Before and After

It never fails. Every year around February I look at Nellie and think, "Is she getting a little chubby under all that fluff?" I decrease her food a little figuring that if she is, that will take care of it. Inevitably when I get her shaved for the warm weather, I experience guilt and self recrimination because, in fact, it is only I who has gained winter weight. I wish someone would starve me and make it easy. But no......

Wait. Back up a few lines. "...shaved for warm weather..." Yes, it is a little premature. Even in St. Louis. But since I have to run with Nellie on roads to get to Forest Park, all the road sludge gets deeply embedded in her long fur. I was having to bath her too often. So she suffers to make my life easier. Very selfish of me, I admit.
But she truly does not seem to mind. She is just sooo happy to be back to running on a regular basis.

We have been driving once a week to do our longer run/frolic on trails. The east end of the Chubb Trail that includes a loop around Castlewood State Park is my second favorite trail destination. It is an easy 6-8 mile run with little elevation gain but great bluff and river views. I usually have a chance to see some wildlife and in the past have seen deer, coyote, turkey, eagles and always many hawks. It is a verdant, lush landscape starting in spring and stark and bare this time of year. Come April I will begin referring to it as the Tick Run because Nellie has picked up as many as 15 of those nasty, creepy crawlies in a single run.

I tried to get a photo of the bluffs without the offensive houses but it was impossible. This, of course, gave me something to obsess about as I ran. Will someone please tell me why masses of people feel the need to ruin any and all god-given, spectacular views by plopping their ugly, gigantic friggin houses right smack dab in the epicenter of the breathtaking scenery. Don't they realize that it is beautiful and awe-inspiring right up until that moment that they bulldoze the shit out of it to erect their odious symbols of self-congratulatory, self-grandeur? Have some humility people. Why is every one out to trump god's gift of beauty? ("Because we can", I hear as a not-too-distant echo.) What ever happened to tucking away one's abode in a discreet and organic manner? Christ, surely I can't be the only freak who feels affronted by this crap?

Okay, I'm finished. Sorry.

Roadtrip: Bozeman, MT

Independence Day Celebration: No loud bangs, no crowds
July 4-8, 2007

One of my favorite summer rituals is our annual camping trip to Bozeman. It's not real rugged camping, since we actually stay at a campground and make frequent trip to the Co-op for its organic offerings and refuge from the intense Montana summer sun. We actually managed to talk our friends into forgoing Luxuristan (i.e. the Marriott) for a taste of the plebeian, tree-hugging life. I think they had fun and weren't just faking it. Right, Heather? I know all the kids loved it. How can any man-made, pay-to-participate activity trump hours of dam building in the campside creek? Besides, we did not make them mount their bikes for any of those multi-hour treks that we have talked ouselves into believing that they enjoy as much as we do. We also took along our summer intern, Topher. He also seemed to enjoyed it but regretted the lack of cell phone reception in the canyon. The girlfriend thing, you know. Hmmmm.

We rode our mountain bikes, ran single track trails, ate good food, and slept in the cool mountain air. What better way is there to celebrate American Independence? Certainly not sitting on a blanket surrounded by a cesspool of humanity oohing and aahing over ridiculous fireworks. A little judgemental, eh?

This is the third summer I have rendezvoused in Bozeman with my good friend and former NH neighbor, Emily a.k.a. Emmo. Emily was enrolled in a Masters of Science Education program through the university in Bozeman that required her to spend consecutive summers in residence living the college life after so many years. She has graduated. Congratulations Emily. Now she gets a big fatty raise compliments of Conval school District! Try not to spend it all in one place Emily. Maybe spend a little on a ticket to Moab during winter break to meet up with your former neighbors? Just an idea. http://www.expedia.com/

Tony and Owen headed back to Idaho Falls with Topher and the Bruemmers and I stayed an extra 1 1/2 days to go ride with Emily on her weekend off.

Our first ride was sweet. We went up Hyalite Canyon past the reservoir to the Emerald Lake Trailhead. This trail was perfectly rideable singletrack that switchbacked up to an alpine basin. We did not tarry long at the lake due to the carniverous nature of the mosqitoes. The description on my map of this ride says it will make you "giggle like a school girl". Yep. Upon arrival back at the truck the heavens opened and it hailed to beat the band. Good timing. See photo.

Our second ride was less technical but equally as beautiful and longer. Across from our campground in the Hyalite Canyon is a is the Moser Creek Trailhead. We connected this short loop to the Bozeman Creek Road (the lower portion of the Mystic Lake trail).

Park City, UT

We did this over a long weekend, but I am thinking it is a bit far for such a short period of time. We were hooking up with friends who were staying for a much more reasonable length of time, eight days. Having just gotten back to Idaho a little over a week ago, I was reticent to leave so soon. But when I have a chance to go somewhere new, I hate to pass it up.

Park City, population 7,500, is ,as are all destination ski resorts, a development nightmare. Every possible penny is being sqeezed from every developable square inch of land. Thank god for the federally protected land that surrounds the resorts. That being said, there is at least one nice perk that come with all that cash pouring in. Namely, the tax dollars that pay for a great bike trail system that makes it possible to avoid the traffic and construction that go hand-in-hand with such intensive development.

There are not any really cheap accomodation options if you are looking to have a roof over your head. Upon consulting my Moon Utah Handbook, I can't find a single thing under $100/night off-season. Off-season = anytime there is no snow.Upon further google investigation I just discovered the Chateau Apres Lodge. Dormitory accomodations amongst like-minded denizens comes at the prices of $35/head. For a family of four you might want to splurge and get a private room for $150. http://www.chateauapres.com/

I'd surely opt for a tent and a starry night in summer. There are the usual variety of cheesy, pavement-laden campgrounds around the area, mostly around Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. But why bother with such easy access to a ton of backcountry terrrain. In winter, the cheapest option is to stay at a hostel in Salt Lake and grab a shuttle to which ever resort you please.

Park City considers itself the recreational capital of Utah. That is a bold claim since it has some mighty formidable competition in the form of Moab, Zion and Canyonlands, just to name a few. I am holding out judgement until I have spent more time there. The overwhelming development aside, I like what I experienced so far. I was told by my girlfriend who has lived in the valley for 17 years that there is over 4,000 miles of trails. I'll have to fact-check that statement. It does look to be a trail runner's paradise. It is a hot spot for mountain bikers as well. I hiked and biked and ran. I was in oxygen-debt often. The elevation in town is approx. 7000 ft. Everything is up from there.