tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44266216298164616152024-03-13T11:29:42.940-07:00Fun With Rocksrichardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-75599688912400355902011-10-17T21:09:00.001-07:002011-10-17T21:21:43.433-07:00Why Date Outdoorsy Wommyn?<div><p>"<i><i>I, like other outdoors women who</i></i><i><i><a href="http://geargals.com/2011/10/13/five-reasons-to-date-outdoorsy-women/"> put their adventures at the top o</a></i></i><i><i>f their lists every day, can’t really tolerate a lot of baseless drama and jealousy. The sad fact is that</i></i><i> </i><i><i>guys can go out and play more than women, and women who spend time in the outdoors end up with male partners for a lot of their activities</i></i><i>. If this freaks you out, don’t bother with outdoors-oriented women.</i>"</p>
</div>richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-7278648115336782882010-08-09T18:22:00.000-07:002010-08-09T18:22:42.524-07:00Other fun with Ropes<a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2lMGmA1RwWZBOuNGFyDsZTX1P40L3VS7Dcffh4t0ixuZQy-YHC8WS1G8t6Vn1zURIoNPHklk21ryziRTwNLizoqptey4yy9FS8rFKnlsbsWhDu58MJjUHdgvwkCEzq95lpQ_Uia1rmJo/s1600/DSC02517.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2lMGmA1RwWZBOuNGFyDsZTX1P40L3VS7Dcffh4t0ixuZQy-YHC8WS1G8t6Vn1zURIoNPHklk21ryziRTwNLizoqptey4yy9FS8rFKnlsbsWhDu58MJjUHdgvwkCEzq95lpQ_Uia1rmJo/s320/DSC02517.JPG' border='0' alt=''style='clear:both;float:left; margin:0px 10px 10px 0;' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpv7MrGtKYpHkQOh2-lXRK0ZgHGwgcj8E69T3jKhuLeR8xxz0ddsqBM4edar3n9cox0CvBwEv_ZJ39zOlPFzfvgStkrI5wKz8zuRDyDP6lMtAihjITU7DwHhLWl7qEZxeK8Tx0AX95pDk/s1600/DSC02518.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpv7MrGtKYpHkQOh2-lXRK0ZgHGwgcj8E69T3jKhuLeR8xxz0ddsqBM4edar3n9cox0CvBwEv_ZJ39zOlPFzfvgStkrI5wKz8zuRDyDP6lMtAihjITU7DwHhLWl7qEZxeK8Tx0AX95pDk/s320/DSC02518.JPG' border='0' alt=''style='clear:both;float:left; margin:0px 10px 10px 0;' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXpqPyC5O8wS0afHIutIBjoEelPRC6gC2PZGjbscacR-nFn3MwhgRpRajN7yuYaJTpgbuyS2TuuEdhxaVBDhDaHaiqwkTLpXhfnNdmA_FGoDy2hqfXb_0QEXN_XY_QArlUZVXqAouwdLG/s1600/MOV02519.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXpqPyC5O8wS0afHIutIBjoEelPRC6gC2PZGjbscacR-nFn3MwhgRpRajN7yuYaJTpgbuyS2TuuEdhxaVBDhDaHaiqwkTLpXhfnNdmA_FGoDy2hqfXb_0QEXN_XY_QArlUZVXqAouwdLG/s320/MOV02519.jpg' border='0' alt=''style='clear:both;float:left; margin:0px 10px 10px 0;' /></a> <br />Somedays it is just to hot to climb. Richard, Aaron and I had a blast out on the river!I am still smiling. Richard is a pretty hot skier!<div style='clear:both; text-align:LEFT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08690873999697528423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-58572252189901206562009-10-28T08:03:00.000-07:002009-10-28T08:04:24.725-07:00Seven SummitsClimbing the Seven Summits Success Story!<br />11/30/2009 7:00 PM<br />Please join us as extreme-endurance athlete, Troy Aupperle, shares his video and pictures from his recent summit of Mt. Everest on May 22nd and the completion of his quest for the "Seven Summits". His goal to set an American record was thwarted by logistic issues as well as international politics, but he persevered and still managed to complete it in the third fastest American time. Troy began his climbing career at REI, Inc. while managing the Climbing department at the Tempe store. He went through the beginning climbing course at AMC and met his eventual climbing mentor. Looking ahead to the next two years Troy will join the "Colorado Club" as he finishes the last of the 54 peaks over 14,000' as well as the High Pointers Club - climbing the highest point in each of the fifty states.<br />Location:REI Roseville<br />Contact:Customer Service 651-635-0211<br />Cost: FreeLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08690873999697528423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-62406976112042089242009-10-05T21:07:00.000-07:002009-10-05T21:07:25.416-07:00<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3c3Su8goH8U/SsrCexH4LzI/AAAAAAAAF_g/ZQsmJuwVwfs/s1600-h/Canyoneering+Utah+2009.