The Mongolia Chronicles

Come Alive, Come Alive, Come Alive.....

There is a certain depth at which the mountain comes alive and we remember why we can't get enough of snow sliding. The woods are filling in...lines are opening and the WOODS are alive with the sound of Nimby's. Weekdays rule. I had to laugh when I saw Pole-rider traversing the pedantic open 'runs' only to access the golden goods in the cracks and crevices. We have only about a month of season left. So, the time is now to get the getting while the getting is good. Pile as many days into the next 35 as possible. Laws, yes - I (heart) Eldora. Friends don't let friends ride Vail.

Tell Me Why......I Love (Powder Surprise) Mondays

The lovely powder surprise. No crowds. Leaning into the biggest week of the year, where upon I head to the west coast for 5 days and our work event hosts some 60+ thousand folks. Relaxing. No. So, ya gotta load up on powder and bike rides and dude nites and igloo time and outdoor fires and all around AIR and LIFE. Then, west. To 55 degree ater, and little open space. The mountain was a GIFT today. A great harbinger for what will be a great week. I love Mondays. I love west.

Mine goes to 3.4

Great energy this morning despite the icy roads, 3.4 degree temp and ICE all over the place in between hub deep howls down through the woods. It really simplifies things to just move from point A to point B under one's own power regardless of temperature or conditions. Somewhat life affirming. Somewhat AWESOME.

At Long Last

A genuine 'shut down the world' powder day. Towed Q behind the snowbike and nothing bad happened, so we hooked he and Max upt o the truck and ripped the Z for two hours. A few rollovers, but no bones on the outside. All in all - this is what we need. Maybe a month of FULL shut down. Prep for Spring, and relish the depth and cold and the fun.

Prepping The Chubb

It's hard work out there in the woods, but somebody's gotta do it. The Chubb is not ripe for dropping, but a little prep on the up ramp hit and maybe 18 more inches of snow - and it might not be a total death wish. The woods are scary bony, but at least that keeps everybody out. Dirty and Filthy pillows were both stranger than I have ever ridden them - but they were indeed ride-able. Pray for snow.

Good to be Back

Miss Kim so eloquently nailed it the other day as we dropped into soft snow and fresh tracks out the gate at Eldora. Good to be back, on some real vertical and in and amongst the woods on sliding devices. The winter does appear to be going down in history as the worst on record, and that's saying something after last year. I went down and scouted the 'Ice-nute' that I will be attempting before the March sun starts to kill the ice. Definitely one of the more ethereal rides I have ever done. 22 degrees, high wind. Had to do some pretty sketchy bouldering/navigating with a 40 pound bike. Never a good idea. But I stayed calm and moved slow and lived to crawl into the bacth with the dude and some hot tea by 4:30. Self imposed epics have always been a strength of mine. Why a lot of people (including my wife) avoid riding with me. It may not be 'traditional' riding - but today really was one of the coolest three rides of my life. Rolling along on a thin ledge of ice, above the frozen water. Laughing like a kid. One more day in this 4-day vacation and we will be making the most of it.

From the prairies, to the mountains

From the hills outside Austin, getting mentored and taught and inspired by a guy who took his little retail establishment from 3,000 square feet to 13 billion in revenue....all the way back to the frigid yard. It has been a week for the records. Both in personal learning and dare I say growth, to the realities of the working world and related stresses and everything that comes along with it. Onward into a 4-day weekend. Thank the good lawd.

Vintage

1990. Bikes were bikes. And men were men.

It'll only hurt for a minute

Fun to try and 'race' thanks to the modern magic of Strava (french for 'pointless virtual competition) and Garmin. One thing about these devices is that they do not lie. We are posting some competetive times. Funny to go out and suffer hard for less than 40 minutes when 'normal' rides are 4-5 hours. Felt good to hurt. I may still have a few years in me - or as Patty said "You've still got it, Dave." Indeed.

 

No. Snow. Mobiles.

Ironic that the year I finally commit to a Phat tire ride for the winter - we get basically no snow (so far). It has been a savior. Like today - hoping for some quiet corduroy burning, opening up a carving board to speeds that are not safe amongst the detritus of the weekend crowds. Ripping across Corona and there is gravel, dirt and debris speckled in the snow like corn kernels in poop and it is groomed terribly with chunks and divots and scary craters (many like the one I dislocated my thumb in way back - ouch). I am an Eldora LOVER - not a HATER. But folks - when there is a 30 inch base - the dirt does not groom up into the face. For reals. Be a little bit more honest and please - I know it is the MARKETING snow report (DAVE) - please don't exaggerate to the degree you have been. It's just plain uncool. Went north after a sando at the shed of tin and rode Sourdough - all by my lonesome (where were you jason? I said meet by the frozen dog turds @ 1). Still a little unconsolidated from this last snow - but really a good grade and a tough 1,000 foot climb on the She-Beast - but a lovely, ripping and free descent. The best turns I have had this year. Long live Mondays.