Sunday, July 31, 2005

Today I woke up and drove to lake Dilllon(just on the other side of Vail Pass) to get paid to drive a 25ft party boat for a company retreat who is staying at Sonnenalp hotel. The group is called DTS and there all out from Kansas City, who are making me a lot of money. After a fun day at work I went to Copper Mountain to pick up a special part for my bike from my buddy Kashi. After I got home Len, Jeff and I went out to dinner at La Cantina. After we finished dinner Tasha had passed out under my chair in a deep sleep.

Saturday, July 30, 2005

FINALLY FINISHED BEATING LAST YEARS TIME BY ALMOST 2 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The most undescripable race ever has been finished for the second year in a row. All the respect go to my buddy Jeff Lapp. Who came from NewYork six days before the race to complete a huge personal victory. Jeff had a bad crash at the beginning of the race at mile marker 20. He is ok now, but will not be biking within the next few days. That following night I was so tired, I'd passed out on the family room floor with ice packs all over my body.
Me after the race trying to get warm again
Jeff finally finishing up the long ride at 12hr 40min 40sec
Jeff finally finished the Race, but suffered serious leg craps and needed immediate medical attention.

Friday, July 29, 2005

Jeff and I doing a light spin on our bikes to make sure everthing is dialed in for the big day! Tomorrow will be the test of the elite in the Vail Valley.
Jeff getting his mid-day rest the day before the Ultra.
After I got out of work today Jeff and I went to Frisco and met Jeremy and Eric to play disc golf. This picture below is of some random guy climbing a tree to retrieve his disc that he got stuck up there. I just thought it was so funny, I had to take a pic. Before Jeff and I played disc we had to pickup Black Dog, our favorite coffee in the world from a local shop in Frisco. Then we went to my two favorite bike shops in Silverthorne to buy some last minute items for the Ultra 100.
Me throwing like a poser
Jeremy winding up for a driving on the back 9
Eric throwing in a par on 18, ending with 5 up
Tasha drinking some water after walking a 18 hole with us.
Jeff taking a picture in Frisco

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Today Dan, Jeff, and I met up with Gary, Shaun, and MIke at the Disc Golf course in Leadville. In the Picture below you can see my roomate Dan on the right playing disc with his left wing in a sling (nothing stops this kid!) This was the first time my friend Jeff Lapp played disc golf, and he did awsome! After playing the 18 we all had lunch in Downtown Leadville and a local HotDog stand, and I ended up spilling ketup all over Tasha by mistake. Afterwards we ended up at my favorite outdoor clothing store called Melanzana and spended some bling. After all that we ended up returning back to Vail, and I took a really nice nap. Later that evening Jeff, Elena and I went to a concert called the Young Dubliners. The concert was the last of the summer night series of Vail. Elena still had some much energy to dance, even after riding her road bike to Leadville and back!
Me and my buddy Shaun's Lil dog
My roomate Dan and Tasha playing ball
Tasha and I playing ball
Ford Amphitheater
Jeff, Elena, and I at the beginning of the concert.
Dancing to Irish Rock
Good Night!

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

On the 24th Jeff Lapp, the guy who I was named after finally flew up to Vail from NewYork to Race the Ultra with me. Jeff will be out here with me until August 12th. And all we will be doing is catching up on extreme epic bike rides together. This morning Dan and I are going to bring Jeff to Leadville to play a 18 disc hole. Then after that I think I will take Jeff to Aspen via Independence pass. Tonight we have plans to meet Elena out to a free summer concert at the Ford Amphetheater.
This is Jeff's bike after we opened it up out of the box

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Chris, Nick,Adam, and I went on a Lakota Guided Hummer Tour up in Muddy Pass after I got out of work. Lakota Guides had set up a huge dinner for us in the middle of the mountains. And at the dinner they had Live band, beer, Margaritas, and wine. During the festivities they had Hummers that would take people on tours in the mountians. Talk about a good time! This was all free to the people who worked in the hospitality industry, to promote Lakota guides business.
Nick at the Muddy Pass after party
Let's Party
The Wrecking Crew
Chris and I doing the BackCountry Disco!
Chris and I on the Hummer Tour Party at Muddy Pass.
Nick at work with me
Sonnenalp Construction

Saturday, July 16, 2005

The Gore Range
Heavens view
Hut Deck with the best View
View of Eagles Nest from Eisman Hut at 11,180 feet.

Friday, July 15, 2005

Here are some photos to sum up my activities for the past week. Work has been busy and weather becoming alittle warmer. I now have my own climbing rope so I'm not so dependent on others. My bike training is going extremely well! Ultra 100 few more weeks ahead.And Len has just got back from Finland for business and will be back in Vail next week.
Endless Single Track!
View of Vails Back Bowl off the Grand Traverse trail.
A view of Midvail Lodge from the Midvail Escape bike trail.
Jamie attempting his first 11b climb.
Little Tasha hanging out with the dogs at Homestake
Rutherfurd Leading a 11b at Homestake

Monday, July 11, 2005

Towards the end of the day as the day got cooler, Damico and I drove to Wolcott to do some bouldering. This boulder stands about 18 feet tall. My best climb rated a V2 which had a hard comitted side pull to top it off. This was my first time bouldering and it felt much different than Top Rope and Leadclimbing because you are on your own with no rope or bolts. The feeling is so fresh! Earlier today Gene and I went for a trail ride up all over the place. We ended up meeting this really cool guy who was twice Gene's age and kinda smoked him on the climb. After the climb the guy ended up being a VP for a software company and bought me some Margaritas for Lunch at his hotel he was staying at. We ended up climbing 3800ft total on our bikes today!
Damico working his bouldering skills.
Jim on his way down Cougar Ridge.
Here is a sweet view of the Gore Range from our ride up Mill Creek Road on Vail Mountain.
Gene and I at the top of Bench Mark at 11,350ft.
If you look to the right of my head you'll see the Holy Cross on the peak.

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Today after I got out of work Tasha and I went out to Edwards to teach tasha how to swim. Well all dogs know how to swim, but it was more on encouraging the dog to get into the water. After a few attempts to get the dog in the water, Tasha became a fish and swam as far as forever. Later that evening I went for another training ride towards Vail Pass on my road bike. The weather was perfect, in the lower 70's and dry as..... Today Dan tried to help me find a mysterious creaking noise coming from my rear wheel of my Mountain bike. As my bike was on the workstand, I pedaled the bike with my hands and Dan had his head buried in the rear end of my bike trying to locate the problem. Yeah, we looked like two idiots scrutinizing my Santa Cruz Blur. Problem solved!
Tasha swimming back to shore
Tasha the fish

Sunday, July 03, 2005

Today after a busy day of work Tasha and I went for a hike on Spraddle Creek, which is right behind my place. This picture was taken deep in the woods where the creek is. By the time we got back to my place it was pitch dark. I was planning on riding up with friends up Davos trail to watch the July 3rd fire works out of Beaver Creek but I was running to late. Tomorrow will be Vails Fire works and I will not miss that for anything. I'll post pictures tomorrow of Vails Fire works.