Mark's Cycling & Hiking Blog
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups

Oxygen

8/30/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
I'm monitoring weather forecasts but pretty sure, after watching The Ohio State Buckeyes crush Notre Dame on Saturday, I'll drive Sunday morning to CO and climb a 14er, likely Wilson Peak...just because.  Oxygen deprivation is a concern so I'll take a canister to two of the above.  I was fine at 12,600' on Humphreys Peak but, we'll see. More to come.
0 Comments

Riding Around Marana

8/27/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
With my cycling miles now trending in the 500+ a month range, the awful feeling of having lethargic, sluggish legs is gone.  I no longer feel like a slug and I'm pretty happy about that.  I've lost weight, confirmed by the scale of course but also by how my clothing now fits.  I'm really happy about that.  I've lost 5 pounds and have another 5 to go to arrive in the land of the 160's.  I'm so glad I finally became motivated.  Lighter and more cycling miles of course means riding faster and that has shown in my average speeds. Happy about that too.  Actually, I'm in a good place and it's getting better.  Sorry, these words just spilled out.
Picture
I rode from home in Oro Valley into and around Marana.  The pavement in these two towns is awesome.  The available routes are somewhat limited. That's the one down side to being surrounded by mountain ranges but the beauty of my surroundings makes it all worthwhile. I'll be headed to Ohio soon but am looking at stopping in CO to climb a 14er.  I'd like to have that on my outdoor resume.  Oxygen deprivation is a concern.  I'm fine at 12,000' but 14,000+ is a different animal.  
0 Comments

The Monsoon Continues

8/25/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Joined a small group of 6 people for a 46 mile ride.  Unfortunately, one of us had a flat and it took at least 30 minutes to fix as the tire was super tight on the rim, then a pinch flat with the replacement tube, etc...  All fine though as we had cloud cover and relatively cool temps.
Picture
The evening of the ride, I played pickle ball with some really nice people and then the following morning, went for a short ride to loosen my legs that included a visit to Catalina SP.  The washes continue to flow and lots of people continue to visit.
Picture
A beautiful setting.
0 Comments

The 200 Year Saguaro

8/23/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
After standing for approximately 200 years, this saguaro on the Tortolita Preserve, a short distance from me, toppled last week.  It's the largest I have seen and a real shame. Fortunately, when it fell, no one was caught beneath it.
0 Comments

Front Range of the Catalinas

8/23/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
One of my favorite views, sitting at the Westin LaPaloma, looking at the front range of the Catalinas.  So many great hiking destinations visible and with the approaching fall, winter and spring, becoming very accessible. 
0 Comments

A Strange Post

8/21/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
I set up my tent in my living room.  I rolled out the air mattress and placed it inside. I checked it out, looking at the ceiling of the tent.  It brought back some great memories.  The last time I laid in this, I was at the bottom of the Grand Canyon after an arduous hike.  I and a friend had departed the Bill Hall trail off the north rim, descended through Surprise Valley, made it to Thunder River, kept descending via Tapeat's Creek, reached the Colorado River, decided we had daylight to continue on to Deer Creek Narrows.  The problem was both soles of my boots had come off.  We bound then, loosely with tape. The fatigue set in as each step forward brought debris from the trail.  It became dark, taking a step forward, a snake slithered between my legs but I was so tired, it didn't bother me.  At some point, it began to rain which it rarely reaches the bottom of the canyon.  We plodded on, reached a ridge and below us was Deer Creek Narrows.  We set up our tents.  I don't remember what I ate but I distinctly remember going into my tent, without a rain fly, laying there with rain dripping through and quickly falling asleep.  Yeah, a great memory and maybe more to come in my tent,  
0 Comments

The Monsoon Ramps Up

8/20/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Friday morning.  Clouds are forming over the mountains and rain will arrive by around noon so I got out for a 35 mile ride before it started.
Picture
I love this view, just south of the small town of Catalina.
Picture
Friday afternoon, it's been raining but pauses for awhile as I drive east, passing the front range of the Catalinas with Finger Rock in view.  I played indoor pickle ball for the first time.  Kind of whacky but I got used to it and met some nice people.  
Picture
Saturday morning and lots of overnight rain but it abated somewhat so I went to the Linda Vista trail.  Surprised so many others were hiking in the light rain.
Picture
Prickly Pear cactus in bloom. 
Picture
Weather radar showed an orange colored mass approaching from the north so I picked up the pace.
Picture
It's like a jungle out here.  I finished with about 2 miles as the rain began falling harder.
0 Comments

A Post Ride Pickle

8/17/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
It's weird to not have an image to accompany a report so while about to enjoy a post ride pickle, I took an image of it.  Kind of a sad looking pickle.  Did a group ride this morning.  It went a little better than expected.  My solo rides lack the intensity of a group ride so that was the usual shock to adjust. 
0 Comments

