Santa Fe Rail Trail is latest Everytrail guide

stone railroad bridge near Santa Fe Rail Trail in New Mexico

"Planes, trains, and automobiles ... and bikes (a New Mexico biking odyssey)

Before we begin our trail exploration, let's take a look at a couple southwestern recipes. We'll start w/ a "Regular Trail Burrito." Grab a tortilla, slap on some refried beans and chicken. Add a little rice & lettuce and there you have it.

Now let's spice it up New Mexico style. We'll toss in some green chiles, sliced jalapenos, add some spicy salsa and sprinkle on some jabeneros. Now you've got the Santa Fe Rail Trail. It is definitely a more spicy version of the typical rail trail.

Rather than rails to trails, New Mexico's Santa Fe Rail Trail is more of a "rails beside trails." For its entire length, the trail is accompanied by a functioning railroad line."


Thus starts the description in the latest Everytrail guide by trailking (yours truly).


I got a little wild & crazy on this one and tried to add a little more pizazz to the trail description. I'm not sure whether readers will prefer that style or not. You know how it is; some things you read for fun and others for information. 


I suppose it's okay to mix them up to a certain extent, but it's a balancing act. When does the "creativity" take away from the narrative?


Actually, the way Everytrail has their guides structured, there's a little wiggle-room for mixing business with pleasure. It's possible to go a little crazy in the "Overview" and then give more detailed and succinct information in the Points of Interest section... or vice-versa.


Anyway, take a look at the Santa Fe Rail Trail guide and let me know what you think. Fun, distracting, or outright annoying?

Santa Fe Rail Trail is latest Everytrail guide

Texas trails

The weather's fine,
The trails sublime...
clap, clap, clap clap!
Deep in the heart of Texas.
I've logged a little over a 100 miles the past couple days, on Texas trails.
Yesterday, I rode Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway and today, I blasted up and down the Trinity River Trail System in Fort Worth, Texas.
It was surprisingly warm for the Mineral Wells trail, but a bit windy.
Today's weather on the Fort Worth trails was perfect; low 60s w/ a slight breeze.
The Mineral Wells trail is a rail trail that runs from the town of Mineral Wells to Weatherford, Texas. It has a crushed limestone surface and a slight grade leading up to a whopping elevation of a little over 1200 feet. The only disappointment was when I found out that after tracking the entire trip using the Everytrail app, the system crashed somehow, and I lost all the coordinates, notes, and photos that I recorded on the iPhone. Bummer. I'll still be able to produce an Everytrail guide, but I'll have to draw in the map portion and use photos from my Panasonic camera and notes from my head.
That last one is the scary part.
The Trinity River Trail is a different story though. Everything worked fine. I got a little off track on the first leg of the trip, but I found a better route on the way back, so I'll make the necessary adjustments. I was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the Trinity Trail is and how nice the city of Fort Worth looks from the trail.
If any readers have had experience on Texas trails, I'd love to hear about it. Feel free to leave comments or send an email.

Texas trails

Janet's Cabin Snowshoe and Nordic Ski Trail

"Whether you visit in the summer or in the winter, you will fall in love with this trail, the scenery, and the comfortable cabin."

happy snowshoers

Thus starts the description in the latest TrailKing trail guide on the Everytrail website.


It documents a recent snowshoe trek up to one of the Tenth Mountain Division mountain huts up in the Colorado mountains. The snow was plentiful, the scenery beautiful, and the air thin. I still have trouble believing that the snowshoe trip was only 5.5 miles. It seemed more like 55. And I wasn't even the one breaking trail. That would be the person in the front. I was the person in the back. Often way in the back.


But let's not discuss my winter out-off-shape blues. We're here to discuss trails, and this one was a doozy. It was well-packed on the way up since it had been a couple days since the last significant snow storm.

