Two hikers stranded on an 18″ wide ledge!

Bummer. Just goes to show you can never be to safe or prepared.

Sunday UTM and I brought team UpaDowna into the big time!! That’s right folks we won!!!!!

Not the race, however we won a pair of shoes from Merrell! And we each got 2 free beers, actually we got more because we kept going in and out of the beer area and ever time we entered we got tickets for two more.

Over all I think team UpaDowna had a blast. For those that are not familiar with the race here is a quick run down.

Two teammates, one starts on a bike one starts running. When the biker reaches the first muddy obstacle they ditch the bike and complete the obstacle then takes off running, the runner arrives completes the obstacle grabs the bike and is off!! From what I remember the obstacles went like this. 1st was a climbing wall, second a 4×4 a-frame to which you must go over then under than over, weaving your way up it then down it, then a water crossing (I lost one of my shoes..but quickly found it!!). Next was a balance beam, then a cargo net climb and slide down one of those giant inflatable castle things, and finally the giant mud pit, to which you must cross with your partner.

I think we made it in 55 minutes or right around there, the results have not been posted but trust me we were not in the running for the championship, there were some animals out there.

The mud was thick and sticky, which made it interesting for riding a bike or running. Our deralliurs were quickly so mucked up they were useless, single speed next year for sure!!

Word to the wise, do not let UTM convince you to eat breakfast burritos the moring of the race…bad things happen!

If you are looking for a good fun day of play raceing and beer drinking this race is one you should consider.

In true Brittany style “Oops I did it again!” I am a sucker. I’m not sure if it is a learned behavior or genetic but I am always up for a challenge and these challenges often tax me to my limits, but leave me wanting more.

The latest commitment I made is to ride the Stonewall Century. Now I am not much of a roadie but I do enjoy riding and have put a fair amount of time down in the saddle. Anyhow I buddy of mine, (I’ll call him Goat due to his insane ability to climb the steeps with out so much as a heavy breath, all the while smoking and drinking), well Goat rides a fair amount both road and singletrack and he is well known for suckering more and a few of his friends into heinous rides. And it appears I am the latest victim.

So last week I pulled my wife’s old Italian steel Tomasini out of the root celler and dropped it of at the shop. And since I am now commited via cold beer and handshake I have decided I need to at least sit in the saddle prior to the Stonewall which incedentily is about a month away!!!

I am leaning more towards the 50 miler but if Goat has anything to say about it I will be cranking all 100 painful miles, no doubt finishing long after everyone else.

You can check out the route and elevation profile here.

And they are off!!! Today was the start of the games with the first event of the Steep Creek Championship held in Homestake Creek, dropping a whopping 480 feet per mile Homestake is a paddling gem that was once known only to Vail Valley locals . I tell you what these guys and gals are tough. With 6 females and 57 men this event was packed and all were eager for the bruising torrent full of pockets and chutes leaving the competitors stoked with conditions and really stepping up their games for the competition. The weather held off for the practice runs but let loose some rain and sleet for the finals.

After the last boat ran we headed into Vail Village to check out the rest of the set up but bailed due to the weather. Which worked out well for me, when I got back to the caravan in Leadville I headed out for a good run and as luck would have it my route passed right in front of Rosie’s Brewpub, sitting at 10,152 feet claims the title of North America’s highest brewery so I had to give it a go.

Tomorrow I am going to check out the IFSC Bouldering World Cup Qualifer, dockdogs Big Air competition, kayak freestyle qualifier, the Sobe freeride demonstration and maybe the Ozomatli concert. I am also going to try and ride some of the outragous single track around Vail if I get a chance!!

More tomorrow.

I just got word that climbing stud Chris Sharma has entered the climbing competition which I am sure will be amazing!!

Oh yeah I also wanted to let you guys know that there is a bar in town with PBR 2 for $1!!! DYYY-NOOOO-MITE!!

I just got word that my press credentials are in for the Teva Mountain Games which take place June 5-8 in beautiful Vail, Colorado. With events like kayaking, climbing, mountain biking, and Paragliding as well as many more this venue is going to rock!! If you have not checked them out yet, here is the original post with links to the games. Hopefully some of you will make it out other wise I will have updates and pictures courtesy of Mtn Mama.

Thanks guys. Alright I know I am in fact welcoming myself back, but since no one else has I figured I should. So take the thanks and deal with it.

We had a blast these past few weeks and now I am ready to jump back in to the swing of things. As soon as I get a chance I will post some picture of both the trip to Costa Rica as well as the trip to North Carolina.

There are a lot of interesting things going on in the outdoor and beer drinking world that I am looking forward to sharing with you, however the first is the story of those outdoor staples that we all know and love Nalgenes!! Yeah! Hooray for Nalgenes! You see I have a theory about Nalgenes and I have determined that each person is destined only to have a predetermined number of Nalgenes and should that person acquire more that they should the additional bottles subsequently disappear.

For instance I now realize that I am destined only to have five Nalgenes. For years I have had these bottles and it seems that as I acquire more I always seem to lose them and I always am left with five. So five is my predetermined Nalgene number. The funny thing about that is the Nalgene seems to have a mind of its own, when purchased the bottles are glossy and pristen, gleaming in perfection. This soon goes by the wayside as we tend to make them ours with stickers and personality. The stickers, you see are our way of marking our territory, much in the same way a dog pisses on their favorite tree. But the true beauty of the Nalgene is that they are social butterflies, they are left in friends vehicles after a hike or often borrowed, lent or acquired (stolen).

Which is where I come back to the predetermined number of Nalgenes. You see once a Nalgene comes to you (and yes they do just appear) you now must piss on it (with stickers not urine). First you have to remove any stickers you dislike and then place your own all over it. And voila you now have a new Nalgene!!!

Here is my newest.

Thank you Juicebox!