of Dry Flies & Fat Tires...

Awesomeness

2012-01-27T18:06:00.001-07:00

Home made chocolate chip cookies all warm and gooey fresh outta the oven? Awesome

turning a corner

2012-01-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

see what I did there? ;-]

Round here, looks like the worst of winter is behind us, turning a corner as it were. Our daytime temps are getting back into the 50's on a regular basis, meaning what moisture we have been receiving has been draining off the trails quite well.

All that means reliable riding has been picking back up, schweet.

Had Shredder out with me recently, her rookie racing season just on the horizon and now quickly approaching. Together, we learned time spent in the studio spinning does not necessarily equal the effort mother nature demands of you on the singletrack.

Nope, there is no hiding from the demands of the trail.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

so sick!

2012-01-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

too funny!My favorite- (on the lip of a bunny hill) droppin in!

DISCLAIMER: this author is in no way represented in the below video in any form whatsoever, in person, in abstentia, in radness, or stokedness, in fact, fiction or parody. Any and all parallels drawn are pure conjecture of the spurious sort.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Hat&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

HT: Fixie Dave Nice

Hey did you see my blog?

Duuude! check out that cutty! pfffft!

one thousand seven words

2012-01-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

annnd as a slideshow with bonus content. That was a fun trip, thx for playing along everyone!

one thousand six words

2012-01-21T04:00:00.001-07:00

one thousand five words

2012-01-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

one thousand four words

2012-01-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

one thousand three words

2012-01-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

one thousand two words

2012-01-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

one thousand one words

2012-01-16T04:00:00.000-07:00

one thousand words

2012-01-14T21:52:00.000-07:00

Having just returned from the Juan, I think I'll let the pixels do the talking for a bit. Look for a new installment each day this week.

hero dirt

2012-01-11T20:12:00.003-07:00

The trails are dry.

Thank dog almighty the trails are dry!

Have not had a meaningful ride in like 3 weeks what with first snow, then ice, then soul-crushing mud clogging our local singletrack.

And then there's me all kitted up with my new Christmas swag and nowhere to ride. Ouch is right my friends :-/

awesomeness: new saddle

But today 01.11.12, precisely @ 12.20 local time, our mud finally gave way to our version of hero dirt- where the tread is firmly bedded down yet still retaining that schweet, schweet tackiness of recent moisture now past. Makes for blasting runs and carving turns like an absolute Pro.

Or so I've heard anyway. ;-]

So I borrowed some time @ lunch today to reacquaint my legs, lungs to that distant concept that is mountain biking. Legs cooperated, but the lungs were still in holiday mode, complaining on every climb. Still, hardly a soul on the trails but me and those guys from the Black Keys belting out Lonely Boy on every turn and run.

And with each climb done, the downhills await!- all pain promptly forgotten.

And forgiven.

Man! but sometimes I do luv dirt.

who we are

2012-01-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

I'm always curious as to who stops by this here corner of the interweb tubes. Looking thru the 2011 sidebar poll, looks like we have a most excellent crew: you had me at angling-mountain biking-hiking-photographing-outdoor loving-coffee sipping-work dodging-insomniacs. As for those gluttons out there, still don't know what you all are thinking, but thanks all the same, there's sure to be more where that came from! ;-)

Would like to keep the tradition alive in 2012, but figured we'd change it up a bit. You'll see a coupla new polls sidebar right: what are your dream trips for 2012?

Oh and feel fee to leave relevant GPS coordinates to your secret places in the comments below, thxsomuchkbye.

EDIT: tinkering around with the blog paid me back by deleting the fishing poll- I'm such an idiot. Take two now posted~

a new year's juan

2012-01-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

Man, I don't know bout you guys, but seems like it's been forever since we last stepped into a stream.

Round here, November usually proves a good time to hit up the Juan, what with soccer obligations letting up. Not so this year, as our NM Game and Fish folks have been conducting major rehabilitation work on our favorite stretch of the Juan. Yep, you read that right- a renovation project on the fabled San Juan river. More on that later in the week.

Anyhoo, with renovation work finally complete + holiday visitations done = time to pull the trigger on a new years trip up north.

Turns out the lake turned over just last week, rendering less than 2' visibility thru turbid water, darnit- that spells tough fishing. At least the new digs proved impressive, adding plenty of new holes to spread out the anglers and the fish.

Not much help for the boy and I in the AM, we worked over each new hole encountered, beating the water into submission with not a single fish to show for it. Frustration mounting with each barren pool, I took to wading right thru each in turn to sample the depth, see what we chased out for our swing back around later in the day. Nada! What gives, dude!

Early afternoon, we make it up to the famous ESPN hole, losing two fish to LDR's. But still! Where's the beef, man?!

A bit dejected, and bewildered, we swing back around to try our hand thru the braids again. Sheesh, like learning the river all over again!

Late in the day, I'm sitting bankside sorting thru the day's third birdsnest while Will works over a pool previously pounded in the AM. Hey Dad, there's a fish rising, and another one! Schweet dude, that's what we're needing!

I put my head down in an attempt to focus on the task at hand, dam near hopeless- how does he do it? Dad, I got one! Awright, that's the stuff buddy!

Making an executive decision, I promptly cut away our second leader, lay the rod aside, and join the fun.

Five hours fishing and not a fish to hand, huh. The sun makes its dip toward the canyon walls and the braids finally come alive as fish after fish stage out of those new holes to feed on the late afternoon midge hatch, schweet.

Five hours of mounting frustration culminating in 90 minutes of midging frenzy, I now revel in my boy's grin growing with each fish released.

Yep, that's the Juan for you.

normal programming

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

EDIT: Aaaannd we're back! Happy New Year everyone!

Yep, the giving season has extended itself out to these here interweb tubes. You're welcome! ;-)

Click the headers to rearrange our oDFFT format. Click into the entries to expand the content. A fun example is to click into Flipcard, then click Flipcard's labels tab, then into mtb or flyfishing or whatever.

Pretty cool, but you lose any sidebar widgets in the meantime. Lemme know what you think~ mike

fat tire stoke 2011

2011-12-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

big wheels kept on turning in 2011

the brews of 2011

2011-12-28T20:47:00.000-07:00

Whoa.

Looking backonit it would appear I just might have a vice or two.

.....pffffft naw that can't be it- it's just that I've always been a patron of the Arts.

...and there's just sooo very much Art out there to patronize!

badda bing! thank you thank you, be here all week :-o

dry flies stoke 2011

2011-12-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

It was a good year for the long rod.

A very good year.

Raise a glass to more of the same in 2012!

snow day

2011-12-25T17:26:00.000-07:00

Refueling

2011-12-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

happy holidays!

2011-12-22T21:44:00.001-07:00

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, or Festivus (for the rest of us!), we here at la casa de Roughrider wish you and yours health and happiness this holiday season.

And dirt. Let's not forget fresh, loamy dirt snaking through green mountain meadows to destinations unknown.

