Fruita CO - May 2008 (dialup beware)

[pixelninja]

Last weekend, it was that time of year again. The time to head to the west side of the Rockies for some Fruita fun.

The drive over Vail pass was a wee bit snowy. Chains were required for all commercial vehicles, but overall it wasn't bad. Just slow. It ended up taking me 5.5 hours to get to Fruita.

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Things started to clear up after passing Avon and the rest of the drive was smooth sailing.

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I met up with my friends who arrived the night before and we headed over to 18 Mile Road. Chutes and Ladders was the trail we decided on.

Here's Charlie powering up a little slab.

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While Nate's technique looks impressive, it was not very effective.

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Young Ryan just chillin, waiting for everyone else to catch up.

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Me, enjoying the beautiful Fruita singletrack.

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Some sucky Fruita scenery.

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Since I arrived later than anticipated, we didn't have time to do much more, but Charlie and I decided to have a go down Joe's Ridge. Here's Charlie swooping down.

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Me in the distance, swoopin, whoopin & hollerin.

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Charlie coming down the same section, taken from below.

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Afterwards, enjoying a Stella.

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We camped at the James Cobb campground in town. Looking east you had nice views of McDonalds and La Quinta. Looking west you had slightly better views.

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The next day we headed east to Grand Junction and hit the Tabequache area. Our plan was to do Andy's Loop but instead we found ourselves on a newer trail called Eagles Wing. Awesome trail with lots of great technical features.

Jon had big plans on cleaning Widowmaker, but he didn't quite get there.

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Widowmaker. That sh*t is steep.

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Me on a step-down that was much harder than it looks

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Ryan, approaching a little technical spot.

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Me approaching the same spot.

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Looking down from a high spot on Eagles Wing. It's hard to tell, but the lower right of the photo shows the edge of the cliff, and the gray strip next to that is the floor of the canyon below.

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Nate and Charlie winding through the rocks.

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For our afternoon ride, we headed west to Horsethief Bench for a quick loop.

I gave the entrance a couple tries and made it over halfway down, but that was all I could do. Maybe I'll do better next year.

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Young Ryan found a nice spot for a huck.

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Me navigating some small drops. What isn't shown in this photos is the 20 ft drop immediately to my left.

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I was not responsible for this.

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Saturday night was lovely.

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We tried to get in one last ride on Sunday, and we thought we'd hit a trail called Roller Coaster, north of GJ. Turns out, its mainly an atv/motocross area. We found a little bit of singletrack, but after suffering multiple mechanical issues, we all gave up and headed home.

[laura]

Great pictures! I kind of like the sparseness of the fruita landscape.

Chutes and Ladders I think might be my favorite ride ever. So fun, sooo fast.

[stevew]

cool.

[SkaredShtles]

Nice! It takes MAJOR balls of iron to make it the 2nd half of the Horsethief entrance exam.

Oh - and it's "Eagle's Wing"... :D

Next time you HAVE to do Holy Cross. :disgust1:

[DRB]

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/drbutler/Picture113.jpg

From horsethief.....

[SkaredShtles]

Is that your blood? :rofl:

[manhattanprjkt83]

do i spy some zippity on the first groupish and some 'more fun' on the others?

[pixelninja]

Nice! It takes MAJOR balls of iron to make it the 2nd half of the Horsethief entrance exam.I did not possess said balls that day.

Oh - and it's "Eagle's Wing"... :DFixed.

Next time you HAVE to do Holy Cross. :disgust1:10-4 good buddy. :D

[pixelninja]

do i spy some zippity on the first groupish and some 'more fun' on the others?I don't think so... :hmm:

[SkaredShtles]

I did not possess said balls that day.
I can make it to just above the big rock ramp, and then my nads retract and I walk the rest. :D

[dogwonder]

Thanks for the stoke; I know one road trip I need to plan this year!

