-eTA4vzr5t2saO8szJ1CKqBphfvLoQqGLprwXOCYM4s7lA6P0IZhgyFfA7jf8QNlH-XEu/s2200/IMG_7240.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="2200" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEUfcMX58TLA5HLiRJflCql9ad2XmCCdmxVIB0sk9qZgsj_CLTphiWbbEWy7ZtW1H6CsxAqE4r2J-pqHH20mGqHXoOAdY6RudXpXm8MDzNjHg72-zA5xNJlz-eTA4vzr5t2saO8szJ1CKqBphfvLoQqGLprwXOCYM4s7lA6P0IZhgyFfA7jf8QNlH-XEu/w640-h212/IMG_7240.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Descending steep, chunky basalt has never been my favorite way to lose elevation. Hafta go back in ~10 months and figure out a better way to loop this'n.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0JzahMcEKOcfDqGocRaZthIw76qJMU0-AXS9-UqnWSY9jH4Id4B1mjtSV-Kste3VGJK0BEHNnSXXbmf6X8UDICJ1Ey-vqkrt-BW7UrPEqPuqbGrvmCj9znNfjgAm2akFD5qbxZe7GUU2bj4D7wdfyphoIGZQU6cJagBkV67ZsioK2C-Jq6XwagfSO5YB/s1500/IMG_7245.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0JzahMcEKOcfDqGocRaZthIw76qJMU0-AXS9-UqnWSY9jH4Id4B1mjtSV-Kste3VGJK0BEHNnSXXbmf6X8UDICJ1Ey-vqkrt-BW7UrPEqPuqbGrvmCj9znNfjgAm2akFD5qbxZe7GUU2bj4D7wdfyphoIGZQU6cJagBkV67ZsioK2C-Jq6XwagfSO5YB/w640-h400/IMG_7245.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for checkin' in.</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-89354388287799799562023-10-16T13:50:00.000-06:002023-10-16T13:50:08.409-06:00A ride, recently: Sense of urgency.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-align: left;">Fall in the air. Shorter days, colder nights, vegetation dying off. Animals (raises hand) with a fresh sense of urgency about impending winter. Stores of food and wood to be laid up <i><b>soon</b></i>. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisu5fEP7kRZzfDwrbRnDHarILabOq8ht7VqXaETcKaG9_vczvv8_yQMfGjgiewXqVEv_TSGCI_k9K2l8iutlcPhrz-e6hrjkGScFBcidecKScSPy9CpVJ49rUPXfe1Y9fs67DHto7sCaVwNCtKPtJd_p5ng_LWRt9ShFTdyLXiNi3uMICKqs2KI-6UzLx1/s1500/IMG_7044.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisu5fEP7kRZzfDwrbRnDHarILabOq8ht7VqXaETcKaG9_vczvv8_yQMfGjgiewXqVEv_TSGCI_k9K2l8iutlcPhrz-e6hrjkGScFBcidecKScSPy9CpVJ49rUPXfe1Y9fs67DHto7sCaVwNCtKPtJd_p5ng_LWRt9ShFTdyLXiNi3uMICKqs2KI-6UzLx1/w640-h480/IMG_7044.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtDE439JkguZrQ4JBc7up-QX0MwMqrLYAg2wI9hu564ekjv9w9WMURR8OQeX4wCixkJJom26zpMJdN6Rhps5Tbtg-G905Nw5c21SMAAk-cwx4Shy77cJfkGDAYTT7TSe6UMptkibAwXQhlkB5mupg1AOhsiX_lZDVyBmiU_7JXnzKF2vTb7vHoURvxCOO/s2500/IMG_7054.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="2500" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtDE439JkguZrQ4JBc7up-QX0MwMqrLYAg2wI9hu564ekjv9w9WMURR8OQeX4wCixkJJom26zpMJdN6Rhps5Tbtg-G905Nw5c21SMAAk-cwx4Shy77cJfkGDAYTT7TSe6UMptkibAwXQhlkB5mupg1AOhsiX_lZDVyBmiU_7JXnzKF2vTb7vHoURvxCOO/w640-h232/IMG_7054.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p style="text-align: center;">And yet we're lucky enough to have access to long range forecasts and archival data. We can see a week+ of high pressure predicted, and decide to ride bikes <i>today</i>, chop and split wood tomorrow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZg_093l4A9tlyL4amYAyap4mgrDBl7OiysxQ56MUmCdELiwcRcPqBwu8h_uJAGA29h8v5v4PCcSAuJhyFGlaY4vdFQhC5CMRsH4zukrlao-gjUJT49GE6D0sdh7AnxrhHHYjrMvHGFcTETCKvBXNr5sUOlhQQeOuefhnq6V4DURapLDipGpVYo_trkUqz/s1500/IMG_7057.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZg_093l4A9tlyL4amYAyap4mgrDBl7OiysxQ56MUmCdELiwcRcPqBwu8h_uJAGA29h8v5v4PCcSAuJhyFGlaY4vdFQhC5CMRsH4zukrlao-gjUJT49GE6D0sdh7AnxrhHHYjrMvHGFcTETCKvBXNr5sUOlhQQeOuefhnq6V4DURapLDipGpVYo_trkUqz/w480-h640/IMG_7057.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbtdIVvTSQ7lfjLfhzqesdpH2kFdQuR0wAnMI2dGc5HpnXzJpCcXLraJg6lvCr_jUiWtHSObpRhRR6yPQWTeKddJL955LeTchzYn1J-x-wtNocMDHHd5d3wwSGnSr5uV0b86BNltrBZDUKhhV4WwQmA29syI6iVOAqe8Np7ew03we_9VVPqZcFJYW2jC3/s1500/IMG_7062.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbtdIVvTSQ7lfjLfhzqesdpH2kFdQuR0wAnMI2dGc5HpnXzJpCcXLraJg6lvCr_jUiWtHSObpRhRR6yPQWTeKddJL955LeTchzYn1J-x-wtNocMDHHd5d3wwSGnSr5uV0b86BNltrBZDUKhhV4WwQmA29syI6iVOAqe8Np7ew03we_9VVPqZcFJYW2jC3/w480-h640/IMG_7062.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I opted for a good old fashioned adventure ride. New country, new trails, low miles, big vert.</div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmfO0KFgxNnYEyVyCqNs0V9sgp5d3ExPTlYgPSd7GJLLPo3iq6pKrVK4YhfcZvFQb7KGKAXx4ZD08mSIbkwjvbgec_5vmraruk3BlY1VSdzAECbEfnNUiwqSVVvUnShAWaTdBBcP5IOv8m4wcuPPJEQJxSNv3KotQKkV0bTr4Q09JgmY_FPT-3UTpPeeG/s2500/IMG_7065.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="2500" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmfO0KFgxNnYEyVyCqNs0V9sgp5d3ExPTlYgPSd7GJLLPo3iq6pKrVK4YhfcZvFQb7KGKAXx4ZD08mSIbkwjvbgec_5vmraruk3BlY1VSdzAECbEfnNUiwqSVVvUnShAWaTdBBcP5IOv8m4wcuPPJEQJxSNv3KotQKkV0bTr4Q09JgmY_FPT-3UTpPeeG/w640-h148/IMG_7065.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSjKV6oVWnLmzjl1OVwZUUgO2qPsRca_kzoBSImWRfIY4h4XXKpnXLdKhlQJonQWdwUeBUv76iz8IQuBGCKH4DeojI99SC1lWK7WcS1yPpAZnurtogHWo0Bh_Gi4YNWPSMcdVuidBuHTDXk8DqSC0aiJy0s73e6ZZke3H5OyK76Vo6ZtLOi_B3AusDTPo/s1500/IMG_7070.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSjKV6oVWnLmzjl1OVwZUUgO2qPsRca_kzoBSImWRfIY4h4XXKpnXLdKhlQJonQWdwUeBUv76iz8IQuBGCKH4DeojI99SC1lWK7WcS1yPpAZnurtogHWo0Bh_Gi4YNWPSMcdVuidBuHTDXk8DqSC0aiJy0s73e6ZZke3H5OyK76Vo6ZtLOi_B3AusDTPo/w640-h480/IMG_7070.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p style="text-align: center;">I was rewarded for my efforts with enormous views, a dabble with snowline, an hour of unbroken descending. Except - <i>you know</i> - when I took breaks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvnfWkNvUGIt6F29SEguwNaoCnkYKOb6V2c11YZloIvJXfzS6DwzzvelYG3w_yPeeF-9jLPYEnkjeH4JWIk6VEB6T_p1S5tvcMVNcwK3LyQuZiOr_PGiPfbENnqxMtI4qAcFmZGDGCEdM1k9FaL7SU-dkcvNvp5BxcuRi6FGkFY1MNhtLQ0G9OaOP9x-8/s1500/IMG_7071.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvnfWkNvUGIt6F29SEguwNaoCnkYKOb6V2c11YZloIvJXfzS6DwzzvelYG3w_yPeeF-9jLPYEnkjeH4JWIk6VEB6T_p1S5tvcMVNcwK3LyQuZiOr_PGiPfbENnqxMtI4qAcFmZGDGCEdM1k9FaL7SU-dkcvNvp5BxcuRi6FGkFY1MNhtLQ0G9OaOP9x-8/w640-h360/IMG_7071.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9idrGzVOWVN0AUIyWtqqVYxmroluL3I_7fbUW_YL_sILaq1H6YjoQSB6HCnlbO_iRpRD5GfTdtEkqMRg6I2DJ20DPHssFXbESf_bTc70_9BJxrLkV6B8h-KMMlYs5buAJU8I4iK5_2lh4qFkoewrUNAN2MoKSuhTghyUzLE3b7DDjyI2Z2azwpSrNhEpQ/s1500/IMG_7074.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9idrGzVOWVN0AUIyWtqqVYxmroluL3I_7fbUW_YL_sILaq1H6YjoQSB6HCnlbO_iRpRD5GfTdtEkqMRg6I2DJ20DPHssFXbESf_bTc70_9BJxrLkV6B8h-KMMlYs5buAJU8I4iK5_2lh4qFkoewrUNAN2MoKSuhTghyUzLE3b7DDjyI2Z2azwpSrNhEpQ/w640-h480/IMG_7074.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Absent human company I shared lunch with the squirrels and views with the birds. I saw no bears nor wolves, but scat, sign, and an occasional preternatural silence told me they knew right where I was.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCO7hFo231xnEYICquQxceI4gM3NsBR0YphL8hZKsNNey00ToO6dhNqDM5rHFXzquyb3ocdv4LkFvApqP6Fv9YC0CiMBWTgQFnIPOnuvQasLyM3qkigLmMCa-o2EuxM3LfLP0nnUTmXxT_jwi_InpZGRPmz289p7qdOinTR_Ermo0buD3lHY7wyBUo6hD/s1500/IMG_7080.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCO7hFo231xnEYICquQxceI4gM3NsBR0YphL8hZKsNNey00ToO6dhNqDM5rHFXzquyb3ocdv4LkFvApqP6Fv9YC0CiMBWTgQFnIPOnuvQasLyM3qkigLmMCa-o2EuxM3LfLP0nnUTmXxT_jwi_InpZGRPmz289p7qdOinTR_Ermo0buD3lHY7wyBUo6hD/w640-h480/IMG_7080.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0fofbzzrJMWRST7j8Rg7C2fGTT0vBUWnH2yR9PPuwW5l0ghunBcWUzuCHPdeRDMSY6RCm9gL4zLiU69w45xkHFcbS1yVFma03NaFhTZxkAPaK3loZtBG-v8COkrbvDWeplXfJPBkuP83XX5CPRTKPgjvt1lw7hZ1uZ2J5nW8mG4vFNS077_7W0Vad0pB/s1500/IMG_7085.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0fofbzzrJMWRST7j8Rg7C2fGTT0vBUWnH2yR9PPuwW5l0ghunBcWUzuCHPdeRDMSY6RCm9gL4zLiU69w45xkHFcbS1yVFma03NaFhTZxkAPaK3loZtBG-v8COkrbvDWeplXfJPBkuP83XX5CPRTKPgjvt1lw7hZ1uZ2J5nW8mG4vFNS077_7W0Vad0pB/w640-h360/IMG_7085.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The quality of the light, the pervasiveness and fecundity of the scents, the unstated urgency underlying autumn rides always put a fine point on what otherwise would still be a very fine point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FKHqZmNjl0SWTP1g8ZejiiuvWy-FaUfzuzO5vazo0XVI0L7B-qOhNctW5NDpZpSahP_KOTpL3f772vMl_LTU-Vyldu33E5jqc_wpSzZ3fWA2b_yezLZrN9ERUtK_bd7GLnWz0KEod0lNtN61vJZpJa563Zm1FWSgxqOjWhoZyj2P3j1m27qjXbivUZGf/s1500/IMG_7098.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FKHqZmNjl0SWTP1g8ZejiiuvWy-FaUfzuzO5vazo0XVI0L7B-qOhNctW5NDpZpSahP_KOTpL3f772vMl_LTU-Vyldu33E5jqc_wpSzZ3fWA2b_yezLZrN9ERUtK_bd7GLnWz0KEod0lNtN61vJZpJa563Zm1FWSgxqOjWhoZyj2P3j1m27qjXbivUZGf/w480-h640/IMG_7098.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH1DmdPN2Aay8fchVQSnlwZLXwXQRHs6jKSh8aNIGpFVxVec7Cx0cMpTtokAMNzynFCn-_UVZRaw3YfV8AMCCNjKTY2aIqG4Hd-cH1s7b9qgTLVwTIiKYWcrAh8WT-Q2MlXuMdQO8n1tdEBeZpeBPMrZkTSmCWvEdPCpPOpf-HoA4rBZcpXdKJIzUJzhf/s2500/IMG_7037.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="2500" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH1DmdPN2Aay8fchVQSnlwZLXwXQRHs6jKSh8aNIGpFVxVec7Cx0cMpTtokAMNzynFCn-_UVZRaw3YfV8AMCCNjKTY2aIqG4Hd-cH1s7b9qgTLVwTIiKYWcrAh8WT-Q2MlXuMdQO8n1tdEBeZpeBPMrZkTSmCWvEdPCpPOpf-HoA4rBZcpXdKJIzUJzhf/w640-h208/IMG_7037.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So glad to have gotten out. Now, to split that wood...</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for checkin' in.</span></span></p></span></span><div><span style="background-color: #121212; caret-color: rgb(211, 211, 211); color: lightgrey; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 19.125px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-37068364621563836822023-10-12T11:52:00.000-06:002023-10-12T11:52:04.173-06:00A ride, recently: New way.<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wanting to be immersed in the outside as fall steamrolls through, I chose to go camp and ride in a new-to-me, off-the-beaten-path place last weekend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6F6QMUUXHUBiFHcQABfgTI8KoyQPShFjKHLkLKymVixySjL_CWfISu4NOOfpGcguTENGn-0gF-2yinuGN7FqOTqaiu0CCb4WCr7Bk6nA7jBKIPppkH0KCF9C4QRIOPX-DPOqV_K-pspsa0RAofgzMn7N0yDcsrg1tMAbNvIM74QGGCMaL33peGUY1VzMG/s1500/IMG_6890.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6F6QMUUXHUBiFHcQABfgTI8KoyQPShFjKHLkLKymVixySjL_CWfISu4NOOfpGcguTENGn-0gF-2yinuGN7FqOTqaiu0CCb4WCr7Bk6nA7jBKIPppkH0KCF9C4QRIOPX-DPOqV_K-pspsa0RAofgzMn7N0yDcsrg1tMAbNvIM74QGGCMaL33peGUY1VzMG/w640-h360/IMG_6890.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The destination? Hank Miller put it best: "<i>...never a place but a new way of looking at things.</i>"</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZP_qUwgBYnxEwsz77NRyFdrCEWakEKjLMgwtRD1P6EIG_OldZRFpQED_oyj9_M961JqgVS09eotrxKx8lXqVvbMLMCYc22UUTgezIzKbhn88RLDGAON3JZkAKJXzgbAroQvVru7GCH8GF4H_PqoOrzcz5DfBvwTcfq6uPhyQmIG5jXhJa1nWhhiK8H3eS/s1500/IMG_6892.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZP_qUwgBYnxEwsz77NRyFdrCEWakEKjLMgwtRD1P6EIG_OldZRFpQED_oyj9_M961JqgVS09eotrxKx8lXqVvbMLMCYc22UUTgezIzKbhn88RLDGAON3JZkAKJXzgbAroQvVru7GCH8GF4H_PqoOrzcz5DfBvwTcfq6uPhyQmIG5jXhJa1nWhhiK8H3eS/w480-h640/IMG_6892.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">We're at the height of Phase One Fall, with the land and animals at the zenith of their health, accumulated energy, and aesthetic beauty.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZW9XQ97kPZAXIHGcQQhxz92326H_RVviJ-L1FJ8KZee2d4vi_TZ0TfIh4GmXuKfsiwYOVbRiW7F25ppX11-1jatDJackc4eROdGk29IgQU8qgqdquQS8-f5_Spo8UX5ClSlMtVYOZgasP4utvoC8nxK59gPUzy95ZLTyP6B_Ru8u_lT_6FKl4MpwjnCF/s1500/IMG_6897.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZW9XQ97kPZAXIHGcQQhxz92326H_RVviJ-L1FJ8KZee2d4vi_TZ0TfIh4GmXuKfsiwYOVbRiW7F25ppX11-1jatDJackc4eROdGk29IgQU8qgqdquQS8-f5_Spo8UX5ClSlMtVYOZgasP4utvoC8nxK59gPUzy95ZLTyP6B_Ru8u_lT_6FKl4MpwjnCF/w640-h360/IMG_6897.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No better way to experience it than inhaling it from atop a saddle.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzN3BX-PjeB2SBHORXl1VoKx8IYouGnf2crS6QTYWzPksSkzMX2Nq2mIgBAfAj6p4X7WZ9OZKdapPOnXLHngNi7Lj9_7bkzgJcA3R1HVrSw2MSrSMdzKHlBV2touI9YwWx895yB08F4wsgbA2cnvBnqY4LoB2hZkf3qFYcVTKxvTsSh5UXdfC86tmBAaQS/s1500/IMG_6924.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzN3BX-PjeB2SBHORXl1VoKx8IYouGnf2crS6QTYWzPksSkzMX2Nq2mIgBAfAj6p4X7WZ9OZKdapPOnXLHngNi7Lj9_7bkzgJcA3R1HVrSw2MSrSMdzKHlBV2touI9YwWx895yB08F4wsgbA2cnvBnqY4LoB2hZkf3qFYcVTKxvTsSh5UXdfC86tmBAaQS/w640-h480/IMG_6924.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilExgNSAljT2toP4qgImdN7qm87xGHBtVPQMvlsJjNa2UJ8BiJNvRq7OstpQgoJKrFfFzB_fnJsXM5mBzk5y7MF76oFfHm5_6N0RXDc6FHG0WurBet299mPkkhW86RvfylaUmIaW3F54kvP8B8zMVu5IIeebpYxRaNwGOqFKMUfn57KVLzA5fypQo9ztC2/s1500/IMG_6973.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilExgNSAljT2toP4qgImdN7qm87xGHBtVPQMvlsJjNa2UJ8BiJNvRq7OstpQgoJKrFfFzB_fnJsXM5mBzk5y7MF76oFfHm5_6N0RXDc6FHG0WurBet299mPkkhW86RvfylaUmIaW3F54kvP8B8zMVu5IIeebpYxRaNwGOqFKMUfn57KVLzA5fypQo9ztC2/w640-h360/IMG_6973.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">When I wasn't ogling cerulean skies, granitic intrusions, and xanthophyllic pigments I was keenly aware of the proximity to Stage Two Fall: That moment in time when the pretty colors, friendly temps, and hero dirt are gone. When a guy needs to make sure he has enough wood put up for winter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCGsAdmNrupD8OjdEISPZXGUNxPeoZHcCG_Mhdpl3qCIsQ8oyYRGcsk8bL6cqgJQETt1tTlml8y-l_wyVehdsxxEnEx9cYO2g9beZjUJrylAh3M06txfzj34H7giZrEiFndQGo-k1KfHB4hpFKBbdycJoJ6QYjAdjCmN6hAPu1CG1iVK8y8phmnYYlFhK/s1500/IMG_6929.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCGsAdmNrupD8OjdEISPZXGUNxPeoZHcCG_Mhdpl3qCIsQ8oyYRGcsk8bL6cqgJQETt1tTlml8y-l_wyVehdsxxEnEx9cYO2g9beZjUJrylAh3M06txfzj34H7giZrEiFndQGo-k1KfHB4hpFKBbdycJoJ6QYjAdjCmN6hAPu1CG1iVK8y8phmnYYlFhK/w640-h480/IMG_6929.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few days of rain and nights below freezing are all that stand between us and Stage Two.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXKqDXxvwiBX8lCVlB21CcNihSZozTHpda912kk4uj_zxQQbzVGsFZCN3lIetmvcMyKPY7La4rROjT6oJEZXixfFZlFcqUVVnSSHQrADP9p1lrL9wE96EHiPFv5AbzsKosbo9OmEh1y38ebx9ZcZhDYLOek9KuETNo2pfkp6a_WGgCZY2fLgvhWujModb/s4000/IMG_6942.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="4000" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXKqDXxvwiBX8lCVlB21CcNihSZozTHpda912kk4uj_zxQQbzVGsFZCN3lIetmvcMyKPY7La4rROjT6oJEZXixfFZlFcqUVVnSSHQrADP9p1lrL9wE96EHiPFv5AbzsKosbo9OmEh1y38ebx9ZcZhDYLOek9KuETNo2pfkp6a_WGgCZY2fLgvhWujModb/w640-h184/IMG_6942.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN65Gjo4BlzCGG5jP5viquO8T8NlVNtY88XqduOFZDTzsmaK9cHv-aEo-t5mUbNj8arUIzvaEJiTNmDMqMaKMRMTMjj-LnlE4UzcESj0yuGPj9fPkL0VUYnN8YzBh3Kgji3RWoN3rv8v9m_q70rAa5yINOaXKEeT5MLdTXPPdqgZ0bEtkGJ2Iy9xpQOEm_/s1500/IMG_6938.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN65Gjo4BlzCGG5jP5viquO8T8NlVNtY88XqduOFZDTzsmaK9cHv-aEo-t5mUbNj8arUIzvaEJiTNmDMqMaKMRMTMjj-LnlE4UzcESj0yuGPj9fPkL0VUYnN8YzBh3Kgji3RWoN3rv8v9m_q70rAa5yINOaXKEeT5MLdTXPPdqgZ0bEtkGJ2Iy9xpQOEm_/w640-h480/IMG_6938.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Savoring the now, but sharpening saws and axes to prepare for the then.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfbHgf3nhrHMy_hGy74Wlw4dh7N1AsSsbgLNn27FzjRg-cMmoJxfDo12AgjsfxgZprTqJiDZHHtovuMPB1aLpfx-pFaQ_4YDXNx3WShLu-NC-y6LdlPSznS79jbKnWMxW6MTX42IwTSWbWAzthVgt2cJknJllw_2ffduIch282W9rdTWYG5mr-ZyzBr93/s1500/IMG_6952.