Oh and tight lines- reels singing in happiness free spooling high country trout.

hmmmm....maybe a bit of both?

Happy Holidays everyone! Mike Laura Caroline Will

skinnies

2011-12-11T17:13:00.001-07:00

The kids and I finally made it out to the North Valley bike park @ 4th & Alameda.

Oh, it's been open since around September. It's just that I wanted to wait to give those groms ample time to pack that dirt down before I made my triumphal arrival. ;-)

Now collectively, Team Roughrider has less than a little experience riding skinnies and jumps. We sampled a bit when last out to Hood River, but most of the features proved more than we could handle at the time.

So I was eager to sample most everything offered and will be the first to tell you I need to build up the ole skillset to keep 'airing' those big jumps. pffffft!

The kids now....

...ducks to water comes to mind.

Awesome sauce.

whole enchilada

2011-12-03T05:47:00.001-07:00

Experienced our first snow round town last night- just a dusting at La Casa de Roughrider, but a good bit more in our foothills.

Has this sometime mountain goat already daydreaming of the season to come.

HT: mtbr.com

it's morning in america again

2011-11-26T17:28:00.001-07:00

photo credit: Oxherder Arts Gallery

The University of Michigan Wolverines defeat the ~~evil empire~~ forces of darkness for the first time in 8 years.

All is right in my the world.

a good day

2011-11-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

Coupla more reasons to be thankful this ~~holiday~~ ~~year~~ life:

dirt merchants

rider down

shredder

dynamic duo

golden hour

giving thanks

2011-11-23T20:47:00.001-07:00

American style.

Don't forget your nomex and stay safe out there!

carnage

2011-11-20T11:10:00.001-07:00

good morning!

2011-11-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

Here's hoping this finds you someplace warm, sipping one of yer own.

Not so we however- with an early morning contest on the pitch.

bikes & beans- a heavenly pairing

Still, Manzanares Street Coffee House in Socorro warrants a return this am. Another cafe latte, yes, and perhaps another game of chess while we await our afternoon game.

Salud a mis amigos!

fringe benefits

2011-11-19T11:56:00.001-07:00

courtesy Socorro Springs Brewery

...with 4 hours between soccer tourney games, I'm not made of stone ya know. ;-]

That said, anyone else want to join the Big Ten? Woooo!

How bout that Baylor win, huh? Or Virginia-Florida State finish? Or USC? Or Iowa State? What a Kray-zee weekend in college football!

red planet

2011-11-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

Found some time between soccer games this weekend to lay some tracks around the White Mesa country outside of San Ysidro.

dragon's back

singletrack playground

high desert two-wheel drive

cabezon

moonscape

trail critters

Champion

2011-11-13T13:56:00.001-07:00

Gaylord Sheppard's U10 boys Silver Division Champs: Thunderbolts.

Awesome.

want one!

2011-11-12T17:43:00.001-07:00

Welcome sight at our soccer tourney this weekend. With room to rack a coupla bikes off the back, I think I found my dream rig!

Stiller on mtb

2011-11-11T07:38:00.001-07:00

This really cracked me up~ Happy Friday!

Hat tip: singletracks.com

winter comes

2011-11-07T18:50:00.000-07:00

Winter's closing in.

I thought I'd take a looksee up Otero, gauge just how far winter has encroached with this last battery of storms.

Found our first snow lingering on the north slopes, in the shadows. Won't be long before winter kicks us all down slope, first to Cedro, then all the way back to our Sandia foothills.

But not just yet, not this day!

Sunday Tunnel-Otero was nearly deserted, just a few tracks leading me up canyon.

I had one of those golden days where everything was going my way- lungs strong, legs, even stronger. Balance like a cat, timing dead-on, I scaled step-ups that normally give me trouble, executed a few new jumps and drops never dared before. And the downhill now, wooo!

What a glorious day~

Moab 360

2011-11-05T15:47:00.000-06:00

Check it! Cool vid mountain biking Moab's Slickrock trail. What's that? You've seen plenty of those already? Well this one's got the goods over those others: an experimental interactive 360d view of the whole ride. Captured via smartphones no less, huh.

Click here to see the Xperia Studio video, no embed possible, sorry folks!

Pan, zoom all around rider Mark Sevenof for a true virtual ride. All that's missing is the desert wind, the burn, and the adrenaline rush. Cool beans, no?

Making the vid:

photos from the field

2011-11-01T19:09:00.000-06:00

trying to stay ahead of all that chocolate this week~

it's a gorgeous world we live in, so get on out there!

happy halloween

2011-10-31T07:09:00.000-06:00

We couldn't decide which is creepier- trailside tarantula or homegrown french mime.

You get both, 'cause we're givers that way!

product testing

2011-10-30T18:14:00.000-06:00

...solely in the interests of consumer safety, I assure you.

banner day

2011-10-26T19:33:00.000-06:00

The boy and I were hosted up in Colorado this weekend. My brother and nephew were in Elk Camp for a few days and invited us up to wet a line.

We jumped at the chance, despite the fact my best bud is still mending a broken ankle (who says soccer isn't a contact sport?!) :-o

bluebird day

Although we get together once or twice a year, with both families separated by 500 miles, fully engaged in work, soccer, baseball, elementary + mid + high school, it's been a few years since my brother and I last fished together, the kids not at all.

So it was good to finally break that drought, enjoy our time on a stream together, fly rods in hand.

Two generations! Awesome.

We came prepared for most anything, including in our arsenal a fully loaded streamer box, two boxes of pocket water dries, nymph boxes large and small.

See that ruggedly handsome ne'erdowell there? Ya, I'm the other guy.

We started our day low in the drainage in the hopes of finding more active fish. I got one solid short take on the streamer in the AM, my nephew reported one on and lost nymphing. A bit discouraged by mid morning, we jumped up high to sample some meadow water my brother wanted to take a run at.

gift of the river gods

Gorgeous. With bluebird skies, temps into the 60's, the day's fishing was proving stellar.

Got even better when my boy came wandering up, beer, yes Rolling Rock Premium Beer, in hand, asking me to look what he found- whaaaaa?!

Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth....ice cold too!

The catching, well, not so much: one more short take on the streamer around lunch, no other action to be had between the four of us.

Huh.

Oh, there were fish in there allright, as evidenced by yours truly spooking a nice 17-18 incher wading out to free my boy's snag in midstream. Whoa, nice fish! Just not biting, bummer.

two

Early afternoon, sensing the day's peak time quickly approaching, we decided to jettison the meadows in favor of that downstream pocket water we bypassed earlier in the day.

one

three

A bit of a scramble, bushwack to get to the stream, we huddled together to lay out a Gameplan. Simple enuf: hopscotch thru the streamside brush to set the boys up in likely runs and pockets, get after it while the afternoon warmth lasted.

I tried the Autumn Splendor in one more pocket, futilely, realizing the close quarters were no place for chucking & ducking.

