Colorado National Monument...

I'll say it right off the bat. Other than my dear friends Jack and Judy Miller, Colorado NM is the bestest thing about Grand Junction, Colorado.

For me, it's always been a joy to amble up and down it's many spired rock canyons. The Rim Rock Drive is considered by many (me included) to be road cycling nirvana. It's a great place to escape! 

And we owe it all to that free spirited trail builder John Otto for making it happen. In the early 1900's, he began to explore the area. He looked around and thought, "Hey! This is a cool place. I'll start constructing trails." When the local Chamber of Commerce saw this one man Tour de Force, they exclaimed, "Strong Work! Dude! We'll get Congress to declare this a National Park!" 

It took our chubbiest President, William Howard Taft to utilize the Antiquities Act to declare those red rock canyons a National Monument in 1911.

Good old Mr. Otto was named the first park ranger. He held that lofty position for 16 years while living in a tent. In all those years, he kept on rolling rocks around to make trails. 

Thank You John Otto and may heaven provide you with a better shelter than a tent. 

BTW. Google the Antiquities Act of 1906. This is one tremendous piece of legislation.

Horsetooth Mountain Park, Fort Collins, Colorado

Long before the mountain bikers discovered this open space area west of Fort Collins, I was out there grinding up the trails in boots and trail runners. In the 31 years I lived in Fort Collins; I spent a lot of those days wandering around these foothills. I can honestly say, it never got old to be there.

The Native Americans thought the rock resembled the heart of an evil giant. The early trappers and traders had less of an imagination. They thought the granite chunk looked like a horse's tooth. The name Horsetooth began appearing on early maps and the moniker stuck.

The mountain is part of the City of Fort Collins logo. (Those lawn destroying, pooping Canadian Geese share the symbol too). 

At 7,260 feet it's only 70' shorter than Mount Kosciusko in Australia. The tallest peak in the land of Vegemite. 

It's a great place to have in one's backyard.

BTW: Late responders are still welcome to my soirée this Sunday. I'll admit this sociable hermit is a bit nervous about seeing all these human flashes from my past at one time. 

Cheers from the Choice City,

Jeff

White Rim Trail, Canyonlands National Park...

There's a reason I submit my body to the bumps and grinds of five days of mountain biking the White Rim Trail. Simply said, it's beautiful with big sky views. This vast region possesses an almost terrifyingly silence. That is when there aren't any motorized dirt bikes or 4X4 vehicles nearby. This was my fifth go around. It won't be my last.

I'll need more "Granny" gears the next time though. I believe the hills got steeper and rockier since the early 90's. It's just not possible I've aged a lot since then. 

This jewel of a park is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Come by and say "Congratulations!" I fear the tide is turning and it won't be the same in a few more years. Canyonlands is finding itself on humanities radar screen. The secret is getting out. 

I'm now in back in Colorado. What a two month road trip, it's been. 

Good night from Grand Junction