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3c3Su8goH8U/SsrCexH4LzI/AAAAAAAAF_g/ZQsmJuwVwfs/s320/Canyoneering+Utah+2009.jpg" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08690873999697528423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-79109618540570712552009-04-20T18:52:00.001-07:002009-04-20T18:52:16.093-07:00Fun With Rocks Clinic<iframe height="342" src="http://docs.google.com/EmbedSlideshow?docid=dffq4tpr_21g3zj4dct" frameborder="0" width="410"></iframe> richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-36932084737256974652009-04-02T19:59:00.001-07:002009-04-02T19:59:26.049-07:00Things to do around Moab<p>Here’s Moab from the sky. That’s the Colorado River running through it. You can see a lot of the bare “slickrock” sandstone. Which is the opposite of slick. It’s very frictiony. </p> <p><a href="http://www.grandcountyutah.net/images/Moab%20Valley_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.grandcountyutah.net/images/Moab Valley_01.jpg" width="422" height="311" /></a> </p> <p>From the <a href="http://www.grandcountyutah.net/about.htm" target="_blank">Grand County web site</a>, is this map. There are two ways to drive into town from I 70 when you’re coming from Denver. The most direct way and the most popular is to take Hwys 163/191 from Crescent Junction. If you have a little more time - like 30 more minutes – the most scenic way is to take Hwy 128 from I 70. It’ll knock your socks off. You drive along the Colorado River for about 30 miles past cliffs and towers. </p> <p><a href="http://www.grandcountyutah.net/images/county_map.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.grandcountyutah.net/images/county_map.jpg" width="417" height="470" /></a> </p> <p><img src="http://www.dunenovels.com/dune7blog/images/FisherTowers1.jpg" width="262" height="348" /> </p> <p>Towers that are famous for rock climbing such as the <a href="http://mountainproject.com/v/utah/moab_area/fisher_towers/105716787" target="_blank">Fisher Towers</a> shown above and  <a href="http://mountainproject.com/v/utah/moab_area/castle_valley/105716850" target="_blank">Castleton Tower</a> shown below. </p> <p><a title="Castle Rock" href="http://www.pigseye.com/mc/4corners/castle1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pigseye.com/mc/4corners/castle1.jpg" width="376" height="275" /></a></p> <p>Castleton Tower is called one of “The 50 Classic Climbs of North America.” </p> <p>If you drive the faster, shorter route you will see views like this:</p> <p><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/81/209389932_690259f47a.jpg" width="387" height="260" />  </p> <p>It’s not as awe-inspiring. And there’s no river until you get into town. </p> <p>So big deal, you’ve arrived. Now what? </p> <p>Here’s a <a href="http://mountainproject.com/v/utah/moab_area/potash_road/105716961" target="_blank">climbing area that’s got</a> a lot of bolted routes just outside of town and right alongside the Colorado River. You can belay from the car. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vJTVMrPigc6TaTnRaIvcmLMjts1hyphenhyphenpnHGavboXcrdk5RS9UwmnPRsgGHairHelu76_96g9IuXbyJ4-v9LJEE3NzvVLuHZETlqqYvAvi7Ad9mO9c1gJgxf8UeAvzNZcoQi3BvPlFkgjk/s576/IMG_5435.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vJTVMrPigc6TaTnRaIvcmLMjts1hyphenhyphenpnHGavboXcrdk5RS9UwmnPRsgGHairHelu76_96g9IuXbyJ4-v9LJEE3NzvVLuHZETlqqYvAvi7Ad9mO9c1gJgxf8UeAvzNZcoQi3BvPlFkgjk/s576/IMG_5435.JPG" width="386" height="512" /></a> </p> <p>Let’s say you wanted to see Anasazi Indian pictographs and/or wooden ladders they used to get to the top of the cliffs. Well, on the other side of the River from the shot above, is this:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhNlLwYFq-WwHwHmqnWTfsqWEoJeRZVeWlcGgricr5u9fp70kUfQQ1TCXjy5J0Bmvy7-uLPt0EpjmLvrDQir9BGxAdtq9pFNLQedecKrRooZ7RV1KlKOT5rmeGAmfzV-Mhf3AewwfFY8/s576/IMG_5358.JPG" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhNlLwYFq-WwHwHmqnWTfsqWEoJeRZVeWlcGgricr5u9fp70kUfQQ1TCXjy5J0Bmvy7-uLPt0EpjmLvrDQir9BGxAdtq9pFNLQedecKrRooZ7RV1KlKOT5rmeGAmfzV-Mhf3AewwfFY8/s576/IMG_5358.JPG" width="380" height="505" /></a> </p> <p>You can see the pictographs and the logs jammed into the rock chimney. (Of course, this is about 10 feet from the road. So be careful of not getting over heated.)