As the winter draws closer and my fall traveling comes to an end, I found myself running through the hilly, New York streets where I had grown up. This was my final trip before I settle in to Park City for the start of the season. A trip to visit my family and some of my oldest childhood friends and hopefully absorb enough urban culture to satisfy me till the next time I get back to my childhood home.
Whenever I head back to NY (about twice a year) it is always a whirl wind experience. Family, friends, and city life all call to me with a hunger I never quite realize until that first breath of city air. This trip, I had 10 days, carefully planned over two weekends. The first weekend I would head up north to visit my “best friend in the whole wide world” Tory. We would spend time at her parents house in the country, just east of Albany, cooking good meals, going for hikes,catching up, and of course, doing a bit of partying:)
Tory and I hiking around Bash Bish Falls
East Coast Fall is Spectacular!!
Yummy
The second weekend I would spend in the city, mobbing around with more of my closest friends, seeing one of my favorite musicians, going out to bars, eating good food, and soaking in all of the styles, people, smells, and sounds that I truly love.
The Brooklyn Mob
A fire glows in Brooklyn
And in between I would hang with my grandparents, mom, and Step dad, go to a Broadway musical , museums, and again…eat more good food.
Pops
Grams and Cousin Ali
While it is tempting to rattle through the entire trip I will spare you (and my typing fingers) and just share with you a couple places and experiences that I found so note worthy that you must check out the next time you have an opportunity.
So after going to Tory’s house I went down to New Paltz, Ny with my great friend and fellow freeheeler, Weston Deutchlander, who happened to be spending his summer climbing trees and making some serious dough before heading back west for the ski season. We stayed at his father’s home, which had a hiking trail right out of his front door that linked up with the Mohonk Preserve trail system. If you have never been to the Mohonk Mountain House, I strongly urge you to check it out! The hotel its self is gorgeous, but the trail system is even more exquisite, with every thing from mild gravel paths to bouldery climbs to little ladders to aid in some of the tightest crevasse style sections. No matter which route you choose there are spectacular views of the “Gunks” cliff formation and beautifully constructed gazebos and bridges. This is an East coast must weather you go there to climb, hike or just picnic.
Mountain House and surounding Preserve
From the country and after a short stay with my mom I headed into the city to see Michael Franti at Terminal 5. Now, the venue might not have been the best, but nothing could take away from Franti’s 6’6″, larger than life presence. He is a beacon of positive energy, with meaningful, soulful, and playful music that makes you want to become your best and most funky self. For those of you that have been living under a rock (and those that kow how much he rocks), click on the link bellow to check out his music and see how your soul begins to sing!
After rocking out to some great tunes I found myself marching around the city the next day solo with my head phones on. Before I had tread over 80 blocks of NYC pavement and I was ready for some good grubbing (not to mention some new kicks). Taking my friends request I stopped in to The Pump on 51st between Lexington and 3rd for a quick, cheap, and healthy bite. I must say this place was delicious! Weather you are a carnivore or a veg head, they have a multitude of tasty combinations that will surely satisfy your taste buds and leave enough cash in your pocket to head down the street to hit up one of the many shops, bars, or anything else you can think of that the city has to offer.
So, with a full belly, replenished cultural palate, and my necessity for physical beauty and adventure fulfilled, I headed home.
Might have done a little shopping...
I am now settling into the preseason, training and waiting regiment. However, the abundance that this trip has left me with will surely fuel my drive and and continue to ignite my passion and excitement, for the life I have and the one I get to travel back to.
The onset of fall is a time when I become antsy. It’s a time when my summer obsession with biking begins to battle my mind and heart’s attention and tries to hold on while my winter passion for skiing rapidly takes over. The only cure I have found for this seasonal and obsessive shift… hit the road!
There is something about being on the road that some how makes these two opposing sports at peace. Maybe it is because they both feel attended to while I ‘m behind the wheel. That, at any turn, I may hit a snowy peak or a slick rock trail and pull my bike or my skis out of my truck and begin to play. On the road anything can happen, all adventures are fair game, and my skis and my bike live harmoniously.
The past few weeks I have traveled to Moab, back to Park City, then to Golden and Boulder, CO., Then back through Park City, and then to LA.
You might have picked up on the fact that this wasn’t the most direct or logical itinerary, but then again, when you are hitting the road for the sake of adventure there is no need for rationality.