Acting on a flash of ~~desperation~~ intuition, I bummed a SJW (yep that's a bright pink San Juan Worm #14) from my brother and BAM! promptly got us hooked up on three middling browns in like 10 minutes.

And just like that we were off to the races, the fish left wondering at the pink san juan worm hatch filling every likely run and pocket.

master and apprentice

Now normally, that last trip of the season is tinged with a bit of melancholy, but there was none of that this day. Sharing the water with some of my favorite people, two fathers reveling in their boy's growing skills pursuing the art of the long rod, it was a banner day indeed.

river rogues

Thx fellas, it was a great trip!

anticipation

2011-10-22T15:32:00.000-06:00

throwin the meat tomorrow

awesomeness: trail critters

2011-10-15T12:01:00.000-06:00

Tackled the Tour de Foothills recently- at 23 miles that's a whew.

Seems the cooler weather has our high desert critters on the move.

Trail critters? Awesome

this was no accident

2011-10-10T20:42:00.000-06:00

It's a dangerous world out there- always wear your helmet!

HT: just about everyone on the internets, Mrs Wulff, mtbr.com

good morning!

2011-10-09T07:20:00.001-06:00

courtesy those good folks at Gold Street Cafe

please do not feed me

2011-10-08T17:04:00.001-06:00

collar tag on house dog at La Cumbre brewery.

resplendence

2011-10-04T18:38:00.000-06:00

Much has been written to celebrate the notion of Home Waters.

Their reliability, their familiarity.

Their ability to welcome one, well, home.

This water I Know, like no other.

I know her faces- Spring, Summer, Fall.

I know her siblings, her children.

I know her moods- Impatience, in the mad rush of spring. Generosity, in the verdant days of summer.

In autumn- Resplendence.

Sunday, as I most often do with each passing of the high country season, I paid my respects. And once again, sated with the day's fishing, I found myself strolling over familiar ground, fly firmly hooked to keeper.

Awash in the sensations of autumn in the high country.

Until we meet again.

autumn gold

2011-10-03T07:28:00.003-06:00

yet another reason to love Fall in the high country

awesomness: mtb club

2011-09-29T21:29:00.000-06:00

NM Junior Mountain Biking Club

Middle school has opened a whole 'nother world for my best girl.

There's band for our budding flautist. And cross country.

And NM's only middle school mountain biking club.

Many smiles this day.

Those kids left the parking lot, strangers.

And returned as riding buddies.

That's Awesomeness right there.

nothing to see here

2011-09-28T07:14:00.000-06:00

This guy cracked me up on last night's ride:

Slithered off the trail just far enough to hide his head in the grass- 'nothing to see here bosssss'!

rejuvination

2011-09-20T06:48:00.001-06:00

Seems Fall season has swept us up these days. Saturdays have been dedicated to soccer, more soccer, and college football. With the summer heat wave broken, Sundays lately have been mostly lazy affairs, catching up on yard work, enjoying the perfect weather.

Still, I've been riding local to keep my hand in. Been spinning around our Sandia foothills trails while the kids are at soccer practice, it's been a while since I last road those trails with regularity.

Remember this?

Add a bit of water, you get this:

From of Dry Flies & Fat Tires...

Our monsoons have been kind to us this year.

dream trip

2011-09-18T08:54:00.000-06:00

Float plane + Chilcotin backcountry + mtb + fishing + grizzlies + wildflowers =

the stuff dreams are made of.

HT: feedthehabit.com

in the big house

2011-09-10T22:18:00.001-06:00

with apologies to those notre dame fans out there.

doing it wrong

2011-09-08T20:47:00.002-06:00

Found yet more evidence I've been doing it wrong:
Hat tip: those good folks at mtbr.com

DAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNY!

good morning!

2011-09-06T04:00:00.000-06:00

Courtesy of Starry Night Espresso Cafe, Fort Collins CO.

Now back to the salt mines everyone!

rhymes with not my idea

2011-09-05T12:47:00.001-06:00

symphony

2011-09-04T15:37:00.001-06:00

Equinox Brewery

KBBB Bitter
Remi's Saison IPA
Jonas Porter

CooperSmith's:

Sitzmen's Steam
Mountain Avenue Wheat
Bourbon Barrel Stout

horsetooth mountain park

2011-09-04T13:59:00.001-06:00

must... stop. (gasp).... take.... (wheeze) pikcher.

high life

2011-09-03T18:41:00.001-06:00

take me to the river

2011-09-01T21:33:00.000-06:00

Wulffpack is heading out this weekend, pointing the truck north. Next stop, Loveland, CO and a lil visit with the extended pack Alphas. Packing the fly gear, one mtb, and swimming trunks.

No agenda set, just gonna see what unfolds.

Maybe a hike + fish in RMNP? Or front range singletrack? Maybe that Tour de Fat in Ft Collins. Heard they have some kinda brewery up there.

Anyhoo, hope this finds you all out laying down tread or chasin fins of your own.

Oh and just a lil something to get you ready for the weekend-

you're welcome ;-)

places such as this

2011-08-31T03:00:00.000-06:00

The ancients wrote of the three ages of men; I propose to write of the three ages of fishermen. When he wants to catch all the fish he can. When he strives to catch the largest fish. When he studies to catch the most difficult fish he can find, requiring the greatest skill and most refined tackle, caring more for the sport than the fish.. ~ Edward R Hewitt

If it is a well known fact fly anglers progress in such a predictable manner, less is understood, I think, about our evolution beyond the catching.

In my mind, there is a Fourth Age of fly fishing, a stage in which I have been enamored for some time.

Beyond catching great numbers, or measuring length x girth, or even finally, finally! sticking that one obstinate riser, lies the fourth stage- the Experience.

Experience these years increasingly defined by the effort invested, by the remoteness of venue, by the quality of vista, the purity of air, the clarity of waters.

And last, by the rarity of that pursued.

Admittedly, I have spent much of my time here in NM seeking out those places beyond the beaten path, relishing the heady sensation that is the untrammeled high country.

Still, in many respects I remain no great angler, no headhunter to be feared by our finny friends. In fact, I suspect my skills with the rod and reel may well have already peaked.

Oh yes there remains many a fish I will not catch, can not catch, big fish among them. Curiously, a fact that might have driven me to fish dawn to dusk at one time, honing my skills as an angler, now seems.... trivial.

Fly fishing blasphemy? I guess that might be true. More likely it's that Fourth Age.

Saturday, on the drive home, with two sleepyheads in the back seat, I mulled around a revelation of sorts.

If much of the fly fishing in my adult life has been spent in my own quixotic search for the Experience, there has been a distinct, unmistakeable transition these last few years.

The desire to pay the Experience forward.

On to my next generation of anglers.

A Fifth Age perhaps?