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfbHgf3nhrHMy_hGy74Wlw4dh7N1AsSsbgLNn27FzjRg-cMmoJxfDo12AgjsfxgZprTqJiDZHHtovuMPB1aLpfx-pFaQ_4YDXNx3WShLu-NC-y6LdlPSznS79jbKnWMxW6MTX42IwTSWbWAzthVgt2cJknJllw_2ffduIch282W9rdTWYG5mr-ZyzBr93/w640-h360/IMG_6952.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjED42piDmrAVHhZJAYkpbxwNZYNDJGvTg5fVytEM77shyphenhyphenqeR5kTmMp0B2qMIZXOWbVKTpKz5G3P2iRBql8_yDJOrpkdlZjjk7ObZW8B5nYQuiJXnEu2n0UM160iqyQe35fw3Q4nGZo8kyMYObKTpGuqdg1C_LdlDeSMz7AeG1C4R4OuNJqGPNmp2B6vH0V/s1500/IMG_6961.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjED42piDmrAVHhZJAYkpbxwNZYNDJGvTg5fVytEM77shyphenhyphenqeR5kTmMp0B2qMIZXOWbVKTpKz5G3P2iRBql8_yDJOrpkdlZjjk7ObZW8B5nYQuiJXnEu2n0UM160iqyQe35fw3Q4nGZo8kyMYObKTpGuqdg1C_LdlDeSMz7AeG1C4R4OuNJqGPNmp2B6vH0V/w480-h640/IMG_6961.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for checkin' in.</div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-17371510975712536472023-10-02T21:37:00.002-06:002023-10-03T18:00:21.899-06:00On the plateau.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After living, playing, exploring on the Colorado Plateau for more than a quarter of a century -- and then abruptly moving away -- I sort of expected it'd feel strange to visit as a tourist. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvJ4CTANNPyRP5jEDT9zBDkIb3c4OSur0fIwC7jCO_Mn_SZgnmW6vzu3Y2a9SIp1nqF7LSNGanWtmZFcxXs8CJD-DXdA7N3HtDH-8Dmc_W-0SUDFTCRPQC7oWK1c27udJF2FGnTRbwyUgeNyVO5RtOY7IXx5lcuITxwu3xWlzKu7aFnJKd774o_eCeuuEM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvJ4CTANNPyRP5jEDT9zBDkIb3c4OSur0fIwC7jCO_Mn_SZgnmW6vzu3Y2a9SIp1nqF7LSNGanWtmZFcxXs8CJD-DXdA7N3HtDH-8Dmc_W-0SUDFTCRPQC7oWK1c27udJF2FGnTRbwyUgeNyVO5RtOY7IXx5lcuITxwu3xWlzKu7aFnJKd774o_eCeuuEM=w640-h428" width="640" /></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigmurY27EAP9_7oofNF6o1PpSVwW2sNw8xGMj8tu_xm-p5rIHmubUR-TqCZMVRC_tSAyrYVlnuwDqVDzq40k1ClgdytHYbNxY3211OM1hm3zSkiRO5x2NZ0JM0m5ABaWnwl3RlPpbi-gSCD4lQfCDmuv-JRtZC4GiEO2A8f5is4JPVFPrvzLUJkxNtzCVU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigmurY27EAP9_7oofNF6o1PpSVwW2sNw8xGMj8tu_xm-p5rIHmubUR-TqCZMVRC_tSAyrYVlnuwDqVDzq40k1ClgdytHYbNxY3211OM1hm3zSkiRO5x2NZ0JM0m5ABaWnwl3RlPpbi-gSCD4lQfCDmuv-JRtZC4GiEO2A8f5is4JPVFPrvzLUJkxNtzCVU=w480-h640" width="480" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe-N855J_2oCbWYUoKZ38GNed0KNSfAXjhx5YbK5-rpgIRHA27Q9k1PNIvFvYCP-1lpNSIBnfM2_kXtK_s9csLZDds3tNGwd1EUx7_4-v3ujZkqc_yEXODFKYyuMgDMSwk2kLZTDaQPZl08ojFgeHrs3Z9J9619Z7-3Bh8JUvT0HryNSeEwSvq3z_R0LU5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="1800" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe-N855J_2oCbWYUoKZ38GNed0KNSfAXjhx5YbK5-rpgIRHA27Q9k1PNIvFvYCP-1lpNSIBnfM2_kXtK_s9csLZDds3tNGwd1EUx7_4-v3ujZkqc_yEXODFKYyuMgDMSwk2kLZTDaQPZl08ojFgeHrs3Z9J9619Z7-3Bh8JUvT0HryNSeEwSvq3z_R0LU5=w640-h304" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Would I have to park way far out away from my favorite mall entrances? Would I still be able to pedal at elevation? Would my library card still work?!***</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2J4V4LfPcwYyLyYj-SGwTW0RcEFvY2sWFvp3paHJA-TPWjSp6QKgBp-MJKBkdUAagd_Aym_-tsdNgDzuDYXfNBnmkuGYclBvsc0PGcqxkpxD-89QS3593005nc0XgG-jzvwyVm_YdF7Lm8HbMJFGQkhqfXzucnKKUJuhXRg9pEu_TpaWkgsUun9mSGfv6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2J4V4LfPcwYyLyYj-SGwTW0RcEFvY2sWFvp3paHJA-TPWjSp6QKgBp-MJKBkdUAagd_Aym_-tsdNgDzuDYXfNBnmkuGYclBvsc0PGcqxkpxD-89QS3593005nc0XgG-jzvwyVm_YdF7Lm8HbMJFGQkhqfXzucnKKUJuhXRg9pEu_TpaWkgsUun9mSGfv6=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh97qfEAT4P_xYSMBmqzvj-o679SkDU5t72wx4T-4HxXbw_VTK-1pesHEoT7wY7L1ErMKBXv01MAmHTN0jXh5hT5sPifAeRgEoU3Pep5O3OziiYG1514O0TSPD_K9jw6wHtX6oNuGYucVBvlAskS9H-mYtYX1qHeDNi-6ANqxm4acDVJ9zMazFAP4V2MAEM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh97qfEAT4P_xYSMBmqzvj-o679SkDU5t72wx4T-4HxXbw_VTK-1pesHEoT7wY7L1ErMKBXv01MAmHTN0jXh5hT5sPifAeRgEoU3Pep5O3OziiYG1514O0TSPD_K9jw6wHtX6oNuGYucVBvlAskS9H-mYtYX1qHeDNi-6ANqxm4acDVJ9zMazFAP4V2MAEM=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Heady questions, those. Answers below.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVVRZi_T1u5h8ZIlfbYsaDt7hUQaT4kcbsZECAW5CHwb-bsiNBUzlsEAm4sZ4RvX_VgkIxrQJvf5ItzAQcUWlxLqOiCHZ30UkyuPel6Hk7DG5cHKwlodAdG1BT18RX9nKbpOn2RtBAbdX08zqNUQQzTotFMxAJwkO0Zv23OHpUkQFCVu9pWO9p-5p-cSpL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVVRZi_T1u5h8ZIlfbYsaDt7hUQaT4kcbsZECAW5CHwb-bsiNBUzlsEAm4sZ4RvX_VgkIxrQJvf5ItzAQcUWlxLqOiCHZ30UkyuPel6Hk7DG5cHKwlodAdG1BT18RX9nKbpOn2RtBAbdX08zqNUQQzTotFMxAJwkO0Zv23OHpUkQFCVu9pWO9p-5p-cSpL=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy94kY2kD2TO0tsxVZTKZ9Tqe7vj7SCX_wHJl03uO2w1UL53npvGNXp2SfFIbX3v_HroCZPMGDbRG5wBeGUvxl0gFXniqkl0oMdTEmy-M_0KxPGoMNE7Q4TtgGN9tpT4yst--2tCjJeknFFxFySHbYkC-9aeUjKcCkk-vOch6D9Jvc86VEvG6DMFp-iMJ1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy94kY2kD2TO0tsxVZTKZ9Tqe7vj7SCX_wHJl03uO2w1UL53npvGNXp2SfFIbX3v_HroCZPMGDbRG5wBeGUvxl0gFXniqkl0oMdTEmy-M_0KxPGoMNE7Q4TtgGN9tpT4yst--2tCjJeknFFxFySHbYkC-9aeUjKcCkk-vOch6D9Jvc86VEvG6DMFp-iMJ1=w640-h428" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Turns out that visiting a former home ends up mostly being about seeing old friends both literal and figurative. It was wonderful -- <i>therapeutic</i> even -- to reconnect with the people, mountains, and canyons we hold dear.</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaopxmBMWhtNrJmtxL4H1NKVnEsSgfGmLng9Hsjb2P_dPztwxIAQHI0J_KtHYidsXgjU8MxajPE-Y-3N8UgRWecNfpYqEdoIbNQgq4vw4GcTaYevB9O5HEC-DRCqu9S6g_RQ2LrRlOb0tK-kYTOrZOwO_EmCuAqjUS4EePc-I4h7nKhCkoc1jvEP-OD-Lp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaopxmBMWhtNrJmtxL4H1NKVnEsSgfGmLng9Hsjb2P_dPztwxIAQHI0J_KtHYidsXgjU8MxajPE-Y-3N8UgRWecNfpYqEdoIbNQgq4vw4GcTaYevB9O5HEC-DRCqu9S6g_RQ2LrRlOb0tK-kYTOrZOwO_EmCuAqjUS4EePc-I4h7nKhCkoc1jvEP-OD-Lp=w640-h428" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6wgC74GgD4cw9mLR0HhcipIcA_QhZwQ3tdTuP6XSYLwgwVU3jS7MTTHoi_Yn3jqyz8cLooH1Ukx1DBfMTkZlrBiy_8Y-rqByER7GoOa-ANMwLReAzie0zxwMShlq9XZBmdhgFQFR2vfjMXoqFMc2oTWQVv_z7p2ka1CSHv57_fUym6dbKvEKqufVOnSjw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1500" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6wgC74GgD4cw9mLR0HhcipIcA_QhZwQ3tdTuP6XSYLwgwVU3jS7MTTHoi_Yn3jqyz8cLooH1Ukx1DBfMTkZlrBiy_8Y-rqByER7GoOa-ANMwLReAzie0zxwMShlq9XZBmdhgFQFR2vfjMXoqFMc2oTWQVv_z7p2ka1CSHv57_fUym6dbKvEKqufVOnSjw=w640-h392" width="640" /></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And at the same time it was nice to add new places to the repertoire. More variations on the theme than bonafide new, but after 25+ years of actively poking noses into every unexplored corner available, you take what you can get.</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiotkzv0j1h789hUCxcqumQ7XP1weGIsun_Q-VxNPmu7MGf-0dTBmbYtAVArban8tmUGD3ws6r5LpVbxxDASxYFIz8rEof0rZRj6hGPdi-K_NDbK_DsZQGKfJTopwG7wpICWFFBtPhtWu7ABnn4AkjPelGZo32JgmLe3GC6-4ywYqlQnRAf3ZU6fJHlyONx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiotkzv0j1h789hUCxcqumQ7XP1weGIsun_Q-VxNPmu7MGf-0dTBmbYtAVArban8tmUGD3ws6r5LpVbxxDASxYFIz8rEof0rZRj6hGPdi-K_NDbK_DsZQGKfJTopwG7wpICWFFBtPhtWu7ABnn4AkjPelGZo32JgmLe3GC6-4ywYqlQnRAf3ZU6fJHlyONx=w640-h428" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNtkSNsQyUaBAWhjlX9fSvMk2uUW6q0GW47Dzze5I-ycztRLsMlUmcJGzaV4jfUnv3X8MfXrlQ_-4z2ocIegwYUBTmWY7gGocPxDVvaCo2dbMxThENgEIJR4q-Bhvvza_xpDheXuYnvKHZBwlu9GCcb-7svUjIyDoglUb1-DSBmcqp_Q1Vkxz9cLbhjuXW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNtkSNsQyUaBAWhjlX9fSvMk2uUW6q0GW47Dzze5I-ycztRLsMlUmcJGzaV4jfUnv3X8MfXrlQ_-4z2ocIegwYUBTmWY7gGocPxDVvaCo2dbMxThENgEIJR4q-Bhvvza_xpDheXuYnvKHZBwlu9GCcb-7svUjIyDoglUb1-DSBmcqp_Q1Vkxz9cLbhjuXW=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I came away with a newfound appreciation for how much I need -- crave even -- the scents of autumn <i>there</i>. Fresh leaf litter melding into existing layers of leaf mold. That distinctive, <i>sharp</i>, indescribable odor of sun-warmed gneiss. The<i> sneeze-and-you-missed-it</i> moment when the moist pungency of spruce loam gives way to the urgency of a radiating aspen grove. I'd even missed the sickly sweet aroma of invasive russian olive just the teeniest bit.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-rsVryRwywzwhroe9ElrotMEbvuSEaj983005MQXDOmiZCNcmOmydaafLzh9VdCnL4-3uW-L3b5GM6MljqHH18P7VjKwwr2FtGXU8Aj4uFL5fud9RMM7NGct3Rini2bLRgW-n8JODVD4E7kUc1BzlsiAMHwIYwoghtjACbsVwHB6xbU-GW7Cg5ype7ylJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-rsVryRwywzwhroe9ElrotMEbvuSEaj983005MQXDOmiZCNcmOmydaafLzh9VdCnL4-3uW-L3b5GM6MljqHH18P7VjKwwr2FtGXU8Aj4uFL5fud9RMM7NGct3Rini2bLRgW-n8JODVD4E7kUc1BzlsiAMHwIYwoghtjACbsVwHB6xbU-GW7Cg5ype7ylJ=w640-h428" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK7xpoV5kT_Cb_tZYRmk7tiGoXg5fHBxDikQH1et0_i5301wiaAkZaGa2qGFNy3cge0uQ_bzskO7cBPeAwgxnrn1X4FestVPfx8JzoTzUw3GBuCSEs-YSpcJm48Jf6CTqZrM0wbJYzZ_M-ozXMMXlB1d_vMVhP5jvlkIBvkK0-NgPo0XKHjiZTDr1x1b4C" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK7xpoV5kT_Cb_tZYRmk7tiGoXg5fHBxDikQH1et0_i5301wiaAkZaGa2qGFNy3cge0uQ_bzskO7cBPeAwgxnrn1X4FestVPfx8JzoTzUw3GBuCSEs-YSpcJm48Jf6CTqZrM0wbJYzZ_M-ozXMMXlB1d_vMVhP5jvlkIBvkK0-NgPo0XKHjiZTDr1x1b4C=w427-h640" width="427" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX5ZRFrdRtDREMLuQ4DBIgqhCr4ALYB9iRSIl5jVcoGr6nsNsSv8n7LO-JpMRK-jZ74kA5icauapt1r413FdmS3gARQAmTVZh7PaMQh_Q9bpIQW3qCp7iRzBcQhDCP5273H12k74-zoYa8o8RMAGlVrZSBNiUacAugjow8OhRdAD2BNzD_rZKUQjhsVOy4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX5ZRFrdRtDREMLuQ4DBIgqhCr4ALYB9iRSIl5jVcoGr6nsNsSv8n7LO-JpMRK-jZ74kA5icauapt1r413FdmS3gARQAmTVZh7PaMQh_Q9bpIQW3qCp7iRzBcQhDCP5273H12k74-zoYa8o8RMAGlVrZSBNiUacAugjow8OhRdAD2BNzD_rZKUQjhsVOy4=w640-h428" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of all the sensory data I collected in my week on the plateau, the most surprising was not how much I'd missed the olfactory sensations -- indeed I'd hardly thought about them while enjoying those of our new home -- but how greedy I became for the remembered smells of the plateau while there. <i>Greedy:</i> such that I inhaled compulsively with every twist and turn of trail, to the extent that my climbing speed suffered. More than normal I mean... And I had to continually, consciously remind myself at every horizon line to <i>sloooooow down</i> and get my breathing in check and focus *only* on the line, at least til the pool at the bottom.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcCZTmbKhWgkwwr251zEHIEn1mtdO-DkIGKZ90pVlwkdCKkMx9KfqHVFijqu8mRKBBEOtwd4y9zcJbbVttUhHnFDK_QVGs8w4eb44UHWypNvTlhZNNTPmkZp0W3EULdia0iO8iN7Qrfpn-ySqC3gbP4H791kpDnM4fW4MTa0ZIh3dDFdCVuFx1eOqe7-0u" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcCZTmbKhWgkwwr251zEHIEn1mtdO-DkIGKZ90pVlwkdCKkMx9KfqHVFijqu8mRKBBEOtwd4y9zcJbbVttUhHnFDK_QVGs8w4eb44UHWypNvTlhZNNTPmkZp0W3EULdia0iO8iN7Qrfpn-ySqC3gbP4H791kpDnM4fW4MTa0ZIh3dDFdCVuFx1eOqe7-0u=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizJ7geX0fvy7tnEVjAXbfEvxBElGEkZ4Hx_OqOwYPGCP_QRg7PNp-hL_Hq7KOwW-FpNt7FltJ9exEZDF7y7eSQYV9eadft6Cctu-qhGeW4TgFSGqmu1Z3up2NezFrcRT11kHs2Nc0L0G1aQMAK0eBAj-JsvY0gZKUlXHgLn4uiv4df5bwTIteWs0jMSQSH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizJ7geX0fvy7tnEVjAXbfEvxBElGEkZ4Hx_OqOwYPGCP_QRg7PNp-hL_Hq7KOwW-FpNt7FltJ9exEZDF7y7eSQYV9eadft6Cctu-qhGeW4TgFSGqmu1Z3up2NezFrcRT11kHs2Nc0L0G1aQMAK0eBAj-JsvY0gZKUlXHgLn4uiv4df5bwTIteWs0jMSQSH=w427-h640" width="427" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Despite ~50 years of actively trying to avoid poison ivy before waddling through it, I still haven't found a way to prevent incidental contact. It gives off no odor that I'm aware of, not that it'd much matter if it did: On the river we descended sometimes you have no choice but to wade straight through it while portaging around certain death. A week of itching seems an acceptable tithe.</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyqA85i2MIj5wPlyc99Zpyw5_qlh9nffrbj5iuwyF2TsbpPx9md5OBzZnhonnTSyui65qNeyG2DfJ7wBrQUybYUHbzpmoI0IniTyu0Ccplu9XhMGkMi4dinP42lgVSoolvgpWlew26faHdCbId3NqdsZl2Tqy1OYANZgk73tgzde2pMWgrLK9HuIISJaPq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyqA85i2MIj5wPlyc99Zpyw5_qlh9nffrbj5iuwyF2TsbpPx9md5OBzZnhonnTSyui65qNeyG2DfJ7wBrQUybYUHbzpmoI0IniTyu0Ccplu9XhMGkMi4dinP42lgVSoolvgpWlew26faHdCbId3NqdsZl2Tqy1OYANZgk73tgzde2pMWgrLK9HuIISJaPq=w469-h640" width="469" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A few days removed and the scents and scenes are already blurring into those dusty corners they'll occupy within my melon. But the satisfaction of spending time with the important people and places has/will not.</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifl8covn8a6zT-OShJfDeWZrU0s_9VFMKScgMAbjMYIZg2Zq2wljQQOkhIDVMdSA09ceI5ocOGnQFT6lLnfZKZ1lemC-EMGBGrppUMENLn4MG2NNky4YKRchrtFk44ykd8dgIzZzcxrufklyPD9NQEP38Vwu5h2EPKLvwBDseTgnUo91C5bJst9JJbQ5f-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1500" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifl8covn8a6zT-OShJfDeWZrU0s_9VFMKScgMAbjMYIZg2Zq2wljQQOkhIDVMdSA09ceI5ocOGnQFT6lLnfZKZ1lemC-EMGBGrppUMENLn4MG2NNky4YKRchrtFk44ykd8dgIzZzcxrufklyPD9NQEP38Vwu5h2EPKLvwBDseTgnUo91C5bJst9JJbQ5f-=w640-h364" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thanks for checkin' in.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">*** C'mon. Kinda. Dunno.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-37615054961347558992023-09-05T21:11:00.003-06:002023-09-30T15:47:33.767-06:00Fresh metal.<p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I took delivery of a new bike last week: A 60mm travel softtail dubbed the <i>Miser</i>, built by Meriwether.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Below is some backstory on the what and why.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNHxC2uNQEXexkWn_fhBLRDnGX_UBZclt81dZArDX2_-M-9NxzsQRSUMhbL-LHQlBEl7vquIycnsqtg3-39a5a276mKFKQYwLj_LDyjKdCJHmgE8oZSEeg234cdfK3c_bmSmdvUzGOX35dogz6seOVfvFkqXszTSMv47sntOqR1eVVZUB-xq2smuaf4oAl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNHxC2uNQEXexkWn_fhBLRDnGX_UBZclt81dZArDX2_-M-9NxzsQRSUMhbL-LHQlBEl7vquIycnsqtg3-39a5a276mKFKQYwLj_LDyjKdCJHmgE8oZSEeg234cdfK3c_bmSmdvUzGOX35dogz6seOVfvFkqXszTSMv47sntOqR1eVVZUB-xq2smuaf4oAl=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For the two+ decades that I lived on the Colorado Plateau, a consistent theme underlying the bikes I owned was incremental evolution. Probably a lot like you.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My progression likely only differed in that I switched to 29" wheels sooner than most, but after that decision in '99 I went from 3" travel to 4", then to 5", eventually to 6", and even briefly to 7", before settling back in the 5-6" range for a good long while. Probably a lot like you.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Living on the Colorado Plateau, that 5-6" range is the sweet spot.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Having that amount of travel allows a competent rider to stretch their limits on steep, technical trails and still keep a margin of safety in their hip pocket, all while remaining reasonably light and efficient for a range of ride types.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But since moving to Idaho we haven't found (m)any tech trails. Gobs and gobs of steep ones tho, and by this time of year most of them are loose and rubbly, requiring good drifting and surfing skills. But not techy per se.