Trekking Adventures

We had a great group for this mornings hike. The largest group I have had in about a month or two. Fourteen people were able to pull themselves from that comfortable Ritz Carlton beds. Believe me those beds are pretty comfy. Today everyone wanted to get their heart going so we decided to head up the Alamo Springs trail to a saddle about 400 feet above the Wild Burro Wash. The trail starts by going up hill pretty quick. With that many people we can get spread out a long way down the trail. But to my surprise everyone seemed to be hanging together pretty well. So I decided to step up the pace a little. About half the way to the saddle things get a bit steeper and more difficult. I was moving at a pretty good pace but still had about four people right on my tail, and they stayed there the rest of the way to the top. In fact all the hikers made it to the summit in what seemed to be a record time. Once at the top of the saddle the views are spectacular. To the west you can see past Kitt Peak observatory. To the south you could see the sky’s over Mexico. Downtown Tucson seems so tiny when viewing it from here. Only a few tiny skyscrapers rising from the floor of the desert, with Sentinal Peak watching over the hustle bustle of the city.

Hi everybody. It’s me again. Just wanted to drop a line and tell everyone about the new bikes we are getting in. Every couple of years John breaks down and gets us some new bikes for rentals. I don’t know all the details and specs of the bikes but I got a glimpse of them the other day. John and I took a couple of RCDM managers out on the trail and he brought out two of the new bikes. Very nice. Sleek black giants and the bikes he brought with had spicy red forks. The managers had a great time. We took them to the Tortolita Preserve mountain bike trail near the hotel. It’s funny, almost everyone I take mountain biking has the same reaction. “Wow, this is a lot harder than I thought.” A few simple tips for mountain biking, when coasting keep your pedals parallel to the ground to avoid being bucked off your bike by an ill placed rock. Focus on that part of the trail that you want your bike to go on. Not that portion of the trail that has the big rock or cactus in it. If you focus on that rock I guarantee you will run into it. When moving down a steep hill shift your weight toward the back of the bike. When riding up a steep hill try not to stand up. Standing up is a sure fire way to lose traction. Try instead to shift your weight forward and apply pressure to the front wheel to prevent wheel flop. Wheel flop is what happens when going up a steep hill and you hadn’t shifted your weight forward you front wheel starts to come off the ground making it very hard to stay on corse and in control. Those are the most basic tips. The more you ride and the more difficult the trail the better you will get and the more fun you will have. So get out there and ride your bike. Or better yet get out and ride one of our new bikes with one of our many talented guides.

Rick Gray

I wear on my wrist a yellow band that says “Live Strong.” It is the brainchild of Lance Armstrong and supports the foundation he founded for cancer research. In the past I have been accused of jumping on the band wagon when first seen wearing the band. However, I was fortunate enough to be living in Paris the first year that Armstrong won the Tour de France. Also I have been able to ride with him and other members of the team in early 2001. I look at this wristband everyday because I know what it means to live strong and to live sick.

I have had a chronic stomach condition for seven years. When it was first diagnosed, I struggled against it by cycling. Perhaps similar to Lance I rode the desert roads. I rode mostly alone. I entered races and got stronger and faster. On the wall in my room is a photo of me with Lance Armstrong. Those were the golden moments.

What my athleticism has to do with my stomach ailment is sometimes difficult to articulate. The pain and discomfort is similar to when I am riding my bike. After seven years of failed medications I am sick at any moment during the day, whether I have eaten or not. Recently after receiving my eighth endoscopy, I have learned that this chronic condition (although rare) can become cancerous if untreated. Sometimes I am angry my condition and at the world for doing this to me, but more often I deal with the pain by pushing through it.

I ran cross country and track for my high school. At the beginning of every meet, the officials ask me to take off my wristband because it is against the rules to wear anything extraneous during a race. I slide the wrist band off my hand, but its lessons remain firm; I have learned what it means to live strong.

Mr. Barker

JW Marriott Starr Pass

Well, here we are again at the JW Marriott Starr Pass for the Friday afternoon hike. Like your average employee, I came to work unprepared, not wearing my name tag, and not performing my duties as a professional guide. But the show must go on. To begin the shift, I was pleasantly greeted by my fellow staff who have acknowledged the invasion of Iowa football team supports here for Saturdays game. Makes for some interesting conversation as to whether or not one bleeds Arizona red and blue (for the UA) or if one will capitulate to the onslaught of foreign forces. My own beliefs aside, why cant we all just be friends? And is it too early in the season for street riots? So if you’re in Tucson this weekend, be sure to catch the sold out football game. And if that isnt your cup of tea, come join me for a hike. We all know that I need the company.

Barker out.

Out  here at the Ritz Carlton Dove mountain the morning hikes have been spectacular. The weather has been cooling down enough at night that we have been seeing more critters in the morning. Of course we see the usual lizards and bunnies as we do all summer. But lately some other guys have been coming out. When ever we head off the trail we have been finding snakes. Mostly different varieties of whip snake but every couple of days I have been finding an occasional rattle snake. The most common type has been the western diamond back (crotalus atrox). Some guests have seen and photographed a few different types. I had a guest show me a photo of a tiger rattler ( crotalus tigris) and I have found a speckled rattler ( crotalus michelli).  But the friend I want to tell about is our little unofficial mascot. The hotel has a great loop trail that goes around the perimeter of the hotel property. On this trail about half way through on top of a small hill if you keep your eyes peeled you will see Franklin. Franklin is a male desert tortoise ( Gopherus agassizi). I call him Franklin after a cartoon turtle that my daughter loved when she was much younger. On most days he is one of the high lights of the hike. He usually just sits there and poses for the cameras. I’m sure with enough looking you your self could find pics of him on the Internet. He has become kind of a local celebrity. So if you’re hiking out here behind the hotel be sure to look for Franklin, cause he likes to pose for you.

Rick Gray