Mountain Biking the Franklins westside

A favorite mountain bike course of mine.  The unofficial trail system is maintained by volunteers.  One day (sooner rather than later, I'm afraid) it will all be developed.  Now though it's a steady climb up from the desert floor (across from the Rio Grande River) towards and into the southern part of Texas' Franklin Mountain State Park.  I stop every now and then to look at the surrounding desert.   Take a little drink.  I could just keep going but what's the point of being out there? After an hour or so, I reach the top.  There , I turn around and blast downhill.

Taos Ski Valley

Tried a little snowboarding at Taos Ski Valley last week.  Great place to test out some gear in both sunny/icy conditions and blowing snow.  Snowboarding doesn't leave my knees aching like skiing.  It was cold enough that I had to put my camera inside my armpit while warming up the vehicle for 10 seconds of operation.

A start

Just an introduction: I hope to make this more of a travel journal with some of my better photos and less about daily trivia.  Currently I enjoy backpacking mostly in New Mexico using mostly lightweight gear (pictures above near Santa Fe, NM, the top looking toward Truchas Peak about to hike over Skyriders Trail and then my camp overlooking a place called Beatty's).  Mostly it's the view from the mountains and ridges, though it involves slogs through muddy valleys, rain mixed with hail, and dodging the occasional lightning bolt. 

Thus the need for good, lightweight gear; it's tough to see these images in real life if you are fighting your own gear.