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As such, I've found less need for more travel.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I've experimented enough to know that if I go smaller than 2.6" on tires I get too beat up to ride back to back days. I simply need more air volume in the tires to keep my body happy. So I spend the bulk of my trail time on 29 x 3.0" tires.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 2020 I rode a 125mm travel bike. It was way overkill.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 2021 I built <a href="https://mikesee.exposure.co/lenzsport-mammoth-2021" style="display: inline; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s;" target="_blank">a 100mm bike</a>. Better, but still overkill.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also have <a href="https://mikesee.exposure.co/the-slingshot-project" style="display: inline; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s;" target="_blank">a hardtail</a> that I enjoy riding when appropriate. But after a few days on it, my neck, shoulders, ankles, and wrists all get creaky and cranky and plead for the forgiveness of FS.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thus, I need more than zero travel, but less than 100mm.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To that end I built up a Trek SuperCaliber and rode it for a few months. 60mm travel. That is a crazy light, efficient, and fast bike. But because it was limited to 2.6" tires, I still got too beat up. Yet the amount of travel felt fine.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I would love nothing more than to be able to swing by a bike shop -- any bike shop -- and buy my preferred bike off the sales floor. Preferably something middle of the road as far as componentry and price. But certain aspects of bike geometry -- reach, rear center, and BB height -- have departed so radically from anything that works in the real world that I inhabit that we're not in the same ballpark, league, or even universe. If I want to enjoy riding my bike, I need to specify the geometry down to the decimal place.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-family: arial;">Which is why in 2022 I had Daryl at Funk Cycles build one of his ubiquitous <a href="https://www.funkcycles.com/29pluslaruta" target="_blank">La Ruta</a> frames for me. 60mm rear travel *and* 3" tires was the goal, with custom-to-me geometry evolved to over 20+ years of previous bike projects.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Daryl delivered exactly what I wanted: A light, nimble climbing machine that was ultra precise when descending. For the rough, steep animaltrack that we most often ride, it was fantastic.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That bike failed only in that I didn't have the foresight to have Daryl build it for both 29 x 3" and 27.5 x 4" tires. I knew within minutes of swinging a leg over it the first time that I needed both. When I cleared my <span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">throat, thanked him profusely, apologized, then asked Daryl if he'd start over and build another (on my dime) that could fit both wheel sizes, I was met with crickets. No response.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Can't hardly blame him.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">So I did what I've done before when I needed something uber-specific, out of the mainstream, unique: I emailed Whit Johnson at <a href="https://meriwethercycles.com" target="_blank">Meriwether</a>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Whit has built 3 <a href="https://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2015/11/brrrrly.html?q=brrrrly" target="_blank">snowbikes</a> for us through the years, as well as took on the <a href="https://mikesee.exposure.co/the-slingshot-project" target="_blank">Slingshot</a> project.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the past ~decade I've learned not just that he's an excellent fabricator, but -- much more importantly -- he's an excellent listener and critical thinker. Fabrication skill is irrelevant if you don't understand the big picture of what your customer is asking for.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1-9DFOFlNhgYcuYdgvN3mo_YbPLUywJxVpQSPVG2x45F5fPFCxu4hfvAWhCxqfpJQFxAInM0NDUvBzEDhDQUIK3XxbfYSRbO-IHDJNPtzEjLJf2bhFgITZzID8btKcMy_L8acIu4PrQdVF4NPE8VCg5wsshb6ZrbeV55jq0jwym6FxC4okenFuBTGl3bi" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1500" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1-9DFOFlNhgYcuYdgvN3mo_YbPLUywJxVpQSPVG2x45F5fPFCxu4hfvAWhCxqfpJQFxAInM0NDUvBzEDhDQUIK3XxbfYSRbO-IHDJNPtzEjLJf2bhFgITZzID8btKcMy_L8acIu4PrQdVF4NPE8VCg5wsshb6ZrbeV55jq0jwym6FxC4okenFuBTGl3bi=w640-h394" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); text-align: start;">Thus followed close to 150 emails </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); text-align: start;">wherein</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); text-align: start;"> Whit asked myriad questions and </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-align: start;">I specified all of the niggling details that matter to me -- not just for rider position but brake mount style, dropout type, HS config, threaded BB, seat tube ID, welded-on seat collar, etc... -- and </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); text-align: start;">wherein he asked me to clarify *why* I wanted what I wanted.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59);">Here's <a href="https://meriwethercycles.com/2023/09/07/the-miser/" target="_blank">Whit's perspective</a> on how this bike came to be.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxV3vBHVyXlC265av0t-D7B2-GKRYytzs5Rf4hLLk-synXy4-GfSo0L7RHEN-j84Aa4md9WrtXwVUcaHZoG8apetl95YLLUASlixrMXmU2unvB7GvLFtVCgVdCP2cnPQgl5La7OoPL81Mv2CDUpVYRi8kN52H0uKNahVPj-TgiWyd4kpt9_d6J0wBe5ciD" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxV3vBHVyXlC265av0t-D7B2-GKRYytzs5Rf4hLLk-synXy4-GfSo0L7RHEN-j84Aa4md9WrtXwVUcaHZoG8apetl95YLLUASlixrMXmU2unvB7GvLFtVCgVdCP2cnPQgl5La7OoPL81Mv2CDUpVYRi8kN52H0uKNahVPj-TgiWyd4kpt9_d6J0wBe5ciD=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">But then -- </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">now</i><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> -- it is built. Pictured </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">immediately </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">above with 29 x 3" tires, and below with 27.5 x 3.8".</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyrkjWDz1B7w4rDYkVt2CK584l5baOF-gii5etOZv98y76AzRCjPB3fYA2uYrE9K79R4UEK0KDlp7YQQ4FFtxvupproQznxecg8hM80lWsfBQfCkvy8qqCIgmstEMo9MxL67K-9qCJGxhFV0HSGQu_RIdI7OW8uGu0JDhcH4laCmYlq9uL1ChErr7ykAEo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyrkjWDz1B7w4rDYkVt2CK584l5baOF-gii5etOZv98y76AzRCjPB3fYA2uYrE9K79R4UEK0KDlp7YQQ4FFtxvupproQznxecg8hM80lWsfBQfCkvy8qqCIgmstEMo9MxL67K-9qCJGxhFV0HSGQu_RIdI7OW8uGu0JDhcH4laCmYlq9uL1ChErr7ykAEo=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp9EqnaknQ1xRTBUSajY8qLkyoMKhSVeaLOGU_rmHm2iO93XebKSmW9-QXYECgRbbypN4DCRZLdF1NYXye8hf5J3D8sxMI50wqFBZMqX8v6sRJuQcu0gbPiHqyoPLP0dbu0rAuIzaKKz3IUO81Dk0IxM8CLWvnY7h_39l9M1AINVOpV7D8x0ZdXd-2v-fe" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp9EqnaknQ1xRTBUSajY8qLkyoMKhSVeaLOGU_rmHm2iO93XebKSmW9-QXYECgRbbypN4DCRZLdF1NYXye8hf5J3D8sxMI50wqFBZMqX8v6sRJuQcu0gbPiHqyoPLP0dbu0rAuIzaKKz3IUO81Dk0IxM8CLWvnY7h_39l9M1AINVOpV7D8x0ZdXd-2v-fe=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial;">I've gotten four good rides on it to fettle and fine tune and thinker on what exactly I have here. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvgOox72g7Yr7Z2Dq_N2cDn9NWHus5KFwlp5Evlo1z7TjgLWFl5ZbR-0sZLTU_9n-6MVePbFq0cC4rJxoI0Xy2JctKg3W8AlTwJJbKz_v4uh6PmKUzoFNXQtiuic0zH7w5sFpuWVdc50yWxqqn1aP_n7OHRT95BVPcjsYMO894DShOsU-NSmqpbERGBjRy" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvgOox72g7Yr7Z2Dq_N2cDn9NWHus5KFwlp5Evlo1z7TjgLWFl5ZbR-0sZLTU_9n-6MVePbFq0cC4rJxoI0Xy2JctKg3W8AlTwJJbKz_v4uh6PmKUzoFNXQtiuic0zH7w5sFpuWVdc50yWxqqn1aP_n7OHRT95BVPcjsYMO894DShOsU-NSmqpbERGBjRy=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just like the Funk that preceded it, the <i>Miser</i> is a<span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> light, nimble, efficient climbing machine that is composed and <i>ultra</i> precise when descending. For the rough, steep animaltrack that we most often ride, it is <i>phantastique</i>. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">As for the build specifics -- read on.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpU96L3rx7cR-1rD00kvuwW4ZyApWbdEH62yHjpaCugP1cz7hdivWnYdARVd1-7AD61NIbwEZDs-AX5cb1b3ZICLM2Q-trXZb4VXq51utv1DrHk8rOiTYEYJV8YmSZcKGRaNbkkXthVO-lUUxSATH3vtn7O5E2eayxxh0Bbp10X2TBzdtMDQP5LJxsVimI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpU96L3rx7cR-1rD00kvuwW4ZyApWbdEH62yHjpaCugP1cz7hdivWnYdARVd1-7AD61NIbwEZDs-AX5cb1b3ZICLM2Q-trXZb4VXq51utv1DrHk8rOiTYEYJV8YmSZcKGRaNbkkXthVO-lUUxSATH3vtn7O5E2eayxxh0Bbp10X2TBzdtMDQP5LJxsVimI=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-family: arial;">I did unspeakable things to my neck, wrists, and shoulders in the ~two decades that I raced bikes. Wide, swept riser bars are positively mandatory for me to be able to ride more than a few minutes. I love these ProTaper 20/20's now that they come in a 780mm width.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji48EErYA0JzqDnkZrmD3oMVy8ArOMPPS86eXGOgBWyWjS9xo3YILb5A0pRQ3Lz7Te5yjRpY9rV-v9uzdGr3vLrQ00rwrl00HPxpaq4gdAqixEEVTTts0w1CM95zSo0OQVjfR_XZgrocRzO8LzocYdFmoqAGrySfoV0Eg3TkK2WorXEzrdUVx_Fi5tw_R8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji48EErYA0JzqDnkZrmD3oMVy8ArOMPPS86eXGOgBWyWjS9xo3YILb5A0pRQ3Lz7Te5yjRpY9rV-v9uzdGr3vLrQ00rwrl00HPxpaq4gdAqixEEVTTts0w1CM95zSo0OQVjfR_XZgrocRzO8LzocYdFmoqAGrySfoV0Eg3TkK2WorXEzrdUVx_Fi5tw_R8=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">I am a hopeless fanboy for the Cane Creek Viscoset. Calms down the steering to whatever degree you adjust it to. I went deep, deep down the rabbit hole of showing </span><a href="https://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2020/02/damp.html" style="display: inline; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s;" target="_blank">how these work</a><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> a few years back. How these are not standard OE equipment on all modern bikes is beyond my understanding.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-family: arial;">Most modern brakes work just fine for me, even running 180/160 rotors. Fine tuning the friction material is sometimes needed and relatively easy to do. I chose these Hayes stoppers because they have carbon lever blades and that matters when temps are cold and I'd rather my fingers not be. I'm running 180mm on both ends.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgIMYxrM4HyZysxMxm-odZ9-j-akGhlnEZcMzsWnEAGfibeHpjDj4BIvu8XXat6-3sQGHXZe1VHbELEDoFvFo1yPJYyMoTPrW3EwXJ7rRwnzllagUqtpGWKRaTPAQRK6CyruuZZkgQGw58q0eo0lbIE6WBN5rrWqVIrzMlyezR-MjsZfQj4YydYw6eecMt" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgIMYxrM4HyZysxMxm-odZ9-j-akGhlnEZcMzsWnEAGfibeHpjDj4BIvu8XXat6-3sQGHXZe1VHbELEDoFvFo1yPJYyMoTPrW3EwXJ7rRwnzllagUqtpGWKRaTPAQRK6CyruuZZkgQGw58q0eo0lbIE6WBN5rrWqVIrzMlyezR-MjsZfQj4YydYw6eecMt=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge-28xMggvOU55I3fqpHIpI9q4B9CkqXA4-6RkLf88deWJQZ-6ttLoDgtNxO2a2ttXswb0MYSMojjyy8J7rp4GQ6fYwAnO9alMkser84_7IGyXSCM6yZwHV7HznFnq0SfmkLhOpliy-_u5nfe1fRc0-9xLGL8-SmU5WxOjKNUM5d5Wpn0byCjfsUWWyRvi" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge-28xMggvOU55I3fqpHIpI9q4B9CkqXA4-6RkLf88deWJQZ-6ttLoDgtNxO2a2ttXswb0MYSMojjyy8J7rp4GQ6fYwAnO9alMkser84_7IGyXSCM6yZwHV7HznFnq0SfmkLhOpliy-_u5nfe1fRc0-9xLGL8-SmU5WxOjKNUM5d5Wpn0byCjfsUWWyRvi=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Twist shifter and </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">platformy</i><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> ergo grips also mandatory.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-family: arial;">I opted for a RockShox Monarch with a Debonair can because I'm familiar with how to get the most out of them with simple air volume tweaks or more complicated shim stack fiddling. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtkvnC_xnCjz484cSegrbA8_azdO224C_NW1WDhBYbPc8ySd3GCVbo2RlZERXx_GhdttzjEEM4QcqAjD1Rlnaf6x0kAhPe1xTSXzsKSLk18Y9lnvFpGdKQ5ij0BzSzpwfjBjSmDVdLHHFmyli6yFdIFjMct2mbFAbimiB5dDpM9qhvfNJ8e2aa8WcwC8MY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtkvnC_xnCjz484cSegrbA8_azdO224C_NW1WDhBYbPc8ySd3GCVbo2RlZERXx_GhdttzjEEM4QcqAjD1Rlnaf6x0kAhPe1xTSXzsKSLk18Y9lnvFpGdKQ5ij0BzSzpwfjBjSmDVdLHHFmyli6yFdIFjMct2mbFAbimiB5dDpM9qhvfNJ8e2aa8WcwC8MY=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhWInHqXrEamTNFYfHTomrY7FBC8VunDtNU53aUx1CXyQrJmn49rX9kOxXjb9glj6DAveNiZveT61uZv-fkQ9TookeJY_VR9qLki-79J-Zw-144ShD4uOJICuEk8eANedKs9jZLj6K-UJC84R7yzCpOBaH6u3GwNF3ZCZt0DGpRiw5NiXN1MLkNge8gA4W" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhWInHqXrEamTNFYfHTomrY7FBC8VunDtNU53aUx1CXyQrJmn49rX9kOxXjb9glj6DAveNiZveT61uZv-fkQ9TookeJY_VR9qLki-79J-Zw-144ShD4uOJICuEk8eANedKs9jZLj6K-UJC84R7yzCpOBaH6u3GwNF3ZCZt0DGpRiw5NiXN1MLkNge8gA4W=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On my FS bike the BikeYoke Sagma saddle seems a bit overkill, but on this softtail and my hardtail I really like both the dampness the elastomers give as well as the side to side forgiveness it offers. I'd been riding the same WTB saddles for more than a decade, with no real need to deviate. In this case I'm glad I tried something new.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEPetX04T1JOZZ6j738mxXYd4MF6KDC4mJWQHHqdKzIvmaBFUYlgE6C-jBgIoIgGXs7cEzHmoGI4I64PXFxWVw805AS1zI8LqvRR9n48p1TbMMfaCBbd3OsUWIGVW9Fh1NU4I11jcBsSqPTqnwb_xVYGORe5nRnE3O5Ly6ug1wBvOF5OldTBO8w052b2Y-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEPetX04T1JOZZ6j738mxXYd4MF6KDC4mJWQHHqdKzIvmaBFUYlgE6C-jBgIoIgGXs7cEzHmoGI4I64PXFxWVw805AS1zI8LqvRR9n48p1TbMMfaCBbd3OsUWIGVW9Fh1NU4I11jcBsSqPTqnwb_xVYGORe5nRnE3O5Ly6ug1wBvOF5OldTBO8w052b2Y-=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOidLqdSpBRlaCmKWKCyDDED4h2zjPMpmDAulnKyzaw96F-ikR1EnLsLa5LbCvj1qfRAF5q29Qx-9bMOlj1NfZLf1PbV8LzZvgekm95vabKoPoJhskUXxQXtfNj5TZbcVQvrAh-arYn1esRErSI8arovfje7KUdGR75SLha7itdF59E-RsceTAwd-MnmO8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOidLqdSpBRlaCmKWKCyDDED4h2zjPMpmDAulnKyzaw96F-ikR1EnLsLa5LbCvj1qfRAF5q29Qx-9bMOlj1NfZLf1PbV8LzZvgekm95vabKoPoJhskUXxQXtfNj5TZbcVQvrAh-arYn1esRErSI8arovfje7KUdGR75SLha7itdF59E-RsceTAwd-MnmO8=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-family: arial;">I run 24t chainrings on all of my bikes, combined with a 10-52t cassette out back. I know the steepness of the terrain we have access to within a mile, an hour, a day, and I know that I'd rather ride slowly than walk next to my bike. Tiny front rings allow stupid torque on the steepest tech climbs, and they also allow recovery when the grade briefly relents. Additionally, if you design the chassis around them you can tuck the rear tire further under your CoG with short chainstays, which allows you to maintain traction on those ridiculous grades.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqrmlMnXPZCXxEBmj7ToYdodSn02hSzZ6cadsI8cxbwhU3I_cW4JWzAO7ovoHwExNqf9tuINk02iurGvZxDq5sn69GAefAiZEy8ofWy-CPyvJSbQm3KxANil5ZvwaUhdLRdwZLVYwxQk6Ui7JY-zkCT7gq24GHW9J29ubFJVrjaUpyX9Jq69MHiAwYVm1g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqrmlMnXPZCXxEBmj7ToYdodSn02hSzZ6cadsI8cxbwhU3I_cW4JWzAO7ovoHwExNqf9tuINk02iurGvZxDq5sn69GAefAiZEy8ofWy-CPyvJSbQm3KxANil5ZvwaUhdLRdwZLVYwxQk6Ui7JY-zkCT7gq24GHW9J29ubFJVrjaUpyX9Jq69MHiAwYVm1g=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKsn6neNm5F4L5V-LXBPwBdtXsLX8zfZWlAq9xABD5P4mAVlFmHogU-09Q00-2hkckKgP5qt4SNt7FDCCWo96CGsDnh3ztbEN8AZ_m0dz6nitMZ2Wr2_p3edjxS3cR6XV10_Jri-WcndZY_i0YoijDt6sNEgM1KU8ENwwKOqV09WH7LQG8CONYsiAmvb9D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKsn6neNm5F4L5V-LXBPwBdtXsLX8zfZWlAq9xABD5P4mAVlFmHogU-09Q00-2hkckKgP5qt4SNt7FDCCWo96CGsDnh3ztbEN8AZ_m0dz6nitMZ2Wr2_p3edjxS3cR6XV10_Jri-WcndZY_i0YoijDt6sNEgM1KU8ENwwKOqV09WH7LQG8CONYsiAmvb9D=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Shallow section singlewall carbon rims are a relatively new thing in plus and fat widths. They offer </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">substantially more compliance than box section doublewall rims of any material. I've paired these Nextie Xiphias 49mm internal rims (in both 27.5 and 29") with </span><a href="https://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2018/04/berd-spokes.html?q=berd" style="display: inline; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Berd spokes</a><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> to increase that compliance to (sorry...) eleven. I have limited experience with these rims in terms of durability, but these 3.8" tires run at ~11psi have thus far prevented any earth-to-rim contact.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHCowvcPQr_8hFbF4gnLeyu36Ljfc3usr7J5tXjjw4l828PkUI3fjbsVFNXI-q7TOLLnId0RytpGXRB1vogBeqQFuOdSHOSSuRRZ578JFMtmOhyB4mEmAD85IcNAnGYchzPqKoLQ_hFMnJIFycbZFgWWaW63zophXfnWiINPNOmOSwFCtD0M-Qttu_7eYG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHCowvcPQr_8hFbF4gnLeyu36Ljfc3usr7J5tXjjw4l828PkUI3fjbsVFNXI-q7TOLLnId0RytpGXRB1vogBeqQFuOdSHOSSuRRZ578JFMtmOhyB4mEmAD85IcNAnGYchzPqKoLQ_hFMnJIFycbZFgWWaW63zophXfnWiINPNOmOSwFCtD0M-Qttu_7eYG=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY1yIT_Ixf7oeHHtDYmMV9SJUuNqkOpW3WCX1QkPgrNkmuk6jXnD6f5Em_axXT8KrA5sB84aXFCfd3wG0wNMUJq6_5XRwbEUot9lyGIjQCLnxAdX5k-AH6wnsix1Y-esjTTpeL8-s7OTwzwQUe6MaVFb5jV3R8EygfCS81H5w365XOnSQ5FpAzNvgiKHEf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY1yIT_Ixf7oeHHtDYmMV9SJUuNqkOpW3WCX1QkPgrNkmuk6jXnD6f5Em_axXT8KrA5sB84aXFCfd3wG0wNMUJq6_5XRwbEUot9lyGIjQCLnxAdX5k-AH6wnsix1Y-esjTTpeL8-s7OTwzwQUe6MaVFb5jV3R8EygfCS81H5w365XOnSQ5FpAzNvgiKHEf=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fork is a Fox 34 "unicorn" with custom powdercoated lowers</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px;">, and a little internal special sauce <a href="https://diazsuspensiondesign.com" target="_blank">from DSD</a> in Durango.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4ojOF68BxBShjaURxBPmgOz08RV22597bekYgaOXx9iAdvNAq82frwmYN-Cyiiy83Qv8ir-dHp6mrt_yBnXIldI0kSot-E2qDxCuXqJM1q5rSq48n5dIjEuGgKoOx06UO2nZsBR1oLf9eDD8Xihzb-ATZup8RfsZn63MrQLmgX9Boz1XLfsNVa7XmjTU0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4ojOF68BxBShjaURxBPmgOz08RV22597bekYgaOXx9iAdvNAq82frwmYN-Cyiiy83Qv8ir-dHp6mrt_yBnXIldI0kSot-E2qDxCuXqJM1q5rSq48n5dIjEuGgKoOx06UO2nZsBR1oLf9eDD8Xihzb-ATZup8RfsZn63MrQLmgX9Boz1XLfsNVa7XmjTU0=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At this point there are likely all of three people still reading, so I'll wrap this up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy to further elaborate: if you have specific questions, <i>ask!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-82863138912637394432023-07-18T21:58:00.003-06:002023-07-22T15:17:49.466-06:00Another moment.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Recently I floated a section of river not far from home. On that float I saw two </span><span>osprey, a juvenile bald eagle, a kingfisher, an otter, and gazillions of songbirds.</span><span> I r</span><span>ode the shuttle back up afterward, spectating the grazing perambulations of a few hundred deer and elk along the way.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>As I got to the car I thought I heard a siren -- think: ambulance -- coming from upstream. T</span><span>urned that way to see, and realized quickly that it was a pack of wolves howling just across the river.</span><span> L</span><span>istened for ~2 minutes while they wound themselves up.</span><span> Grinned pretty big while listening.</span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOW6ZxEl1RvXpc2LEZrucbiFzsKswSRj42nN8aUP9yw00rAGHBqovFQwttAywHHUxY1ORkM302aSXNnDBnE6UvII0Y2iCkT7aP2nfqTH1zrqIitWefLGESZuVZ58_UvKVcutRXqe0vdGAscQKNq10RXp1oTLp97JV_29oZZR3yirWN0TeH1LdZgmaqkIuC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1267" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOW6ZxEl1RvXpc2LEZrucbiFzsKswSRj42nN8aUP9yw00rAGHBqovFQwttAywHHUxY1ORkM302aSXNnDBnE6UvII0Y2iCkT7aP2nfqTH1zrqIitWefLGESZuVZ58_UvKVcutRXqe0vdGAscQKNq10RXp1oTLp97JV_29oZZR3yirWN0TeH1LdZgmaqkIuC=w640-h344" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;">As they went silent I turned back to putting the bike in the car, but immediately heard a commotion behind me. Spun around to see a redtail had just ripped through a ponderosa, dislodging the flock of robins that had started settling in to roost there for the night. Said redtail slashed and carved and took runs at a few of the stragglers, but didn’t get any. Then the redtail perched in the ponderosa right above my head. Still grinning, but bigger now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Loaded up the bike then drove back down to collect boat and gear. I'd left my neoprene skullcap perched on top of my boat to start the air drying process. When I got back that cap was ~10’ away from my boat. Zero wind present. I slowly turned, looking for the culprit, when I heard a turkey gobble just over the edge of the hill. Crept over there and peeked down: 8-9 of ‘em scrambling away as I appeared over the edge.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As I walked back to the car, watching the sky burn red with the last of the sunset, I took a moment to realize I hadn’t seen a single person in the past ~3 hours, and another moment to be very grateful we made the move we did 3+ years ago.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for checkin' in.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-6092752724138477362023-07-13T12:11:00.005-06:002023-07-13T13:24:12.561-06:00Delayed gratification delayed.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">No, that title was not brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's an expression of disappointment at having waited so long for something that will now have to be waited yet longer for.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There's this local trail we like to ride. And by 'like', I mean we enjoy <i>having done it</i> much more than the actual doing of it.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgms-SvuU37grSqlpnOZeFQk-z2_oGaFHptXKDcMFiq-EClKdieknsXL9otM4GKS3L4Vzj8sIUfBWrxJRNcCwhiWww3mg7VDGtH8wZSl3Y67y_NL9auVPah7uaEeMclo_4D6X_Yg0RwPGjnbhn802WkTNmxnuTwHF1s51sHpkgvQFP1t2T-mgq0xbY2CDg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgms-SvuU37grSqlpnOZeFQk-z2_oGaFHptXKDcMFiq-EClKdieknsXL9otM4GKS3L4Vzj8sIUfBWrxJRNcCwhiWww3mg7VDGtH8wZSl3Y67y_NL9auVPah7uaEeMclo_4D6X_Yg0RwPGjnbhn802WkTNmxnuTwHF1s51sHpkgvQFP1t2T-mgq0xbY2CDg=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It gets early snow and melts out sorta late. And because it gets so much snow, and travels for miles along a high ridge that creates drifts and cornices, it has moist soils that lend themselves to riotous vegetation -- such that the trail tread is always there but for the bulk of the summer it is overgrown. So you can go after the snow and before the veg, or after the first frost kills the veg, but before the snows return. Short season.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); color: #383a3b; letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After not having caught it in over a year, late last week it was finally time.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM5469XvoGGm22TCMRZzwIeHqEYjTqTYk4ZWgx9J9aU52Tqo5-GIKyLV1nyHrltORTSj8NvVmLxI8cO8yi8xkzlOiq-mFpYrSlT2HqENkVKWHk0GlpsTF6l24F6IYCVRqex4eRPhZ-Sy76-ViWIENLVvHSBBNsXO5VCepdXr5vtHTL134tRmxPdTK4Ba27" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM5469XvoGGm22TCMRZzwIeHqEYjTqTYk4ZWgx9J9aU52Tqo5-GIKyLV1nyHrltORTSj8NvVmLxI8cO8yi8xkzlOiq-mFpYrSlT2HqENkVKWHk0GlpsTF6l24F6IYCVRqex4eRPhZ-Sy76-ViWIENLVvHSBBNsXO5VCepdXr5vtHTL134tRmxPdTK4Ba27=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The first four miles of the climb ascend ~4000' vert. Unfriendly grades, even with the weenie gears I like to twiddle. Those miles hurt exquisitely, even geared down and spinning slowly to keep the HR low. Make it through those miles and you bebop along a high ridge that dips in and out of ponderosa cathedrals, with expansive views, carpets of wildflowers, and delicious breezes. It is a special place.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglqhWGLVRFRhcrfAEsoV-DFSj0M69vFtwzX5aXOosN5GD0NxzT1RaHpmf1FUilAa6fLMHVN-EN2YXMUPee5F5HuVmEzxDZKDD8qM9x5HWqo2-1MlX1bjdXTpD_gqkHFtWxLIDUcBdF3hgd-F3eJujA4mlhjmtIXXP9S13dSZ83CTEG5C0Lr9DNpGHESdXz" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="1800" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglqhWGLVRFRhcrfAEsoV-DFSj0M69vFtwzX5aXOosN5GD0NxzT1RaHpmf1FUilAa6fLMHVN-EN2YXMUPee5F5HuVmEzxDZKDD8qM9x5HWqo2-1MlX1bjdXTpD_gqkHFtWxLIDUcBdF3hgd-F3eJujA4mlhjmtIXXP9S13dSZ83CTEG5C0Lr9DNpGHESdXz=w640-h148" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And then you get to descend close to 5000 vert to close it out. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Except that this year some combination of heavy snows, spring rains to accelerate the melt, and throttle-happy moto riders did this to huge chunks of the descent:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitbA_JNJVRwj7Q2CbvfLyM3AvZ4KxFa2lzJn_yUu9_9ptamKu_8YDL9UV-AlpXYvhKr-UB6laRkBUBUmfOoytSjpCKCKO4fq6l4ww4-xt9MRQNemyP94sjv4XwixOAxZPIon3_n_psyflJJpYpTvb2cem6waNLHDXJxEoKkH3I2BB8PZ34i78pdEa6EkQW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitbA_JNJVRwj7Q2CbvfLyM3AvZ4KxFa2lzJn_yUu9_9ptamKu_8YDL9UV-AlpXYvhKr-UB6laRkBUBUmfOoytSjpCKCKO4fq6l4ww4-xt9MRQNemyP94sjv4XwixOAxZPIon3_n_psyflJJpYpTvb2cem6waNLHDXJxEoKkH3I2BB8PZ34i78pdEa6EkQW=w480-h640" width="480" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Brutal. Couldn't really ride it -- could only scooter along, sitting on the saddle and skimming feet along the sides to maintain control. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Disappointing.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I look forward to the brutality of the climb as much as the sweetness of the high country as much as the ~45 minutes of falling out of the sky to close the loop.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Two outta three will have to do.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for checkin' in.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-76471294419938744452023-07-11T13:58:00.006-06:002023-07-11T20:24:17.048-06:00We have contact. Or, 'The benefits of bent'.<p style="text-align: center;">Way back when I was an endurance racing nerd out chasing sunsets I learned the value of having my contact points (hands, feet, ass) in exactly the right places on the bike. Ride for an hour with any of those 'off' of your biomechanical optimum and you might feel it in a bit of a twinge that night or the next morn. Ride for 19 hours in a day a few days or weeks in a row with any of those points off and you'll quickly have an overuse injury that could take months to years to heal.</p><p style="text-align: center;">In practice this meant that I would have a quiver of favorite saddles, some firmer for racking up training miles, others softer to alleviate bruising when pushing for 300, 500, 1000 or more miles in one go. And in the lead-up to an event I would fine-tune the height, angle, and fore-aft position of the saddle down to fractions of a millimeter. This took a few minutes and required a certain level of OCD, but paid dividends in not tearing yourself a new one (or two) in the first hundred miles. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Back in those days we didn't have many options for handlebar sweep, thus opportunities to experiment were basically nil. You could choose from any width in the 540 to 660mm range, and you could have your choice of zero, three, or five degrees of sweep. Grim. Or you could ask a custom framebuilder like Black Sheep to pull something in a preferred bend, but it'd cost you ~$400, might take months to arrive, and even when it did -- because you hadn't experimented -- you simply couldn't know what the optimum bend and width for you actually were.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I didn't have that kind of money to throw around, the result of which is that now I have extensive arthritis and nerve damage in my wrists and hands from all of the miles that I spent riding with bars that lacked appropriate sweep. <i>You pays your money and you takes your chances</i>.</p><p style="text-align: center;">These days we are blessed with a seemingly <a href="https://whatbars.com" target="_blank">infinite</a> number of <a href="https://bikepacking.com/index/comfort-mtb-handlebars/" target="_blank">options</a> for rise, sweep, and drop. Some are expensive, others quite affordable. When considered against the aforementioned arthritis and nerve damage I have, they all seem dirt cheap.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I learned through experimentation that I prefer a sweep of around 20*, a width of about 780mm, and I don't care what the rise number is as long as the frame dimensions/steerer tube length allow me to place my grips about an inch above saddle height. The specific terrain I use a particular bike on determines to what degree I roll the tips of the bars down toward the rear axle, as well as what degree I angle the grips toward my forearms. Every detail adds up.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwcE5Ub_xkyhAlwcXwEFEZcNaCmiDhznsre0bKc3K0gOY3F5no-EU_0SB0icy5Wj-bj3L1jKoKHeSu4cAHLQCl5H3p6woWljRyYG5i5GSjPGndUzsdOM0XIktWmzUeuPKqrXPGhF0TL5H-WIjnYBP2YJF3ZbUwo2qpWtq_fx53sD1Se1VJEClyhi9mngyx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwcE5Ub_xkyhAlwcXwEFEZcNaCmiDhznsre0bKc3K0gOY3F5no-EU_0SB0icy5Wj-bj3L1jKoKHeSu4cAHLQCl5H3p6woWljRyYG5i5GSjPGndUzsdOM0XIktWmzUeuPKqrXPGhF0TL5H-WIjnYBP2YJF3ZbUwo2qpWtq_fx53sD1Se1VJEClyhi9mngyx=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">The above process and result derived from 25 years of trial, error, failure, and ultimately satisfaction. My bars and grips all feel great in my hands these days, and arriving at that feeling is pretty easy to achieve <i><b>now that I know</b></i>.</p><p style="text-align: center;">That said, I spend about twice as many hours in a given year with a paddle in my hand instead of handlebars. And although that paddle isn't bearing my body weight while pushing into berms or rock gardens, the angle of my wrists turns out to be every bit as important when paddling as when pedaling.