Janet's Cabin

Once we got to the cabin, we found it to be warm, comfortable, and spacious. Altogether, there were 20 of us staying there with 12 in our group and a couple smaller groups. On the second day there, we took a couple exploratory side trips, both on or near the track of the great Colorado Trail. The first one, we trudged through the snow toward Vail. On that little side trip, we experienced a phenomenon called "Wompf." I'm not sure I spelled it correctly, but it was quite the experience. Nine of us were standing around in snowshoes and, all of a sudden, "wompf," the snow just sort of gave way beneath our feet. Fortunately, we were not on much of a slope, so we didn't really go anywhere but straight down about a half inch. The same thing happened one more time on the trip. I guess you could say we experienced a mini-avalanche or mini-earthquake. Either way, it is an experience I won't soon forget.

snowshoe buddies

The second side trip was in the other direction, up to a pass between two mountains. The wind was howling and the snow was blowing, but it was gorgeous in a sort of winter blizzard sort of way.


That night, it started snowing and continued throughout the rest of our journey. We had quite a powdery expedition back down the trail and had to constantly look for landmarks so as not to get off track since our earlier tracks were completely covered with cold, fresh powder snow.


If you're interested in seeing a map of the snowshoe trip along with pictures and a more detailed written description, visit the latest Everytrail guide for Janet's Cabin.

Janet's Cabin Snowshoe and Nordic Ski Trail

Snowshoe Trail Extraordinaire

I just returned, yesterday, from a snowshoe trip to Janet's Cabin. It is one of the Tenth Mountain Division huts that is located on the Colorado Trail.

To call it a "hut" is a bit of an understatement. It is rather luxurious accommodations for a cabin that is above 11,000 feet and is accessible only by trail.

Sauna in back of Janet's Cabin

It sleeps 20 people, and our group contributed 12 people to that 20. The cabin has a nice communal kitchen and is cozy warm, even in a February snowstorm.

I will soon be creating an Everytrail guide and then will provide you with a link to that. In the meantime, I will add a picture of the sauna... yes I said sauna.

Doesn't it look like a make-believe gingerbread house with powdered-sugar frosting on the roof?

Snowshoe Trail Extraordinaire

River Mountains Loop trail in Nevada

Bike trails, water trails, outdoor adventures...

These aren't phrases that people normally associate with Nevada. But every time I go there, I find a new outdoor adventure.

One time it was a crazy downhill mountain bike course in Bootleg Canyon. Another time it was a relaxing kayak trip through the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, replete with hot springs and caves.

River Mountains Loop Trail near Las Vegas, Nevada

But most recently, I had the opportunity to ride the 34 mile River Mountains Loop trail in Boulder City, Nevada. Not far out of Las Vegas, this paved trail offered desert wildlife, views of Lake Mead, and plenty of outdoor exercise. Heck, it even offered a Vegas-style buffet within yards of the trailhead.

Of course, my trail adventures are never complete until I post them to the trailsnet website, the Everytrail guide book pages, and the trails network blog. If you're wondering which format is the best way to view one of the many trails I've got posted online, here's a quick primer:

• The trailsnet website lists all the trails, by state. Each trail web page has a written description of the trail, numerous trail photos, a trail map, and "trail facts" sidebar for quick trail information at-a-glance.
• The EveryTrail guides offer all of the above with a couple differences; the Everytrail guides can be downloaded to your smart-phone (iPhone, Droid...) so you can take the guide with you on a trip without having to pack along a printed version. The guides are also interactive so you can access related web-links and view the map in various forms while you're on the trail.
• The trails network blog gives a very general overview of trails, but also provides information about other trail and bike-related issues.

River Mountains Loop trail in Nevada

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath trail section 2

To those of you who enjoyed yesterday's C & O Canal trail post, you're welcome.

I was quite pleased to get the C & O Canal Towpath section #1 trail guide published. Today I found out that section #2 C & O Canal trail guide has also been published. So here's a link for that guide on the Everytrail website. And here's a little picture from my latest outing on the canal trail.

Check out the wildlife pictures on the
Everytrail C & O Trail Guide.

