This is my third attempt at posting the story of my trip to the 2008 Yeti Gathering. Here goes nothing……
Words can’t really describe what a great time I had over the weekend of May 15th thru the 18th. I arrived in Denver at 5:30pm Thursday afternoon. Jay picked me up at the airport and we headed to his place for some home cooking. Some of my old favorites (sushi rolls) and now my new favorite (Veg. Dumpling Soup), it was to die for. Jay has come a long way from the time he called to find out how to make sushi rice. Patience grasshopper. After a quick spin around his neighborhood it was on the couch (just like old times) and watch Joe and his BMX bike (something like that), it is a must see for anyone that has ever setup a board on a cinder block to see how far you could jump.
Friday morning we departed for Fruita @ 6:30am. I’d like to say that Fruita was our next stop, but my new born bladder had other ideas. I was just glad that Jose was in need of a gas station breakfast burrito so I didn’t have to listen to Jay complain about my urinary tract. BUT, the seal was broken and there was at least one more stop before our ultimate destination. Once in Fruita I felt the start of a 3 day long smile taking shape. We set camp around 10:30 and decided to hit the trails.
First stop was the Rustler Loop which is part of the Kokopelli trail system. Rustler is a great little warm up track that has a killer downhill singletrack run (watch the hard left about half way down). Next we climbed up to Mary’s Loop and headed towards Horsetheif Bench.
The first Hike-A-Bike of the weekend was a doozie. Once down we were treated to some of the nicest singletrack these eyes have ever seen. It was my first exposure to “rim” riding and it had a small sampling of the technical riding we were going to do this weekend. After watching a group of guys ditch their buddy after he busted his hanger, we continued on and finished it off by helping the girls climbed back out. Sun was high in the sky and Cyndi was looking pretty hot.
We cleaned up and headed to town for some much needed Pizza. The Hot Tomato was on tap. It is a must if you are ever in the area. Killer pizza and really nice people. After inhaling my slice we headed down the street for the annual “MIKE THE HEADLESS CHICKEN FESTIVAL”. You read it correctly, they celebrate a headless chicken named Mike, I LOVE FRUITA. After buying the customary T-shirts it was back to camp. With a plenty of daylight left Jay and I headed west to Rabbit Valley so I could try my hand at the MSC (Mountain States Cup) race #1 TT (Time Trial) course. Wicked fast with a BMX style pump section towards the end. Would of loved to race that course with him. Back to camp and off to the showers. Day 1 in Fruita was complete.
Saturday morning was our trip to The Ribbon trail in GJ (Grand Junction). This was the “Yeti Group Ride”. It started with breakfast burritos, group photos, and loading of the bikes. I was stoked to see that my bike was the last one put on the trailer so it was in good hands. After an almost 35 minute drive to the trailhead parking lot we unloaded only to watch ‘George’ (Jack Russell Terrier) take a dump on a parking block. It was and instant classic. We had a 1.5 mile road climb to the trailhead and we sat for a while for everyone to regroup. The BLM asked that we go in groups of 10 or less for safety reasons, so our “group leader” was Rich. Rich works in the shipping dept at Yeti and was a really nice guy, but go us lost less than a mile in. LOL just kidding, we had so much fun flying down the ‘surface of the moon’ that we missed our turn. With a little back tracking we found our way down into the dry creek bed of ‘Andy’s Trail’. Mickey (Jose’s wife) ended up taking a header and after licking her wounds we were off. It was a short while later that I figured out that the “group” thing was going right out the window and after our 15 minute hike-A-bike out of the canyon I decided I had enough and tore out ahead to do some riding at my own pace. It was hot and I was getting tired of carrying my bike. That subsided after the incredible singletrack I was screaming down. It is truly the greatest singletrack I have ever been on. Face still hurts from all the smiling. I got back to the bus a little early and decided to head back to find Jay. Once he was found I asked if there was time for other trails. He said we needed to do the Holy Cross trail. After a GREAT climb, we started picking our way through a crapfest of boulder runs, gaps, and drops that just made me giggle. I hiked much of it, but also amazed myself on other sections. It was determined that 5”+ bikes have ruined XC riding, but I’m pretty sure this trail was purpose built for guys with bigger nuggets than me and WAY more body armor. And I’m okay with that. Descended back to the busses and headed back to camp.
After a couple hour rest I decided to hit Mary’s Loop again, but this time I was going to stick to Mary’s and do the entire loop. My intentions were to do Steve’s or Mack Ridge, but wanted to make it back for Saturday’s dinner. I was told not to miss it. I’m glad I didn’t it miss it. I’ll do those other trails on my next trip. After inhaling some BBQ Jay and I loaded up to make a run over to the Road 18 trails north of Fruita. I wanted another wack at Joe’s Ridge on a something other than a full rigid 29er with 1.9 tires. This was going to be our nightride for this trip. After being slowed up by 'Carol Burnett' on a crosswalk, we finally made it to the trailhead. But we bit off more than we thought when it was realized we forgot the lights back at camp. So Joe’s in the dark was crazy, BUT way more fun. Can’t scare ya if ya can’t see it. After suffering the dark up the road climb back to the car it was back to the showers and off to camp. Day 2 in Fruita complete.
Last day….sniff sniff….Breakfast burritos (with sausage, I was feeling dangerous) and my mandatory OJ. It was voted on and everyone decided they wanted to take Jays word and do the Western Rim trail. I was game, but let’s go we’re burning day light. Today was going to be a hot one. Forecast was sunny and 95. Piled on the sunscreen overpacked the camelback, loaded the electrolyte, and we were off. Now for those that know my buddy Jay you will know that I love this man like a brother, but he has a way of being a real c@#*, and today’s ride started out no different. A STUPID, long, sandy, jeep road to the ‘bottom’ parking lot. YES THERE WAS A PARKING LOT CLOSER TO THE TRAILHEAD. IF you ever go here, DO NOT PARK IN THE LOTS NEAR I70, follow the dusty road to the parking lot at the bottom with the outhouse. Trust ME NOT JAY ON THIS ONE. Anyway I was thinking to myself this ride better be worth sacrificing a day spent playing on Road 18 trails.
One word…….AMAZING!!!! “Just when I think you can’t get any dumber (Jay), you go and completely redeem yourself.” Have you ever tried to describe having your breathe taken away by something that was awe inspiring. Try experiencing that for 4-5 hours. I could spend hours describing this trail but it has to be ridden to be believed. This was definitely the dessert of my 5 course meal of a weekend. THANK YOU JAY, Love you man.
There you have it, sorry it was so long, but this is actually the short hand version. For those that don’t/can’t read the pictures are for you. I want to thank everyone at Yeti, by best friends Jay and his wife Cyndi (luv ya cuz), Jose and Mickey, and Tom and Cindy. Loved hanging out with you guys and hope to do it again next year.
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