Cycling & Other Things

8/15/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
I've become super motivated to get back into cycling shape.  How I allowed the deterioration to happen is self imposed idiocy.  I rode north to Saddlebrook and wow, look at the view.  
Picture
I've been itching to get back to organizing group hikes and so scheduled the first for October.  Finger Rock Guard is an awesome destination and worthy of the first hike which begins from the valley.
Picture
It is amazing to me that large saguaros can be pulled out of the ground with nary a rootball and yet they can be replanted and survive.  
0 Comments

Checking Catalina State Park After the Rain

8/14/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
 Wow, what an active monsoon that has transformed the landscape.
Picture
The road into the park was closed and for good reason.  There are two washes that cross the road so the flow of water brings lots of sand.  Note the sand banks on the left and the perspective of their size given by the two people. The sand needs cleared and water drained before open the road to vehicles.
Picture
So green but of course in time, that will become brown and dry and fodder for a fire.
Picture
Many of these flowering vines are present.
Picture
This has been installed recently, giving a good account of the Bighorn Fire of two summers ago.
Picture
With the washes flowing, lots of people bring their dogs and walk up or down stream.  Then this occurred....
Picture
...a woman and her husband had been trapped in an RV on the other side of the flooded wash.  A sister wanted to play golf so the woman walked about a mile with her golf clubs to reach the entrance.  That brought a lot of stares.
Picture
While machinery was in operation to clear the road, a path had been created as a workaround.  It crossed a muddy wash and the above woman fell into the mud.  She was a good sport and had momentarily become lost so I showed her the way out.
0 Comments

Monsoon!

8/11/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
I've returned from a month away and am glad I am back in beautiful southern AZ.  We have an active monsoon season and the washes are running.  The official rain gauge is at the Tucson International Airport but that concrete desert impacts the movement of storms so the totals are low but elsewhere, we are booming with rain!  On a personal note, I'm probably in the worse cycling and hiking fitness since 1997 when I first threw my leg over a heavy steel framed bike. That will change but it won't be easy.
0 Comments

The Final Days

8/9/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Departed Colorado Springs, certainly an area deserving of another visit and headed to a small town in NM, Gallup.  Fortunate that in driving 3000+ miles during the vacation, there were few traffic slowdowns but the same could not be said for the northern bound lane on this part of the drive.
Picture
Always enjoy dining at an independently owned restaurant and there was a good one at the El Rancho.  Lot of movie memorabilia adorned the walls as old westerns had been filmed in the region.  I was told about a parade through down town so decided to check it out.
Picture
Oddly, cars and people were streaming away from the parade route.  Some people approached and warned that I not proceed.  Stories of a drive by shooting, shots being fired, a driver entering the parade route causing a mass casualty event but hey, I've got a blog to feed so kept walking toward the Main Street.
Picture
Few people were on the parade route.  There were a lot of police and emergency vehicles present.  Not much to see so headed back.  A guy and friends in an SUV had been observed drinking.  Police approached the vehicle, drunk driver took off, no shots fired, driver strikes a couple of vehicles parked alongside the road.  Fifteen light injuries.  Driver taken into custody.
Picture
Purposefully selected a route that avoided Phoenix so enjoyed driving through many small town America type settings.
Picture
Enter the Show Low, AZ region.  Beautiful.
Picture
Home at last.  The Catalinas and surrounding mountains are not the Rocky Mountains but beautiful and majestic in their own right. So much monsoonal induced rain has tuned the mountain slopes green.  The trip had some majestic sights but late and poor planning by me, ahhh, it could have been better.  Live and learn folks.
0 Comments

Cheyenne Mountain State Park

8/5/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
I am up early, looking toward Pike's Peak.  Beautiful scene.
Picture
The drive to the park is short and across from an Army base.  Reveille is being played.
Picture
I selected a few different trails and a local got me started as I was confused at first.  The warning about lions and bears got my attention.  I had a hiking pole and banged it frequently against rocks.  Would hate to surprise a creature.
Picture
Hot air balloons in the distance.  The first 1.5 miles is mostly walking in a meadow.  A beautiful scene but not the intensity I wanted.
Picture
I saw no mention of a trail to the peak but upon arriving at the park, there was a notice of one.  Too bad but I didn't have the time to climb the mountain anyway.
Picture
I passed through this peaceful scene as I returned to the parking lot with 4.4 miles and the completion of kind of a lame hike.  I use "hikearizona" for trail and route info but since I am here, I've been relying on "Alltrails".  The trail reviews frequently overstate the difficulty.
0 Comments