</p> <p>But let’s say you wanted to bike. OK, here are some trails I’d recommend; in this order unless your buddies are feeling pretty confident on their bikes. I’m assuming you only have one car and that you can get your bikes in the car. There are many more options if you hire a shuttle or you have two cars. </p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/klondike.htm" target="_blank">Klondike Bluffs</a> – this is fairly short (3-4 hours) and technically easy trip where you can see dinosaur tracks, mine ruins and a great view of Arches National Park as well as 4 different mountain ranges. (This requires a drive out of town about 8 miles.) </li> <li><a href="http://www.utah.com/bike/trails/slickrock.htm" target="_blank">Slickrock Trail</a> – you can ride up to the this trail from downtown Moab or save some energy - ‘cuz it’s all uphill – and drive about 5 minutes to the start. You can ride for 10 minutes on this trail or 2-4 hours. It’s almost all on just plain bare rock. Except for where there are sand pits. Lots of steep, short climbs. If you can push the pedals down, you can climb all the hills. </li> <li><a href="http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/poisonsp.htm" target="_blank">Poison Spider Mesa</a> – this is a long bike ride of about 4-5 hours. It’s fairly technical and gets you up to great vistas overlooking the River. </li> <li><a href="http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/porcup.htm" target="_blank">Porcupine Rim</a> – this is an all day ride and will require a shuttle or a 2nd car. It has lots of climbing to a grand view of Castle Valley – see above – and a very fast and long descent that puts you right alongside the Colorado River. Technical in many areas. </li> </ul> <p>Lots of trails listed <a href="http://www.discovermoab.com/biking.htm" target="_blank">here</a> or <a href="http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/idx-moab.htm" target="_blank">here</a>. </p> richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-2006589903018976722009-04-02T18:27:00.001-07:002009-04-02T18:27:50.452-07:00test<p style="visibility:visible;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widget-c7.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" height="320" width="426" style="width:426px;height:320px"><param name="movie" value="http://widget-c7.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="scale" value="noscale" /><param name="salign" value="l" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /> <param name="flashvars" value="cy=ms&il=1&channel=3386706919796776903&site=widget-c7.slide.com" /></object><p style="white-space:nowrap"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=3386706919796776903&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-c7.slide.com/p1/3386706919796776903/ms_t016_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=3386706919796776903&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-c7.slide.com/p2/3386706919796776903/ms_t016_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&at=un&id=3386706919796776903&map=E" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-c7.slide.com/m/3386706919796776903/ms_t016_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide9_1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></p></p> richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-82494747505527234812009-04-01T18:44:00.001-07:002009-04-01T18:44:57.468-07:00Even Babies Can Do Yoga<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_MxYw7YQKhrc/SdQYl2rzX7I/AAAAAAAAKCU/vRafQiYtv2A/s1600-h/gay%20baby%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="gay baby" border="0" alt="gay baby" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_MxYw7YQKhrc/SdQYmVSR2wI/AAAAAAAAKCY/Jd5nnqXZ1Uc/gay%20baby_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-76096495922727834562008-12-30T19:15:00.001-08:002008-12-30T19:15:55.527-08:00<p><!-- BEGIN POWER LINE VIDEO CLIP --><br /> <object width="520" height="380" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0"><param name="movie" value="/plvideoplayer.swf" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="flashvars" value="file=/archives/media/navyenglishsmallerLO.flv&autostart=false" /><embed src="/plvideoplayer.swf" width="520" height="380" menu="false" quality="high" flashvars="file=/archives/media/navyenglishsmallerLO.flv&autostart=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></object><br /> <!