The kids had the entire week of Thanksgiving off so we made a family trip to Las Vegas. I have wanted to ride there for several years but never got around to stoping with the bikes on the way to Utah. This was my chance. I wrangled up a bike rack for the mini van (thanks craptasticyler) and on Sunday morning, off we went.
My original plan was to hook up with a few other DTers but the plans changed due to others illness and some having too much fun in Utah so the rides were to be alone.
Since we had only one car, I needed to get out early. On Tuesday, I hit up the Cowboy Trails in the Red Rock Canyon Conservancy.
I arrived just around 7:00 am. To say it was cold was an understatement. I did not bring my winter gloves and my fingers were screaming at me. At least I did not overheat in the armor.
The Cowboy trials were a lot of fun. It was a gradual climb up the surrounding hills. There were numerous step ups which would be a blast on the descent. (forgive the blue hue of the pics, I had the wrong setting on the camera)
As I wound around the trails, the sun began to warm the air and soon it was a balmy 50 degrees. The trials there had many options but I was short on time so I opted for the quickest way down.
This was a mistake. I am not a competent downhiller by any means and that coupled with a cross county bike lead to a lot of walking. Word to the wise, if you get to boneshaker and do not like 6 ft drops with no runouts, this is not the trail for you. Instead, take the right at the sign. You will get a great view of Vegas and a much more realistic (sane) ride down the mtn. It still has it challenges, just a bit less life threatening
On Wednesday, my parents in Laughlin agreed to take the kids for a couple of days so Mommy and Daddy could have a real Vegas trip.
Of course of I took the kids down and on the way back, stopped by a little place called Bootleg Canyon. There are more trails here than you can shake a stick at. It was pretty much single track porn.
The trails were all well built and only 1-2 feet wide. Real single track. There was tons of exposure. Stuff that I would not want to miss the edge. I kept hearing the voice from Miles horrific crash at Carrizo Gorge from years past, “Yeah, but look at the penalty for failure, dude”. Here is one of 100 examples. Yes that is a trail.
Unfortunately it was late and the shadows were long so again, I had to cut the ride short. There is a moderate sized trials park at the staging area, that I played around on post ride.
A few bridges.
A teeter totter.
So now I have to make a better plan and get back there soon. The potentials for epic rides are huge. I just scratched the surface. As Arnold said in the original Terminator movie “I'll be back!”