Of that I have no doubt.

cutthroat wrangler

2011-08-30T03:00:00.000-06:00

high country angler

2011-08-28T22:40:00.000-06:00

disciples of dirt

2011-08-21T19:35:00.001-06:00

Yeah, fishing plans were displaced this weekend, whatchagonnado.

So this Dad broke the glass on Plan B.

Time to put all those recent field explorations to good use.

You know the feeling- you find that one serene fishing pool, that one buff mtb trail.

And you file the moment away to share with someone special.

Not with just anyone mind you.

Oh no, we're talking the top One-Percenters here. ;-)

In this case, fellow disciples of dirt.

Love those guys.

I surely do.

Special thanks to StageWest for sharing recent trail beta allowing me to pay it forward to the next generation of riders.

note to self

2011-08-20T10:13:00.001-06:00

nuf said.

EDIT: Well that dint go as planned, temporarily derailed by the capriciousness that is young children.

Rule #1 of blogging- do not, do not EVER, blog about an intended trip, as that will most assuredly draw the gaze of the Fates of Flyfishing, and rewrite your script before it begins.

See you all on the mountain biking trails this weekend! ;-)

singletracks! armijo-faulty trail

2011-08-17T20:07:00.025-06:00

If 18 miles of Otero/David proves a reliable means of laying this rider out, there are other local options to accomplish the same goal, and save some time in the process.

Take Faulty Trail for example.

Faulty has long been the benchmark by which I judge my peak fitness each season. For this mortal rider, it consistently proves a grueling uphill climb from the lower trailhead, up the six miles to the trail's highpoint above the intersection of Bill Spring Trail. In my minds eye, I count at least 3 considerable hikabikes, not to mention the countless smaller I'll-just-stop-here-and-take-in-the-view, you-know-for-the-blog's-sake breathers.

But after six-plus miles of grinding uphill, that downhill back to the truck? Priceless.

You can imagine my ~~dismay~~ ~~no relief~~ yeah dismay earlier this summer, to arrive at the lower trailhead, and find this:

Turns out a few bad apples will spoil the barrel every time.

The lowest access to Faulty for mountain bikers (outside of designated Wilderness) has required a trip up Cole Springs Road, which as it turns out, is a private road. Over the years, the landowners have dealt with increasing amounts of trash, parking issues, gate blockages, and unruly traffic, I guess enough to finally pull the plug on access back in July. By my count, mountain bikers have lost a good 2 miles of prime East Mountain singletrack.

Bummer that, for both me and you.

So I found myself casting about for a new lower access to Faulty, hopefully one that added some miles back to those recently lost.

Looks like I found what I was looking for in Armijo trail. Armijo begins with a ripping half-mile descent over a series of graded switchbacks. I was not more than a quarter of the way down when I nearly ran into this guy lounging on the trail.

Only my third quality sighting of bobcat in my life- most are just blurred streaks leaving me wondering if that was indeed what I just witnessed. This guy spent our 3 minutes together trying to blend back into the hillside, moving only the exact amount backwards to match my every advance.

Armijo showed a moderate grade on its climb to Faulty, saving its punishment for that last half mile prior to the intersection. Faulty from there on out is as you remember it. Chunky, rooty, ledgy, swoopy all in one. Most times in mixed ponderosa-pinon forest, at times dense when you plunge down into drainages.

And steep! So bring your spare set of lungs, and leave your bandy legs at home. Faulty will assuredly extract its pound of flesh. But leave you grinning nonetheless.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;This site does not support embedded trip maps. View the trip &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href='http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1270165'&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;here&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; instead.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

notes from the field

2011-08-09T19:27:00.006-06:00

Spent some more time exploring Otero-David canyon this weekend.

greening back up!

Strung together an 18-mile loop despite a most excellent 16-mile gps track from Stagewest. For the uninitiated, it's waaaay too easy to get lost out there.

siesta at mile 9

Which proved a big, big ride for this hombre, what with most all the technical stuff showing up at the tail-end of the loop. Thx for that SW, I owe you one my friend! No really, I OWE you one. ;-)

fuel for the two wheel drive

Sheared the front valve stem off at mile 14, promptly suffered fleeting panic at the thought of my camelbak empty with no spare tube. Frantic search, yes!, my spare remained stowed safely away this past year or more, just waiting to be called to duty. Thank dog!

fortune smiles on the prepared

Made it back to the truck, camelbak drained, after 4.5 hours in the field.

temps into mid 90's, luving the ponderosa canopy

Sank deep into the front seat, A/C blasting, totally and absolutely smoked.

Back in town my refueling and refitting went something like this:

Keva Juice, small, with kevajizer
Purchase replacement tube, thornproof, slimefilled, promptly stowed away for next emergency
nectarine, perfectly ripe
banana, slightly bruised
rice bowl complete with stir fried veggies, BBQ chicken.
nap

2 hours later:

three pieces Pizza 9, delux
bowl of apple crisp cobbler
family movie night and to bed by 9

Man that was fun!

fool in the rain

2011-08-01T20:44:00.009-06:00

I think in the back of my mind I meant to do it. I mean what else can explain setting out for 3-4 hour bike ride at 11.30am at the height of New Mexico's monsoon season, spanning the peak time for thunderstorms? In the Manzanitas surrounding Otero Canyon no less.

scared the bejeebers out of me

Foolish, I know. I mean I knew the risks- most notably, lightning aside, the trails become virtual adobe tar pits when soaked, rendering riding beyond useless, and destructive to boot. So what explains my lapse in judgment?

two bucks and doe

We have been so starved for rain round these parts, I guess I wanted to get up there where our local storms are often born, listen to their boomers echoing off the canyon walls, and just experience a full-on spectacular 4D rain event.

Let's call it temporary drought insanity.

Diagnosis notwithstanding, Sunday afternoon there was tread to lay down. Over hard-packed dirt.

chunky

Recent rains coupled with trail closures just lifted left some sections groomed just like a garden path, simply inviting exploration. Invitation accepted!

adobe ribbon

An afternoon full of climbing, I'm finally on the downward swing, bombing down into Otero proper. The forest rushes by my handlebars, a blur as I focus on executing small drops, jumps, banks at speed. At 4 miles to go, it begins as a welcome sprinkle, followed soon enough by a growing rumbling and an occasional strobe out of the corner of the eye.

and so it begins

3 miles, and I'm watching the tread darken ahead of me thru heavy drops, I find I'm in that magical moment where the trail turns to hero dirt, the tackiness just perfect for increased grip and speed.

2 miles, the ridges to either side have disappeared into the gathering storm. Rain is falling steadily, the rocks and trail now beginning to glisten, signalling the fun is near done- mud is nigh upon thee!

Fairly soaked already, I pull up under a protective canopy to stash the phone and gps deep within my pack. I take a moment to take in the view of what I came to witness. A dark rain shroud settles over the upper canyon, slowly rolling down and in. Lightning flashes, and thunder answers without delay. Rain is now drumming, time to get a move on!

