Wow

Yesterday I went to do my usual bi-weekly shot/doc visit.  They usually do vital signs every time I get my shot just to check and see if I am doing fine.  After I jumped on the scale, my nurse got into her cabinet and grabbed one of these and told me that I lost one of these in the last two weeks.  Wow!  Probably from all that fat biking!

More Fat Biking

In the past while, I've been riding some more while the snow was great and packed down.  I got to go along the canyon road.  It was really warm though.

I started from Major's Flat so I drove my truck up there with my bike in the back.  I passed a friend along the way down at the bottom by the houses at the mouth of the canyon.  He also has a fat bike so he was riding on one too.  Us too are the only ones in the town that have fat bikes.  So anyway, I started riding from Major's Flat and climbed until to Willow Creek turnoff.  Then I turned around and my friend was there.  He is fast!  Well, he's in good shape and used to race in semi pro back in the days.  Right now he runs Alley Cat Bike Shop in Ephraim.  Made me realize that I am pretty slow and my bike is slow.  His bike has 4 inch tires and mine has 4.8.  Mine is a lot harder to pedal though but has a lot more traction.  Made me want to get a bike with 4 inch tires so I can go faster.  Ha ha.

Another day before that canyon ride, I went more riding and here's some pictures.

This ride, I went on a short one but it was great, just up by Lund Farm, Gordon's Farm, and up a little on the canyon road just up the hydroplant.  Great workouts!

First Snow Bike Ride of the Season

I took the opportunity to go on my fat bike after the snow storm we had right after Thanksgiving weekend.  It snowed quite a bit then it got really cold.  I had a Friday off and went definitely.  That morning, Ephraim made the news up in Salt Lake City that it got below 22 here in Ephraim.  Yeah, pretty cold.  But I waited it out before I went on my ride.  By the time it got 11 degrees at my house, I went.
 

It wasn't so bad because I had some pretty good warm biking clothing gear and also after working out about 10 minutes, it felt perfect.  I wasn't too hot, or too cold but I didn't sweat at all during the whole ride.  Not one drip.  It was that cold. I was amazed that I didn't sweat and it felt weird.  And I was really working out hard too.  As hard as I could.  My fat bike also felt amazing over snow and I felt like I was a kid again, fat bikes over snow are so fun.

This is a homemade map I made on the computer on where I went since I am so behind on technology(ask my older brother, he says that I live too much in the 90s, and it's true, I do).  I left E Town towards Black Hill and Kane Valley area.  I climbed up Kane Valley Road past the elk ranch and the snow pack on the road was perfect.  I made it up there like in 25 minutes from my house then turned around at the top and went back down.  I thought that was it for my ride and then until I got home, I decided to get my dog and go for a little longer.  This time we went up towards past the Lund Farm and went on that technical rocky road that connects to the Ephraim Canyon Road(shortcut to the canyon road from town).  The rocks were all covered with snow and it made the ride pleasant.  The fat bike went on that road great even though there were a couple tire tracks.  On the ride back down, I had a blast and I went fast.  So the ride was about 9.5 miles and the total elevation gain was 850 feet so it took me about an hour.  It was fun and I am ready for more.

Bike rides after the big trip...

After my work trip in North Dakota, I definitely wanted to get some riding done while the weather was nice back home in Utah.  It was actually on Thanksgiving Day when I had the chance because I came home on the day before.  I couldn't resist going on a ride on a day like this.  After I ate so much in North Dakota and not getting any intense exercise, I didn't even think about Thanksgiving dinner so I didn't really eat that much for Thanksgiving.  Before the dinner, I went on my usual "moderate intensity ride" I usually go on.  It was great but I felt so out of shape and felt about 5 to 8 pounds heavier.  But I made it just fine though and I wanted to take it easy. 

It was a pretty nice day and it was actually nice all through Thanksgiving weekend.  On Friday, I got to get a Christmas Tree with my family in the mountains.  There was snow but I was in a t-shirt, very nice.  Then on Saturday, I totally went on another ride in the afternoon.  This time I did a ride I haven't done in a long time, part of the Race Loop.  The Race Loop hasn't been ridden on in years since the landowner closed it down, it was actually an atv trail and they didn't want them going up that area anymore.  But for the past few years, I actually talked with the landowners, they are ok with mountain bikers and hikers in the area.  So what if I ride up there again and the trail will be all sweet and all singletracky?  It would be nice though but I don't know if they are ok with that though.  Anyways, I did part of the climb that day and went back down.  I felt better though but I still could be in better shape.  Two weeks of no exercise can totally kill you!

North Dakota Trip and Travels

I got asked to work two weeks to work on a couple projects in North Dakota.  To be exact, it was in Gladstone which is about 10 to 15 miles east of Dickinson.  Dickinson is a big city and Gladstone is a really small town, all it has is a grainery, a bar, and a post office.  It was supposed to be a week and a half we were supposed to be there but our boss extended it so we wouldn't have to come back after Thanksgiving.