Overlooking Moab's slick rock fins to the La Sals
At any rate, My first adventure was impromptu. I was looking for something to do, I was in PC, essentially unemployed, and bored. When I expressed my antsy feelings to my good friend and rad photographer Re Wikstrom she invited me to tag along with her to Moab for her friend, Liz’s birthday weekend. Thrilled to have an excuse and a crew to travel, I jumped on the opportunity.
Bikes, Bikes, Bikes
We hit the road in Liz’s Element, which was loaded beyond with all of our bikes and camping gear and headed off to meet up with the rest of the crew who had already set up camp. We got there and instantly threw tents into place, switched out clothes, and hit the practice loop for a couple quick laps before we lost the sun to the horizon.
Shuttle
The view from Porcupine
The next morning we grabbed the 8:30am shuttle up to Hazard County and began our 20 something mile decent hitting all the infamous Moab trails. UPS, LPS, and Porcupine to name a few. It was my virgin Porcupine experience, and lucky for me Connie Misket, a long time DH pro, ever so kindly slowed her roll so that I could follow her line. Thank you Connie for spoon feeding me the best 4hrs. of my life!
The gang before the final decent
The following day we packed up camp headed over to Amasaback and started the hot (probably too late 10:45am) climb. It was a particularly painful experience for me, as I decided the night before, that when sitting around a campfire it is essential to pass around a bottle of Whiskey, unfortunately for me I was one of the two that had partaken in my declared ritual. Thus, the hour climb up the exposed slick rock left me feeling quite beaten, however no longer hungover.
The view from the top
The decent was fun; However, I got served a serious piece of humble pie while trying to hit this double drop. Note to self: when you tell your friend that you are suffering from line choice A.D.D. and you keep finding yourself in “no mans land” that is not the time to try an exceptionally technical line.
Live and learn.
Fortunately, we made it back in one piece (maybe a bit more colorful with bruises and blood, but in one piece none the less.)
I was back in PC for a few days, doing laundry, packing up my truck, and getting some life organized before I was off to Golden, CO for the premier of the Freeheel Life 2: Hippies Punx & Misfits.
The trip started early, as I was intent on getting a quick bike ride in before hitting up the premier and the Bent Gate’s Winter Welcome party at 6pm. I pulled into Golden around 3pm and thumbed threw my Mountain Biking Colorado Guide and found a great ride in the White Ranch Open Space.
I only scratched the surface of the what the trail system had to offer, but after sitting in my truck for 8hrs and downing copious amounts of Red Bull and caffeine, my cardiovascular conditioning was less than ideal. None the less the ride was great and allowed me to get a good stretch and sweat in before the nights festivities began.
I rolled into the Winter Welcome party around 5:30pm. Immediately, I transitioned into my skier self. There was Andy from BCA , Chris from Scarpa, Jax from Hestra, and Josh Madsen from Telemark Skier Magazine among many other reps from all the major players in the backcountry ski world.
The energy was a buzz and so were most of the people in attendance. Within the first hour the ski expo and the film were sold out, leaving a few late comers vying for entry. Alas, the place was packed, reps. were swarmed and the anticipation for the film was growing. After an hour of drooling of the newest gear and an epic raffle of skis, packs, and bindings it was time for the film.
Packed house!
Gimme tha Schwag!!
The film was well received and left us feeling the need to continue the party. After a late night and a delicious breakfast it was off to Boulder.
Josh, Charlotte, and I went off to one of my favorite places, Chautauqua open space. We hiked to the top of the third Flatiron where the beautiful scenery and fall colors put on an incredible display.
After the beautiful hike, Josh and Charlotte went on there way and I headed over to one of my best friend’s house for the rest of the weekend.
As to be expected, when reuniting with a long time friend, we partied hard and celebrated our reunion in style.
By the time Monday morning rolled around the lack of clean clothes, the endless social endeavors, and the general feeling of exhaustion made Park City my next destination.
Home felt good, but not good enough to keep my anxious soul from hitting the road once more. With my dog and a swim suit in tow, I headed out once more to the Pacific coast. It took 12 hours, but I made it to LA to meet up with my family. This was the therapeutic terminus of a few weeks of partying hard and playing even harder.
Merl loving the Pacific
Three days of California bliss rejuvenated my soul. The weather was perfect, my dog had his first ocean experience, and I experienced my first acupuncture needle and Qi Gong class. That coupled with the warmth that only a family can bring sent me back home soaring.
Now, back in Park City, I am at peace. My biker self has found resolve in the fact that the snow is coming and it is time to let the skier emerge.
With the colder weather and the growing anticipation for the upcoming season I have been brought back into my archives of seasons past.
Check out some of the videos.
Let them get you stoked on riding the endless white wave that winter brings!!