1 mile, my treads are losing their grip, mud now flying into my face. The thickening storm is now directly at my back, it's a balls-on race to the finish.

Breathless, I fly up to the truck as all hell breaks loose. I rack the bike, stash the electronics, and turn to face that which I came to witness, to experience. Lightning cracks, rain hammers, I'm engulfed in wave upon wave of the torrential downpour.

Standing there, alone in an empy lot, a fool in the rain. It's a glorious moment.

the rest of the story

2011-07-28T18:45:00.005-06:00

Well I would be remiss if I did not fill you guys in on the rest of the story. Let me just say not every trip can be that bed of roses we all envision in the planning. Last weekend proved that adage true enuf.

queue Ralphie in the Christmas Story: insert 'oooh fuuuuudge' caption here

Too lazy to pack everything for our trip the night before, I just told myself I'd finish packing in the morning, let the boy sleep in a bit while getting that done. So the morning of, I'm up, all bleary eyed and stumbing around in the dark. I'm 'clever' enuf to remember to double-check that I indeed put away all my primo fly gear taken on the Fourth of July backpack trip. I feel thru the backpack in the dark (out on the back porch) check all the pockets for the tell tale signs of my favorite high country fly boxes, nippers, dessicant, hemos- not there, schweet. That can only mean I put that all back in the gear bag out in the garage right? sure!

So we're packing the daypack at the trailhead, some hours later and miles upon miles from home, I'm digging around in the gear bag and just not finding those fly fishing essentials needed for the day. Dam! Left next to the backpack on back porch. So I'm left scrambling to assemble a meager supply of secondhand flies from Mrs Wulff's box (boy I really need to stock her back up!), and those broken hemos, played-out dessicant, old tippet spools we all seem to collect for just such emergencies.

Not a good start for the day, I'm sure you all can empathize.

We finally boot up, get ready to hit the trail, realize I left my wide-brimmed hat in the other fishmobile. Back at home. My lucky hat, not cool dude.

Moving on, we check the trail register, find that two over-zealous anglers have headed up the river before us. At 7am. Most likely will have strip-mined the entire stream ahead of us. Guess we'll have to hoof it a bit, maybe get lucky and cut the river up above the competition. That might give my boy a sporting chance.

Mid morning finds the boy and I two miles up the trail. Lightning strikes in the form of 'wait a minute buddy, did you see me pack my waders?' You guessed it, back in the car. Two miles back down the trail. Guess I'll just wet wade today, that liquid snow can't be all that cold now can it?

We finally cut the stream at our jumping off point, I'm rigging rods while the boy digs out his waders. Ummm, Dad, these aren't my waders, I have the brown ones. Yep, you guessed it, I packed my girl's waders. Of course I did. The boy had to fish in borrowed waders all day long.

Me? My teeth were chattering most all the day, especially given that 4-hour Tboomer that started not an hour into our fishing. Don't forget my feet wore all to hell shifting around in wading boots too big without the neoprene booties.

Insult, meet Injury: we're finally packing it out at the end of a very long day, I'm finally dried-out and warmed up for the first time in like 6 hours. One more stream crossing, I'm already imagining sitting down to big post-fishing burger dinner. If not for that dam rock, which rolls underfoot, I plunge sideways straight into the drink.

In like six inches of water.

Enuf to soak me head to toe, bruise a hip, render a limp and shred more than a good amount of pride. As a wise man once said- Mother trucker!

Well, back home I'm grinning as I write this: A Trip To Be Remembered.

On the flipside, my boy caught some fish- can honestly say 'twas worth the coin paid.

awesomeness: little big man

2011-07-27T19:47:00.001-06:00

Spent a hard day on the water with my best bud last weekend.

Oh a few fish were caught allright. But they were hard won, each and every one.

My day's shining moment: my boy wading into the run, casting what must have been 20 times before he finally got the distance and aim to work out enuf to cover the fish rising sporadically next to the bank.

But that persistent casting eventually did the trick, sticking that final cast- the fish turning, leaving his lie to run that fly down like a kid after the ice cream truck. Fish On!

Good work little man, that's how you get it done right there.

ten and two

2011-07-23T18:08:00.003-06:00

La familia arrived back from an extended visit in the Great State of Michigan, Team Roughrider's ancestral fishing grounds. While there, Grandad helped the kids build their new rods- schweet lil 4wts with custom marbled epoxy guide wraps. marbled? seems all the hip kids are doin it these days :-) I matched the gifts with a new Okuma reel and line for the boy's birthday.

We spent some time practicing ten-and-two in our casting pond out back. The boy was nailing soccer ball trout before you knew it.

With the return of NM's monsoons, the national forests are opening back up, thank dog. Got a lil trip planned for tomorrow to celebrate. Wooot!

rain

2011-07-20T19:07:00.003-06:00

It rained over la casa de Roughrider this evening, thank Dog. The kids celebrated by splashing in the gutter, stopping now and again to turn their faces up to the sky, letting the shower soak them to the bone, washing that drought away.

looks like our monsoons have finally arrived

Mrs Wulff and I celebrated with a margarita on the back porch, enjoying the cool breezes and earthy aromas that lingered afterwards.

Such is life in the high desert.

Nice to have it back.

bling

2011-07-17T20:19:00.001-06:00

and lots of it- congrats everyone!

Great group effort for chunky monkey 5k tonight. Ice cream @ finish- now that's my kinda race!

Happy birthday

2011-07-16T19:59:00.001-06:00

Happy birthday lil buddy!

points north

2011-07-06T20:25:00.009-06:00

Headed to points north over the holiday weekend, what with Every. Single. National Forest in NM closed to recreation as our fine state remains in the midst of NM's driest period, in recorded history. Say it with me, Yuck. So I was anxious to see how La Nina, la hermana mala round these parts, has been treating our good neighbors in Colorado. I hear she has a different reputation up there. ;-)

So I set my sights on the Rio Grande side of the fabled Weminuche, and those high country streams that head up out of the Divide. And that's all I have to say 'bout that, as I'm sure you will understand.

My goals were simple, if many.

winged ant

doppelganger

Stage a far-ranging hike in, along a Rio Grande feeder's feeder.

Sample as much of the varied water offered, as was humanly possible along the way.

Basecamp near the high country source of the feeder's feeder.

springfed source- one of countless hundreds

double spring- cutthroat in each plunge pool

the valley of life- elk calves,snowbank springs, cutthroat headwaters

Meet some new friends.

this little guy and his sibling got 'left' behind as the herd spooked on up the canyon

you lookin at me?

near one hundred head that first night

crept within 30 yards before the sentries spotted me

Make a snowball and see some fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Ascend the Divide.

check out that snow cornice!

that ridge was a bit hairy- 1000 foot plunge either side

Oh, and connect with some Rio Grande cutthroat trout in the process.

hard day at the office

trail's end

It is indeed a gorgeous world we live in, so get on out there!

there and back again

2011-07-05T20:53:00.002-06:00

Yep, survived the Great Colorado Expedition 2011. Twenty mile backpack trip into the Colorado Wilderness proved beyond expectations. Beyond words really.

