Gut Check

There are some days that the legs and lungs have it and some days they don't. Today was one of those days when they didn't. Headed up to the Cedro Peak area again today to put some miles in, and right away I knew the legs were fatigued. I imagine it was from all the hiking I did while working in the Valle Vidal.
Nevertheless, I kept the pedals turning and ended up riding for about 4 hours. Not as much single track this time, as the monsoon rains made some of the singletrack muddy.

Ride Stats:
43.60 miles
3 hr 52 min
3027 ft of climbing
FOUND 1 Selena cassette

Today's Trail/Road Booty


Selena-Entre a Mi Mundo
It's amazing the things you find on the road!!!


Thanks to Jeremy for the new CDPHE jersey

Back to the Valle Vidal . . . . .

A face only a mother would love

If you pick up a copy of today's Albuquerque Journal you will see some pictures from this weeks work trip to the Valle Vidal. The front page and the main article has a picture my hands holding a Rio Grande Cutthroat trout. Guess my face isn't pretty enough for all to see. :-). Could a future in hand modeling be around the corner? Already tried telling Ashleah that I can no longer do chores around the house, but that didn't fly.
I will wait by the phone for the modeling agents to call. . . . . .

http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/582098nm07-29-07.htm

Here's a few of my own pictures of the Valle Vidal


"It's serious business out there!"


Tired Crew


The Valle is big!! The rocks they are pointing to, are about 50 ft. tall


This guy showed up near camp one evening!

Bath, Baseball and Biking

This was the weekend of B's! On Saturday, Ashleah and I got up and headed to the Jemez Mtns. to look for a natural hot spring. Being it was the first time that Ashleah had driven through this area, we stopped along the way and checked out Soda Dam. It's a natural dam made of calcium carbonate. Here's a couple of pics!



Finally found RD 376 and bounced around on the 4 wheel drive road for about 5 miles until we came to the parking lot. If you go, I would suggest an all wheel or 4 wheel drive vehicle. Cross the creek and make the short hike and you are at the natural hot spring. Sorry no pics of the actual spring. It was raining so we left the camera in the truck. This place was cool and we will go back.

Later that evening we met up with my brother and some friends and headed into Albuquerque to check out the Albuquerque Isotopes game. Great game as the 'topes came up with 8 runs in the 8th to take the win.

Ugh! 6 am Sunday morning and I am packing the truck so as I can do my long ride for the week. I really didn't want to, since we stayed out until about 1 am but then I remembered that the Leadville 100 is only a few weeks away. Back out to the Cedro Peak area and I looped some ashphalt roads with Cedro Peak trails and the Tunnel Canyon/Otero Trails to get in 52 miles. Pretty uneventful, until came through an arroyo crossing and about nipped a rattlesnake's tail. As I came around the corner, I noticed the snake and it sensed me coming!. The snake coiled, I shriek, and then preceeded to bail off the bike! Hmmm. How am I going to get my bike with an angry rattlesnake right next to it. It took about 5 minutes, but I finally got it to move off the trail. Damn that was close. The snake won this enounter though. As I bailed off the bike, I smacked my knee on the frame!




Ride Stats:
52.7 miles
5 hrs and 37 min
4123 ft of climbing
1 coyote
1 Rattlesnake

Oh yeah Sira got a bath too.



Off to the Valle Vidal this week. . . . .

Fantasy Camp-Hatchery Style

I guess to some this isn't such a fun day, but on Wednesday Kirk and I headed out to the Seven Springs hatchery in order to clip some fish for genetic testing. After 3 weeks in the office, I was itching to get out, so even though the field work didn't involve hiking, electrofishing or camping, it was fun.

The Jemez Springs area is just awesome!


The best part of the whole day was being able to work in the hatchery and try to figure out the best way to catch fish, using the available nets, etc. Normally, the hatchery guys are alongside of us, helping us out, and making our lives easier. This time though, they were busy, so we were left to figure it out ourselves. It was quite humorous at times and in the end we clipped 90 Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

Anyway, next week the fun starts up again. I finally get to go back into the field. By the end I might be wishing for the office-I will be camping until the end of August. Can you say Pepe le Pew!

Fined!!!!

