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03-19-2008, 02:04 AM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Epic Builder
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Enchanted State of Mind
I stepped out of my vehicle but wasn’t prepared for the cold snap that just hit me. It’s partly cloudy, breezy, scattered snow showers all around in the distance, and I’m guessing the thermometer is barely breaking 50 degrees at 6700’. I’m having second thoughts of getting this ride in now. It had to be 10 degrees warmer east of where I started, and now I’m looking like a Californian wearing shorts, a hoodie, and sandals. Damn it’s cold. But I’m here, so I guess I’ll throw what layers I’ve got with me so I don’t freeze. I’m just going to look like a DH’er on a XC course before this is done.
It’s Monday, just before lunch and I’ve been on the road for only 150 miles. I need to put down another 700 miles today, but I can afford 2 hours or so to get in a ride. The town I’m in is serious when it comes to mountain biking. The mayor is even behind it. The billboard that flashed by 50 miles ago had a picture of a mountain biker a top a mesa overlooking a panoramic vista with the words “Genuine Adventure.” Bike magazine even did a write up not too long ago on this place. I have to have passed through this town over 3 dozen times in the last 4 years, but today I’m stopping for good reason, 24 miles of singletrack East Trail head  Trail mostly hard pack singletrack  Natural rock formations  Un-natural rock formations  Well laid out trails   Well maintained trails  Switch backs  Short climbs  Double backs  And descents  Trail art  Tree art  Bike art  Rock art  But I nearly had some art in my pants seeing larger paw prints 50 yards before looking up and seeing this  (yes, it's art) Six Flags junction  Mesa view off Six Flags junction  The trail is well marked with trail maps at every junction  And trail signs  Slick rock w/ cairn in front showing the way  Maybe they should just call it the Cairn Trail  Baby cairns playing  Native Americans were the first to use these mesas  And non-human trail users abound  Balanced rock  Balanced bike  Balanced rider  Another mesa view  Back to the start  As the billboards say, this is genuine Gallup. It doesn’t pretend to be Moab, Sedona, Fruita, or some place else. There's only 4 miles of trail you'll double back on if you start at the east trail head. And this is just one of 3 trail systems around Gallup. But if you stay for Mexican, you’ll need to answer the age old question: Red or green? Enjoy. |
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53-12 (03-19-2008),
Abui (03-19-2008),
Alex (03-19-2008),
allison (03-19-2008),
art23rockpile (03-19-2008),
audiopablo (03-19-2008),
b5driver (03-19-2008),
bajamtnbkr (03-19-2008),
BeantownRider (03-19-2008),
BFloFoxRider. (05-21-2008),
bjammin (03-19-2008),
CalEpic (03-19-2008),
cbHarping (03-19-2008),
Chaos (03-19-2008),
cjwally (03-19-2008),
Collette (03-19-2008),
CPATCRASH (03-19-2008),
danophoto (03-19-2008),
DBD (03-19-2008),
denmother (03-19-2008),
dirtmistress (03-19-2008),
dstepper (03-19-2008),
Dusty (03-20-2008),
elab (03-19-2008),
Evil Chocula (03-19-2008),
foofighter (03-19-2008),
ghixon (03-19-2008),
jamiek (03-19-2008),
jeffj (03-19-2008),
jfsh (03-19-2008),
JimN (03-19-2008),
JoeTruth (03-19-2008),
Just_me (03-19-2008),
J_Sims (03-19-2008),
KeepsWhatHappens (03-19-2008),
kloepo9 (03-20-2008),
KonaDupee (03-20-2008),
LBmtb (03-19-2008),
lmnop (03-19-2008),
luna (03-19-2008),
maxwell (03-19-2008),
mazer75 (03-19-2008),
mechmann (03-19-2008),
MOSH1DH (03-19-2008),
mp3 (03-19-2008),
mtnbikerfred (03-19-2008),
nomad (03-19-2008),
northshore (03-19-2008),
OffRoadie (03-19-2008),
OldDogDan (03-22-2008),
OMR (03-19-2008),
OTHRIDER (03-19-2008),
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Pato (03-19-2008),
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Schecky (03-19-2008),
sdyeti (03-19-2008),
Sharky (03-19-2008),
sheclimbs (03-19-2008),
SheDevil (03-19-2008),
singleminded (03-19-2008),
Singletrack Angel (03-19-2008),
sladnas (03-19-2008),
station (03-19-2008),
stjunkie (03-19-2008),
TCB (03-19-2008),
Tedroy (03-19-2008),
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Waldo (03-19-2008),
xhuskr (03-19-2008)
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03-19-2008, 06:21 AM
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#8 (permalink) |
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That's very cool! Was that a mountain Lion or a Bobcat? From the photo, it looks black and I know we don't have any cougars so it must be a dark shadow. (edit: I noticed your commentary on the bottom stating it's art. Never mind!)
Nice photo's with fitting captions. I'm assuming this is New Mexico.
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"The perfect lover is one who turns into a pizza at 4:00am."  |
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03-19-2008, 06:41 AM
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#12 (permalink) |
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Sua Sponte
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Great trail system. The ex-mayor of Gallup was a mountain biker and is the author of the local guidebook.
They have a 12 hr endurance race called the Dawn to Dusk Race on these trails. http://www.dawntilduskrace.net/ Here's the GL route I did last year: http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=10098
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Portfolio: http://www.ericfoltz.com Race & Event pics: http://www.ericfoltz.photoreflect.com |
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03-19-2008, 07:39 AM
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#16 (permalink) |
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Banned
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Great pics and write up. We read about Gallup last year and it is on our list, thanks for helping feed our frenzy!
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| post thanked by: |
Sizzle Chest (03-26-2008)
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