Roughly 100,000 words.

[mikesee]

Two mandatory warnings: The text in this post is superfluous, and there are 90+ pics. Continue at your own risk..

Every few years (more often if you're less set-in-your-ways than I am) you'll have an experience that falls outside the reasonable range of expectation. Meaning simply that what you expected and what you got did not match up.

That happened last week, and I'm still reeling a bit from it. I'm simply unsure of how to even begin processing all of the new sense data that was gathered. That uncertainty is a good, rare thing (for me) these days, as I've gotten into a bit of a rut with work and riding and a refresher was in order.

I'll spend months sorting and categorizing the experiences in my mind, but there's no need to wait to share the visuals.

Loading up the car, listening to a book, and just letting the countryside unfold as I creep closer to my destination has become a favorite form of therapy.








I'll do it if I have to, but covering ground at night (whether afoot, by bike, or even in a car) just cuts across my grain of late. How can I learn about a place if I cannot receive visual sense data from it?

(Yes, I had a lot of time to think on this last trip, and have been in major geek out mode ever since...)

So once the light fades from the sky I'll find a place to circle the wagon and then settle in til sunup. Cook a simple meal, read a different book, simply 'be' horizontal.

Waking, a short walk is in order before anything else. Checking in on the local residents, you might say.








Early morning light...




...and some of the things you see when wandering around engulfed by it.












Whom would *you* expect to see while crossing Coyote Wash?




Oo. Don't forget your galoshes.


Death. And then, life.
















This one flat stopped me in my tracks. Just stunning.




Not so much the former as the latter.


Aspirin, ibuprofen, morphine, and gin have all been known to cure what ails ya. For me, nothing is more restorative than time spent on alpine skinny trail with likeminded souls.






to be continued...

[mikesee]

Aaaaaaah.


















Dave and Chad were a hoot to ride, camp, and generally hang out with.






If you're in their company and *not* laughing, you need to pull the ipod outta your ears and pay attention!




One of the no-longer top secret details of my new uber frame pack: The Mike & Ike department.


DH nearly leapt outta his shoes when he saw it, and LW dug her hand in there too. It's not like a gal can ever have enough red 40 in her diet...

Back to the grind.
















We finished the day off with an ice cream binge, campfire tales, stargazing, then blessed sleep outdoors, if not actually down in the dirt.

The ensuing day, more time spent with Dave and Chad meant more laughs and good vibes.






The overall theme of the day was relaxation, though it got strenuous later on...


Brief detour on the way out to camp.


At camp.


Cathedral-esque grove along the Rainbow Rim.


Big grins on this trail--swoopy, flowy, fast and carvy.




Favorite memory (of many!) from this day involved chasing Dave at high speed down a narrow tunnel of trail, both sides lined with blooming cliffrose. The always exciting game of cat-and-mouse was elevated substantially as he'd brush and bash his way through the blooms and my nostrils would be filled with it as I motored along behind...


Hard to beat finishing a fun ride as the golden hour fades into night.






Another campfire to wind down with, then blessed sleep.

continued...

[mikesee]

The view from camp at sunrise:


Hard to wrap your brain around that ^ view.

Almost 9 years have passed since I last rode this canyon. That's about 8 too long. Dave acted as very patient and informative guide.




Although the pic fell far short of my hopes, I love the contrast of colors and landscapes in just a few square feet. Red to green, swamp on rock.








Such a striking backdrop for some really fun non-tech riding.














Dave hammered out the hills on his single tallish gear. I felt obliged to follow suit, and remained shiftless on all but one climb throughout the day. I take back what I said earlier about alpine skinny being the most restorative thing I know--desert skinny aboard SS's comes darn close.








Did mention the swoopdiddlyiciousness of this trail system?












Unseasonably cool June temps were a treat all through this day. Though the temps have crept high enough that going back this weekend won't happen, some version of this trip needs to be planned again in the fall.

Thanks fer readin'...

MC

[John Jencks]

Whistful silence.
If that's what you do to cure the ills of the world, you're a very clever man,

[cruso414]

as usual.....undescribeably beautiful.

[Sane Fred]

As always a pure treat Mike, thanks!

[flafonta]

Great pictures and story.

I missed the location of this epic journey in your 100,000 words... Where is this?

[the_eleven]

Looks like you got it reeal good.

If the wheel building gig slows down, you could try marketing those beautiful photos!

[ZGOZZ]

WOW Thats sweet..

[njbiker66]

As I sit here unemployed, I can't Help but wonder Why I am not riding at these places with all this beautiful views.

Tom

[benwitt11]

Awesome. Just awesome. Thanks.

[burner]

one of your best posts

[nitrousjunky]

Always a joy viewing your picture filled post. It was refreshing just looking and trying to imagine the trip.

[ia_ss157]

Pretty epic compared to the Ardennes like weather (minus the cold; all the rain) we've been having in Iowa. Stuck on the road bike and wishing for some singletrack adventures. I think a July excursion somewhere new is going to be in order. Thanks for the regular dose of inspiration.

[Jim Z in VT]

JZ

[ingluis]

Approved.

[Paladin]

Father's Day and I picked up dog poo and mowed the yard.

I am not going to forget this, Mike.

[stew]

all I can do is clap!

[redbyte]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Z3iU73Uw_T8/Sj...0/IMG_0820.JPG

Heaven is earth. Thank you MC.

[BruceBrown]

Wow! Sweet pictures of your journey. This earth is filled with such majestic poetry when we take the time to view it - and share it. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.