If you get a chance, check out the Everytrail guide. Even if you decide not to buy it ($1.99) I'd appreciate your input. It doesn't cost anything to look at it.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath trail section 2

Biking Buddies: Barry sends us another blog from Japan

We are fortunate to, once again, have Barry send us a post from the land of the rising sun. It is always nice to see the universal love for biking and fellow bikers knows no political or geographic boundaries. 


Enjoy!!


Friends,


   I hold the same regard for my friends, as I do for this piece-of-rock (Planet Earth) we live on – respect and appreciation. And, like my feelings for this planet, I don’t take them for granted, abuse them or neglect them. My very-best friend is the person who placed a wedding ring on my finger back in 2000.

   A few years ago I was invited to join a group of cyclists on a sightseeing trip into Kyoto City. I had met and spoken to some of these guys before – they hangout at the same bike-shop where I take my bike for any maintenance – but this was the first of many outings I would join them on.

   Let me tell you all about them. They are all retired – average age would be about 70. They all have a road-bike and a mountain-bike – and top-of-the-line bikes too. They meet 6-days per week, (Thursday is mountain-biking day) at the same place (Yawata Ohashi) and at the same time (9am). Then after a brief chat they head-off to a predetermined location. Some days they bike just a short distance, find a café and, after a brew and a bite-to-eat, head home. On a big day they will clock-up to a 100km, taking their lunch with them. They are very supportive of each other – anyone that is struggling or slower than the others, will always be accompanied. They are very social – sometimes stopping to help fill a baseball team if they are short of players. But man, are they fit – on a return leg of a trip, I was second behind the leader and, for the 8km leg of this segment, I clocked this guy averaging between 20kmph and 22kmph. He is the oldest of the group at 85.

   But cycling isn’t their only reason for gathering. They regularly meet during April to celebrate “Hanami”. Then there are the regular karaoke sessions (one of my favorites), and (by far my favorite) the all-day train-ride through the Kansai Region. They are well organized – someone buys all the food and drink, which we all chip-in to cover the cost.

 

   Well, enough of the introductions, here is a snapshot of the group.

This is the first trip I did with the guys. It was the days leading up to the “Gion Festival” in Kyoto City. Yamaboko Floats, like the one in the background, are towed through the streets of downtown Kyoto by dozens of devotees. The festival is held on July 17^th each year.

 

This is “Hanami”. It’s an annual event held during “Cherry Blossom” season (April/May, depending on when the Sakura bloom). It’s one of my favorite Japanese traditions…..

 

……the reason being, it’s a great excuse for a beer-drinking session (we have another term for this, but I don’t think Kevin would appreciate me using it). Once the ‘season has been declared open, you have about a week to celebrate “Hanami” before the rains come and wash the petals off the trees.

 

Pon-Pon Yama (Mount Pon-Pon). Always a popular destination for hikers and bikers (actually bikers aren’t allowed on this track).

The guy on the right is 85 (I mentioned him earlier). Hasutane-san, on the left, owns the “Bamboo Lotus” bike shop. And, in the middle, is Fujiwara-san. He is an awesome guy, and I have a huge respect for him.

 

This was a great trip through a very-historical part of Kyoto Prefecture (check-out my “Everytrail Guide – Pilgrimage to Sekibutsu”).

 

Two ears ago I was invited to join their “Weekend in Shiga” trip. It was an overnight camp with three rides through some spectacular Autumn scenery. 

We returned (or tried to) to the same location a

few months later in Winter. We were only able to progress about a kilometer before calling it a day.

 

And, what better way to end the day, with a good long soak in an Onsen.

   I could take-up many pages with my photos and stories of these guys. But I think you get the idea of what they are all about. For me, whatever the occasion, I always return home full of appreciation, respect, and gratitude for having had the opportunity to have had spent time with these “Friends”.

Biking Buddies: Barry sends us another blog from Japan

Ammonoosuc Rail Trail in New Hampshire

I just published another Everytrail Guide.

This one is on the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail in New Hampshire: Funny name, great trail!

