Dale Ball South+Solstice hike

   Got in a ride a few weeks ago before the snow set in and it got cold as Balls. I hooked up with Rob for a ride starting from St. Johns parking lot. We the went up to the Dale Ball South trail just above Dorothy Stewart trail head. We then went in there and had a fun ride all around the south side trails and hit Pacacho for good measure. Then we came down to upper canyon and went down to Dorothy Stewart and took that back to wilderness gate and then descended the bottom of Atalaya. Had a fun time over there. I think Rob enjoyed it.
   On the winter solstice Chad and I went for a hike up Atalaya in the snow. It was the first time I have hiked Atalaya(without a bike) Had a real good time. Hope to do some more of that. I took my new pack and some snowshoes just to get ready for some hiking with the snowboard.

Rob shedding a layer



I don't know why I like taking pictures of trail signage








Rob taking in the view


Rob coming up to Pacacho


Nice views of the watershed












   That was the last ride I had on dirt with no snow on it.After a couple weeks off the bike I couldn't take it anymore. So yesterday I went riding with the los Nativos and Todd and we rode some new trail called the Sphinx trail. It is a new trail that was much fun.
   Last week I went on my first hike up Atalaya with Todd and It was really fun. It gave me a good workout in the snow. We took a few pictures.

The snow was starting to get deeper



Does it get any better then this?












Todd descending into the sun






There is something about trains



   What holiday beverages did you all have? Had a nice beefy christmas ale from Avery for the holidays. It was tasty.


   What is in your audio player? I am getting all old school thanks to Scott at work I am rocking out to The Circle Jerks: Golden Shower of Hits. I loved this album as a young punk skater. Brings back all sorts of fond memories.
    Happy New Year Everybody
                    Sampai jumpa lagi

WHITE MESA

We get some sweet rainbows here in Santa Fe

   Cabin John Rob wanted to go to White Mesa while he was here so we aquiesed and went down there even though it had snow all around and it was mighty windy. Of course since Rob was there it turned out to be a really fun ride. Then after the ride we went down to Turtle Mountain Brewery. I would say it is one of my favorite brewery's I have been to here in New Mexico. We onlyt had time for a quick pint errr a 22 oz. I mean. I also snuck in a half pint of dbl IPA. Both were fantastic. It was fun riding in the snow there. One mile was very muddy past the sulpher spring. White Mesa is always a good time because it is so diferent from most of the riding here. Gonna have to start riding down that way more often now that everything is snowed in up here.
Was a little windy out there. but still much fun

Hi! My name is Chad




Chad was enjoying himself.



Getting up close and personal with Rob

getting my gear on



I love this picture of Mister Glatz



The Hole



    Well the ride was over and what else could we do to make it a perfect day? BEER! Well the holidays are upon us and limited time on the bicycle as well. I just bought a Dakine Heli pro 16l and I can't wait to use it. There is tons of snow on the mountain now. Ski Santa Fe is now open so let the snow sports begin. Ohh yeaa and as all of you prolly heard SkiTaos is gonna open its nice steeps to snowboarders. Not until March though. Gonna be nice, they have some nice looking stuff there.
Ella made a nice looking snowman he is Rasta



    What is in your audio player? I have Iron and Wine's new one The Sheperd's Dog. Sam Beam just seems to get better and better. Of course with the holidaze here We have been playing our favorite Christmas cd there is Charlie Brown Christmas. Take a listen. Alwyas liked Vince Guaraldi.

    Been wanting to bust out the skateboard lately. Nuttin like the feeling of a smith grind.Notice my Bad Brains t.
photo by Kenny Gibbs



                  Pirmelenge

The Sun Sets on the South Boundary Trail (till next spring)

   Got one more ride in on the South Boundary trail before the snow flew. It was a really great ride. Great people and a great trail and everything came together. accept for the fact that I couldn't get my espresso on because The Bean was closed for remodeling or something whacky like that. So from there Mark Rob and I drove onto Gregs kids school right down the street where we were gonna meet Greg and his SSweet family. Of course we were all introduced but I can't seem to remember there names. Gregs girlfriend was Kind enuff to shuttle us. So we loaded up Brians(Brian and Rick had decided to ride without us and do a slightly different ride) truck With our gear and all of us and Greggs 2 kids. Off we went. On the way up to Angel Fire we decided to start the ride from Valle Escondido up to Elliot Barker then take that up to Osha Peak and the South Boundary. all the way back to Taos. Rob had just gotten to town from Cabin John Maryland. I met Rob last year when he and his wife Margaret visited for a week or so and Rob had posted up on MTBR looking for peeps to ride with while he was in town. So being he was coming from the Old Line state I had to oblige. It sucks that the only guy from MD that I have ridden with out here in New Mexico is someone I didn't even know. Nobody I know from MD wants to check out the Land Of Enchantment :(. I am glad to have met Rob though. He has proven to be good luck for great rides when he visits. Took a few shots with my camera

My view on the way to the drop off.



Rob coming up from Valle Escondido





Here is Mark. I better not say anything witty about him.

Greg and Mark coming to me



Robert coming across the line



Break Time for the Ol lady

Mark chillin



Robert and Rob enjoying the RIDE



into the Light













Mark contemplating his next comment on MTBR


Then we got to Osha Peak and had a snack before getting into the beauty that is the South Boundary trail and a section Robert called Heaven on Earth.



GregDeTaos

















Meeting of the minds at Garcia Park






Greg is riding on thin ice




















First snow of the year



















   What a RIDE. This epitomizes Mountain Biking to me. It was a perfect day of riding with good peoples.After the ride We were all to meet at Eskes. Alas like the Bean, Eskes was just closed for no apparent reason. We can only hope they were cleaning there tap lines and brewing some better beer. ;). It turned out to be an omen because we went to the Guadalajara Grill southside for some eats and beers. That place ripped. I had fish tacos and they were quite nice. We met up with Brian and Rick too. It turns out they were chasing us when we thought that we were chasing them.

    Had a new holiday offering the other night. It is made by Odell's. It is there Isolation Ale. It is tasty. All though I would not put it in the realm of Celabration.

    What is in your audio player? I have M. Ward in mine from Duet for Guitars #2. GoodDan at work hooked me with it and a couple others. I think that one was his first album. I also saw that M. Ward and Bright Eyes are playing together. Here is a killer song they did at the Hollywood Bowl.

                     Hooroo