The Drive to Pike's Peak

8/3/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Pikes Peak, the tallest peak in the front range of the Rocky Mountains at 14,115'.  To gain entry to the 19 mile drive, we pay to reserve a 2 hour slot, during which, we are allowed to begin the drive.  For $32, it is way, well worth the expense.
Picture
The opening scene of the drive is benign as we pass through the tree lined road but eventually, the views open.  The average grade of the entire drive is 5.5% but that is skewed by several flat or down hill stretches.  There are many 10-12% ramps and then as the oxygen quality diminishes, it would be a tough slog for the hikers or cyclists who we passed as we drove onward and upward.
Picture
The mountains have their own climate and it seems clouds/rain gather each afternoon.
Picture
At around 12,000', we reach the height of the tree line.
Picture
Images do nothing to demonstrate the thrill/fear of driving along a road edge that were you to cross, would result in almost certain death.  There is a huge difference between sitting in the passenger seat and the driver's seat.
Picture
Multiple hairpin curves are negotiated and around one, a herd of goats had stopped traffic.
Picture
On both sides of the road they mingled, well over 20 of them.  Finally, we reached....
Picture
....the top and there was this inspiring monument.  Katharine Lee Bates, the author of "America the Beautiful" had stood at this spot in 1895 and so inspired was she, she wrote the famous words as a poem before later having it put to song.  
Picture
The top is chock full of rocks and little else other than what has been built.  Up until 1995, the road to the peak was dirt but now fabulous pavement.
Picture
There is an alternative route to the peak, via a train
Picture
Remnants of a building constructed in 1873 still stand.  It being a polar climate at the peak with snow possible every month, it would be a chilly existence for those who worked there then and now.
Picture
At the peak, the partial pressure of oxygen is only 60% compared to sea level and we both noticed it.  Breathing was a little labored. We began the descent with the warning to put our SUV in a low gear. As we descended, we noticed tire tracks well left of center and figured out they are from the annual road race to the peak.
Picture
At 11,000', we are required to stop for a brake pad temperature check.  Too hot and you are told to wait in a parking lot for the brakes to cool.  At some point, we saw a guy throwing water at his break pads.
Picture
Across from the brake check point is a quaint lodge.
Picture
In an effort to raise funds, some people have resorted to some unusual efforts, chronicled above.  We made it to the bottom and undoubtedly the drive was one of the top 3 highlights of our month away from southern AZ.  Now thinking about hiking or cycling to the peak but that oxygen deprivation is a problem.
0 Comments

Hiking Through GOTG

8/3/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
The day after our ride, we returned to hike.  I typically wouldn't post this since it's a repeat of our prior visit but it produced some new images.  Above, left of center, the kissing camels. 
Picture
Our loop hike takes us past many formations that we saw the day before but the main reason for coming was....
Picture
....to give Jack a workout.
Picture
The hike was flat to rolling except on the back side, there was one good climb with great views at the top where I shared space with....
Picture
....a well behaved group of children, being guided by a couple of adults.  We finished with just under 4 miles.  Now, on to the exhilarating drive up Pike's Peak.
0 Comments

Custer State Park, Needles Highway

8/1/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
We depart Sundance and head for Hill City, SD for a couple of nights.  We enjoyed a gravel ride on the Mickleson Trail, following it to Custer and back.  We enjoyed our stay and hanging out in the small town.  The next day....
Picture
....following someone's advise, we head to Custer State Park and follow Needles Highway. At some point the road appears to enter a box canyon where there is a chaotic scene of vehicles and people.  I wondered if we were to turn around here but then....
Picture
....we make a sharp left and line up for entry into a....
Picture

.....a very narrow (a little over 8' wide) tunnel.  Emerging from the other side....
Picture
....we can look back and see from where we emerged.
Picture
There were many pull outs with trail heads that suggest we should come back to explore.  Other....
Picture
....tunnels were on the route before we headed southwest to Colorado Springs and checked....
Picture
.....into a hotel where Jack enjoyed an action movie.  Next is Garden of the Gods and an exhilarating drive up Pikes Peak.
0 Comments

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

8/1/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
We arrived in Colorado Springs and there to our west, Pikes Peak!  That would be left for another day.  First we hop on our gravel bikes for the short ride to.....
Picture
.....Garden of the Gods.  The scenery is spectacular as we enter the park and begin a counter clockwise loop.
Picture
The route is about 6 miles with a couple of good climbs and great views mixed in.
Picture
It being a weekend, there are lots of cars, Segways, walkers but an ample bike lane too.
Picture
Pikes Peak, upper right in the above image.
Picture
Lot of pull outs to check out the popular features.  
Picture
And yes, some of the formations are climbed.  Note the people standing left of center on the summit ridge.
Picture
The contrast of colors for formations sitting side by side is amazing.  Having completed the loop, I went around a second time, finishing with 18 miles.  My gravel bike has tires wider of course than a road bike but not excessively wide.  Amy's bike has very wide tires so it's kind of a drag to ride on pavement with so much rolling resistance so she opted not to ride the loop again.
0 Comments

    Author

    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

    Categories

    All
    April
    California Riding
    Grand Canyon Backpacking
    March
    The Characters

    Archives

    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.