RIDE LONG AND SMILE

I feel very fortunate that I have so much to be thankful for.  I have a wonderful wife, great family and friends, my health, and a nice new home.    I enjoyed a relaxing hike today with family and pups.  When walking on ice you must be sure not to get your tongue stuck ... because people will laugh at you! There was fresh ice on the beaver ponds that made an amazing display of shapes.  Ice makes such interesting shapes and structures.

This is what happens to a 130 psi tire hitting a 1/2" to 3/4" bump at about 20 mph.  Crazy!  Make sure you air up those tires before your next ride.

St. Elmo , CO.  1906 ... I mean 2006.

This weekend I had a once in a lifetime experience.  With rather short notice I went from having the regular weekend plans to having mammoth plans.  On Friday I got the invitation from my wife to join her in Snowmass where there was a major discovery of multiple ice-age animals that are very well preserved.  On Saturday I helped at the dig site and personally found about a half-dozen bones from a mastodon!  The most impressive was the atlas bone (the bone that connects the head to the rest of the spine), which was about 16" to 20" across.  There were bones almost popping out of the ground.  It was quite incredible. Today I went for a hike at the base of the elusive Maroon Bells.  They are elusive for me anyways.  I have been meaning to see them for years and I always seem to miss them.  This time they were hidden in the falling snow.  This was the best shot I was able to get of them. My favorite shot of the day was of some Mallar...

I entered, and I lived.

I love the mountain bike rides when I see more animals than people along the trail.