Western Spirit Cycling

The countdown has begun.  Our bathroom remodel isn’t finished yet and we leave town for a month next Tuesday.  We are going on a big road trip!  First we’ll head to the east Mojave Desert to begin some peak climbing.  There are lots of small mountain ranges in the Mojave Desert with some great summits.  My husband looks longingly at  these peaks every year when he is down in the desert looking for desert tortoises.  He has been a desert tortoise biologist for years, and works hard to keep them safe!  Since the tortoises are asleep right now, we’ll climb instead.  We will camp in the different ranges and work our way west.  We have friends who will be joining us for some of these expeditions.  Hopefully they will resupply us with food and chocolate and a few beers for Paul.

After a couple weeks of dodging cactus and creosote bushes we’ll head to San Diego for a little visiting.  I’ve always been amazed with how little I missed the ocean when I moved to Moab, but it is really lovely to go and walk along the beach a little.

Next it’s on to Mesquite for the Desert Tortoise Council Meetings.  I will be looking for a yoga class or a hike while all the biologists are in their meetings and then I’ll show up in time for all the eating and socializing.  After a few hotel nights, we’ll head to Flagstaff and the final leg of our journey, a Grand Canyon hike.

Originally we were going to head down into Nankoweap Canyon but the road into the trailhead is less than trustworthy in the winter months.  I’ve been in this canyon once before and looked down into the Saddle Mountain Wilderness from our North Rim Grand Canyon trip.

We have decided to try the Brahma Deva Saddle route that connects Bright Angel Creek to Clear Creek.  We have been in the area dozens of times, but never done this trip so it feels like an exciting mission.  A couple of friends will be joining us and we will be in shape after all our Mojave peak climbing.  Usually I have to train with my pack on the Moab Rim Trail so I’m not crippled after the first day!

And all that lies between us and this big adventure is a bathroom vanity and a little plumbing!

I can’t blame the cold weather for not riding anymore.  We’ve had a week of sunny days in the 40s.  So I guess it’s time for me to start riding outside again!  There is still snow on the north side of the cliffs, but the roads are nice and dry and as long as I get out my booties, I think I’ll be fine.  The training for the Crater Lake Road Tour will begin!

But first, a day on the new snowshoes.  We’re going to try to climb a peak up in the mountains.  We’ll see how high up we can get before we have to take them off.  It looks like it will be a perfect day at 11,000 feet.  From up there we will be able to see all the way into Colorado….

My new snowshoes are going to be here soon!  My old knees get sore skiing so I’m giving them a break this winter.  I do love snowshoeing, except when I’m going downhill and then I wish I was gliding.  Oh well.  Being up in the mountains in the snow is what I really crave.  I love seeing my summer hangouts completely under snow.  The way the snow piles up on the trees and completely covers the little ones is incredible.  Last summer I hiked down one of our winter ski runs and I couldn’t believe how many down trees there were.  It was scary thinking about how many logs could take us out!

This spring, Paul and I are planning on taking our snowshoes into the San Juan Mountains, home of our Telluride to Durango mountain biking trip.  We like to travel on snow as it makes getting through the talus much easier. And our new snowshoes have crampons under the feet and all around the perimeter so we should be able to get up anything!   I prefer traveling by foot in these beautiful mountains because the riding is a bit beyond me.  Maybe some day…

Well, the party is over for a while.  I was riding my road bike at lunch a few days a week all through November.  The Indian Summer just wouldn’t quit.  Until a few days ago, that is.  We have been having a big taste of winter here in Moab and the snow on the roads, and gravel being spread by the road guys is making a road ride seem less than desirable.  I don’t mind freezing my butt off on the downhills, but the added challenge of dodging rocks and snow patches puts me out of the loop!

All through November, the fall colors just kept lingering on the cottonwoods and on a breezy day, you could hear the leaves as the hit the ground.  You could watch the progression of the leaves changing color up in the La Sal Mountains as well; little patches of golden aspens viewed from below.

I’m perfectly equipped for cold rides- booties, tights, tons of fancy jackets, lobster gloves with furry lining, ear coverings, neck gaiters, I’ve got it all.  I’m just a cold wimp so I have to have to talk myself into how fun it’s going to be.  I’m always proud of myself at the end of the ride and it’s always definitely worth it.  I just have to remember to keep training for that Crater Lake Road Tour I want to do next summer.

And if all else fails, I just need to wait a few days.  Here in Moab, the winter moments don’t usually last too long.  By next week, I bet the snow will have melted, it always does.  Unless there’s another storm looming out over the Pacific……