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Team nike Powerblast has taken a good lead over Merrell. Especially the since the last checkpoint, Nike burst ahead extending the distance between them and the reast of the pack. Looks like experience is paying off.
I talked about it earlier, and its playing out just as I predicted. Young, fit teams would battle for lead early during the race, but experience kicks in towards the end and the most experienced of teams is pulling through.
What made the difference? I dont think it was the hoarding of sleep that team Nike had early on in the race. I think it is just the stamina and experience. Experienced travelers know how to pace themselves. They also know how to make wise decisions. If you look at the interactive map, you see that outside of tem Nike's mountain biking mishap, they stay on course and know where they are going. Shaving a mile here and there because of good decisions makes a big difference.
Cary Dunst, a journalist for the Epoch Times International reports on the thrill and amazment that the slickrocks of Moab Utah bring to mountain biking. For those us us who have already been there, this is nothing new.
In all honesty, no other place in the world can compare to Slicrock Trail in Moab. Riding Moab is great.
Heck, even if you are not an avid mountain biker, you should still take a tour and try out riding the rocks. (click on the picture for info.)
One other thing that Dunst highlihghts in her article is the up-coming "24 hours of Moab" race later in October. Anyone ever participate in that race? Sounds pretty intense. (nothing compared to Primal Quest of course). But it should be a good race. You can go to www.grannygear.com for more information on the races.
Get out and mountain bike on the trails!
Well, Cingular just stepped up to the plate and made a great additions to their large network. (although I personally cant be too excited since I use Verizon)
Cingular just published a Press Release in Yahoo! Finance announcing that its aggressive 2005 - 2006 push is expanding in Utah. Improved coverage areas to come? Here is the list:
* In the Salt Lake City area seven new sites went on-air in late 2005 with
24 more sites planned for 2006 -- a total of 31 new cell sites to add
capacity and coverage.
* In Utah County, six new cell sites in 2005 with 13 more expected in 2006
will add coverage in Orem and Provo.
* In Northern Utah, eight sites went on air in late 2005 with nine more
coming in 2006. These 17 sites will increase coverage for the Ogden and
Cache Valley areas.
* Utah State Capitol -- Added in-building service to the capitol and
legislative buildings.
* Southern Utah -- Launched service and sales in the greater St. George
area in April.
* On I-80 near Wendover, a new site will complete coverage extending from
Salt Lake City to the Utah/Nevada border.
* On Highway 191 a new site north of Moab will provide greater coverage
for customers going to Moab/Arches National Park.
* On I-80 in Grantsville, a new site will provide greater coverage for the
growing Tooele area.
Not bad for outdoor travelers like us on the outskirts of Utah. THat should make at least some of you happy!
I have posted a few comments and news about Primal Quest. Since the race is on its way, it will be fun to follow the teams through their test. Here are a couple of websites that can keep you informed as to the traveling information on the teams:
Official Primal Quest Site- all the information and teams involved int he race. Cool videos, GPS tracking, Maps and more.
Checkpoint Zero (and their team)- An Adventure Racing website, and they sponsor their own Primal Quest Team. Get personal updates and entries for the team throughout the race.
The Moab Music Festival which runs August 31st - Sept 16th has a few local resorts offering discounts for visiting Moab during that time. The Arizona Daily Star reports that Sorrel River Ranch in Moab is giving 25% discount on lodging and 15% off dinner for anyone attending the Music Festival in Moab, Utah.
Coming from personal experience, Sorrel Ranch is a pretty nice place to stay. It is a fun and authentic rach-style lodging in Moab, and a 25% discount is quite the sale. If you are planning on going down to Moab during that time (or maybe you should take a trip anyway) take advantage of the offer. You can find contact and information for Sorrel Ranch and other Ranches through the Moab Adventure Center Lodging page.
While you are down there, take advantage of the outdoor activities in Moab, Utah at the Moab Adventuer Center.
As the Primal Quest Race heats up for the Saturday launch, team Nike is ready in Moab, Utah. A Vail Daily News article highlights the expectations and experience that this year's tem Nike is bringing to the race. I think the most impressive part of the team is the depth of experience.
Previous experience plays a vital role in the race. ALthough being young and fit can have its advantages, usually those who end up pulling ahead are those who have the experience and endurance. Its the ultimate challenge of skill and endurance. Plus, I am just excited that the racve is down in Moab Utah. What a great location!
Outdoor enthhusiasts have been wating and watching. June 25, 2006 starts the annual Primal Quest Race in Moab. It will be a crazy race and the ultimate test of human endurance. I love the video trailer for the race. you can see it by visitng the Primal Quest webstite.
For those who arent familiar, it is a team race across rivers, deserts, mountains and cliffs. 800km that lasts up to 10 days over a grueling course. It is amazing to see the teams do what they do. I think it is awesome.