We had a Sunday off.  We did actually go to church.  I went in levis though but it was nice to go to church.  We just went to Sacrament meeting, then afterwards, us four guys went for a drive on Enchanted Highway.  It supposed to have the world's biggest metal sculptures.  Here's some pics.

North Dakota has nothing out there and it was very cold with the Canadian winds blowing from north.  We've had some mornings in the negative temperatures and one day the highest it went was 12 degrees.  We spent the first week doing outside work and the cold week doing inside work.  We got a LOT done.

This is one of the two projects.  This one is a pain because this duplex is huge and very tall.  We got a lot done on this one.  We were doing log siding in this picture, also the rear deck.  The other project is a small home about 10 blocks away.  Still have a lot work done on that one too.  They are basically all modulars, we built them in sections in the shop in Mt. Pleasant, Utah and shipped all the boxes up to North Dakota and stitched them up.

On the way home was beautiful.  We drove through Montana, West Yellowstone, and Idaho.  The above pictures are the sun rises at Island Park, ID and the Grand Teton Mountains.  I love sun rises!  We were actually gone from our homes exactly 16 days and I won't do that again.   Well, I got see a coyote and a bison.

Goblin Valley and Little Wild Horse Canyon

On the day after the Capital Reef visit, my parents and I met my brother and his family at Goblin Valley and Little Wild Horse Canyon.  This is my other older brother that has never been the slot canyon.  We went with my oldest brother about 2 months ago at Little Wild Horse and even got caught in a flash flood.  So we went again and showed my brother the area.

I've never been to Goblin Valley but I thought it was really cool.  The rocks and hoodoos were amazing and it was interesting on how they were formed.  My niece and nephews had a blast and they were having so much fun playing and climbing on the rocks.  Even the dogs were having the time of their lives, even my mom's dog.

After Goblin Valley in the morning, we went to the slot canyon.  It went pretty good.  I have to say that because the last visit was in a flash flood.  Even mangley old grandpa hiked through it this time and he said he was glad he did it.  All he had to do was go through this hard section at the first of the hike which he didn't do last time.

The slot was more pretty this time because the sun was out that made some light through some parts.

Everybody made it through and we all thought it was really cool.  I'm glad I got to go through it without getting soaking wet this time.  With all the kids from ages eight months to 11 years old, 2 dogs, and 2 senior citizens, it took us a good full 4 hours.  I had a good weekend with the fall crisp weather which was very nice.

Capital Reef

 My parents and I decided to go check out Capital Reef.  We left Friday during the day and when we got there, there wasn't really that much people which was very good.  Maybe it's like that all the time, I don't know.  But it was nice.

The weather was pleasant and it felt comfortable.  But a little chill in the air towards to the evening.

We took the scenic drive when we got there and also took a drive in Capital Gorge just for a little bit and walked around.

My plan was to hike Hickman Bridge but due to rock fall last spring, the trail was closed.  So my mom and I decided to hike Cohab Canyon Trail instead which was just a trail in the area that has a lookout at the top that overlooks Fruita.  It took us maybe an hour and a half to two hours.  My dad stayed down at the bottom with my mom's dog.

The national park has a lot of hiking trails I would like to hike sometime in the future.  This place doesn't have as many visitors and it would be more fun and bearable to hike.  Great fun!

 After we were done there for the day, we stayed in Torrey and ate.  The next day was to meet my brother and his family and see Goblin Valley and Little Wild Horse Canyon.

"Update Dan"

This past week has been marvelous.  Great weather, great biking, and fun times.  I had the privilege to go biking while the weather was great.  On Wednesday, I went up the Flume Trail.  Thursday, a moderate intensity ride along the base of Bald Mountain, through the farms and around the base of Black Hill, all on the roads, then Sunday after church, I went on the Flume again.  In the nice weather.  Probably the last time when I go out with no jacket or arm warmers but it was great while it lasted.  Now tonight, it's pouring rain and it's going to be cold.  Also snow in the mountains. 

That's means I got my fat bike ready.  I had a good winter last winter on it, and hopefully a better one this year.  The only changes I did on my Moonlander was new red water bottle cages and nylon Fyxation pedals.  These pedals should be a lot better.  I also bought a Pearl Izumi thermal jacket last Saturday at a Trek store.  It fits really good but I am worried about how warm it is when I go out in single digits in January.  My XC ski jacket works really good for it but I'm hoping its the same thing though.  I am asking for a frame bag for fat bikes and winter hiking boots for Christmas, then I am all set for a few rides this winter.  It might be until middle of December until I actually go fat biking when the snow is better.  If it's an early winter, great!  I get to go fat biking.  If it's a late winter, then great too!  I'll just keep riding my mountain bike.  Either way, I'm happy.  As long as I keep pedaling.

Good Water Rim Take 3

This is the third year in a row I do this trail called Good Water Rim Trail near the San Rafael.  Otherwise, called the Wedge Overlook, or Little Grand Canyon.  I love this trail because it's very unique and scenic.  There are no major climbs or anything and you can just go really fast through a maze of turns following along the rim.  And it goes on forever.

This is same self-portrait I do every year right in the same spot.  Hopefully many years to come!

