This blog is written from the perspective of Samantha Smith. I kept a journal on the trip, and when we got home I scanned each page, converted it to a jpeg, and added each page to this blog. Instead of retyping each page, I wanted to post the actual pages that I wrote on the trip, for a number of reasons.
I wrote what I could with my limited writing skills, with an altitude and sleep-deprived brain, and I'm sure the crew has a lot they can add. And they should if any of them are reading this!
We had a great crew. I enjoyed each and every one of them. I'm grateful that I was able to hang with the boys and that I didn't hold anyone up. I was worried about that.
It was amazing to turn my phone off for 7 days and completely detach from the rest of the world. I was sad when it was over. Now that it is over, I've been asked if I would do it again. Yes I would. In a heartbeat.
Big smiles looking around at the views before starting the first day.
Testing the packs on our bikes in the Pisgah Forest back at home.
Kyle had a smile on his face for 7 days!
Rosanna - Google Dr Richard Weiss Olympic Kayaker. That was Rosi's husband.
Purgatory Ski resort village.
Time for handstands waiting to leave!
Huge grins - so excited to be starting this adventure!
This was the trail. Yep.
We stopped just at the top of that ridge to eat lunch.
Big smiles from Ray.
JJ making it up the climb.
JJ taking a little break at the campground over lunch.
No Rob in the start pic - he'd already left.
Extremely well stocked food cabinets.
Creatures of habit - we slept on the same bunk every night in each hut.
This was a hut with no wood-burning stove. They were all laid out the same.
Gorgeous sunset.
25% grade. Wow!
Bikes lined up where we stopped under a tree to eat lunch.
One of the best views from Wedding Bell Hut.
A look down inside the mine shaft from the top grille cover.
View from the hut into the valley below.
Outside the Uranium Mine.
Sitting in the mouth of the mine - so cool right here and so hot outside!
Old abandoned car. Would love to know that story.
Sunset into the valley.
Dirt road in Paradox Valley. We were so grateful for dry conditions.
Looking down at Catch-em-up Trail and going "No Way"!!
Ray making his way down this crazy trail.
Kyle. This is a great shot of what this trail was like.
Long way down!
So happy to see this store open for business!
And this is how Wildmen are born.
This was a nice Jemily.
The scenery really helped distract from this climb.
Ray almost at the top.
JJ and Kyle - dripping with sweat!
Love this shot of the bikes lined up on this climb.
A little breather to take in the views.
Colorado / Utah state line.
One of the best shots of Kyle.
JJ and I talking about chicken noodle soup :)
Very happy to see this tree right next to the hut.
Beautiful wildflowers. The hut was in the middle of all this.
Spectacular Sunrise.
Start of the last day. Trying to just take it all in.
Wow, was that some cold mountain water!
I love this shot of my bike, with the sign and the animal skull. She did great!
Some of our crew didn't like riding right on the edge of this.
Or this.
Kyle and I making our way down some unrideable stuff.
Great views on this rim trail.
Ray navigating some drop-offs.
Very close to the edge.
View into the Colorado River Gorge.
What an EPIC adventure!
I used the word "awesome" a BUNCH in this post. If anyone feels like counting them and letting me know how many there are, that would be, well....awesome :)