-- END POWER LINE VIDEO CLIP --></p> richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-73452493137288048612008-12-06T16:02:00.000-08:002008-12-06T16:03:03.115-08:00<blink> Raoul <blink>richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-55048164347746009522008-10-16T17:37:00.001-07:002008-10-16T17:37:36.596-07:00Walking Song<div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:b5fb7b33-5042-47e1-80c1-2e0868e32382" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 194px; padding-top: 0px"><div><object width="194" height="145"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1988224&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1" /> <embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1988224&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="194" height="145"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/1988224?pg=embed&sec=1988224">walking</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user666032?pg=embed&sec=1988224">rgsletten</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com?pg=embed&sec=1988224">Vimeo</a>.</div></div> richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-58773620486698889512008-08-04T16:37:00.003-07:002008-08-04T16:38:42.948-07:00BHCC August 2, 2008 Ten Pins<p>Thanks guys for putting up all of those routes. We had a great time. Here's a little video of Tricouni Nail & Super Pin from The Minnesota Boyz</p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:53b6084d-7b0d-4940-8db3-21831b68ee04" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 322px; padding-top: 0px"><div><embed style="width:322px; height:262px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-5068660689695194897&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed></div></div> richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-44758047385033228042008-04-18T04:43:00.001-07:002008-04-19T06:34:28.760-07:00Back from Moab<p>If you're a Biblical scholar, you'll recognize the map below from about 850 B.C. with the Kingdom of Moab clearly marked in what is today's country of Jordan. We did not travel to the historic Kingdom of Moab, We went to the American version in Utah. Which is the Kingdom of Bikes and Jeeps. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAiJdIshVEI/AAAAAAAAD3U/uDS0KuRXtug/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img height="244" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAiJd4shVFI/AAAAAAAAD3c/hjwresPM6Sg/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="225" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Both of us flew into Denver and drove about 7 hours to Moab. (Each of us had a person with a medical emergency on our flights to Denver. My plane had to land in Sioux Falls to take some poor sick guy off. I, personally, was sick of the delay that caused. But I didn't need a wheelchair to get off the plane. At least this time.) </p> <p>We rented full suspension bikes so our bottoms would have a plush ride. In case it wasn't as plush as expected, though, I brought some "Butt Paste" to prevent the dreaded chafing. (Although it's safer to bike in a group, it's safer to apply the Butt Paste alone. Although, as Barb says, "Friends help friends." But brothers don't help brothers down there.) The first two mornings were chilly - 38 or so - with temps by late afternoon in the 60s. But sun, no wind and uphill biking keeps a person plenty warm. Then it warmed up to the 80s. </p> <p>We rode <a href="http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/klondike.htm" target="_blank">"Klondike Bluffs</a>" which is a beginner route - meaning it's unlikely you'll fall off a cliff. But it's likely you'll go through plenty of sand in dry washes and then ride uphill over bare slickrock. But in the slickrock, the BLM rangers have put cool dinosaur tracks. (Not really. These tracks are the real thing.) So you bike past dinosaur tracks, up and over lumpy rock, trying to pick the right line so you don't fall over and test your helmet's breaking strength. Also, trying to avoid the Jeepers and ATVers who're sharing the <strike>road</strike> rock. </p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:01a287f1-1f8f-497a-b9b0-d5b533ea9f61"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAiNSYshVGI/AAAAAAAAD3k/jocl5Zbrzpc/IMG_5393-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="My