I like this trail because it's 15 miles singletrack one way then 5 miles on the road on the return trip.  This time I parked right at the kiosk halfway right on the road so I wouldn't have to do the climb on the way back to the car, I did the climb first on the first couple of miles on the road then did the trail, then did the 3 miles back all downhill to the car.  It's nicer.

After my ride, which took 2.5 hours to complete, I decided to drive down to Buckhorn Draw to see the pictograph panel there.  They were amazing.  I had a good alone time trip and a great way to enjoy a fall ride this time of the year.  The trail is getting easier every year though, probably a good sign!

Arches

My brother and his family invited my mom and I to go to Moab, UT last weekend.  My dad was invited too but he didn't want to go.  So we went on a Saturday morning to meet them to go to Arches National Park.  I've been to Arches many times before but there were a few things I haven't done there before.  Was to hike up to Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch.  The great wonders.  Hiking up to Delicate Arch took faster than we thought, it took us 2 hours instead of three, pretty good with a bunch of kids.  I carried my 3 year old niece on my shoulders most of the way.  Then we were done for the day and we went back to camp. 

 The next day, we walked around the visitor's center for awhile, watched a movie, and had the kids earn their Junior Ranger badges.  Then we hiked up to Landscape arch and some other arches on the way.  Landscape is amazing.  So was Delicate Arch.  So unique.  I carried my niece again and she had a blast while I was hiking.

There's my brother's family.  They ran out of battery on their camera so I took this picture of them with my cell phone.

This is the little thing I carried with me on my hikes.  Her parents call her Thing Three and I call her Little Thing.  She's too cute.  My brother carried Thing 2 and Thing 4 sometimes, maybe Thing 3 while I was taking breaks from Thing 3.

The only thing I didn't like about the park was the people, a lot of them.  So I had to deal with it.

After 2 days wandering around the park, I barely had enough time to go for a 2 hour bike ride.  I decided on the Moab Brand Trails just north of Moab because it's more convenient for me and for everybody else.  Plenty of fun trails with all different kinds of terrain for all levels.  Also the parking is so convenient to get to from the highway for my mom.

While riding, everybody else went to Dead Horse State Park.  I always wanted to go to Dead Horse State Park again but I wanted to ride instead still.  I took my bike with me all the way to Moab so I had to ride.  My mom was going to go to Dead Horse State Park and she was waiting for my brother and his family but I guess there was some miscommunication going on and I guess she ended up going to Moab to get a drink and gas and waited for me at the parking lot enjoying herself.  Speaking of the ride, I had a very good, fun ride.  I did North 40 Trail, the EZ Trail, then Deadman's Ridge, after that was some other trails in the south of the Brand area like the Bar B and Bar M trails and then the Lazy Trail back to the parking lot.  Great, great riding.  Made me want to go back.  I rode for a good 2 hours and the weather was very perfect.  Couldn't ask better than that.  Well, that was it, what a great weekend, saw Delicate and Landscape Arches, camped, and biked hard.  Especially with my family.

Strawberry Narrows

I wanted to try out the Strawberry Narrows bike trail for a long time.  I finally went and it was better than I expected.  The trail is right by Strawberry Reservoir which is close to Heber City.  My dad and I took off and we took the short cut from Spanish Fork Canyon instead of driving through Provo and Heber City.  Way faster.  We stayed the night at the Lodge at Strawberry Bay and it wasn't so bad and they even had a restaurant there.  I did some fishing also that night and had some great luck.

The next morning, I took off at the other side of the lake and started riding my bike from the eastern side of the lake by Aspen Grove campground.  I started there and rode about 11 miles through the twisting trails, through the woods and by the lake.
 

I was in for a real treat, the trail was really smooth, flowy, and awesome.  It was a little chilly though but I guess a light jacket and arm warmers made the morning bearable. 

I was kind of struggling during the first half of the ride, I was bonking and such so I decided to not do the longer ride.  I decided to turn around at the 5 mile mark which was at Broad Hollow.  Broad Hollow is a little past at the View Point which is halfway of the trail.  I wanted to do the whole thing until Poison Ridge or close to that but I was bonking and didn't want my dad to wait that long for me either.

Fishermen.  I was one of them the day before, except on shore.

Before I turning around on my ride, I sucked up a lot of energy gel and after that on the way back, I wasn't bonking anymore and had a lot more energy.  I felt pretty good and I felt bad that I turned around soon enough.  It was getting warmer too.  I could have gone maybe another couple miles or maybe all the way to Poison Ridge.  Plus my dad said to me when I got back that he wouldn't mind that I would take all day.  Oh well, maybe next time I will go on a longer ride.  But it was great while it lasted.

I caught this 20 inch cutthroat trout the night before my ride.  And another big fish but it was smaller than this one but still big.

This is in Indian Creek on during the drive home.  It was a very good gravel road from Strawberry Reservoir to Rays Valley Road.  It was a very good drive.

I would go there again another time and do the whole trail next time.  I loved it, it was scenic, electrifying, and awesome!  And the fishing was fabulous.