While my brain contemplates how to distill into words the pure ~~Beauty~~ ~~Perfection~~ ~~Wonder~~ Awesomeness of the trip, I thought this short might give you a taste of the fly fishing out in the wild.

into the wild

2011-07-02T08:30:00.000-06:00

In keeping with our collective civic, nay patriotic, duty this here blogger is heading for the hills. In search of cool mountain breezes, cutthroat trout, hopefully a snowbank or two. Having packed my essentials- coffee, oatmeal cookies, flyrod, mtb- everything else is cake. Mmmm cake- better make one moe stop on the way outta town.

See you all on the other side~

Las Conchas Fire

2011-06-29T21:41:00.009-06:00

Las Conchas Fire, a gallery on Flickr.

A scary time in our beautiful state- feels like every mountain range is in flames right now. Sangres, Jemez, now Gila and Sacramentos.

hermosa creek schweetness

2011-06-28T21:56:00.004-06:00

upper Hermosa forks

Mountain biking? Schweet stuff.

Fly fishing? Awesomeness in and unto itself, you might say.

Mountain biking to far-flung remote areas to fly fish where few anglers have gone before?

Boom!, that's Hermosa Creek schweetness right there.

Two paths diverged in the woods. And I? I biked one, fished the other

I was so geeked at the prospect of finally getting Hermosa Creek Trail done right, I found myself pulling into the shuttle pickup a good half-hour early. You know, to check over my gear and bike yet again, never mind that I had just done the same back at camp, like 30 minutes ago.

Camelbak, check. Lunch, shotblocks, check. Map, gps, matches, check. Socks, gloves, helmet, mtb shoes, check. Flyrod, reel, flybox x2, nippers, hemos, floatant, tippet, check, check, check! Oh man, this is gonna be great!

best $25 spent all weekend

Nick and Lisa with Hermosa Tours were running our shuttle up the mountain for the day. Lisa actually had two of our group (coupla Las Cruces young guys in matching team jerseys) as sports for the day. Our shuttle rep'd another NM contingent from Fanta Se, plus a nice younger couple from the Front Range. Jason from Cali was the only single rider other than yours truly, every part the veteran with a schweet downhill rig and one of those decked-out Mercedes surf-and-bike touring vans.

obligatory bike shot

Nick and Lisa drop us off on a ridge above Purgatory ski resort, everyone promptly flies off down the dirt road hellbent for the trailhead some 5 miles away. Me, I'm still cinching fly rod, reel, fishing hat to my camelbak.

I swing a leg over, catch up to Lisa and her bookends in short order, pass the front range couple, man theYeti can fly on the downhill! I settle in behind Lisa + sports until we reach the trailhead then let them peel off down the trail looking for all the world like the devil himself was after them.

beautiful, no?

I give them some space, mosey across the East Fork, get to crankin myself. I settle in a bit to get a feel for the trail, bike and weighted pack. Before you know it I'm kickin it after my fashion, nothing that would impress most anyone else mind you, but I can just tell I'm in my groove today. Oh man it felt nice- really, really nice you know?

One of the unique aspects of Hermosa is the extended downhill nature of the trail. She runs a good 20 miles from upper to lower trailheads (the only vehicle-access points), dropping from 9,400' down to round 7,000' in the process. That means downhill fun, no matter how you do the math!

waterfall/avalanche chute

So I continue bombing down the trail, soaking in the smaller jumps and berms, just enjoying the ride on this renowned trail. It's a solid 3 miles from the TH before I really start the sidelong glances at the shimmering, crystal clear watercourse running alongside the trail. I pull over occasionally to savor the moment, the day!, snap a quick pic. Not yet, man, not yet, the rod stays stowed.

more gorgeousness

It's two more miles of tread before I finally find that unforgettable stretch I've been looking for, and give in to the growing urge. I stash the Yeti streamside, assemble the 4wt, tie a Root Beer Float onto the business end and step onto that huge boulder backing the glory pool before me. I take a moment to count targets, there's at least six fish within casting range, a couple really worth writing home about. In goes the pitch, and just like that I'm counting coup on my first trout of the day.

Awesome.

I'm telling ya the Hermosa down in the depths of that canyon is like that. A fish behind every rock, in every eddy, in every run and pocket. Beyond five miles in, there are no hikers, no runners, and exactly zero Texas Wheelchairs. Just bikers and the occasional moto. And while I'm not one to normally kiss and tell, you make it down there and back out, son you've earned the right to carry a rod with you and enjoy more of the same.

mostly bows, with brooks, cutts, cuttbows mixed in

Hermosa? With exactly two access points separated by 20 miles, it's not goin anywhere.

Back at the flyshop, the counter guy was calling that the 1% rule: you know friend, 99% of the fly anglers are not mountain bikers; 99% of the bikers don't tote a fly rod along. That trip is made for the 1%.

Gotta love it.

heavenly pairing

lower Hermosa canyon

Epilogue:

your ticket to happiness

What they don't tell you in the trail reviews: 8 miles road + 20 miles trail + 1,900 feet of climbing on a 'downhill' trail makes for one loooong day indeed. Back at basecamp, I was beyond washed out. Thinking backonit, I make it five hours in the saddle, 3 more chasin fins. Tabulate the energy food you'll need, then double it, sounds 'bout right. 100oz camelbak ran out within 1 mile of the lower TH, 24 miles in. Plan accordingly!

trail's end

designated driver

2011-06-26T18:39:00.003-06:00

Not my dog, but sure wish it were so. Fetching beer outta the fridge? pfffft, lemme drive you home, Master.

I found this Durango local patiently awaiting his human to exit Steamworks. Apparently, Steamworks does not yet serve dogkind- hey cmon now, what kinda mountain town is that?!

decisions, decisions

hefeweisen won out

as did fish tacos: highly recommended

I ask you- heaven on earth?

Still in DGO as I post this, more on this weekend's mountain-biking-fishapalooza later this week~

dawn patrol

2011-06-24T07:35:00.003-06:00

training ride- will be exploring Durango singletrack this weekend.

father's day goodness 2011

2011-06-21T20:34:00.004-06:00

In the vein of taking care of the Big Things in life while letting the little things take care of themselves, we present 72 hours best retold storyboard style. Thx for hiking along!

pacheco canyon fire

2011-06-19T19:07:00.000-06:00

Another fire erupts, closer to home: maybe 15 miles NE of Santa Fe, looks like in the area of Winsor Trail.

Very scary, as this thing simply blew up today.

Please be careful out there everyone.

And pray for rain.

yah mule!

2011-06-16T22:02:00.000-06:00

Cramming forty pounds in a thirty-pound pack, yeesh.

happy father's day Dads!