foot on right, dinosaur on left" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAiNTIshVHI/AAAAAAAAD3s/8MHOyPWeNK4/IMG_5393%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:8e21ecdf-3661-4353-90c5-b4647ce4fb4e" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAk3MYshVKI/AAAAAAAAD4E/U3-Y5jCgpuQ/IMG_5397-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="This is slickrock. Bare rock with lots of friction " rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAk3NoshVLI/AAAAAAAAD4M/DzA4YDEtdWc/IMG_5397%5B15%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:0fee4c4b-6e58-46e6-9482-f9b02a8b253d" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 272px; padding-top: 0px"><div><embed style="width:272px; height:222px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-8357209525543677367&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed></div></div> <p></p> <p>As you can see from the above video, the rock is not smooth.  </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>The next day, we hiked up a very steep and difficult trail called the "Portal Trail" which is on one side of the opening in the cliffs where the Colorado River runs. </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:e0ec343f-deb7-4f04-993b-eb64bc1f4191" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAk3Q4shVOI/AAAAAAAAD4k/f7Z-Kg7NyUQ/IMG_5416-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="This is the bike trail. Wanna race down it?" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAk3R4shVPI/AAAAAAAAD4s/G0yPmAs7Akg/IMG_5416%5B15%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p>At the top it looks like this:</p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:8858edb1-b200-4d9c-a81a-f5a6d63786e2"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAiPaYshVII/AAAAAAAAD30/ZaHL4Pg7x1Y/IMG_5426-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Sign says " Dismount Bikes, 3 killed here."" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAiPbIshVJI/AAAAAAAAD38/UJnGXNZssMY/IMG_5426%5B19%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p></p> <p>We didn't bike this trail since most of it would require carrying our bikes. Plus, we didn't want to fall off a cliff - helmet testing has its limits. </p> <p> </p> <p>We biked the "<a href="http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/poisonsp.htm" target="_blank">Poison Spider Mesa</a>" trail next which is a well-known Jeep route. Very steep, rocky Jeep road at the start, then about 3/4 mile of sand, then steep bare rocks to the top. It's a good ride for firming and toning your thighs. </p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:ebfcd42a-865a-4b7e-b243-17f36d38c4c2" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAk7x4shVTI/AAAAAAAAD5M/OyhxYiEGEr4/IMG_5449-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Sand" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAk7yYshVUI/AAAAAAAAD5U/E8uCvjDuosM/IMG_5449%5B8%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:3dcc5884-e33e-4759-bc13-66a6f049e02f" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAk7y4shVVI/AAAAAAAAD5c/nOkwb8cc7o8/IMG_5448-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Sand then rock" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAlAcoshVZI/AAAAAAAAD58/iDAg_Um1W0U/IMG_5448%5B1133%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p>This truck is going down the rocks we rode up - and then down. On the uphill sections, the Jeeps were faster than us; downhill we were faster. (Remember, we had plush-bottom rides.)</p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:53357c8b-5919-4e32-8c25-305d27c17a37:b08bedbf-d864-43a1-9ce0-f407bdd0d2fa" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/euCHU6ssmKc&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="304" height="250"></embed></div> <p></p> <p>There are two difficult sections of this trail, "The Waterfall" and "The Wedgie." Here's a 34 second video of Jeeping up "The Waterfall."  There's a little bit of "French" at the end, so shield your ears. (I almost made it up the Waterfall on my bike; it was easier riding down.)