Well. . . I finally had my day in court to fight my red light ticket issued by the City of Albuquerque's intersection camera. I make it sound like I actually had a chance to get this one dismissed. NOT!! After seeing the video, I knew I was stuck with the $100 fine, but I figured fightiing it was better than just mailing in the dough!
Their set up for the hearing is similar to "American Idol." You enter a room with 3 people, they show you their video of you speeding, running a light, etc. and then give you their evidence. Blah Blah Blah! "The light had already been red 0.24 seconds when the violating vehicle entered the intersection!" Come on! 0.24 seconds!! Do they honestly believe that drivers actually can stop regularly at that point. I knew when I entered that I was close, but I figured it was better than slamming on the brakes and then getting rear ended. Afterwards, you walk out the door and you feel like the contestants on "American Idol." Everyone there hopes you get off, but only a few actually do! Oh well, I will pay the ticket to the powers that be, and hope that I don't get another one within two years! Yup, two years. If that happens the fine jumps to $250. Luckily, I don't drive into ABQ regularly, unlike most who have to pass 2 or 3 of these cameras everyday on their way to work. Can you say money maker!!!!!!!

Cedro Peak

As I mentioned, my plan was to get up early Saturday morning and get some miles in before the heat showed up. Alarm goes off at 5 am and my first thought is no way! It's saturday. But after a bit of a fight, I got up and got the out the door. As you can see at this time of the morning, there isn't too much activity on the roads.

What a great ride. Some asphalt, lots of dirt, hills, descents, rocks, etc.
Unfortunately I didn't get to ride 5+ hours that I wanted. Two mechanicals (repaired disc brake pad and a broken chain), and I decided I wouldn't push my luck and have to hike out.
Here are the stats:
4 hrs 5 min
40.1 miles
3220 ft of climbing

Meanwhile the boys and girls of Rocky Mountain Racing are in Snowmass. Check out the RMR and Mountain States Cup websites to see how they did.

Saturday in the Sandias

Ahhh! The weekend. Time to relax, forget about work and rest. YEAH RIGHT, not going to happen. The countdown is on. Only 28 days until the Leadville 100, thus I am getting up early to ride somewhere in the Sandia and Manzano Mtns. With Hammer Nutrition products in my pockets, my plan is to hit the trails around 6:30 am and put in about 5 or 6 hours and 50+ miles. I will let you know how it turns out. Perhaps, I will take a picture or 2.

Cochiti Round 2

A few weeks back when I showed up for the Cochiti 100, I took a mountain bike beating. The first 13.5 miles was a climb that kicked my ass, and pretty much made me suffer for the rest of the 30 miles. Well, today I decided to go back and ride FR 289 to train. This road climb reminds me of the Leadville 100 climb up to Columbine. I am hoping that if I do this one several more times before the race that I will be ready. Also, it was punishment for not joining the NM endurance guys at the Santa Fe Big Friggin Loop. It's been so hot in NM that I was a little worried that the heat would be unbearable, but luckily the clouds rolled in and took care of the sun.
1 hr 12 minutes of climbing later, I made it up to the Dome Wilderness sign. It was much better this time! No, the climbs didn't flatten out (I wish), but this time I somewhat knew the course, thus I could push it in some areas and relax in others. It was a lot of fun, and I took some pictures so as everyone can see the beauty of the Cochiti area. Enjoy!

A climb!

Big cheesy smile!!! I guarantee the first time through I didn't smile once!

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Firecracker

So the plan was to leave ABQ/Santa Fe and meet friends in Conifer Tuesday night, before getting up Wednesday morning to compete in the Firecracker 50. Well . . . . things didn't work out and Ashleah and I had to bail on the trip. Maybe another time.
So instead I got up early July 4th and headed to the Sandia Mtns for a ride. Well . . . this time I forgot a cleat for my shoes but luckily fellow mtn bikers are there to help out. Met a new person and ended up riding 3 hrs on the South Crest trail. Talk about a fun, rocky, challenging ride. This is as good as any trail out there.

Ok the ride is out of the way, now it time to celebrate the 4th of July. Year 3 of the Petronas Ave block party (street where my brother lives). Here's a summary:
2 grills
burgers, chicken, shrimp, pasta, beer, and more food
40 people
2.5 hours of fireworks (oh and just the little ones-this show might compete with the Isotopes show)
and of course a warning from the ABQ fire dept about illegal fireworks!!!!
All and all it was a great day!

Oh are you wondering about the picture . . . I was getting gas this morning and when I look up I see a balloon coming in for a landing. Just another day in Albuquerque
If you get a chance you have to come for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.