Forecast calls for a great weekend!

daddy needs a new pair of shoes

2011-06-14T21:02:00.001-06:00

Off topic for a moment, sportsfans.

so long old friends

I shop for new shoes or boots so seldom, that it's become somewhat of an event round here. AKA Whoooa, get a look at Mr Fancypants, sporting his new go-to-meetin shoes! Doesn't he look niiIIIice~

Or somesuch from Mrs Wulff, sheesh. (Good thing for her, she has a father who builds fly rods is all I can say.)

But I kid Sweetheart!

He has a coupla boats too. ;-)

Ahem. Back to my case in point: I'm out backpacking with the boy, suffering thru yet another blister !fiesta!, I finally get so fed up with my current set of hiking boots, I decide right then and there to get a new pair.

That was Spring. 2010.

This winter I vowed 2011's hiking season would be different, I would no longer ~~cry like a little girl~~ suffer stoically on the trail in boots older than my oldest child. (She's 11, BTW.)

So true to form, I shoehorn the ole LL Bean clodstompers on for this season's high country opener, fish them all day, up canyon and down, put maybe 8 miles in for the day. We're not but a mile into our hike back out and I'm dyin. We make it back to the truck, and I'm slowly slipping into rigor mortis even as we head down the mountain toward hearth and home.

Jeez, there's gotta be a better way- ya think?

So I'm back home, start casting about the outdoor stores, settle on a coupla mid-duty boots: Keen Oregon PCT and Vasque Taku.

Now I remain no expert, and admittedly my search was nowhere near exhaustive. But after walking around in both pairs for the better part of an hour here at home, I'm prepared to announce my decision.

Ladies and gentlemen, would you please put your hands together a give a warm welcome to Team Roughrider's newest members...

The Vasque Taku!

No, wait, maybe those Keens after all. Hmmm...yeah. Wait, no. Yeah, Taku, definitely the Takus. Taku!

I think. Hon, do these boots make me look fat? Wait, nevermind!

FWIW:

I luv the look of the Keens. And they are a bit more comfortable than the Vasque, right out of the box. They're also a bit wider in the midsole.

However, the Takus sport a better waterproof membrane (gortex vs Keen), are a good deal cooler (breathe better I believe). They are a bit more torpedo-shaped than the wider Keens (Keens sport a sole a good inch wider at the ball of your feet). The Takus have a nice heel-to-toe rocking motion built into the last where the Keens feel more flat footed. Overall the Takus feel a good deal more sprightly, even if just a bit heavier on the scale, leaving the Keens feeling a bit more plodding, almost like snowboots in comparison.

So for day hiking up the trail, I feel the sprightliness of the Takus would serve me well, the proven gortex membrane should not disappoint come postholing, monsoons, wet wading. Backpacking however, I'm left wondering if the increased tread area of the Keens might better support the ponderous weight they'd be subjected to. Meaning the weight of the backpack you guys!

Who knows, right? We shall see soon enuf: backpacking this Father's day weekend with the whole fam damily, should have a better read on my decision come Monday.

Get on out there! mjh

native

2011-06-11T21:20:00.007-06:00

Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout.

The last fish brought to hand this day.

Awesome.

showin the love

2011-06-09T07:34:00.005-06:00

TRCP's Native Trout Adventures is showin the luv for NM's high country and our Rio Grande cutthroat trout this week.

Looks like our fine state also lived up to the ole adage- nothing worthwhile ever comes easy.

Love fishing that high country!

lipstick

2011-06-07T22:33:00.007-06:00

Been using the ole basic black template since our inception here at Dry Flies + Fat Tires, thought I might finally slap some lipstick on this here pig.

Oh you're welcome, we're Givers like that round here ;-)

Let me know what you guys think~ yay? or nay?- I put a new sidebar poll up to record that thought, or you can drop a line into the comments below.

I know, I know- just where does The Giving end? ;-)

thx for riding along everyone!

smoked brisket

2011-06-06T21:18:00.002-06:00

Like baking in a slow roast smoker around here.

HT: mtbr.com

Sky is all rosey-yellow, sun's a red ball, there's even a bit of fine ash falling.

Stinging eyes, raw throats, swamp coolers offline.

Streetlights came on like 2 hours early this evening, kids are a bit unsettled.

And the Wallow Fire is some 200miles away.

Weird, I mean really End-Of-Days kinda weird.

HT: OurAmazingPlanet

high country opener 2011

2011-06-05T19:41:00.007-06:00

image courtesy of David @ BCFN, thx David!

For this year's High Country Opener, I opted for some smaller water, a scoch off the beaten path. So much so, as a matter of record, that it's a bit of a wonder we made it back in one piece.

backcountry angler in his element

Considering the trackless wilderness, deadfall-choked canyon, mountain goat scrambling, I for one, was lucky to have come out of it relatively cheaply: one fly box, small, lost to The Oblivion, one noticeable limp in my gait this day.

But those cutthroats! now, worth every ounce of blood (literally), sweat (liberally), tears (figuratively) invested in the adventure.

unsuspecting quarry

Backstory:

With the high country opening up, David @ BCFN asked if I would be up for a trip, graciously allowing me to pick the venue. Pressure on, and knowing a fellow cutthroat enthusiast in David, I offered some rather untrammeled water, water in need of better exploration and documentation.

Purely for Science, you understand. ;-)

Our venue: a remote assemblage of some of the greenest acreage the great state of New Mexico has to offer. As for the water- a mixture of lush mountain meadows and rugged canyons both, most all of it sheltering colorful Rio Grande Cutthroats sporting the most buttery-golden hue.

God's country

There's gold in them thar hills!

In the am, we spent a good amount of time sampling one of the area's countless feeder streams, mostly unproductive, but offering beautiful vistas of shining mountain meadows around every bend. A bit discouraged by the lack of fishy cooperation, we set our sights down canyon, into The Wild.

An hour's scramble over deadfalls, around rockpiles, through thickets, rattlesnake dens, landmine fields, broken glass, and finally, legions of TSA screeners, (alright I may have made that last part up) we finally cast our eyes on the prize, running clear and cold.

With Grade A Prime Rio Grande Cutthroats finning in every pool. (not made up) ;-]

David proved a backcountry angler of the most experienced sort, making short work of the catching. And in the marveling in the day such as this.

the stalk

How lucky we, to sample some of the finest riches on this good earth!

Thanks David, twas a fine opener indeed.

You can catch David's writeup on our trip at BCFN in the next coupla days, give it a read, he runs a fine blog over there!

Cutthroat fishing god's green acres? Pretty schweet.

Elk calf 'hiding' out within a 4wt's distance? Awesome.

What a great trip.

Good morning!

2011-06-05T09:23:00.004-06:00

brought to you by those fine folks at The Grove.

represent

2011-05-31T20:08:00.005-06:00

current and reigning champion, Bolder Boulder 2011

Well, when I meant the boys crushed the course at Boulder Boulder, we had no idea to what extent. Checking the results, we had to double take on our boy's results.