</p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:53357c8b-5919-4e32-8c25-305d27c17a37:7c7387d1-eb49-4b1a-9a97-8e0104d403dc" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 292px; padding-top: 0px"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RgdSwEWDAG0&feature=related" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="292" height="240"></embed></div> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:4c76207c-696d-4d6a-87b6-bb1aca0d1ea8" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAk3S4shVQI/AAAAAAAAD40/Bg6E6wfK0l8/IMG_5454-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Looking toward the other side of the Colorado River from the top of Poison Spider Mesa" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAlEC4shVaI/AAAAAAAAD6E/CPT9UW0XmQM/IMG_5454%5B536%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p></p> <p>The next day, we had a brilliant idea, "Why not use a Jeep to go uphill instead of our legs?" So we rented a Jeep and drove about 25 miles north of town to a trail called "<a href="http://www.atvtrails.org/Top_of_the_World.html" target="_blank">Top of the "World</a>."  This is an easy Jeep trail so it should be no problem for us. But I kept remembering what the Jeep rental guy said, "You broke it, you bought it." And there were tons of big, sharp rocks just desperate to break something on our vehicle. The roughest part of the ride was about 4 miles and it took us 1 hour each way - up and down. We had to be careful at ledges like this:</p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:31a4536f-dfd0-4cce-90af-f5f974962c99" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAlEDYshVbI/AAAAAAAAD6M/yeb36I5gDj4/IMG_5505-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="A typical obstacle " rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAlED4shVcI/AAAAAAAAD6U/TEVUQxRgSWk/IMG_5505%5B13%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p></p> <p>Several times I said, "Let's just stop." But Rolf told me to "Punch it. Get it up there." So we did and from the top, the view was worth it. We counted 7 different mountain ranges. </p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:9885e4e4-166f-4b93-98d8-f937c482aa3f" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAlEEYshVdI/AAAAAAAAD6c/F6q8ajU2rsI/IMG_5508-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Top of the World" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAlEE4shVeI/AAAAAAAAD6k/z1-YD8BRmWI/IMG_5508%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p></p> <p>The last day we biked a trail called "<a href="http://www.utah.com/bike/trails/gemini_bridges.htm" target="_blank">Gemini Bridges</a>." The first half was downhill on a Jeep road. Then a set of twin arches you could walk/bike over. Then lots of sand to a steep climb out. </p> <p></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:6a1094f0-8694-4119-92c4-c89a7f0c9705" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAlEFYshVfI/AAAAAAAAD6s/o9PIEgRMKe8/IMG_5520-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Standing on the edge of a big drop" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAlE24shViI/AAAAAAAAD7E/S9FdnWQmcsY/IMG_5520%5B116%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> <p></p> <p>This is what the arches look like from the bottom of where Rolf was standing in the photo above:</p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:ca3d680f-6650-4327-b7c0-f54c3bc492fd" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAlIvoshVjI/AAAAAAAAD7M/cVxnY7ByCO4/UTgeminibridges-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Gemini Bridges from below" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/richardsletten/SAnzDvPTiMI/AAAAAAAAD7k/SO7dGKBbIx8/UTgeminibridges55.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426621629816461615.post-51399881474508473222008-04-18T04:30:00.000-07:002008-04-19T06:27:11.657-07:00Moab Trip Video - April '08<p>Here's a 4 minute, 42 second video of our trip to Moab. Rated "Thumbs Up" by a least one person I know. </p> <p><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width: 400px; height: 326px" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-471498188695910662&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="flashvars" /></p> richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02325043761208763455noreply@blogger.com1