You have to check them out htis year since they are in Utah. Every year the race takes place in a different international location. If you have time, see them off!
Its called the Great Western Trail Tour. An article in OneWheelDrive.net just featured this tour as one of the highlights of a great motorcycle road trip. The Great Western Trail tour is a motorcycle tour that takes you through the most wonderful and scenic areas of the soutwest. In 10 or 11 day you will hit:
2000 scenic miles
6 natioanal parks
6 national monuments
9 national forests
Sound too good? Well, if you are even thinking about it the tour also offers rental bikes if you dont have your own. I have never been on a long motorcycle roadtrip, but I would imaging that this one is the Grandaddy of them all. You start in Phoenix, AZ and alongthe way you drive through Moab, UT, Arches National Park, and many other sites in the Moab area.
Anyone ever taken a motorcycle tour through these areas? How is it? Let us all know.
Looking for a good roadtrip to take with your buddies this summer? The most recent issue of Men's Journal has the Roadtrip Guide for those who are interested. I think that taking road trips are a great way to explore new country.
So what makes good roadtrip? First of all, make sure to plan out destinations. Even though a road trip is technically "shooting from the hip" style, you still need a beginning and ending point.
Also, the destinations should have some sort of allure/activity you may be interested in. Sightseeing is fun and all, but if you never really get out and do something, you are missing out on half the adventure.
Men's Journal listed a road trip from New Mexico to Moab, Utah as one of thier recommended trips to take. Moab offers a great place to not only see the sights, but to do just about any activity you want. You can bring your rock climbing gear, inflatable rafts, mountain bikes, motorcycles, hiking boots..... you name it, you can do it.
So Moab makes perfect sense for a roadtrip destination.
Any rock climbing fans out there? If so, I am sure you may have heard of the latest rock climbgin controversy regarding the famous Dean Potter and his decision to free climb Delicate Arch in Arches National Park in Moab, UT. Lots of people are up in arms about the decision.
Why the outcry?
First, Delicate Arch has its name for a reason- its a fragile landmark with soft sandstone. It would be near impossible to climb the arch with causing some sort of surface scratches.
Second, he may have done it just for publicity and not for his "love of nature and spiritual attachment to the rocks" as he so puts it. Plenty of people saw his climb in Moab because he filmed it, with crew alread on top of the arch getting shots from various angles.
So you have mixed reviews, even from his closest friends and colleagues. What he did was not technically illegal (although it is now, since his climb). But was it morally right? Was it just a publicity stunt on a national landmark?
Outside magazine has a article on the whole controversy in Moab, and interviewed some friends and others involved. Click to read the "How Delicate was Dean?" in Moab article.
Once again, Moab Utah is making national headlines with its world famous scenery and adventure tours. The most recent review by the most trusted source, National Geographic,
reviewed Parks in Canada and the U.S. and put out a top 50 "The Best of the Great Parks" issue.
So what exactly did the National Geographic have to say about Moab? They claim that one of the top experiences to see is watching the sunset at Arches in Moab, Utah!
But dont just take their word for it. Watching the sunset in Arches National park, or anywhere in Utah for that matter, is truly a breathtaking sight.
Has anyone had a chance to see Moab or Arches at sunset? Then you know what they are talking about. If you have nto had a chance to experience it, I highly recommend you do. Oh ya, and dont forget your camera, because you are not going to want to miss the opportunity to have a picture of it.
The Moab Adventure Center still offers a guided tour/hike through Arches National Park. They will take to to the most popular sites that you see in magazines and on T.V. There you can bask in all it's glory. Here are some pictures of our own from Arches so you can get a taste of the action.
What is another way to view a great sunset overlooking the wonderful Red Rocks? The Sunset Hummer Safari Tour in Moab is another great way to see the sights and seens you only dream of. The tour is only $75 for a complete 2 hour sunset trip on top of some of the most amazing rock mountiains in Moab.
If anyone else has favorite spots to view the sunset down in Moab, let us know!
See the issue of the National Geographic Adventure here.
Just in case you want to relax and read a little, Moab just opened a brand new 14,000 sq. foot library. The library on Main St. in Moab, UT opened and about 900 people were there to celebrate the openening.
The new library is far more user-friendly, Moab resident Judy Rousso said.
"The old building was so packed you could hardly find a place to sit. Periodicals had to be stored in boxes because there was no space to put them out. It was just too small. Everything's opened up now," Rousso said.
"It is just an incredibly beautiful space. It's really amazing that a community this size can have a world-class library like this."
It truly is an amazing build with room to grow. This new facility can house many more people than the old building. The old building couldnt hold more than 50 people at a time. Now the new facility welcomes residents and guests with hight-tech solutions for users. MIt has a new reference library and special collections section. The library also has over 50 computers for children, teens and adults to use.
The new library is located at:
257 E Center St.
Moab, UT
