It might be legal but it ain’t right as the cows continue to graze the leaves and down to small twigs on the sage brush. The ground cover is brown, maybe dormant because of drought, yet the cows have grazed them down to a stubble. Lots of cow shit plops. And we the people paying for the damage while receiving a pittance from the money that is doing the damage. It ain’t right. Wonder that present policies were created back in the early day when resource extractors saw the bounty that with current technology told themselves that it will never run out. Times changed, as did technology and man caused environmental affects, yet this form of resource extraction continues in spite of causing damage. Cows have little fear of humans, so far I have not been challenged.
Yesterday I drove down to town dropping from 56xx’ at Horsethief to Moab down on the bank of the Colorado River at 40xx’. Warmer for sure. Took on water and groceries then headed up and out to N Klondike area for several days. Again just enjoying the smooth road surface. Still rigs occupying sites. I saw a white van parked in an opening in the sage at an edge. Enough room for me to park at the far edge. Watching rigs pull in continue down to the end then bunch up high density. After while I heard my name called form outside my van. I looked out, it was Jimi. I drove past where he’s posted up with his VW Westy. He pedaled back to his rig and I set off for a rock scramble out of the valley. Problem solving skills applied as I boulder and rock hopped gaining elevation while picking my line to step only of hard mineral surface. I hoped I would see riders, maybe 9, I picked a more technical trail thinned out the crowd. I reached my high point then headed back down on a different line. I picked up a trail for the rest of my hike out. I sat down along the way to enjoy sunshine. I took off my shirt to work on coloring my winter pate. Three 30’s men riders road by bouncing over the features. One came back to visit. He asked me to wear his sunglasses for him to take my picture. He said it was the reflection he wanted. Youngsters. He told of his monster ride he did yesterday and it was his first ride of the season. I told him he will get over it with time. He was riding a Revel niner. Nice and shiny.
The trail emptied into the parking area. 3 riders, a man and 2 women, were post ride hanging. I stopped and invited myself into their midst. I asked them if stories about their ride had grown since being done. They said they will grow when they meet with others later on. The couple are from Victor, ID, I was able to connect. She was raised in Birmingham, AL, I connected with riding Oak Mtn.
I watched them sitting on chairs in the sun with food and drinks. back when I lived in a house I skied both lift and backcountry. Contrast the 2 activities that I participated. Backcountry skiing was being outside from closing the car door to opening it later. Skiing used many hours of climbing for just a few minutes of coasting down. Sometimes the ski out was after sundown. Back at the rigs it was pretty much stow the gear and maybe change clothes. Too cold to hang out. I never wore a heart rate monitor to learn what I did to my body. Take away is then entire day was spent playing. Now mountain biking is different in effort time and visiting. My rides, physical effort, is much shorter duration than skiing. Computer data tells me what I do to my body. Then post ride activity is under more pleasant conditions. Difference caused contrast.
Warm night last night. I lowered the turn on thermostat setting. At head hitting pillow time the turn on temp had not been reached. I cross my fingers each time it switches on that it will start. Several days of successfully lighting has moved into the next sampling size. I don’t hold my breath anymore but keep an eye on the green diode running light. I can’t depend upon it until it is lit.
Yesterday’s forecast called for a wind event today from noon till 9 tonight. 45mph gusts. Ride solution today is to finish my ride well before noon. Still out at N Klondike. I was pedaling just after the top of the hour NPR news. I rode EKG out and returned on the pedal friendly trails on the west side of the valley. EKG undulates traversing the slope. The line could be compared to the track of an ekg. Just lots of short climbs and downhills while following either the red paint stripes or portable guide structures. I pedaled into the rising sun in places the angle of the sun and the location of the tread aligned lowering my look ahead to the top of my front wheel. Route finding the red dashes.
The trail markers routed problem avoidance, if it was marked I could roll down it or step up. Some places the sun lit up upcoming stripes. Saw 1 rider who got out earlier than me. EKG is a black diamond trail. I rode everything except for when my effort was caused by lack of engine power. I am pleased with my effort.
I returned on the pedal trails which are enjoyable as I can pedal for long stretches on a smooth tread creatively routed
And managing the users
13.7 miles climbing 1047′ pedaled for 2 hrs. Today heart rate was lower. Yesterday my heart rate did not drop which told me recovery was not complete from Sat ride. I checked my pulse this morning while in bed, rate was in upper 50s where it should be. Recovery complete. Get after it. Today my average bpm was 117. Better.
4 PM wind event has been happening for (pick and amount of time) awhile. Van is rocking but not to the beat of Outlaw Country on XM. Waylon at present.
Going to stay here tonight then ride here again tomorrow. Wind is to be less.
Slow internet connection.