Looks like Will the Thrill managed to take First Place in his age group.

At one of the premier 10K venues in the country.

In his first 10K race, evah!

Join with us in a moment of stunned silence contemplating the magnitude of his accomplishment....

Then lift your mugs of Root Beer, one and all, and lend Will a hearty congratulations on such a stellar performance!

Huzzah, Huzzah, Huzzah lil buddy!

man that boy can run!

Incredible I know! Will ran with his bigger cuz (standout athlete in his own right) yet Will alternately kept pace and set pace the whole race, to hear them tell it.

Truth be told, we knew the boy could be competitive, as he's taken 1st on a number of occasions in the local 5k's we run. But man!, BB seems to be competition on a whole 'nother level, tell you what.

Still, what absolutely blows our minds around here, is Mrs Wulff's subsequent research into BB course records. Look where the boy's 49.23 time places him in the All Time rankings. Looking like the BB folks are gonna have to update their listing- you have got to be kidding me!

Wooot woot!

Good work son, we are very proud of you!

karma

2011-05-31T06:22:00.002-06:00

Hat Tip: Sports Illustrated, OSU's Eleven Warriors

I'm a firm believer in karma- sometimes it just takes a while for the wheel to come full circle.

bolder boulder 2011

2011-05-30T15:08:00.000-06:00

ready, set, go!

old glory enters in style

For this year's Bolder Boulder Team Roughrider expanded our roster, ~~suckering-in~~ inviting my brother's family along, in keeping with that old adage misery loves company.

Roughriders- ABQ and Denver clans

schwag

The kids all ran their first 10K ever, posting respectable times one and all, the boys taking up the challenge and absolutely crushing the course. Good work everyone!

beautiful venue

What a fun way to get on out there!

60,000 participants

flatirons- what a great town!

Apex Trail

2011-05-29T14:58:00.005-06:00

Apex trail offered equal parts big ring misery and downhill elation this AM.

2700ft of climbing in 3 hours.

I need a nap~

Red Rocks

2011-05-29T06:59:00.003-06:00

Group ride around Red Rocks Park in the foothills outside of Denver.

First climb was a killer (has there been any other kind this spring?!)

The beginners in our group had a ball trading ear-to-ear grins on each successive downhill run.

Red Rocks: what a great loop for new and old hands alike!

apparently, I've been doing it wrong

2011-05-22T07:10:00.001-06:00

found more evidence I've been doing it wrong ;-]

moab2.0 from shelby meinkey on Vimeo.
HT: mtbr.com

These guys know how to Commit with capital C~

tanning elk hide with brains

2011-05-19T19:49:00.002-06:00

submitted without comment~

allright, can't resist- with whose brains, exactly? ;-)

stoke

2011-05-17T19:43:00.006-06:00

What with runoff once again just starting to churn in the Rocky Mountain West, May has traditionally been a mountain bike month here for the Dry Flies & Fat Tires crew. This year's been no exception, lack of local snowpack notwithstanding.

To better balance May's mtb Yin with some fly fishing Yang, you might think a guy could try his hand at stillwater fishing. But if you're much like me, anything short of tearing it up on a lake makes for tedious, even boring fishing.

Bleh, amirite?

Oh yes, I remain an unabashed moving water kinda guy, seems my own circadian rhythm rises and falls with the coursing of my favorite streams. No apologies, no retreat, never surrender. ;-)

So while I'm out laying down tracks this month, I thought I could appease the Dry Flies fanbase out there (hi Mom!) and break the glass on the emergency fly fishing StoKometer.

From April's snowy trip up on the Ark- Salida, CO: release the hounds!

weird, huh?

Xterra/laundromat

snowcamp

worthy adversary

frosty morn

emergency fly-tying field station

smorgasbord

my favorite- on cell phone no less!

falling in love all over again

2011-05-14T21:12:00.002-06:00

Managed to hit the slopes between soccer games today.

Judging from the empty TH at Tunnel this afternoon, I'd guess most of my fellow mtb enthusiasts have already moved onto the higher climes of the Sandias or Sangres. Or unlike mad dogs, Englishmen, soccer dads, they know how to get out of the midday heat.

As for myself, what with caddis fishing and roadtripping, I'm just now getting around to rekindling the passion for that schweet, schweet singletrack of Otero Canyon, after a long winter season away.

Today's ride started out more like a backstreet brawl than love affair, with those climbs on Tunnel and Otero working me over as payback for my lack of attentiveness.

switchback breather

Once topped out however, I was pleasantly surprised by that reroute the National Forest folks put in to switchback your way back down into Otero proper, adding maybe 1/2 mile to the descent. The new route's still a bit loose, in a few weeks it should be bedded in, and FAST.

Nice improvement, in my book.

And barreling down Otero and Tunnel with absolutely zero opposing traffic to hinder your descent?

Pure, undistilled awesomeness.

fresh cut singletrack, yum

On a sidenote, they're already starting to close nearby forests here in NM due to the crispy dry conditions. We ABQ riders better make the most of it before we lose our best local riding, and with the season just getting started! :-[

keep the rubber side down, mis amigos~

mjh

good morning!

2011-05-14T08:04:00.004-06:00

Perfect latte, aahhhhh. Gonna be a great day!

DGO mtb

2011-05-10T18:07:00.007-06:00

mountain biking the urban edge on the way up to Fort Lewis College

As you might have guessed, we had a blast in DGO over the weekend. Things worked out well enuf on both soccer and mtb fronts, so a guy couldn't ask for more from that road trip lemmetellya.

Saturday's menu: Horse Gulch-Telegraph Trail-Crites-Sidewinder-Anasazi-Stacy's-Meadow, on up to Fort Lewis College.

heading down Crites

Crites Connect was a new trail for me this goround: schweet mix of flowy, swoopy, sometimes chunky singletrack all in one. With all the changeups, you gotta keep yer wits about you if you want to stay connected to your steed.

Fun!


highway to heaven

You make a bit of a compromise coming down Crites to then ascend Sidewinder. I've found Sidewinder proves most generous on the down, the ear to ear grins never seem to let up.

sidewinder vista eastwards towards pagosa springs

Sidewinder on the up, tame enuf. That is until you get to the backside of Telegraph Ridge, ugggh. What a killer hikeabike! Note to self: take Sidewinder down here on out!

Anasazi's end with Horse Gulch in foreground, snow-capped san juans beyond

Telegraph topped once again, Anasazi awaits! Always a thrill to be riding that knife's edge between screaming descent and an OTB ejection. ;-)

met a new friend on the trail

Which leaves just Raider Ridge on my list of yet-to-be sampled in the Horse/Telegraph network- gettin there! Explored access to Raider's a bit, no way I could've gotten it done at the end of my ride, looks like I'll have to put that one off til next time.

Soo many trails soo little time- better put Durango on your list!