Steamboat Without the Kid Appendages

Had an adventure sans kiddos. Can't remember the last time I was without the buggers for 3 days. Lin & Tim made the most of it, lots of hiking, great dinners, bike rides, Strawberry hot springs...gushy romantic stuff.

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

A really tight spot, can you catch me?

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

Haven't seen these gals in a while. Poudre Canyon.

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

Gilpin Lake. 9 Rainbow Trout in <1 hr.

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

Bad shit. Crappy photographer.

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

Good shit. Romancing the stones.

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

Black Hills Vacation

The Wilders recently spent 5 days in the Black Hills. We were overwhelmed by the contrasting beauty of the landscape and the ugliness of the towns and highways. The BH are beautiful in a mostly subtle way, with rolling hills topped with granite pillars and lush undergrowth in stream bottoms.




However, the towns and highways can be downright hideous. The aesthetic in me wondered how people could mess up a beautiful area so badly, with oversized billboards and tacky Flintstones-type tourist traps. All in all, though, we had a great time.


Caving. Pretty cool, much more interesting than I expected.


"Wild" Burros in Custer State Park. A highlight event.




Mickelson Trail. What a good feeling it is to be going downhill, finally!



Yes, the Ibis did get out for a very rocky, technical part of the Centennial Trail...definitely need to come back some day to explore some more.

AGSM

This is what AGSM (A Great Saturday Morning) Looks Like:

- Good nights sleep: check
- Bike ready to roll: check
- Sunshine & cool breeze: check
- Sweet singletrack close to home: check
- Scenery for miles: check
- Issues left at home: check
- Hordes still in bed: check

The Rise and Fall of Biker Man

Tim & David on Group Ride, circa 2006
Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

He lines up at the front of the starting line, ridiculously fit and ready to crush the field...the fancy jersey and expensive bike attests to his prowess on 2 wheels. He instills fear in the field as he blasts off up the hill, turning over his big 48X16 up the 8% grade, reaching the top of the hill in front. The way is clear to the finish, a fast and easy flow, and this supposes to be his day to shine and impress his mortal buddies back home...

...little does he realize that the world has other plans for him, of the humbling kind. The first sign of trouble occurs on a long technical descent, when his mojo comes spewing out, releasing him into a 3-foot deep mud pool. It is merely the beginning of a long 70 mile long struggle, as he fights fatigue and mud and confusion and chain suck, see-sawing his way back and forth through the field. Before the day is through he realizes that he is just some anonomous junior geezer who can afford an expensive bike, fitter than 90% of the population but no real natural biking talent. Has he watched too much of the dreamy, TV world of The Tour? Doesn't he realize that he's no longer 20 something and that actually he does need a recovery week, a reasonable diet, 8 hours of sleep a night, and that in the end it all doesn't matter because it's all in his fucking mind anyhow? 6 hours, 43 minutes later he finishes. Well that was interesting. 12 of the last 20 hilly miles without granny gears. Legs like rain-soaked logs. Stomach that felt like St. Helens before it blew. A defeated ego. But still...a finish, a no-dabs HQ climb, a complete lack of cramping, a time within a few minutes of last year despite all the walking and bitching and stopping. Get over it, what's the problem?

Copper Triangle V-1 Ride

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

Beautiful scenery, great friends, good weather...what more can you ask for in the Colorado Rockies. The 80-mile loop is a classic mountain tour, and one of my favorites. About 15 Velo-One riders, plus my buddies Toby & Bob, had a great time as we chased each other up and down the mountain passes.

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

4th of July Family Trip

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

The Wilder family had a great 4th, with an awesome hike up Mosquito Pass outside Alma, Colorado, followed by a parade & fireworks in Breckenridge. I participated in the Firecracker 50, a 50mile mtb race outside Breckenridge.

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

Clash of the Titans

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn

Two Warriors battle it out for supremecy of the Wilder staircase...

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Originally uploaded by Wilderwomn