Steve's Mountain Bike Page
Turlock, California

Las Vegas Road trip

February 5-6, 2005

UncleMTB and I took a road trip to Las Vegas February 5-6 and we met up with E!, mattbikeboy and jmitchell for a ride at Bootleg Canyon on Saturday. I don't recall what possessed me to consider riding there because it absolutely killed my knees. We went up Girl Scout, up the fireroad and then down Boy Scout I believe, then down Mother to the paved road and then back up the fireroad to the parking area. With absolutely no warm-up we went out way too fast for me and my knees up a narrow rocky trail. I fell almost immediately and got wedged upside down between two big boulders. Fortunately I was wearing armor so other than a torn saddle and a purple finger the next day, I wasn't hurt. These trails were spectacular, but narrow and rocky with big dropoffs to the side. But with many short steep rocky climbs it was really hard on my knees and very slow going. Occasionally I would surprise myself and do something really gnarly but after a while I tried to get the guys to leave me so I could take it a bit slower. But they stuck with me and considering the penalty for failure on some spots that was probably a good idea.

The three locals had to leave so UncleMTB and I struck out on our own for a more leisurly tour of some of the other trails. We did the Caldera Trail, which was quite enjoyable and doable for me, and then we came back down the East Leg Trail. The East Leg is quite beautiful and despite being quite narrow, steep and rocky, with steep dropoffs to the side, most of it was doable for me.

Following a painful night of ice bags on my knees accompanied by handfuls of Motrin and Tylenol Arthritis I decided that since we drove such a long way that I would break my one ride per week rule if we found an "easy" ride. So we headed out to Red Rock Canyon and started up what seemed like an easy trail. However, in the desert we found that distances are quite deceiving and before we knew it we had climbed uphill for two miles. I was about ready to suggest we head back but then we discovered what I believe to be the NORBA Trail. It was very nice narrow singletrack which wove through beautiful Junipers and Joshua trees. We both felt this was the highlight of the trip and it made the knee pain worthwhile.

It was a great trip and I met some cool guys, who happen to be much better riders than they let on. Thanks E!, mattbikeboy, jmitchell and especially UncleMTB for a great time. I also learned I suck on certain types of trails and I should probably stay away from them. Below are a few photos. 

Click on an image to enlarge it.

img_1095.jpg (162541 bytes) img_1082.jpg (171313 bytes) img_1086.jpg (233461 bytes) img_1087.jpg (222880 bytes) img_1088.jpg (230622 bytes)
jmitchell, UncleMTB
E!, mattbikeboy		 Bootleg Bootleg Bootleg Bootleg
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Bootleg Bootleg Bootleg UncleMTB
on Bootleg		 UncleMTB
on Bootleg
img_1108.jpg (156358 bytes) img_1116.jpg (141345 bytes) img_1117.jpg (158524 bytes) img_1120.jpg (180657 bytes) img_1122.jpg (202743 bytes)
Bootleg Bootleg Bootleg East Leg,
Bootleg		 East Leg,
Bootleg
img_1125.jpg (124316 bytes) img_1126.jpg (155305 bytes) img_1129.jpg (185622 bytes) img_1131.jpg (175229 bytes) img_1139.jpg (191251 bytes)
Red Rock
Canyon		 Red Rock
Canyon		 Red Rock
Canyon		 Red Rock
Canyon		 Red Rock
Canyon
 

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