There are two places for you to find out more info about the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail:

1. Check out the new Ammonoosuc Rail Trail guide on Everytrail: This is especially useful if you want to ride the trail. It will allow you to download the complete guide along w/ a map, points of interest, supplementary websites, photos, directions to the trail, and more.
2. Or you can visit the trailsnet Ammonoosuc page and see a trail description with photos, a map, and a summary of the trail's vital statistics. 

Ammonoosuc Rail Trail in New Hampshire

Bitterbrush Trail on Hall Ranch Open Space

Northwest of Boulder, Colorado lies the Hall Ranch Open Space, part of the North Foothills Open Space complex. Both Hall Ranch and Heil Ranch are included in this system, and both areas have incredible mountain bike trails that are now connected by a bike trail.

The Bitterbrush Trail and the Nelson Loop Trail are both on Hall Ranch Open Space and are about a mile and a half from Lyons, Colorado on highway 7. The two trails make up a lasso trail (sometimes also called a lariat trail) with the Bitterbrush Trail forming the rope handle of the lasso and the Nelson Loop Trail forming the actual lasso.

These trails are fairly steep in spots, and they are studded with outcropping rocks and tree roots along the trail. While these obstacles make the trail fairly difficult, they also make it the ultimate roller coaster ride for seasoned mountain bikers.

View and download the Everytrail Guide for these trails and enjoy directions, descriptions, pictures, and suggestions on your smart phone. It beats lugging around an unwieldy guidebook every time you hit the trail.

Bitterbrush Trail on Hall Ranch Open Space

Trail Guides now available at Everytrail Guides

In my blog post a couple days ago, I mentioned the Everytrail guide for the Mineral Belt Loop trail in Leadville, Colorado. Here's my official (we don't need no stinkin') badge for the four trails I've mapped so far:

I’m on

Trailking
4 guides
see my profile

Recent guides by Trailking

Check out EveryTrail mobile travel guides

Trail Guides now available at Everytrail Guides

My first Everytrail guide to Big Dry Creek Trail in Westminster, CO

It took me a while, but I finally got my first Everytrail guide published.

I've been working on a guide for the Big Dry Creek Trail which is located in Westminster, Colorado. Westminster has a lot of great trails, but the the Big Dry Creek Trail is probably the longest. It meanders from Standley Lake in the west all the way to I-25 in the east. As I point out in the guide, there are also lots of spur trails to explore along the way.

There were many steps involved in the creation of the guide. First, of course I "had" to ride the trail. Well I've done this numerous times, but this time, I had to stop a lot and take pictures, do research, and write lots of notes about waypoints along the trail.

While riding the trail, I also had to record the GPS information using an iphone app called Trails.

At the end of the ride, I sent the GPS coordinates/waypoints, pictures, and trail information from the Trails app to Everytrail. This was the easy part because I just had to press a couple buttons and, voila, it was sent.

Then, when I got home, I got onto the Everytrail website and compiled everything into a guide.

Finally, I published the whole thing. I had a few problems w/ this part, but a very nice technician from Everytrail gave me so good advice and, before I knew it, I was finished.

I sent the guide to Everytrail for approval on a Sunday and received my confirmation the same day. I was pleasantly surprised w/ this quick turnover time, especially on a weekend.

Now it's your turn. Check out Everytrail. If you live in Colorado, download my Big Dry Creek guide onto your smart phone. It's cheap ($1.99) and easy. Then get out there and enjoy the trail.

My first Everytrail guide to Big Dry Creek Trail in Westminster, CO

Big Dry Creek Trail in Westminster, Colorado

If you want to see trail pictures, a trail map, and a trail description, for Colorado's Big Dry Creek Trail, click on this trail link.

Below is a quick look at the trail as seen on my Everytrail trip guide. It is approximately ten miles long and can easily be done with a trail bike, hybrid bike, and some recumbents. Although many people ride the trail on road bikes, it's not ideal w/ high pressure tires. A little less than half of it is cement. The rest is mostly gravel and a bit bumpy in places. It's a good trail for bike trailers, so bring the kids out for a weekend bike ride.

Big Dry Creek Trail

Plan your trips with EveryTrail Mobile Travel Guides

Big Dry Creek Trail in Westminster, Colorado