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Until very recently, custom paddles were more difficult to find than custom bars were in 1998. ~6 years ago I had a few custom bent shaft <a href="https://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2018/02/shafted.html?q=shafted" target="_blank">paddles made</a>, not really grasping that just because it was nominally bent that that would be the *right* bend. The carbon shafts in that last linked post felt infinitely better to my wrists than the wood shafts did, but I preferred the wood shafts for their warmth in winter and resilience year round. They were simply easier on my body hour after hour and day after day.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I bring this up -- and belabor the point -- because many of my paddling partners are similarly, uh, <i>not-as-young-as-we-used-to-be</i>, with arthritis and joint issues compounding other problems. Not everyone needs a custom bent paddle, nor a wood paddle, but MANY more people than are currently availing themselves of these options would benefit from them. </p><p style="text-align: center;">I'd been aware of <a href="https://rivrstyx.com" target="_blank">Jim Snyder's</a> work for years but he doesn't offer bent shafts and as such was simply a non-starter. Only when I found <a href="https://www.shadetreepaddles.com" target="_blank">Shade Tree</a> did I recognize that I could get everything I wanted in one paddle.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjORCv5KiatQ8Yb6WJ1Ux7GFx5D3HdkC5FgIQI29caVA2_cEd2rMyr3_XOXZHvO6BeaenjQ-FNpn5UlaWfAyXlCuM7LOZCaKKLZN8UubAS7lT-xC66NuZ6eKP0EzAxokN_d_tJ7refjRAobztnK1sGjDpjBN-HzPxXJzsVyvjAeTwSWDXZr_3Y90X5XneOm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjORCv5KiatQ8Yb6WJ1Ux7GFx5D3HdkC5FgIQI29caVA2_cEd2rMyr3_XOXZHvO6BeaenjQ-FNpn5UlaWfAyXlCuM7LOZCaKKLZN8UubAS7lT-xC66NuZ6eKP0EzAxokN_d_tJ7refjRAobztnK1sGjDpjBN-HzPxXJzsVyvjAeTwSWDXZr_3Y90X5XneOm=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pics above and below show the similarity between my pedaling and paddling hand positions. Not identical, but very, very close. I tried the paddle with the grips as wide as they are on my bars and it simply didn't work for me: I couldn't turn the paddle over fast enough to make moves when they needed to happen. Fortunately Jonathan understood what I was asking for, and why, and was easily able to accommodate.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSzpW4K6prm9aOnPA5e6zxw2lo5NU3M5Q0zp_8HjnJUrYKSPxHmmuQHI-YOPkZgkRqBdagg1sonlZRZVqNF6lpkoqcGjGGRvRvk6_jn6mkojPiP0hMc5_NGyPyyg6RbFI8yu_HVpd6Dx_pmfXpu-VLh3_Pl1Fz3wqQPWO_seqvgg0r-d-kqX-qUFZ9NPpp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSzpW4K6prm9aOnPA5e6zxw2lo5NU3M5Q0zp_8HjnJUrYKSPxHmmuQHI-YOPkZgkRqBdagg1sonlZRZVqNF6lpkoqcGjGGRvRvk6_jn6mkojPiP0hMc5_NGyPyyg6RbFI8yu_HVpd6Dx_pmfXpu-VLh3_Pl1Fz3wqQPWO_seqvgg0r-d-kqX-qUFZ9NPpp=w640-h480" width="640" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">I don't often paddle for more than 4 or 5 hours in a day. But because I finally have a paddle that works with my body instead of against it, I can do that back-to-back-to-back days and still be ready to go again the next.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK2mcSuePmLX_7etS_4nuwcaIkDO_SoZZ8p8KxFvDUg-qslzFVTv2-0GhBahC0olKYRvsZMkr06chbedxo3P8VfuOpAZSCmGRxLppGF8KUPmO-C-wLOGDyGxfCuBufyRnZ3o5EaoyGiQJTk0IwtgoYrdIIkX4Xb6GpwKFX8Xc8SSIbrBBu3eC-07t5blUw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="2175" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK2mcSuePmLX_7etS_4nuwcaIkDO_SoZZ8p8KxFvDUg-qslzFVTv2-0GhBahC0olKYRvsZMkr06chbedxo3P8VfuOpAZSCmGRxLppGF8KUPmO-C-wLOGDyGxfCuBufyRnZ3o5EaoyGiQJTk0IwtgoYrdIIkX4Xb6GpwKFX8Xc8SSIbrBBu3eC-07t5blUw=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you've been wondering about a custom paddle for yourself, I can't recommend Jonathan Rugh at Shade Tree highly enough.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Full disclosure: I happily paid full bucket for this paddle, and will likely do it again to have a spare in waiting should something unfortunate happen to this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for checkin' in.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-76200187788865493482023-06-19T09:45:00.002-06:002023-06-19T09:45:56.423-06:00Abundance.<p style="text-align: center;"> It breaks down like this: A whole lotta snow fell here last winter. As our half of the planet wobbled back to the sunny side that snow melted.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NeSmCRmTBgrho4SWHsV1fSalOygbuvdiCTWrRsN0nYckE442K3nyo4-FMV1nKNT6nO4Y_j28qO6yGhZR3UEDvJDn31kbdjagpxVo4-ueriXWrrOP82OsE-Shley9JxehrfiRJjQ5djDprXr6jVlr-TWGsCLMHmK3wl-tVZAJcUU8on_RY9slLBMd4A/s2175/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-18%20at%203.43.02%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="2175" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NeSmCRmTBgrho4SWHsV1fSalOygbuvdiCTWrRsN0nYckE442K3nyo4-FMV1nKNT6nO4Y_j28qO6yGhZR3UEDvJDn31kbdjagpxVo4-ueriXWrrOP82OsE-Shley9JxehrfiRJjQ5djDprXr6jVlr-TWGsCLMHmK3wl-tVZAJcUU8on_RY9slLBMd4A/w640-h358/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-18%20at%203.43.02%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Soils slowly saturated, creeks and rivers swelled, and the hills have become a veritable jungle. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBAwoaVK3m7k3orSfTUcd64zmyQogboFJTr64xMRWib_JCeCCpomR9Rvxm43SUKkE3cHaXALbYqaicMZYd9up4kCMjCi2ZSZW5OxjfEDilvYM5FUjPe4PibzBmSz1eR-RXaTFYHn60xv9PAlXMRxrFFm47u6EPPbLIkM0kdtBwtiWfC6VQo2WyMX2aQ/s1500/0R7A2834.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBAwoaVK3m7k3orSfTUcd64zmyQogboFJTr64xMRWib_JCeCCpomR9Rvxm43SUKkE3cHaXALbYqaicMZYd9up4kCMjCi2ZSZW5OxjfEDilvYM5FUjPe4PibzBmSz1eR-RXaTFYHn60xv9PAlXMRxrFFm47u6EPPbLIkM0kdtBwtiWfC6VQo2WyMX2aQ/w640-h426/0R7A2834.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">The effects of that abundance are visible and audible everywhere you turn your attention.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamfQsQnFlb9koOkX-jfCdEHv7dX0o2iQmbzmHl7KJy80TKl9pMixKbsE6kVwe0YNVsbW8L-NvjM0cl9L7wwm3gK8MIWLepcZUPueDeguzb78HxP7c6hW7im6bNdJAJdRZ_UZBHP9Lxd0qHdRFyjlzyhY60K-AhwlqcG-a-c35yWGoz2qmNJFQGFTIDw/s1500/IMG_5448.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamfQsQnFlb9koOkX-jfCdEHv7dX0o2iQmbzmHl7KJy80TKl9pMixKbsE6kVwe0YNVsbW8L-NvjM0cl9L7wwm3gK8MIWLepcZUPueDeguzb78HxP7c6hW7im6bNdJAJdRZ_UZBHP9Lxd0qHdRFyjlzyhY60K-AhwlqcG-a-c35yWGoz2qmNJFQGFTIDw/w640-h360/IMG_5448.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lush, verdant hillsides.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Dazm_Gth6Tjk86uiCJSCFN4YHM0QFVQYOyjoQH_wzp9XTpw1LcKL2WxnpQnvVe_OJqvQ54H2T_aCh92AjBm-7UttVDXT5rK6BxCOPoeqK_AITzbArMKrR00PWCf6uCPkdlkaHYDHUpxIlEkB0bxj9OeNiYQKP8XdJixc00CmJ2ihXJQaKGZjr4-Ddg/s1500/IMG_5438.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Dazm_Gth6Tjk86uiCJSCFN4YHM0QFVQYOyjoQH_wzp9XTpw1LcKL2WxnpQnvVe_OJqvQ54H2T_aCh92AjBm-7UttVDXT5rK6BxCOPoeqK_AITzbArMKrR00PWCf6uCPkdlkaHYDHUpxIlEkB0bxj9OeNiYQKP8XdJixc00CmJ2ihXJQaKGZjr4-Ddg/w640-h360/IMG_5438.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soils that have held together weeks longer than 'normal'.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ni9785TwzHxgftLTpWdiasiJkN6PF5fNfO5m8yN_CZXhlkXthG543MaAW9BLH-38OIBd0bnHNLe5sVhzbHE03cf_Y4vYzrRVSCBdVDcF7XPgrQFPYR8qFq1YlUJg32m8hDk7FvVSdg9R-xZUYcpxhAOdnfu9WbDjU4fHe7cOzlw0mpbTs6YdVO3AqA/s1500/IMG_5422.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ni9785TwzHxgftLTpWdiasiJkN6PF5fNfO5m8yN_CZXhlkXthG543MaAW9BLH-38OIBd0bnHNLe5sVhzbHE03cf_Y4vYzrRVSCBdVDcF7XPgrQFPYR8qFq1YlUJg32m8hDk7FvVSdg9R-xZUYcpxhAOdnfu9WbDjU4fHe7cOzlw0mpbTs6YdVO3AqA/w640-h480/IMG_5422.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You've heard of singletrack? Doubletrack? Even the elusive triple and quadtrack? This spring we've been gifted a proliferation of <i>nonedletrack</i>, where riotous veg has overtaken the trail tread. It doesn't ride very fast, and cornering is sketchy, but it sure smells good to follow the leader.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BH75Vgy7xCSxHdUgXUpKa3_yPt6VYkDw_yH6LOorWdxhKtzhiVOsprlhWvCL7xomXvjL-WHmY_D9aESRWJgmfKIFNc6CrZ71sQmlK3UfGx4dM8QSdEvHEp-ToWB_zFwJuq-HEcQVHs-qcSwxsrhBigytEPVVDesSQS3lhVDLDSopFTCn1_gsYCVg5Q/s1500/IMG_5395.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BH75Vgy7xCSxHdUgXUpKa3_yPt6VYkDw_yH6LOorWdxhKtzhiVOsprlhWvCL7xomXvjL-WHmY_D9aESRWJgmfKIFNc6CrZ71sQmlK3UfGx4dM8QSdEvHEp-ToWB_zFwJuq-HEcQVHs-qcSwxsrhBigytEPVVDesSQS3lhVDLDSopFTCn1_gsYCVg5Q/w640-h360/IMG_5395.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqsaGgrG8QmDNAAHhlUn1R57kdcC9t3lQIs1CcSJXhPOXxFpFWTUxJDeLdtSwnv7NipPI1Hn2yQ2IV0Wmb2MMxpsujFLDO6lahS98xBk0x2ZHSWthJ-nJhvX6Eb1p2v6VICZlXXNbqp6AULRzRARyQdjZzYYa4mliMFloVgRg8O568oi-eog3y31XeQ/s1500/IMG_5380.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqsaGgrG8QmDNAAHhlUn1R57kdcC9t3lQIs1CcSJXhPOXxFpFWTUxJDeLdtSwnv7NipPI1Hn2yQ2IV0Wmb2MMxpsujFLDO6lahS98xBk0x2ZHSWthJ-nJhvX6Eb1p2v6VICZlXXNbqp6AULRzRARyQdjZzYYa4mliMFloVgRg8O568oi-eog3y31XeQ/w640-h360/IMG_5380.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZwJopRHWxSggOL7YanxBG9U79rXO1G4fvn1_l6CuCJJvaLYMps8hmdOO5EFe1VRqOdZisQdEZz7Xw2HOA_JdYGuT9nEHyk98RGwaErpyB_PWE5-i6YEVQzomjxtYKaZnEEcjm-ete4JtBQprtZqgcG-NHpCJ6alvXRR4ChY0DyJ8xts6Lyi6ZFJ-mw/s1500/IMG_5360.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZwJopRHWxSggOL7YanxBG9U79rXO1G4fvn1_l6CuCJJvaLYMps8hmdOO5EFe1VRqOdZisQdEZz7Xw2HOA_JdYGuT9nEHyk98RGwaErpyB_PWE5-i6YEVQzomjxtYKaZnEEcjm-ete4JtBQprtZqgcG-NHpCJ6alvXRR4ChY0DyJ8xts6Lyi6ZFJ-mw/w640-h360/IMG_5360.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We're all too aware that it won't last much longer, thus we're savoring every moment. Some of the backyard climbs feel like we've ascended...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTZrZ8lW1d26ZOJUG0vXxSMlYm0amnataGfxhNaeMDmfINSi-F6VoJE_CQiRY0PrzKj6dy1EN_TzV1yeZBHPm7ZqmbByWcmjJJe_5KexRVKlsZLEtMhklIOxkz4AIv9We3-CYTRYn2j_Fd_xXByqb3Ssr3Ou7JoEaBt_lmbWeB05VYLf0MFr73oZpiA/s1500/IMG_5334.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTZrZ8lW1d26ZOJUG0vXxSMlYm0amnataGfxhNaeMDmfINSi-F6VoJE_CQiRY0PrzKj6dy1EN_TzV1yeZBHPm7ZqmbByWcmjJJe_5KexRVKlsZLEtMhklIOxkz4AIv9We3-CYTRYn2j_Fd_xXByqb3Ssr3Ou7JoEaBt_lmbWeB05VYLf0MFr73oZpiA/w640-h360/IMG_5334.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...into coastal Oregon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdy2VI35DxMKP7T7Z728jrnWqs3APUs_qWfPSmsZlproL1EtEYOj60Uqg47-OBMh281tf-lCmFOjJIzg0Zq_kKxlGr11SMiEgSjX25isrjbFDmF9KamM3qcFE90L5ILlX3yd0nrV26RmN2bQ5ctLVnmXZdOiOkqixJ05kMoI3QRU71BI2pFyQc0g2Lkw/s1500/IMG_5272.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdy2VI35DxMKP7T7Z728jrnWqs3APUs_qWfPSmsZlproL1EtEYOj60Uqg47-OBMh281tf-lCmFOjJIzg0Zq_kKxlGr11SMiEgSjX25isrjbFDmF9KamM3qcFE90L5ILlX3yd0nrV26RmN2bQ5ctLVnmXZdOiOkqixJ05kMoI3QRU71BI2pFyQc0g2Lkw/w640-h480/IMG_5272.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtF8Kqk9RS96AmgTDgExPy5vvDKmRDl7qEjjdTMK0rzkYqMzUR7MjIPjmGUrQUs9CtL9YWcgo-BdA6AOSSg64SRA8IxP9ae3pQVCbLfzJj6XYua7_XGsz8jWpJVMiWbQka8RBFLm1Fv1r0F2rYguBIF9jlXtENqn9y27JOVB8M67F2zQbqK-kDi7yyFw/s1500/IMG_5204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="1500" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtF8Kqk9RS96AmgTDgExPy5vvDKmRDl7qEjjdTMK0rzkYqMzUR7MjIPjmGUrQUs9CtL9YWcgo-BdA6AOSSg64SRA8IxP9ae3pQVCbLfzJj6XYua7_XGsz8jWpJVMiWbQka8RBFLm1Fv1r0F2rYguBIF9jlXtENqn9y27JOVB8M67F2zQbqK-kDi7yyFw/w640-h226/IMG_5204.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusaxqKxts-xYhblvGxLbOyxoeQvrFblRL_KUfjVfRWDhkzsnNooLZJ_NVbDHfxlArpUkV0zZR-B5qbOnVLoAHHOoSInKzwHyLuGGrEw8mOr8FDxIdGzj-2f90Vxvjp2-vYDyp2mMfo1v-JOqCAB6cM9pMLCycayzWude-QGMegjZSzI0WgmTuZlGU-w/s1500/IMG_4950.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusaxqKxts-xYhblvGxLbOyxoeQvrFblRL_KUfjVfRWDhkzsnNooLZJ_NVbDHfxlArpUkV0zZR-B5qbOnVLoAHHOoSInKzwHyLuGGrEw8mOr8FDxIdGzj-2f90Vxvjp2-vYDyp2mMfo1v-JOqCAB6cM9pMLCycayzWude-QGMegjZSzI0WgmTuZlGU-w/w640-h360/IMG_4950.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcTtngNSasWAi8nthC9Q3HXzy8Mgdm1oFIaLhb3IwBlPvtgxnYDt9EME9mtjk6o10TfBVxJj0o-xQ4GncJnbfYoUIUJSUqsoovqhTKauJMdOgPWSyYo_HC9SPQR2rebHn1bZs89YdvMlB472rTizm8R3b4g66POOUUFKaDEqIMfzU0iDrzsk91m2V1Q/s1500/IMG_5285.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcTtngNSasWAi8nthC9Q3HXzy8Mgdm1oFIaLhb3IwBlPvtgxnYDt9EME9mtjk6o10TfBVxJj0o-xQ4GncJnbfYoUIUJSUqsoovqhTKauJMdOgPWSyYo_HC9SPQR2rebHn1bZs89YdvMlB472rTizm8R3b4g66POOUUFKaDEqIMfzU0iDrzsk91m2V1Q/w640-h480/IMG_5285.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rainy afternoons have allowed us to begin prep toward <i>next</i> winter.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLpUkYMLWuHOIeLcGyx3_dPjYbyd97OlaBZL0S8W9P7XfKJH4JiwFHjYfaWRJ6Jt8G73iG24OZQ5Rsb1KtcsuZIIIsu5Lqt7gBcbpQ__iyiYKsTJ1lhAXOqnWcp4RW9rRjcYo5pbtTgs2zNgosZ-o9-7f8TgPOEpBlsOKisxpG82yoUV2ivsQTp4JxA/s1500/IMG_5293.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1500" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLpUkYMLWuHOIeLcGyx3_dPjYbyd97OlaBZL0S8W9P7XfKJH4JiwFHjYfaWRJ6Jt8G73iG24OZQ5Rsb1KtcsuZIIIsu5Lqt7gBcbpQ__iyiYKsTJ1lhAXOqnWcp4RW9rRjcYo5pbtTgs2zNgosZ-o9-7f8TgPOEpBlsOKisxpG82yoUV2ivsQTp4JxA/w640-h444/IMG_5293.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enough of these about that you can savor their deliciousness guilt-free.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7ysqppxrfRjfDtIcgDITPoozPV9iiFdj16He7xpgwvXkXHDcZwI5WdcZKFdffVhr3XiRKzDSI1FTgPFl4aTFrGqWpnPhEWjE-1BTE0wxsxN9VS8nFVBNiYhRWk0rq0ukWJgqCa8DQqZl4BJ2e4EX7pw31FTdP6OiW4f2enxgtcUenoTbHKEgGxb17A/s1500/IMG_5242.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7ysqppxrfRjfDtIcgDITPoozPV9iiFdj16He7xpgwvXkXHDcZwI5WdcZKFdffVhr3XiRKzDSI1FTgPFl4aTFrGqWpnPhEWjE-1BTE0wxsxN9VS8nFVBNiYhRWk0rq0ukWJgqCa8DQqZl4BJ2e4EX7pw31FTdP6OiW4f2enxgtcUenoTbHKEgGxb17A/w640-h360/IMG_5242.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All that water has flushed wood from the local creeks, allowing explorations that couldn't have happened a year or three ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDc-H6Z0NglRl4doON3r5Q1VkXKGxxp03J3m3eJTU6ZSxCIQE-RdIc_gmfy25Jdwjah_6QyIsgVYrousNg8hE3eHNgN9Y82cDO17zViD8AbEFF0tliAGHS3W8UxPWj1KqaWdJUfrp0rmsrAPWlz1eMfHTtLx3NBHBaQUsWqrdz_jXrNw7dfilsN9lWIw/s1500/IMG_5234.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="1500" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDc-H6Z0NglRl4doON3r5Q1VkXKGxxp03J3m3eJTU6ZSxCIQE-RdIc_gmfy25Jdwjah_6QyIsgVYrousNg8hE3eHNgN9Y82cDO17zViD8AbEFF0tliAGHS3W8UxPWj1KqaWdJUfrp0rmsrAPWlz1eMfHTtLx3NBHBaQUsWqrdz_jXrNw7dfilsN9lWIw/w640-h164/IMG_5234.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All that water has inspired all this rocker. And maaaaaaaaan is it nice to have.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCJ6mBZ4cI7JbwHhtDsfE_Offzc9Rd_PyNIzY78uiUTc2_y0NsdJlQvIfK0n8nxRrcrudrFkDzah8DkpEJPZM3zbeGWwwvoCiqpGelpI8rXzPky91khNWIvUpy88ujdWBmW-veA8VziEhWLwvXqelXrYWNl407FRvbi6KzPh20_-mof568Jl-vTRBJw/s1500/IMG_4818.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="1500" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCJ6mBZ4cI7JbwHhtDsfE_Offzc9Rd_PyNIzY78uiUTc2_y0NsdJlQvIfK0n8nxRrcrudrFkDzah8DkpEJPZM3zbeGWwwvoCiqpGelpI8rXzPky91khNWIvUpy88ujdWBmW-veA8VziEhWLwvXqelXrYWNl407FRvbi6KzPh20_-mof568Jl-vTRBJw/w640-h262/IMG_4818.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Down on the valley bottoms the ungulates are fat and happy, with shiny coats and full bellies. Get higher and you quickly understand how hard the deep snow was on them. I counted 17 elk carcasses on our ride yesterday, and that's just the ones we physically rolled over.