[manhattanprjkt83]

I don't think so... :hmm:

well f me then

[Netwelle]

Chutes and Ladders I think might be my favorite ride ever. So fun, sooo fast.

Really?

I was kinda disappointed with that run. I was there last weekend and we did that loop before doing zippity do da. It seemed like a lot of weird changes in terrain that did not give you a chance to get a rhythm.

I would say zippity was by far the most fun. Also the fun factor on kesslers is amazing.

[SkaredShtles]

Really?

I was kinda disappointed with that run.
I agree. C&L is one trail I don't ride out at 18-Rd any more.

I would say zippity was by far the most fun. Also the fun factor on kesslers is amazing.
Zippity is really fun. :thumb:

Oh - and it's Kessel. The KESSEL Run... :disgust1:

[Dangerous E]

I agree. C&L is one trail I don't ride out at 18-Rd any more.


Yeah, that smooth-as-silk singletrack w/ the burmed turns and hipped rollers that can be railed at about 30 mph is no fun at all...:twitch:

[SkaredShtles]

Yeah, that smooth-as-silk singletrack w/ the burmed turns and hipped rollers that can be railed at about 30 mph is no fun at all...:twitch:
<shrug>

IMO it's the least desirable Bookcliff trail. I actually only ride the Bookcliff stuff as "icing on the cake" when I'm in Fruita. Spend almost all my time in the Lunch Loops or Loma. Just prefer the type of riding in those spots.

[Dangerous E]

<shrug>

IMO it's the least desirable Bookcliff trail. I actually only ride the Bookcliff stuff as "icing on the cake" when I'm in Fruita. Spend almost all my time in the Lunch Loops or Loma. Just prefer the type of riding in those spots.

Just busting your stones man. Although I do think you're nuts for not loving that trail. :busted:

[SkaredShtles]

Just busting your stones man. Although I do think you're nuts for not loving that trail. :busted:
That's OK - I'm actually GLAD so many people love those trails out at Bookcliffs. I hardly ever see anyone on the Ribbon, Holy Cross, or Moore Fun. :monkeydance:

[Dangerous E]

That's OK - I'm actually GLAD so many people love those trails out at Bookcliffs. I hardly ever see anyone on the Ribbon, Holy Cross, or Moore Fun. :monkeydance:

Yeah, I'm pretty stoked to get back there to do some more exploring in the Kokopelli and Tebaguache areas. We rode Free Lunch on the way to Fruita and it seems like there's a glut of goodness in that area.

[SkaredShtles]

Yeah, I'm pretty stoked to get back there to do some more exploring in the Kokopelli and Tebaguache areas. We rode Free Lunch on the way to Fruita and it seems like there's a glut of goodness in that area.
Ooooooohhhh yes... there is... there indeed is a glut. :monkeydance:

[pixelninja]

Yeah, I'm pretty stoked to get back there to do some more exploring in the Kokopelli and Tebaguache areas. We rode Free Lunch on the way to Fruita and it seems like there's a glut of goodness in that area.Yeah, I'm definitely going to explore more of the Tebaguache goodness the next time I'm in Fruita/GJ.

[Dangerous E]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to explore more of the Tebaguache goodness the next time I'm in Fruita/GJ.

Before you go, stop by Grassroots Cyclery in GJ. We talked to a guy in there named James who was going to meet us at the trailhead and ride Free Lunch but ended up getting stuck at work (cuz one of the other guys went out to show some people the goods at Tebaguache and hadn't come back). Seemed like most of the dudes in there knew the trails really well and were all willing to ride w/ whoever wanted a tour. Not something you often find in a bike shop. And it's also just a rad shop.

[GuruAtma]

Awesome pictures!

[bluebug32]

I think it's time to plan a visit to my uncle's in Colorado....

[ErrantGorgon]

If only my relatives in GJ would die. Wife can't say no to a funeral trip.

[pixelninja]

If only my relatives in GJ would die. Wife can't say no to a funeral trip.Ew. :twitch: