The blog had to take a little siesta over the past few seasons so I could focus on some career and life stuff. Things are sorted now, so I’m looking forward to updating on a more regular basis soon.
We’re back in business and I’m looking forward to it.
Cheers, friends.
Shredding the Wasatch Crest mountain biking trail with Adam Riser and Re Wikstrom. The Crest Trail runs along the ridge between Big Cottonwood Canyon and Park City, Utah.
In the summer months this is one of the most popular rides in the area and recently free shuttles started running from the Mill D trail to the top of Guardsman’s pass. For visiting riders this is a classic and a must-do. The trail is a mix of flowing, well-ridden singletrack, moderate-length but punchy climbs, forest riding in and out of aspens, and fast-and-dusty descending back into Big Cottonwood.
Alternate exit options take you to either Park City or Millcreek.
Read more about the trail here.
And see Adam’s photography and Re’s photography.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the Crusher in the Tushar, it’s a long road/gravel bike race with a “fair” amount of climbing (read: TONS).
It’s definitely one of those things to add to your roadie bucket list if you enjoy pain, high temperatures, and a party in the mountains. The race is held every year outside of Beaver, Utah.
The mountain biking in Fruita, Colorado is a little slice of heaven baked by the sun and carved from the desert. Singletrack trails crisscross the desert around the now-famous 18 road and even more trails skip along the spiny backs of nearby ridges that protrude from the mountains. Unless there’s a storm clouding the sky, sunsets light up the horizon nightly and stars blaze from one side of your vision to the other.
On this particular day I chose to do some trail running just south of The Canyons resort and discovered that the snow hadn’t entirely melted yet. This makes for the best kind of dirt, though: tacky and fast.
Our long Memorial Day weekend was a little chilly but the sunset views from our campsite on Bear Lake were fantastic. If you decide to visit the lake I would recommend staying at the south end—and bring your rain jacket.
At least downtown, anyway. Every year The Bike Collective in Salt Lake holds an annual fundraiser and people get really, really into it. Over the years it’s grown in size and so has the ride through downtown that kicks things off. It’s a rolling celebration of bike culture and one that everyone should have the opportunity to take part in at some point.
It’s unusual that Re and I camp so close to home (or at a campground) save for one or two long weekends a year. A few friends had grabbed a site along the shore of Bear Lake in northeastern Utah, so we loaded up the truck and joined them for some barbecuing and beers—and a little paddling.
Read a little more about Bear Lake right here. It wouldn’t hurt to get a huckleberry milkshake when you’re in town, too—they’re worth the drive from Salt Lake City.
Masked by a cloudy veil, the lighthouse at Point Reyes stands tall. We were in the Bay Area for a wedding so we figured it was worth doing some of the more touristy things, too. This lighthouse has been on the list for a while.
Years ago the camping around Stanley, Idaho included a small, secluded site atop one of the ridges just above town. It took a heavy foot on the gas pedal, four-wheel drive, and a little bit of faith to climb the rutted and dusty road up to this site and it was worth the trouble. This is just a portion of the 360-degree view of the star-filled sky over this small Idaho town flanked by the Sawtooths.
Visit Stanley for the rafting, mountain biking (send me a message for some beta), and hot springs. You’ll never want to leave.