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTlC6iWP06kSgVkiwZHAc_Ja3lVedf-g0CU0sztAcxtlPfLi_sSOXWtHMTpkNMEa4ZrRmmeMggfPgSSHOvi-N1tTEM3nJXycbTtAp2AF8y3TXQO8t-7H_hxHbcRJteNQAehx0teH2_SITrWawdPJqTFCOFev7wbYIKei0a3QcyWPWvxC3SyBOEt_sUg/s1500/IMG_5032.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTlC6iWP06kSgVkiwZHAc_Ja3lVedf-g0CU0sztAcxtlPfLi_sSOXWtHMTpkNMEa4ZrRmmeMggfPgSSHOvi-N1tTEM3nJXycbTtAp2AF8y3TXQO8t-7H_hxHbcRJteNQAehx0teH2_SITrWawdPJqTFCOFev7wbYIKei0a3QcyWPWvxC3SyBOEt_sUg/w640-h480/IMG_5032.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the audible abundance? One highlight for me was a recent ride where we were serenaded by veery along the creek bottom, hermit thrush as we contoured above 5k', and swainsons thrush during an intermission from barreling down a ridgeline. The holy trinity!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgUpNfcR3IqIbmhaE40BbqmmoVOiLy8nsiStF99GJzCTcthtFNAFb__p4JAMd5cY0h9-jwvZUt2Y8lGbC9J6MsRUKYYcn69pUKKnBbfXARvHLXWihRhKAQV14886v_ZO5-hb-5msYWFmGd2My7NNsQLXMT6BZCDXQeDT1mPm0Io-n3LyjphLqeTcQ6g/s1500/0R7A2897.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgUpNfcR3IqIbmhaE40BbqmmoVOiLy8nsiStF99GJzCTcthtFNAFb__p4JAMd5cY0h9-jwvZUt2Y8lGbC9J6MsRUKYYcn69pUKKnBbfXARvHLXWihRhKAQV14886v_ZO5-hb-5msYWFmGd2My7NNsQLXMT6BZCDXQeDT1mPm0Io-n3LyjphLqeTcQ6g/w640-h360/0R7A2897.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Summer is banging on the door, louder by the moment. We'll enjoy whatever it brings, some because we've been gifted so much to be grateful for this spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRiuPJ-C1AL444j5Eql6s8AGXhOTLhzhWMvlKoCjAKx3UckNx5BG7Rk7tWZI_OhY_ReKLxacFn4J1lQTfNmJc8gVCPI7-VV8f2XmX9UdsBRlN30oEh5XkqNdpyaEpqnV8dztJO_ijSwKJEi8bojFJjRcrtqfhk5R1-e4MN-eUYyxXNzYj-bEtPE1Wqw/s1500/IMG_4828.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRiuPJ-C1AL444j5Eql6s8AGXhOTLhzhWMvlKoCjAKx3UckNx5BG7Rk7tWZI_OhY_ReKLxacFn4J1lQTfNmJc8gVCPI7-VV8f2XmX9UdsBRlN30oEh5XkqNdpyaEpqnV8dztJO_ijSwKJEi8bojFJjRcrtqfhk5R1-e4MN-eUYyxXNzYj-bEtPE1Wqw/w640-h480/IMG_4828.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QFDHT7aZ5q-2TjTrwa633ceNbvExb6h1wg-ivdzMnG0lkg0TdODW6MOnXd47a69uH6Tqzdv7BESoSEu6ZLyMhT8SimfUfmJ50JOyy_r8UJ_CW12k4wGC-OQsxH0b3D6-56ue6PfHibzgva0GioLksFQ7uYn28Vi0I2Hi9nBxARCdx9IPNS7W0tWFQg/s1500/IMG_5196.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QFDHT7aZ5q-2TjTrwa633ceNbvExb6h1wg-ivdzMnG0lkg0TdODW6MOnXd47a69uH6Tqzdv7BESoSEu6ZLyMhT8SimfUfmJ50JOyy_r8UJ_CW12k4wGC-OQsxH0b3D6-56ue6PfHibzgva0GioLksFQ7uYn28Vi0I2Hi9nBxARCdx9IPNS7W0tWFQg/w640-h480/IMG_5196.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALpk37IQvwlTzXaW5tJsI4v18LaLTdzTa7QswoLQzA7O58NV4gqjmAZXkMbLPLViCrkqwKarX1K-1cAWsocqX1eZkawvZxsIFJuwS3aumD4Xotr00JiQLPm_is2pG1vu2qLgkGjFzGKJPwLWHiLluVJK-eQeOJGxx5BHHKr-uvqnWB_ExLVnderhmmA/s1500/IMG_5129.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALpk37IQvwlTzXaW5tJsI4v18LaLTdzTa7QswoLQzA7O58NV4gqjmAZXkMbLPLViCrkqwKarX1K-1cAWsocqX1eZkawvZxsIFJuwS3aumD4Xotr00JiQLPm_is2pG1vu2qLgkGjFzGKJPwLWHiLluVJK-eQeOJGxx5BHHKr-uvqnWB_ExLVnderhmmA/w640-h480/IMG_5129.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for checkin' in.</div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-15253149807990912792023-06-13T13:44:00.003-06:002023-06-13T13:44:26.955-06:00Fattest fat wheels for sale.<p style="text-align: center;"> These are 120mm wide carbon rims laced to DT Swiss 350 fatbike hubs. None more fat.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0LL4b2me4gWVj3FuZajFzzRNbVL5ZlI5IivlbnPD0xNRCm__hdCiyw_S_OxUHYk5xIcGA0QmRDqfZ6989aR4741s7zdrGsbW5UykxZOzw-iMIgaypczSKFc4HkSQXqnf-4DT32CnR6l2qrYpuGgk0uzQMHOsM1kjlitbQN5g5R_fWlJTNIZfWiSQDbg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0LL4b2me4gWVj3FuZajFzzRNbVL5ZlI5IivlbnPD0xNRCm__hdCiyw_S_OxUHYk5xIcGA0QmRDqfZ6989aR4741s7zdrGsbW5UykxZOzw-iMIgaypczSKFc4HkSQXqnf-4DT32CnR6l2qrYpuGgk0uzQMHOsM1kjlitbQN5g5R_fWlJTNIZfWiSQDbg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">Hubs are 150/197/6-bolt, with your choice of freehub.</div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGae0nXT0Ea6Ug9okKj-DudxbNgdrWtr4vl3NV0_nQSwu73sV_gsZkh4SevssL8iOHKZah9Jpot_pwx8v1QQm6i8BkmYInlcyGgWYGwj52mYF8XHKzO-JR3NWAIHuc2zxXpzdq53B5IzAMGM-y4Sr_t-BuVmQ5akKBPI0KkPSBVUcyDW3gyOzgOF0s3Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGae0nXT0Ea6Ug9okKj-DudxbNgdrWtr4vl3NV0_nQSwu73sV_gsZkh4SevssL8iOHKZah9Jpot_pwx8v1QQm6i8BkmYInlcyGgWYGwj52mYF8XHKzO-JR3NWAIHuc2zxXpzdq53B5IzAMGM-y4Sr_t-BuVmQ5akKBPI0KkPSBVUcyDW3gyOzgOF0s3Q=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Spokes are DT Swiss Competition butted, nips are DT Swiss Prolock. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUP_uhtxejQtUELS6J9BBviULMrI9NwqhMpyExufiBQx-2WehyyeEp1j-_7uxJ1rLJu1TZtk3R4rbng3Xjip_maFPICvAE1aFNi_PDEG5PBMtn8b9vXcMTwSxyNbNoJM-5r4O0aj-7D0YAHG8iBQvto1-ty-haRLWO3eDvd2O9kZ9zMG8YURPIfbwl3A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUP_uhtxejQtUELS6J9BBviULMrI9NwqhMpyExufiBQx-2WehyyeEp1j-_7uxJ1rLJu1TZtk3R4rbng3Xjip_maFPICvAE1aFNi_PDEG5PBMtn8b9vXcMTwSxyNbNoJM-5r4O0aj-7D0YAHG8iBQvto1-ty-haRLWO3eDvd2O9kZ9zMG8YURPIfbwl3A=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">These already assembled sets are all black.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I have traditionally laced versions as well as offset-for-Arctodus in stock.</p><p style="text-align: center;">$1999 includes shipping to a lower 48 address.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Happy to ship to Canada, AK, or the EU -- additional charges apply.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Tires are <u>not</u> included in the listed price, but in stock I have Terrene Johnny 5's, Vee (black) 2XL's, Surly Bud and Lou, and Schwalbe Jumbo Jim.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Contact: mike.curiak@gmail.com</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-9100521278466202192023-05-30T16:46:00.001-06:002023-05-30T16:46:17.146-06:00Drunk Rhino's: Options.<p style="text-align: center;"> In addition to the expected basic black selections, I've ordered and am starting to receive a few more bold color options:</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilgGLQRtX3OgDWWLlIfVGXFIfQEHTMQiyS58Bj29LecDXQG4v62Cw5XNaZhNDlGzaJogAUWc0EkNwF1DIUZilvS6OwpMu1pH8rNIF4Nub7qjmZ-bqc0mc-Ryx-UEGFGXZq9NUC8mS1ajyxscH1BFRDxwWtqb9G75VOhRx9mwPH9RMHvFnawzfdo7xlQ/s1500/IMG_5193.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilgGLQRtX3OgDWWLlIfVGXFIfQEHTMQiyS58Bj29LecDXQG4v62Cw5XNaZhNDlGzaJogAUWc0EkNwF1DIUZilvS6OwpMu1pH8rNIF4Nub7qjmZ-bqc0mc-Ryx-UEGFGXZq9NUC8mS1ajyxscH1BFRDxwWtqb9G75VOhRx9mwPH9RMHvFnawzfdo7xlQ/w640-h480/IMG_5193.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I use the words "extremely limited availability", what I mean -- exactly -- is that there will be one pair of each of these.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't hesitate with questions.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-70303323701287018152023-05-18T08:39:00.002-06:002023-05-18T08:43:41.673-06:00Drunk Rhino's: Diving in.<p style="text-align: center;"> Maybe 30 years ago I heard an anecdote that stuck with me. I understood it to be something like a parable: The story may have had elements of truth, but the fine details were fudged to make the larger point.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Which was that when sailing ships from Europe arrived in the Americas and Australia a few hundred years ago, the natives didn't 'see' the ships on the horizon because there wasn't a mental construct in their past that prepared them for such a thing as a sailing ship. People? Sure. Longboats? Sure. Clipper ships? No.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I bring this up because even though I can clearly see how much girth is added to my tires by increasing rim width, I kind of can't believe what I'm seeing. I keep circling the bike and doing double-takes, trying to ingrain what has suddenly become reality.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidHsYd2M9nIr7g0lG10Vms61HjTbo04Ir_Xkl9N8YODWQ0s0yt_xZHH04_mbXiTESxSrAU7aYWtEND4oXrd3qJyC-EQILx3Kr_2SXa9SUkN-JivLAoNIGfRK5oD7R8-aAHkboAswHk44zwAI1A3n04DR9_WlB6u4LX4-crds13VaIkCOudauI0mJxmJw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidHsYd2M9nIr7g0lG10Vms61HjTbo04Ir_Xkl9N8YODWQ0s0yt_xZHH04_mbXiTESxSrAU7aYWtEND4oXrd3qJyC-EQILx3Kr_2SXa9SUkN-JivLAoNIGfRK5oD7R8-aAHkboAswHk44zwAI1A3n04DR9_WlB6u4LX4-crds13VaIkCOudauI0mJxmJw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">No other way to say it, they're just massive: 5.47" of casing width means unequalled air volume.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbyb1tVKmvmTarDdzegqEG6kocUv_AxB5Picyfs7py4pHuzxaS3XPb8KAcNMywn7pTlm_AtjOAkx1usfxyKl0TRfbYAQP26QaBlc51Ip3sVd5VHDn5K-Sb1WKHYMlSVo1UjNOUuzPhzPiKLFdPHyLFsnblJ7h-z12rKrVgzFRWhNDtQtQl8CRrHrstnQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbyb1tVKmvmTarDdzegqEG6kocUv_AxB5Picyfs7py4pHuzxaS3XPb8KAcNMywn7pTlm_AtjOAkx1usfxyKl0TRfbYAQP26QaBlc51Ip3sVd5VHDn5K-Sb1WKHYMlSVo1UjNOUuzPhzPiKLFdPHyLFsnblJ7h-z12rKrVgzFRWhNDtQtQl8CRrHrstnQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6b4Q4BvX108fbJxAYl2rbkf_iQ5gKnrFwbXmriJtIbk8V4TReRrTIhm2eMIlc4hzSPDPds6w8qjevRNGbuY9r_cFFF9Guvc_fC5QAO_sCRTM9OawH_SUXWJQrlMeKo37gdb9wzji7weFEXz4VtgSpzCObpKBvR2pJ2yy7SCt_IKvjVJu0aOnphUnAjw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6b4Q4BvX108fbJxAYl2rbkf_iQ5gKnrFwbXmriJtIbk8V4TReRrTIhm2eMIlc4hzSPDPds6w8qjevRNGbuY9r_cFFF9Guvc_fC5QAO_sCRTM9OawH_SUXWJQrlMeKo37gdb9wzji7weFEXz4VtgSpzCObpKBvR2pJ2yy7SCt_IKvjVJu0aOnphUnAjw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've gotten a handful of emails from people that know without a doubt that they won't be able to fit this rim/tire combo in their bikes, but are still curious: Are there potential benefits to running a wider rim with their current JJ's, D5's, Bud or Lou?</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">If you're coming to this discussion with the desire to ride more (as in, more feet per mile on any given day, regardless of conditions) then the answer is an emphatic yes. Squaring off the tire profile with a wider rim does NOT make your bike faster on hardpack. Doing so puts more rubber on the snow/sand, such that there is less of a tendency for your tire to squirt out from under you or squirm sideways when hitting soft spots, drifts, off cambers, or ruts.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Put simply, adding rim width adds control when conditions are at their worst.</p><p style="text-align: center;">+ + + + +</p><p style="text-align: center;">I have one *demo* set of these wheels laced now, for 150/197 on-center builds like the Pole Taiga, ICT, and Quiring Triple B. Inquire if interested in a test fit/ride: mike.curiak@gmail.com</p><p style="text-align: center;">Next batch of DR's is en route already and one set of those is earmarked as an Arctodus demo set.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Thanks for checkin' in.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-20096833234649976052023-05-13T21:12:00.005-06:002023-05-13T21:12:52.993-06:00If loving B Fat is wrong...<p style="text-align: center;"> ...I don't wanna be right.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVJZxh0SVsGRD9FIsMvQwSfiH8LdyCCEyexaEEXxFe1JJM_wwXqiB91kZLedNoI5wZSFZr7hAUM9BdjVJ8vZeK-ZSBBaAV8BOMlSVsVETed4WOQUw5mdS76-NtON8n15W2Ykzw_NKgbKBk2yl-r8eNFSXyI1FExBWRhRFmTq0UnQQMPKWqmceT3Z_KgA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVJZxh0SVsGRD9FIsMvQwSfiH8LdyCCEyexaEEXxFe1JJM_wwXqiB91kZLedNoI5wZSFZr7hAUM9BdjVJ8vZeK-ZSBBaAV8BOMlSVsVETed4WOQUw5mdS76-NtON8n15W2Ykzw_NKgbKBk2yl-r8eNFSXyI1FExBWRhRFmTq0UnQQMPKWqmceT3Z_KgA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpvnhpTc8ORRC3f1TQLiJWGl-xWPVyTjMsz1Beck1L-1XufSlyaS9jQMTStCMzCies9Hbi0zg0vX_2nLf3WkpFQMmfy-jBIXuR-KPCS13r2_LO64MFs8ClvLZr3jprDtInjinvYWRhRg4-v1wQ4aE_4-shBBkUDb0MbtF9vOyWtMH_1kwd74MBhUl__Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpvnhpTc8ORRC3f1TQLiJWGl-xWPVyTjMsz1Beck1L-1XufSlyaS9jQMTStCMzCies9Hbi0zg0vX_2nLf3WkpFQMmfy-jBIXuR-KPCS13r2_LO64MFs8ClvLZr3jprDtInjinvYWRhRg4-v1wQ4aE_4-shBBkUDb0MbtF9vOyWtMH_1kwd74MBhUl__Q=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Ever.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPsYKl4IX8RWHdBWlNN-yDBIH1pe_7Nla9h4r8Xxyut-pYVjCNxJnzNy39zIqU5myQJe6knv1yyY2g3aJVQH_57dWcu-ClNx9FBUD9BurgOhlSLL-V9XwP10wiP7WCCFJF0HqZlCyy1tGnLkQGj-q4_zudYeZTyh-K86cGli61Iy6boS1zsBsNX6UN_g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPsYKl4IX8RWHdBWlNN-yDBIH1pe_7Nla9h4r8Xxyut-pYVjCNxJnzNy39zIqU5myQJe6knv1yyY2g3aJVQH_57dWcu-ClNx9FBUD9BurgOhlSLL-V9XwP10wiP7WCCFJF0HqZlCyy1tGnLkQGj-q4_zudYeZTyh-K86cGli61Iy6boS1zsBsNX6UN_g=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Shakedown cruise complete. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy1kNYLluMNMHMzPdIHK1QkqzpErP_euoV3QunxuDS9AQnOWFCR2UQP4tj3J2B0E8TPKCfjogxD3yV_A9Y0tRMpmUjQZu9zaZqrmNzAUFo5XsESzqNGja9188mkVzRF2Yo0NCXW3sk-IAjgoUboqME4Q04HxgCXUygFLzPtvYG8UgjgleDv_cjHoghrA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy1kNYLluMNMHMzPdIHK1QkqzpErP_euoV3QunxuDS9AQnOWFCR2UQP4tj3J2B0E8TPKCfjogxD3yV_A9Y0tRMpmUjQZu9zaZqrmNzAUFo5XsESzqNGja9188mkVzRF2Yo0NCXW3sk-IAjgoUboqME4Q04HxgCXUygFLzPtvYG8UgjgleDv_cjHoghrA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Deets to come.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgY6DrNUt5goo1kl4CZiOtCUQ4kZ15Zj_8tsghgMd_TzVuzMn8jdZipye5vqAKe3TkSSsaOVaFKTdva4wOLs6AuzkaZB3LToOT1nUZ8KZ_zq2Fa8yy5cFMEYJF1c2v9UFiI2nLCK_S9jzh5sGWV-kAbAVfhWVZL8qnBcEuUhQ7E-wqofu93jjOjFbeP9Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgY6DrNUt5goo1kl4CZiOtCUQ4kZ15Zj_8tsghgMd_TzVuzMn8jdZipye5vqAKe3TkSSsaOVaFKTdva4wOLs6AuzkaZB3LToOT1nUZ8KZ_zq2Fa8yy5cFMEYJF1c2v9UFiI2nLCK_S9jzh5sGWV-kAbAVfhWVZL8qnBcEuUhQ7E-wqofu93jjOjFbeP9Q=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for checkin' in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-38055862836598479262023-04-19T09:27:00.014-06:002023-05-18T08:25:33.100-06:00Drunken Rhinoceros: Widest carbon rims.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <span face="Inter, Helvetica, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "fira sans", "droid sans", sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; text-align: center;">Ever since I first aired down a tire to achieve more float when riding snow, I've wished for wider rims.</span></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1996 that meant upsizing to a 44mm Snowcat rim to support my 2.35" Ritchey Z-Maxes.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Eventually it meant lacing 80mm Remolino's to support 3" Gazzaloddis.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then 100mm Clownshoes for 4.7" BFL's.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For the last 8 years I've been on 105mm rims: first the Kuroshiro 6105, then the Nextie Xiphias. I switch between studded Johnny 5's and 5.2" Vee 2XL's as needed.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable" data-attachment="full:2033190" src="https://www.mtbr.com/attachments/screen-shot-2023-04-19-at-8-55-56-am-png.2033190/?hash=8d79d8982eec4940422c279780ef5978" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; float: none; height: auto; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; max-width: 90%; vertical-align: bottom;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Every time I make that switch, and I'm looking at the nekkid rims, I wish that I could go yet wider to give more float when the trails are unconsolidated.