Mountain Bike Stoke

Check out this video of TNF snowboarder Ralph Backstrom mountain biking in New Zealand

New Zealand Mountain Biking Video from UnofficialSquaw on Vimeo.

Here's another one of TNF skier Sage Cattabriga-Alosa

summer bike road trip 2010 hi res from sage on Vimeo.

We've been mountain biking our summer away also. It's been raining like crazy, but we find a window in the morning or afternoon and head out for a quick spin. On the positive side, the rain has been making for some amazing wildflowers and mushrooms.

Andy and I have been racing in the local mountain bike race series, the Summit Mountain Challenge, and it has been incredibly fun. It's been great to get out and meet more like-minded locals. Everyone in the series feels like family and is encouraging and supportive, even as a newby. I really enjoy participating in the races and look forward to more next year.

We're beginning to get our winter gear in, which means spring items are on sale. Come on in and check out our hot new gear and get outfitted for the snowy season. It's coming soon, there's already frost on the ground at night. Yikes!

(videos via The North Face Facebook fan page)

Mud Season

The month of May was quiet around the streets of Breckenridge, so our staff took the opportunity to get away to Moab for a week.

It was warm, sunny and only slightly windy.

We biked. A lot.

The first trail was Amasa Back, where we met a friend.

He was a downhiller from California on his first cross country ride.

Then we hit the Slickrock trail. Some of us hit it more literally than others.

Andy going down the Slickrock trail

Brett on the Slickrock trail with the La Sals in the background

Brett and Greg lookin' tough

We camped next to the river with some beautiful  trees.

Which, unfortunately, held mass amounts of caterpillars:

We picked them out of tents, luggage, and Greg even had one crawl up his shorts.

We also kept camp with some ferocious dogs

Jasper and Lulu playing

A sunset hike in Arches National Park to Delicate Arch was a must.

Brett, me, and Andy in a hole with the sunset laden La Sals

And, of course, there was just general goofiness, because what is a day around The North Face Breckenridge without goofiness?

Love. Just plain love.

After Greg, Jacque, and Brett left, Andy and I did some more biking.

Takin a break at the top of the Sovereign trail

After a week, it was time to head home. We all had another week off.

Andy and I headed to Maine.

We got to spend most of our time here:

Andy's parent's camp

On this lake

I ate lobster for the first time

Eric, Andy's brother, me, Andy, and the lobsters in between us

Andy said, "You're going to put one in and I'm going to take a picture of it!"

It was a wonderful vacation. Thanks, Steve, Susan, and Pete for giving us some vacation time!

A Whole Lot of Awesomeness

I have been down and out for the past month- one sickness after another. Luckily, I am now on the mend and itching to adventure again. It doesn't need to be a big adventure, I just want to be out in the snow and sunshine and on a trail or mountainside. Finally, I'm craving it again.

Yesterday, Andy and I had a day off together and I begged him to skin up Baldy with me.

Andy skinning up Baldy a couple of years ago- the views of the ski area are incredible.

It took us about two hours with Jasper and Lulu, the dogs, in tow.

Jasper

Lulu and Margo

We felt especially slow when a woman skated past us on the steepest part like it was no big deal- leaving us far behind. I was exhausted by the end and Andy wanted to go to the gym. Typical.

Today I hiked/ran the Peaks Trail, right outside our apartment door.

It's my new obession. It is uber-close, you could go for 20 miles roundtrip if you wanted, and it is amazingly beautiful up there. In our county full of dying trees, the trees here are (shhh) big, close together, and most importantly, green. I found a little loop that has steeps, fall lines, and flats that is perfect to do in a fast hour. I just can't get enough of it. 

I am also obessed with the best purchase I have made all season. My Shugga Thatch suit. It is incredible. I know one pieces are out, but everyone should wear one of these. You're warm, you look like a super steeze, and it's incredibly comfortable. No more cold winds blowing up your back.

Andy is embarrassed of me.

Hanging out on the cornice overlooking the Imperial Lift- the highest lift in North America. When you hike up here to the top you're at about 13,000 ft. Usually the hike feels like you're climbing Mt. Everest because it's blowing at 50 mph. It's great.

Even with all of this awesomeness, I find myself wishing for this

 

and this

and this

Soon, soon mountain biking season will be here. Now hopefully El Nino doesn't decide to dump feet of snow in June. Please no.

Beautiful Miss Bucca

Much has gone on in the last week and I need to tell you about the bad news. Beautiful miss Bucca passed away last thursday, my best friend for the last 10 years. I adopted Sambucca when she was about 4 yerars old from a nice family in Belchertown Massachusets. Over the last 10 years she has been by my side keeping me company in a way only Bucca could do.

Bucca was starting to show her age and I do feel that it was her time to go. Instead of messing around with doctors and needles, Bucca found a nice little spot in the woods following a great hike to Lily Pad Lakes in Frisco, Colorado. I don't really blame her.

To make things a little better for me, Tony and I still took our trip to Fruita, Colorado and Moab Utah. Three days of mt. biking and one day on the road bike can do wonders for one's state-of-mind. Lets just say that the riding in Moab is much more technical than here in Summit County. Being rockstars, though, we tried everything we could and I only went over my handlebars once. Not bad.

Locals who ride faster than me.....a lot faster

Last night was my first time racing in the Summit Mountain Challenge, a racing series that caters to locals here in Summit County. Some of the riders are pros, and a handful are guys and gals that are in pretty good shape just looking to have a good time and push themselves mentally and physically. Being of the latter type, I was quite pumped up going into the 17 mile race on a course that I love. I didn't see what a demoralizing experience this would be for me! The guys in my group (Sport men 19-29) are very good riders that somewhat put me to shame last night. I was only about 12 minutes behind most of the riders in my class, but I just wanted to do better. I won't give up though, and plan on doing more races as the summer goes on. Hopefully my times will improve as I become more experienced riding with people who are that much better than myself!

Don't forget to check out all of the Sale Items at BreckGear.com! That's The North Face Breckenridge......Online!