Mountain Wayfarer

November was my first month with a fat bike, 2017 Salsa Mukluk GX1, ordered online from REI.

I started to ride on lower trails in Lory State Park and Horsetooth Mountain Park, but spent most the time exploring and photographing trails in Red Mountain Open Space and Soapstone Prairie Natural Area north of Fort Collins near Wyoming border. I’ve been hiking and biking that area for years, but I found the MTB project pretty useful for trip planning. I posted some of my biking pictures there.

The fat bike was doing great on sandy trails in Red Mountain Open Space like Big Hole Wash or Ruby Wash. Riding across (or along) Sand Creek was also fun. So far, I didn’t have much experience with snow, just some patches in the shadow of canyons and some wind drifts on the exposed Cheyenne Rim. More pictures and video clips are coming!

I posted a couple of picture stories in my paddling blog, but future biking posts will show up here unless I combine riding a fat bike with packrafting …

fat bike on Cheyenne Rim trail — Cold November morning at Cheyenne Rim trail with some snow drifts and spectacular views of the Big Hole in Red Mountain Open Space

fat bike crossing stream — Crossing Sand Creek at the beginning of K-Lynn Cameron trail in Red Mountain Open Space

Dusk over Colorado prairie and foothills from the Mahogany Loop in Soapstone Prairie Natural Area

fat bike riding over cattle guard — Riding over a cattle guard along Cheyenne Rim trail in Soapstone Prairie Natural Area

Cattle water tank at the top of Salt Lick trail. It is my favorite drinking hole. I just cannot passed it without shooting some pictures.

sunset Red Mountain Open Space — Colorful sunset over Salt Lick trail

fat bike in Red Mountain Open Space — Big Hole Wash trail near junction with Salt Lick trail.

Red Mountain Open Space trail — K-Lynn Cameron trail with Table Mountain in background. A nice downhill ride with great sunset views, but you need to stop or slow down.

Salsa Mukluk fat bike on the Ruby Wash. Sun is already down. So, it is the last frame of the day. And, the last picture from Red Mountain Open Space in 2017.

fat bike in Lory State Park — Red Mountain and Soapstone are now closed for winter (December-February). So, I am riding in Lory State park and waiting for snow.

December 2, 2017 is the Global Fat Bike Day. How do you celebrate?

A road, trail or foot path are often present in my landscape images. A straight line of a highway, a windy mountain trail, single track, railroad tracks, paved city biking trails, or even more illusive deer or cattle path always provide a strong element of composition. A river might be also a road for me since I am a paddler. Roads offer a metaphor for a life journey.

aerial view of a windy road through red sandstone canyon with coarse vegetation near Moab, Utah — Aerial view of a windy Kane Creek Road near Moab, Utah

This is one of my last road pictures. One morning, when attending Moab Photography Symposium in April 2016, I took a drive on the Kane Creek Road. I passed all packed but quiet campgrounds along the Colorado River, stopped just before sunrise and waiting for some magic to happen. The road was definitely less traveled at least at that time. Everybody was still sleeping. There was only one young mountain biker enjoying his morning ride.

multiple ways for going from A to B, reaching destination or solution - alternatives concept presented with sticky notes, white chalk on vintage blackboard isolated on white — Multiple ways for going from A to B, reaching destination, goal or solution

I’ve realized that the road theme is present in my studio work: alternative paths to the goal or solutions, options, and choices. The are short and efficient pathways to your goal, but there are longer one, which could be more interesting and rewarding. Some pathway may not lead to the solution at all. But, happiness is in the journey not a destination.

My First Month with Salsa Mukluk Fat Bike in Colorado

The Road Less Traveled – Kane Creek at Sunrise