[chumbox]

Amazing, pics. Really brightened my work day. Such beautiful winding trails. You do excellent work.

[ionsmuse]

Originally Posted by flafonta

Great pictures and story.

I missed the location of this epic journey in your 100,000 words... Where is this?

Northern AZ and Southern UT; specifically the Arizona Trail north of the Grand Canyon, the Rainbow Rim trail, and the Cassidy-Losee-Casto-[soda and chips break]-Thunder Mountain loop. Three fine days of riding, and I'm very glad I choose to not race and instead to lurk around and ride with Mike and Chad. Add the week prior in NY with family, the day after hiking The Narrows, and the overall temps a good 20 degrees cooler than normal and I felt especially blessed.

What do the other side do?

My meager contributions can be found in the most recent Photo Friday thread. Mike deserves special recognition for his efforts Monday; ride 45 miles, take over a hundred (I'm assuming) photographs, drink no more than 50 oz of water, follow me as I (not on purpose!) ran into every rock on the Cassidy trail, and generally rip up a bunch of riding on the 2" travel Roots. (Roadie + Moots) The riding may have been non-tech, but that didn't keep from running out of skills when I charged into a gravelly switchback, reigned it in, washed the front wheel, and went over the bars.



The limits of my language may means the limits of my world (Wittgenstein), but what language?

[rvmdmechanic]

This thread deserves best of mtbr.

I feel 10 times more relaxed and just excited for the fact that this is out in the world.

Thank you mikesee.

[campredcloudbikes]

Amazing

So, do you fill up the whole frame pack with Mike and Ike's?

[Madre]

Great pictures, Mike!

[mcd]

fffffaaaaaaaaaaacccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk! thats awesome

[discodave]

Mike quit building wheels and start offering your services to towns writing ad copy for tourists. Awesome as always.

[D1PHAM]

That was inspiring as well as motivating!

[NoWay Ray]

After a little while off the bike, I REALLY want to go for a ride now!

Thanks for the inspiration!!!

[Lugboot]

wow.

just wow.

[mikesee]

Originally Posted by campredcloudbikes

So, do you fill up the whole frame pack with Mike and Ike's?

Of course not--then where would I put my fishin' pole...?!

I'll do a detailed post on this pack at some point--but for now content yourself with the knowledge that it can easily swallow 1.5#'s of M&I's while still leaving room for two water bottles (or three cans o' root beer), my fly rod, two tubes, spare parts, a pump, patch kit, and a light good enough for railing techy ST at night.

MC

[dmx1]

Impressive.

[raposu]

Thanks Mike!

[Adam_M]

Originally Posted by mikesee

Of course not--then where would I put my fishin' pole...?!

I'll do a detailed post on this pack at some point--but for now content yourself with the knowledge that it can easily swallow 1.5#'s of M&I's while still leaving room for two water bottles (or three cans o' root beer), my fly rod, two tubes, spare parts, a pump, patch kit, and a light good enough for railing techy ST at night.

MC

Mike,

Amzing pics, really beautiful and inspiring, thanks.

Can't wait to see the write-up and pics of the framebag either. I'm pretty keen on sorting one for myself at some point so looking to gather as much info as possible on what people are using them for.


Cheers,
Adam

[AL29er]

Wow, was that really 90 pictures. They left me wanting more. Excellent post

[Jim Z in VT]

Originally Posted by mikesee

I'll do a detailed post on this pack at some point--

Cool, I was just going to ask about it. Custom made, I assume.

I'm going to have to make some plans for a western mtb vacation some day.

JZ

[Enel]

Originally Posted by ionsmuse

Three fine days of riding, and I'm very glad I choose to not race and instead to lurk around and ride with Mike and Chad.

Sounds like a great choice.

Glad Chad took a rest as well. No one deserves it more.

[GreenLightGo]

Fantastic.

Swoopy trail on a SS - I could use that right now!

Dave - if those bars had an aero shape to 'em, you'd get lift off! How's the wide bar treating you?

[the munts]

Great pictures man! Made my day

[DurtGurl]

Beautiful stuff there Mikesee.... Thanks for sharing.

[ionsmuse]

Originally Posted by GreenLightGo

Dave - if those bars had an aero shape to 'em, you'd get lift off! How's the wide bar treating you?

They do look rather silly at times, eh?

I've trimmed them a bit since. Overall the width and sweep worked very well, but I think they were a bit too wide, not enough room for elbow flexation. We'll see if the current 760mm works out.

[brado1]

Beautiful









Thanks

damn i guess that made it two words.

[MTBYKN]

Amazing Shots!

[Flyer]

Great pictures...some quite stunning.

[agu]

2009 Post of the Year.

[DavidR1]

Incredible ride!!

Thanks for sharing the pics.

[ionsmuse]

Was this just a month and a half ago? Amazing.

[herbn]

I was thinking of the perfect bike for those trails, does anybody remember the klien adept it was my first roadbike with zipp aero wheels but i think it may have been the first 29er.

[RIDIN'MO]

UM....UM....UM....I'm dumbfounded! That is my dream ride!
Thanks for making me jelouis, I appreciate it

[Jeffrocomb]

Mike,

Great ride, we're packing up the RV, and headed to SW Utah in three weeks from SoCal. We've got 3 1/2 days of riding and the Idea is to hit
Cassidy, Casto, and Losee Canyon Trails
VRRT/ Thunder Mountain
Rainbow Rim

We've done Rainbow, and are clear on that one, but am looking for basic intel on Dixie NF. Where you started your rides, places to camp etc.. Thanks so much.