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A few months ago I finally tired of wishing and decided to act.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As a result, Nextie is now making a <a href="https://www.nextie.com/fatbike-drunken-rhinoceros-128mm-NXT128DR" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="-webkit-user-select: auto; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">120mm (internal width) carbon rim</a>. First production rims are inbound to the US as I type this.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I should have a dozen available for builds once I satisfy the preorders.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There should be no doubt that these are not for everyone. Most people are well served by the existing rim widths.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But some of us like to get farther away, to more remote places.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable" data-attachment="full:2033188" src="https://www.mtbr.com/attachments/screen-shot-2023-04-19-at-8-50-43-am-png.2033188/?hash=8d79d8982eec4940422c279780ef5978" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; float: none; height: auto; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; max-width: 90%; vertical-align: bottom; width: auto;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Others simply want to walk less when their trails are buried. </span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">These new rims are for <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">us</em>. </span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="1022" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/308354633?h=81d7b1b5bb&byline=0&portrait=0" width="575"></iframe></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-align: start;"><br /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">Anyone that has read this far is undoubtedly capable of spreading calipers ~120mm apart and registering what they're seeing.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); font-family: arial; letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px;"><br /></span></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); font-family: arial; letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Which is very different from seeing these rims in the flesh for the first time, or snapping a pic of them next to a known quantity like a 100mm Surly Clownshoe:</span></div></span><p></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz9rdRR3R5l7t2lCaGucRIOhoQFowjMCqTdbK8Y5zo5ckNv2PnCvcP6KkSldAgS0yiQL24okb9NT9BrNmd1dFIZ75GyJD1XUKWMJHfa-1xB5wMMluQgxn5o95QKuhKFwVYgGxWrj0l_XHbaifO8-BMWHjZ649O8Z94hBWyqMC_ZrZj9QY3PnboPtqL6w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz9rdRR3R5l7t2lCaGucRIOhoQFowjMCqTdbK8Y5zo5ckNv2PnCvcP6KkSldAgS0yiQL24okb9NT9BrNmd1dFIZ75GyJD1XUKWMJHfa-1xB5wMMluQgxn5o95QKuhKFwVYgGxWrj0l_XHbaifO8-BMWHjZ649O8Z94hBWyqMC_ZrZj9QY3PnboPtqL6w=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); font-family: arial; letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; text-align: start;">I'll refrain from conjuring any hyperbole at this point and just let that pic do the talking to those that know what it's saying.</span></div><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Later I inflated a 2XL on one of these rims to check dimensions.</span></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIK6sbpS5ihRsGWtGeDj9GSQ9AwiJ2ZeEuKUpRAV3SPyR3LaTPK3oZYsqzP5OGJVJUIfAjJOnMEcKUl0UfumwM_I6g70gRuAqaWDOhQyuIaBSrbz87DfUXdKK6FJoeW2eEJsAmOmEF4UwZEjrIs1YZZFFIik17hODvQxtEc0VI43zBRBpt2bMURBR8BQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIK6sbpS5ihRsGWtGeDj9GSQ9AwiJ2ZeEuKUpRAV3SPyR3LaTPK3oZYsqzP5OGJVJUIfAjJOnMEcKUl0UfumwM_I6g70gRuAqaWDOhQyuIaBSrbz87DfUXdKK6FJoeW2eEJsAmOmEF4UwZEjrIs1YZZFFIik17hODvQxtEc0VI43zBRBpt2bMURBR8BQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Johnny 5 on the left on a 99mm internal width rim. Shaved-knob 2XL on a 120mm Drunk Rhino on the right.</span></div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">121mm casing width for the J5, tubeless. 136mm for the 2XL with a tube, 139mm tubeless.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><div style="caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; text-align: center;">All measured at 7psi on a low-pressure Meiser gauge.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px;"><br /></span></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Both tires well used/stretched.</div></span></span></span><p></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">+ + + + +</span></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Please contact me by filling out the info form <a href="https://lacemine29.com">at my website</a>.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks.</span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p data-xf-p="1" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(56, 58, 59); letter-spacing: -0.30000001192092896px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-102788464871859972023-04-13T09:17:00.006-06:002023-04-13T09:19:11.288-06:00...and the kitchen sink.<p style="text-align: center;"> Most of the time when I'm outside I have at least one camera with me, and I'm in the habit of documenting interesting things that I see. Most often I shoot still pics, but sometimes I shoot video.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Eventually, some of these captures are used to illustrate the trip reports you see here and at my <a href="https://mikesee.exposure.co">Exposure</a> page.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp-L9qya_h8wCHt_8abpXZJ6KvaPpxdF8enFtq3hezLnYMWLn_QbeidB0P2vXAp8mtrC7oqZbTzKOojikr1vf75S1_yUR5TWESJEph2NGPX9eUkT-tJFQrZr0LrdGH06bgnUselXQsmJPYkWfONmTGunHMjF1fas7w9kJKuf1hkL-OYptLX7H8718KYA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp-L9qya_h8wCHt_8abpXZJ6KvaPpxdF8enFtq3hezLnYMWLn_QbeidB0P2vXAp8mtrC7oqZbTzKOojikr1vf75S1_yUR5TWESJEph2NGPX9eUkT-tJFQrZr0LrdGH06bgnUselXQsmJPYkWfONmTGunHMjF1fas7w9kJKuf1hkL-OYptLX7H8718KYA=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But only a small percentage get used -- the rest get deleted immediately or languish on my hard drive indefinitely. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Eventually hard drives get full, and the OCD (CDO!) part of me thinks it's silly to hang onto things I'm not using. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Which is how we arrive at this point, where below I've compiled random clips from ~4 years of out-and-about into some semblance of an order to share.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Lots of boating. Bits of skiing. Lots of animals. Little bit of bikes.<iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="562" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/817075491?h=266be345ae&portrait=0" width="1000"></iframe>The vast majority of it is probably only interesting to me. Unless you're in there. Which -- if you've read this far -- you probably are.</p><p style="text-align: center;">You make the call.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-82634185992819875242023-04-11T14:52:00.002-06:002023-04-11T15:00:23.495-06:00Micro.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> 4 hours, 3 modes, 2 sets of kicks, 1 after-work microadventure.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoULQZz2z7m8mmkr7HpDjm4l3FIrj00PeHigDdWGAe3yLgw_RWZgeqXw0Qe2bWRCOiUl36DtZwX-wTaXRDbSk-m1rigfUErmIr_YI1o1xWP4QhJVKqprOBYC4qJSxJnGW8425C7aBgPdxiv627sjT1FF51Nd5zTajDu-fA9BzP0hraDAuwm0H80jVLGQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoULQZz2z7m8mmkr7HpDjm4l3FIrj00PeHigDdWGAe3yLgw_RWZgeqXw0Qe2bWRCOiUl36DtZwX-wTaXRDbSk-m1rigfUErmIr_YI1o1xWP4QhJVKqprOBYC4qJSxJnGW8425C7aBgPdxiv627sjT1FF51Nd5zTajDu-fA9BzP0hraDAuwm0H80jVLGQ=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRM9N20D_9v6iXh7HYausu95WAW1tVMx7xqfF_mkdtJAQ8gY2rnhuGEbjW6Ixk9ABwDtcnVIkya6r6M9W-biy7s33Pe3Ql7TCHWsa2a-I3yWZqAV4p-Abgdurm2h6YXbFY0H87lA7t76wq1WlPXGOmrPiHdSJOBFX7OYxU5qKL93kB9X-9zrkdjgD6Tw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRM9N20D_9v6iXh7HYausu95WAW1tVMx7xqfF_mkdtJAQ8gY2rnhuGEbjW6Ixk9ABwDtcnVIkya6r6M9W-biy7s33Pe3Ql7TCHWsa2a-I3yWZqAV4p-Abgdurm2h6YXbFY0H87lA7t76wq1WlPXGOmrPiHdSJOBFX7OYxU5qKL93kB9X-9zrkdjgD6Tw=w640-h360" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Can't say it was relaxing, but it felt closer to that than crammed.<iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="563" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/816686459?h=4f87b2c677&portrait=0" width="1000"></iframe>Wakin' up from winter now.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for checkin' in.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-11920904074605923392023-03-22T14:59:00.007-06:002023-10-24T13:37:55.811-06:00Skirafting Utah.<p style="text-align: center;">I recently joined Jeff Creamer for a novel traverse of SE Utah, using skis, feet, and boats to cover 7+ days of corrugated terrain.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix3KhYIqKezI6Vxrd9c-5UENtSUaVxbhMg4XZH70Rc821T4Fru-2wHPr939EbItBXHvg2nqDNPJmlAO2yTxcd05v-syKHbU9t3CvBpnzQBJ7NCU2NEDy0weCq8HXoDx_UEqmV3zB_Lf-qHH1-0PIa7yMT_qghNfQAAU9x8LHEqSmTSLnlWnXGoEgJJvw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix3KhYIqKezI6Vxrd9c-5UENtSUaVxbhMg4XZH70Rc821T4Fru-2wHPr939EbItBXHvg2nqDNPJmlAO2yTxcd05v-syKHbU9t3CvBpnzQBJ7NCU2NEDy0weCq8HXoDx_UEqmV3zB_Lf-qHH1-0PIa7yMT_qghNfQAAU9x8LHEqSmTSLnlWnXGoEgJJvw=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">I've written a bit of a travelogue on my Exposure page, and shared some moving images <a href="https://mikesee.exposure.co/skirafting-utah" target="_blank">there</a>, too.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhV7PSLaxueNM8yZwhfc-76h05kn28xfC-uBB4mBJ4r02lFNZmjZVMeex8_8kT0rrGXFJt3SgmqH8Nh_ZsjpS2USga8aCL8DXYIsCqs6C50gfpCa3SNaZLeCoYFcT6PSB9VoDzViBOVSxmNp2DY9yRCnaJHOlnT1vXhqHfb9eqeSgiMFcg24CzbJqR6Gw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhV7PSLaxueNM8yZwhfc-76h05kn28xfC-uBB4mBJ4r02lFNZmjZVMeex8_8kT0rrGXFJt3SgmqH8Nh_ZsjpS2USga8aCL8DXYIsCqs6C50gfpCa3SNaZLeCoYFcT6PSB9VoDzViBOVSxmNp2DY9yRCnaJHOlnT1vXhqHfb9eqeSgiMFcg24CzbJqR6Gw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please have a look when you have a moment.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Thanks for checkin' in.<br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-29270734243718218102023-03-19T15:44:00.000-06:002023-03-19T15:44:18.699-06:00Everything stopped. And nothing else mattered.<p style="text-align: center;">A late night texted invite: <i>Wanna?</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPNFqN6AUyfZeswsRUpxUAUWxiSm_3uOETkpq408-mJEp86xCSHTwSaTiHr_oZ2N7ozc3hLW1zcXhgI5zj6As51FoQe1gguglCPx8l8UxOqHscVd8fwYhMACtJuS1Ikh0n9VKXv4a5zfXJZBln48AMgdTT0R9Y-SSZODInhbIqLhj3KVSwp6ykW02fCw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPNFqN6AUyfZeswsRUpxUAUWxiSm_3uOETkpq408-mJEp86xCSHTwSaTiHr_oZ2N7ozc3hLW1zcXhgI5zj6As51FoQe1gguglCPx8l8UxOqHscVd8fwYhMACtJuS1Ikh0n9VKXv4a5zfXJZBln48AMgdTT0R9Y-SSZODInhbIqLhj3KVSwp6ykW02fCw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Oh hell yes I do.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFvl_VPy1O2N3cNeRCz7Ztv2UQi0d13G9EbnsgkPxRwWRBIKVfYRnDU-LkjD6mZsroyZvPIUTvEUXsZjpU61yJdKtIur76nbtF4RCBt22DtQcEAtNWgKgiLXEXX_A0tAmxAGlPwgaSV7gFis5gwQPTU8AS7SXeSU1jYOsmvKnbPER4V3YwIZKf0nwvyQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1151" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFvl_VPy1O2N3cNeRCz7Ztv2UQi0d13G9EbnsgkPxRwWRBIKVfYRnDU-LkjD6mZsroyZvPIUTvEUXsZjpU61yJdKtIur76nbtF4RCBt22DtQcEAtNWgKgiLXEXX_A0tAmxAGlPwgaSV7gFis5gwQPTU8AS7SXeSU1jYOsmvKnbPER4V3YwIZKf0nwvyQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gear heaved hastily into piles, a long drive that ends with friends, laughs, hugs, and the Fastest Known Ranger Talk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLuLPI3K4pMD2U3EPNcpZk0hEaXHdnw6knfoiyhbjgeYbTBFlJiqP_AR5jgXkAdD-tcyVYlcidvZVUIBW6o27H4YLk2g6skpUOibx7JRmijtXHtksvw4yEzQiGVtWSIz35-txO8ypluvYh6rYSsB2aWO5MexgNpGatn4ndYhEusAkpATnKWNQaA3weOg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLuLPI3K4pMD2U3EPNcpZk0hEaXHdnw6knfoiyhbjgeYbTBFlJiqP_AR5jgXkAdD-tcyVYlcidvZVUIBW6o27H4YLk2g6skpUOibx7JRmijtXHtksvw4yEzQiGVtWSIz35-txO8ypluvYh6rYSsB2aWO5MexgNpGatn4ndYhEusAkpATnKWNQaA3weOg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjSGFY_aGoB-IsERB8sGsedmxlSbNClR2f37Wjm-6tRQnsl7eNv07hs4j06a0UUjDsvQ9wF3TGasxuakHM-mG_wZtP2Rg4WHJowvkR1O9-SW2zwfUTxX3TZzGArMVBmjtE9ijpOwCmwB4Z47rMZL5fCMurYK1JGinIWPcNPIoDBRBtnu1cqOiV4xyw_Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjSGFY_aGoB-IsERB8sGsedmxlSbNClR2f37Wjm-6tRQnsl7eNv07hs4j06a0UUjDsvQ9wF3TGasxuakHM-mG_wZtP2Rg4WHJowvkR1O9-SW2zwfUTxX3TZzGArMVBmjtE9ijpOwCmwB4Z47rMZL5fCMurYK1JGinIWPcNPIoDBRBtnu1cqOiV4xyw_Q=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Green water gradually gets siltier. Blue skies morph to grey. Smiles and moods remain elevated regardless.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAIHvHqCLPgEYB3iqXK4TKAGc0wyNzeYs9PHOy8LROrxQ9cT-eQh8ogX8-zs6F39gWhetXvzpFp9dVHXo7cFTZpu_UzYk3NH2yHd3B2MXCv9sqq_7RrxVfd6fyCbt5dwbMjEPHQjhy9OZYEpiU0vqjeos9YeEPGhK1_rB7TPMI0fmPWt3bHVCTF6yyfw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAIHvHqCLPgEYB3iqXK4TKAGc0wyNzeYs9PHOy8LROrxQ9cT-eQh8ogX8-zs6F39gWhetXvzpFp9dVHXo7cFTZpu_UzYk3NH2yHd3B2MXCv9sqq_7RrxVfd6fyCbt5dwbMjEPHQjhy9OZYEpiU0vqjeos9YeEPGhK1_rB7TPMI0fmPWt3bHVCTF6yyfw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0xFeY2w-B9nmeKubJ2BlqVXLzPEOaIpvO870Sg6ZMHzjvqT0Ha6o_hBmcW2x0w9OVnbLZPDoYEhihit7eUjVcRk8oEzxHi1C_o1ghbHzSBYNRP8XhRskC6S3F1ZkOS4CIeskBup5fRUOaOrLYyKwmNllnyEp1kwpQ5tPYmtPpuiALoaf9RfGmO952kA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0xFeY2w-B9nmeKubJ2BlqVXLzPEOaIpvO870Sg6ZMHzjvqT0Ha6o_hBmcW2x0w9OVnbLZPDoYEhihit7eUjVcRk8oEzxHi1C_o1ghbHzSBYNRP8XhRskC6S3F1ZkOS4CIeskBup5fRUOaOrLYyKwmNllnyEp1kwpQ5tPYmtPpuiALoaf9RfGmO952kA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Slow, meditative, comfort-food firepan cooking attended to as the nights unfold around us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkvqCe83E0ovDaVplzYT3oj746CJkz5Bsaa05sJUO2lNPpW90_uOQd1B4bu9hw8ImaMb94gFNyGY-qhILcqM2ScOtzPqHqUO8Ljx8i-P_JPWKNTEjtSTKtiS3wo2TtvqRnyG6yeY5eGP41yUdZE2aVf-TCYkstMh2iMd6eSd7RFr8nCNL_9M3IZgEMPg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="767" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkvqCe83E0ovDaVplzYT3oj746CJkz5Bsaa05sJUO2lNPpW90_uOQd1B4bu9hw8ImaMb94gFNyGY-qhILcqM2ScOtzPqHqUO8Ljx8i-P_JPWKNTEjtSTKtiS3wo2TtvqRnyG6yeY5eGP41yUdZE2aVf-TCYkstMh2iMd6eSd7RFr8nCNL_9M3IZgEMPg=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRoSNO-RcQ_zD63Dp_L_oVivWKdI4ZXyppq3tIuj8tRPQ_jn5eDCJViUK7MkWa-8iIxV6c9MVyldm2lRS1P_aAyEuZrJYdr9_n9L6VnfPmKftwBH_al6ltrAr56MBdsoP09a3l2u_7RDhym-mdMPD8m4CncN-G-WE9BKPDlV2UbDkWGOWnQCNNW5qdDA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRoSNO-RcQ_zD63Dp_L_oVivWKdI4ZXyppq3tIuj8tRPQ_jn5eDCJViUK7MkWa-8iIxV6c9MVyldm2lRS1P_aAyEuZrJYdr9_n9L6VnfPmKftwBH_al6ltrAr56MBdsoP09a3l2u_7RDhym-mdMPD8m4CncN-G-WE9BKPDlV2UbDkWGOWnQCNNW5qdDA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Slow, meditative conversations unfold with friends you haven't seen in too long, whose stories are as rich and offbeat as remembered.