Colorado and Utah 2003
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First ride, first mile, first puncture! I'd brought a thorn with me over from England. 2 months later and I haven't had another one since. Mark, the new guide, has had 9 in 3 weeks!
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The view from Bakers Tank loop early in the season. A good pic of my Sugar 2 bike before it broke! Gary Fisher sent me a brand new Team Issue frame as a replacement. Which was nice. |
Trail-learning before the season starts. Some of the trails are still a bit sticky! |
Balanced Rock, Arches National Park, Utah. |
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Cooking up some burgers at Fins 'n' Things camping area on Slickrock, Moab. |
Sitting in front of the view over Castle Valley at the top of the Porcupine Rim ride, Moab. |
'Catching some air' on Porcupine Rim. |
More air. This is about 20 yards from the end of the Porcupine Rim ride. |
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Heading out on the famous Poison Spider Mesa trail. Amazing scenery! |
James struggles through the sand traps on Poison Spider. |
Standing at the end of Poison Spider, overlooking Moab and the Colorado River. The Portal descends that cliff behind me. It is not graded in some guide books as it is considered 'beyond extreme'! |
The start of the infamous Portal Trail which descends sheer cliffs from the Poison Spider trail. At least 3 bikers have died here after falling off the edge. |
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Mike and James look out over Moab from the Portal. Yes, that's a very narrow track beside a very long drop! Some sections you must walk unless you have a death-wish. It's a mega-technical descent and rather scary in places! |
Reaching the end of Poison Spider / Portal. I'd also done Porcupine Rim that morning - I was knackered! |
Fellow Geordie Paul came to grief on Slickrock and took a dislocated little finger home with him. |
View from the Spruce Creek trail, back near Breckenridge. |
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James says a last goodbye to Harris St before heading home. He taught me all I know - the apprentice now becomes the master! |
This is Mill Creek where we head to after a hot morning's riding on Slickrock. The locals usually turn up and entertain us with their death-defying antics. They are nuts. |
Green River Overlook at Island In The Sky, Canyonlands National Park. The picture can't really convey what a BIG view that is behind me. |
Jason looking insignificant at Island In The Sky. |
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Our first group of the season mellows out in Arches National Park. You can see Delicate Arch in the background. |
Carlos surveys Green River Overlook, Canyonlands. |
32 years old today. (eek!) |
Guiding on Slickrock. |
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Trying to get airborne again at the bottom of the Peak 8 fun park in Breckenridge. |
Approaching the Hurrah Pass near Moab. |
Ascending Jacob's Ladder, part of the Spring Race Course / Jackson Hole Loop. |
Shredding the Moab Downhill Park on an Ellsworth Joker. Woo those forks are big! |