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJz2xDTjldidIgBi8FV9Rb6Lhq3LyYugczoDlQwhiLkszbZpQyLHDWNUgHFVTl-EwyS-jTKLwG3z6vgTmocSka5SY-p-_3RTpsgnzj_MbwxYd0Okllw3S_YO-MlA_jToI-CQ0TZaYXMt3uHJYnZd_kCUbzkJMxYdTFBdLko7m0eYSesK0TrpM7gYCnEg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1151" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJz2xDTjldidIgBi8FV9Rb6Lhq3LyYugczoDlQwhiLkszbZpQyLHDWNUgHFVTl-EwyS-jTKLwG3z6vgTmocSka5SY-p-_3RTpsgnzj_MbwxYd0Okllw3S_YO-MlA_jToI-CQ0TZaYXMt3uHJYnZd_kCUbzkJMxYdTFBdLko7m0eYSesK0TrpM7gYCnEg=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjWq3HcW13alaDgLFKJlx0pSkw8Me324LzMNuCMkG8teQbn9qjZJSJwcxwQs71hbxOg7iOPvvPY0cvpCfnLRmbdDc3ZGD8RnxVoJoHuidmltSd7GbF_MjRqeDwu9dW4l9zkSIXCeWhNRIoRqnkrIQ-EkicAP6do4QYAAepMu1FNnRprGCBQvYVUlX6-Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjWq3HcW13alaDgLFKJlx0pSkw8Me324LzMNuCMkG8teQbn9qjZJSJwcxwQs71hbxOg7iOPvvPY0cvpCfnLRmbdDc3ZGD8RnxVoJoHuidmltSd7GbF_MjRqeDwu9dW4l9zkSIXCeWhNRIoRqnkrIQ-EkicAP6do4QYAAepMu1FNnRprGCBQvYVUlX6-Q=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An <i>elevated-compared-to-most</i> pace through paradise. Longer would be better, but this is the time we have, so...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN0moWT9spdXhXV0M9DUoefU7Ri9n2uAqh0VMCGMuGqUJILqB4yTrCoEFczsGlZyFdoaGXBHwtAMOKGy9Vp7pKBqju5ydeHPZoPTx_VFKEDtWrUxmYpyfsRuVsiG3e1pRnajT8hWikEQBQsj7CkP551RYvcCJt493oXjpTR1ug1kuZ5iANZupP9H7lxw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjN0moWT9spdXhXV0M9DUoefU7Ri9n2uAqh0VMCGMuGqUJILqB4yTrCoEFczsGlZyFdoaGXBHwtAMOKGy9Vp7pKBqju5ydeHPZoPTx_VFKEDtWrUxmYpyfsRuVsiG3e1pRnajT8hWikEQBQsj7CkP551RYvcCJt493oXjpTR1ug1kuZ5iANZupP9H7lxw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Drought-induced low flows are noticeable compared to even a few short years ago. Pools are longer and slower, seams and boils less pronounced, and the rapids which normally get our full attention seem somewhat docile relative to their higher-water selves. Somehow Horn, Walthenberg, and Deubendorff feel pushiest at this level.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixj_8KH21dT0oS0z7iJUOQAt60QBJerFNrD1upizvt4qRVfmm-yqGxClHeoP7WJOiWnFfeM2WAZlA3jme6xvOjTsp7S25KGapr0qksFEvAeOFAFMFrVZx-dK2PbAsIhJQbxQvMWnVGrd4H7ZFKj3B1hiShvINmo3AasKzCewbylHWIFhyisVxRaQrjHw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="767" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixj_8KH21dT0oS0z7iJUOQAt60QBJerFNrD1upizvt4qRVfmm-yqGxClHeoP7WJOiWnFfeM2WAZlA3jme6xvOjTsp7S25KGapr0qksFEvAeOFAFMFrVZx-dK2PbAsIhJQbxQvMWnVGrd4H7ZFKj3B1hiShvINmo3AasKzCewbylHWIFhyisVxRaQrjHw=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_ww4Z32nn5R0sGwstMgAMh4w9B_SsZX_3QS08q3PDuZGfeRzCR8968ASWGDosjaLGZjDAaF4vJ82WtAxb5Toj0YB7RACcnSfTEJOzUkkMiLQmk1PFjyBlvkYdVtq9auVM-4Ykr1detLgAXUDQYyAfVJHNNq1OSW0OhDckNceB44hPtWzGKNckICdAIw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_ww4Z32nn5R0sGwstMgAMh4w9B_SsZX_3QS08q3PDuZGfeRzCR8968ASWGDosjaLGZjDAaF4vJ82WtAxb5Toj0YB7RACcnSfTEJOzUkkMiLQmk1PFjyBlvkYdVtq9auVM-4Ykr1detLgAXUDQYyAfVJHNNq1OSW0OhDckNceB44hPtWzGKNckICdAIw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A wave of storms shellack us with winds, suspended dust, one memorable blizzard at river level. Even more memorable, perhaps, is the fact that said blizzard pushed us into the camp eddy of the first people we'd seen in over 80 miles. And they were happy to share their fire and good spirits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8VYwNQgdf8hxdwl7R_yejEhCgaPGBboZ2CddpTbF3CnhYyUu7VoAGVaKfSZKNjbyjNzxP42iDYdDauz4YswulgyuU1Ghwu9wGe_WB8elsehDWVXBq1zUdbtciYsmXzzq0eh3XmONYP3s5D0Oahr1BoLdQKXz5KeNhkVCguhpEq6K-cxYP6vS8HzVwgg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1151" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8VYwNQgdf8hxdwl7R_yejEhCgaPGBboZ2CddpTbF3CnhYyUu7VoAGVaKfSZKNjbyjNzxP42iDYdDauz4YswulgyuU1Ghwu9wGe_WB8elsehDWVXBq1zUdbtciYsmXzzq0eh3XmONYP3s5D0Oahr1BoLdQKXz5KeNhkVCguhpEq6K-cxYP6vS8HzVwgg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtesl_pJobNOA4jmr5RSTx4Z6JvKRIsdmnN_iorTt8SwKdZxbAzvfNGUICxsGGRMemijfbr56Lg8t80v7U5CLD7s4V3VJ4J8HaYcbtsTP4NoSaAatp9cJHdwTG1waIfvITgcVaP7vaaBaRqe6oR8MuUWsJXcGz2Pka4ObBPA8jVToiesGqz2ac1tfjdg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1151" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtesl_pJobNOA4jmr5RSTx4Z6JvKRIsdmnN_iorTt8SwKdZxbAzvfNGUICxsGGRMemijfbr56Lg8t80v7U5CLD7s4V3VJ4J8HaYcbtsTP4NoSaAatp9cJHdwTG1waIfvITgcVaP7vaaBaRqe6oR8MuUWsJXcGz2Pka4ObBPA8jVToiesGqz2ac1tfjdg=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Said storms opened our eyes to camp spots we'd either not used before or hadn't previously appreciated for their overhangs. Camps so good that Jeff only found reason to pitch his tent once in a week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW1jlltEqSJW4ixQsRKUQQ1AnAUNttnM4rsd4NDQLGk0AotLvo9ng6LgpyZuLBr_QHMYvhGJ78u1Vd-3A5at40UZsocIixiyHxvk8TmLEkEuOBJ0v4V0t5WsdlZUDliuW9tsQZLxjJGFEPk9bR7X5FBfFMez_4zFcoF42TXCT-qGd0bMPVyUh0lw4nqQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="767" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW1jlltEqSJW4ixQsRKUQQ1AnAUNttnM4rsd4NDQLGk0AotLvo9ng6LgpyZuLBr_QHMYvhGJ78u1Vd-3A5at40UZsocIixiyHxvk8TmLEkEuOBJ0v4V0t5WsdlZUDliuW9tsQZLxjJGFEPk9bR7X5FBfFMez_4zFcoF42TXCT-qGd0bMPVyUh0lw4nqQ=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjNCX2-wyoU1agj5EQleZiLRjWTgGKF6kO34WCiT60S0lopRB5ubW9PyENi7dUA5K91Kabr3ljpvNrFfFxYJqvrnorerz3liY8hvsUNhW2hPOr50-ujVKiZRSju4xCMJRd_E5vOSlHvRVQO5ZC2m55eKcZp-lEk0aHeuRmliW45cPTCzfJyTVWw2IHlQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1151" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjNCX2-wyoU1agj5EQleZiLRjWTgGKF6kO34WCiT60S0lopRB5ubW9PyENi7dUA5K91Kabr3ljpvNrFfFxYJqvrnorerz3liY8hvsUNhW2hPOr50-ujVKiZRSju4xCMJRd_E5vOSlHvRVQO5ZC2m55eKcZp-lEk0aHeuRmliW45cPTCzfJyTVWw2IHlQ=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1blbJ3B7zVlzc9or_ot6yKNypGLeyZYiU5W9pO85pww5194kO_JuEQnRenWui3rFB65ybMSVX9o7pRCOeblGib_I4L9OUI3nE5Iuj3-PVw7iUHFkCnOXjzVX-rmqD1EHsNxKftI7e4pEBw_lSL4z8BpBfhq88OCHO8O-fVbsaK5sxdXwHAQkD6gheog" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img alt="" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1blbJ3B7zVlzc9or_ot6yKNypGLeyZYiU5W9pO85pww5194kO_JuEQnRenWui3rFB65ybMSVX9o7pRCOeblGib_I4L9OUI3nE5Iuj3-PVw7iUHFkCnOXjzVX-rmqD1EHsNxKftI7e4pEBw_lSL4z8BpBfhq88OCHO8O-fVbsaK5sxdXwHAQkD6gheog=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Off-river hikes were of the slow, contemplative sort. Wander a bit, pick up a rock, inspect it, turn it over, drop it, wander some more, eventually find yourself well away from the river -- and from conversation -- long enough to hear your own thoughts for a minute. Or at least the 80's earworm <i>(see post title)</i> that's reliably there when all other distractions cease.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt7fIHfVpeUhBqah6S4g77G7zsZPha0dNje3NpSM4-b6v2-qAnS68lsBH3-fBmICxHPgTmWR2dnrqoIdNj8Ox7zF7Cpesgkl2PAFRzar9wXqBlvspntx7wTeACXdW8ozRmpBGGUsYQKRWKqy5zVDMfWdLgt5RRSNqZPFVxVvFs1_uemei4RdZGb92t3Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="767" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt7fIHfVpeUhBqah6S4g77G7zsZPha0dNje3NpSM4-b6v2-qAnS68lsBH3-fBmICxHPgTmWR2dnrqoIdNj8Ox7zF7Cpesgkl2PAFRzar9wXqBlvspntx7wTeACXdW8ozRmpBGGUsYQKRWKqy5zVDMfWdLgt5RRSNqZPFVxVvFs1_uemei4RdZGb92t3Q=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpLlVREFILxUAZ6F46r9JBjLu1eqAklZTYYQF85U9ZIS229tXGt31K4IV3qdK82HPBD_oQpjVOcmNofqI-P5UGgH-dkN6aoFCze15UmUVxD6KY1hi3VCzqqSgauiYsFa4v-7mI2m04GsOT7_Z1u4s5k7B_gZbrZGs25U2d5aSzWuYZuQPwP2idG-MdJA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1151" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpLlVREFILxUAZ6F46r9JBjLu1eqAklZTYYQF85U9ZIS229tXGt31K4IV3qdK82HPBD_oQpjVOcmNofqI-P5UGgH-dkN6aoFCze15UmUVxD6KY1hi3VCzqqSgauiYsFa4v-7mI2m04GsOT7_Z1u4s5k7B_gZbrZGs25U2d5aSzWuYZuQPwP2idG-MdJA=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Trips in this place are not -- cannot be -- all things to all people. You have to choose your compromises and, to some extent, know in advance what you're signing up for with every choice made. I'm grateful to have fallen in with a team that both has a wealth of experience in this place, and that is equally open to new ones.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXnp4U7CkUR-eUsZMchovXb6Dmlhp4MMspDtZSOF62zQr3pkLcLHfLiXbMkudyXiDSGOYOoSU_L0N3UjDP0We4Z14Oeo-Fx_a3r3puQ8FuR5eycvCmfw0-JXwXfEM8JOv96mE708IjTOckNL1fGk9pgV9qP7hZhoBFyez4cDxEODOFfZuoZoGRiY9MNw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXnp4U7CkUR-eUsZMchovXb6Dmlhp4MMspDtZSOF62zQr3pkLcLHfLiXbMkudyXiDSGOYOoSU_L0N3UjDP0We4Z14Oeo-Fx_a3r3puQ8FuR5eycvCmfw0-JXwXfEM8JOv96mE708IjTOckNL1fGk9pgV9qP7hZhoBFyez4cDxEODOFfZuoZoGRiY9MNw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_tF8hFydt3qMo9lgqiyH7lixoWDamWA0f-HouMu87UXf6CikQoKwxabSmTq5tnB4gyBkdcWf3PY44GxHlQIGZ92dguOyXH4K6ys-f6PEkoaN1Y03LgOSau_pXrALQn83rQa1ix6fJkK97fKb2IrsnAIna080AioFylbVzmXZ8gYuoW26QjGDV_nxLfA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="767" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_tF8hFydt3qMo9lgqiyH7lixoWDamWA0f-HouMu87UXf6CikQoKwxabSmTq5tnB4gyBkdcWf3PY44GxHlQIGZ92dguOyXH4K6ys-f6PEkoaN1Y03LgOSau_pXrALQn83rQa1ix6fJkK97fKb2IrsnAIna080AioFylbVzmXZ8gYuoW26QjGDV_nxLfA=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for checkin' in.</div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3943627808770318379.post-76031933792352576422023-02-07T13:41:00.001-07:002023-02-07T13:47:26.985-07:00Places that are wild.<p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">"I may have liked places that are wild and been quickened all my days just by the sound of the word, but I can see now I never knew what it could mean."</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">-John McPhee, <b>Coming into the Country</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr7S7EBv6FR8oSfzsh-k1JAGjeIa-CIwzXPQLO7t9xUxIJC-SG1_rtMT0MFR_v8oohScvEj0KqPmgEBJ1AalcPutodFMbpYDRXfxcPid1TKWTo3RROlLSJl8KudzbXPMO0535jkR5wGAip9-pXOhPs_sKFmYACRs1H7bkaRLiQe7CJ6NWoPLnM9PjEZQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="5000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgr7S7EBv6FR8oSfzsh-k1JAGjeIa-CIwzXPQLO7t9xUxIJC-SG1_rtMT0MFR_v8oohScvEj0KqPmgEBJ1AalcPutodFMbpYDRXfxcPid1TKWTo3RROlLSJl8KudzbXPMO0535jkR5wGAip9-pXOhPs_sKFmYACRs1H7bkaRLiQe7CJ6NWoPLnM9PjEZQ=s16000" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There is a local forest track that we like to ride this time of year. It gets ridden on a sled by a local trapper about every third day, otherwise the snow wouldn't be packed enough for us.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsTtVIeNuyn4CHnZTzHW2K4GYYbr68WKKcStUd1al4r939b2OvivYxm5GLg1LOXT0lE0gPYOqK4REFpn9n5tmSYITkAfwaBgUMDuhJ34u24PBrPIeQ-GR_gOcho6cw_pOOqzivPh5pPNULe5S5yOcrmg72kY4lUWfV6IV1hF4MBAdLp7Zw8-tnVOSHQ/s1151/IMG_4172.jpeg" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="863" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsTtVIeNuyn4CHnZTzHW2K4GYYbr68WKKcStUd1al4r939b2OvivYxm5GLg1LOXT0lE0gPYOqK4REFpn9n5tmSYITkAfwaBgUMDuhJ34u24PBrPIeQ-GR_gOcho6cw_pOOqzivPh5pPNULe5S5yOcrmg72kY4lUWfV6IV1hF4MBAdLp7Zw8-tnVOSHQ/w480-h640/IMG_4172.jpeg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On any given evening we'll see a few sub-herds of elk, scores of wolf tracks, and have ample opportunity to wonder which outcrops the canids are watching us from. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsue2n60RWllEvn0mF20ID33nvhmId6pG2BjVx3xBJL6iD8zghQNwq-avsBNM4RovX-cDYA7-M1Ks8_AIXSBT7PB7RoqTDGVmyVaIMr0GTf6a0P9cQqHuIIxgsX2EP38cJ_iT-v_4UJHG3_UAhMD_cGau5LNqYsq5SG7Grz42rJgEXGap-gxdIhCTYQ/s1151/IMG_4174.jpeg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1151" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsue2n60RWllEvn0mF20ID33nvhmId6pG2BjVx3xBJL6iD8zghQNwq-avsBNM4RovX-cDYA7-M1Ks8_AIXSBT7PB7RoqTDGVmyVaIMr0GTf6a0P9cQqHuIIxgsX2EP38cJ_iT-v_4UJHG3_UAhMD_cGau5LNqYsq5SG7Grz42rJgEXGap-gxdIhCTYQ/w640-h480/IMG_4174.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Because you know they are.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gInjc1ipYHMukUv5heG9t6rnev_dyQUNfbpkzqCv4Hd4Bm2WeXyPxdFE1K6gNznmxsZgafyMTXC4uG7ajQkGhALcl1ZFfpSHOX7A_BszFCTR9oZt9j36hStVhvT0FFhKX-QS83-Qv9hor23iX3dcx6fEADD6pCfeb3K0DsNfwUrW6tTFgbhQxm-G7g/s1151/IMG_4181.jpeg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1151" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gInjc1ipYHMukUv5heG9t6rnev_dyQUNfbpkzqCv4Hd4Bm2WeXyPxdFE1K6gNznmxsZgafyMTXC4uG7ajQkGhALcl1ZFfpSHOX7A_BszFCTR9oZt9j36hStVhvT0FFhKX-QS83-Qv9hor23iX3dcx6fEADD6pCfeb3K0DsNfwUrW6tTFgbhQxm-G7g/w640-h480/IMG_4181.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We're there because the trapper enables it. The trapper is there for the wolves, who are there for the elk. Seems somehow wrong that we aren't contributing anything to the elk to complete the circle. Or maybe we are in some unwitting way?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbK2L1__eR53DwzIFoJKMHmy3ILvgzGEsTSYDX8reoKi4cJYw4U-nkMcLTFEDvy_DMRRPI7lUQIuLHYl-S4iEG41Zo-33NldbDqmKkR7Brm7vPkSBU3Fn7wogTbUgIt7TS9xwK3u1tvBZGNM5CE8iCoa8X4o0QkYDRxeqoDJsi46lFaZ8yZOnjf3yvg/s1151/IMG_4127.jpeg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="863" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbK2L1__eR53DwzIFoJKMHmy3ILvgzGEsTSYDX8reoKi4cJYw4U-nkMcLTFEDvy_DMRRPI7lUQIuLHYl-S4iEG41Zo-33NldbDqmKkR7Brm7vPkSBU3Fn7wogTbUgIt7TS9xwK3u1tvBZGNM5CE8iCoa8X4o0QkYDRxeqoDJsi46lFaZ8yZOnjf3yvg/w480-h640/IMG_4127.jpeg" width="480" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The loop takes two to three hours to ride when conditions are good. Pretty short, all things considered. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It will never not amaze me how 'out there' we feel even when not that far out. We feel that way because once we begin to climb away from the maintained county road we have effectively abdicated our spot atop the food chain. It's not TV anymore -- it's very, very real.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5kwarh2uMXvCefXhtS2m2SF2XX9L9n7DSIRvoBwG5881PzzUhxIaj7rr_CeCDuXAwNgjSbKYcDAyxOaUpUcev1ZqV7TX11XqUAJ_awE-BCrNxjmw3kfjt9RQ2jrJPSuzoWUTgo96s91Tko9g0NWke642lgpf2ka90hfcZDF061LPmQCtevAruImOFQ/s1151/IMG_4168.jpeg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1151" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5kwarh2uMXvCefXhtS2m2SF2XX9L9n7DSIRvoBwG5881PzzUhxIaj7rr_CeCDuXAwNgjSbKYcDAyxOaUpUcev1ZqV7TX11XqUAJ_awE-BCrNxjmw3kfjt9RQ2jrJPSuzoWUTgo96s91Tko9g0NWke642lgpf2ka90hfcZDF061LPmQCtevAruImOFQ/w640-h480/IMG_4168.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I *love* inhabiting that space, with the perspective, awareness, and humility it brings. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEDMrl7_pnTvv6frFlOD3ljGa2fABtjUEVj-ZJ3A8mz-ozcBJqEhpxMHjcpR7dFF_xWkHs6CA31dmk_0b1IumjHJYv9Ez1XfBuL1GE3JkEDO9Vfj4EztYMb9U5PxGbHhJhNAuB4WrkHVEn5jJundjK_-o0eRKG9KViegtRviQdJP2mhSDfjJsLlrDRw/s1151/IMG_4160.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1151" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEDMrl7_pnTvv6frFlOD3ljGa2fABtjUEVj-ZJ3A8mz-ozcBJqEhpxMHjcpR7dFF_xWkHs6CA31dmk_0b1IumjHJYv9Ez1XfBuL1GE3JkEDO9Vfj4EztYMb9U5PxGbHhJhNAuB4WrkHVEn5jJundjK_-o0eRKG9KViegtRviQdJP2mhSDfjJsLlrDRw/w640-h480/IMG_4160.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Every last one of us could benefit from more of the above.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for checkin' in.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1