Lost In The Right Direction

The chaos and troubles of life can sometimes be a little overwhelming.  Taking the time and using our opportunities to get outside and enjoy some fresh mountain air, jaw dropping views and admiring all that nature has to offer is to good to pass up in this crazy world.  Walking up on the view that this trail had to share was just stunning.  As you crest the hill and the mountains slowly (I'm a slow hiker) come into view I just stood in amazement. Pretty sure I have this same reaction every time.  Oh the places we can go, the view we can see, the mountains we can climb, the places our feet can take us.  It was a warm day with a slight breeze, birds going about their business filling the air with sweet sounds, the balsam root was in wonderful shape, lots of small wildflowers blooming on the hills.  Sometimes it's good to just wander over the hills, no path, just roll with the landscape and enjoy the surroundings as you make your back down to the trail....

Getting out and enjoying a beautiful evening ride.  We ventured up to Echo Ridge trails for a evening ride, first time experiencing the trails on a bike.   I've hiked and snowshoed, but never pedaled this area.  I ride for the pure enjoyment and the free feeling I receive than for exercise.  There is such a joy, complete sense of freedom I feel when I ride, it is something that I almost feel addicted to and have a really hard time choosing between hiking or biking.  Fat biking in the winter started this craving that now has bled over into spring rides, a few summer evening rides and beautiful fall rides.  Most of the time you could call my bike outings a hike-a-bike, since I spend about the same amount of time off my bike taking pictures of nature as I do riding.  The Echo Ridge trails were a pleasure to ride, a little bit of everything, wide open spaces and huge views, nice flowing trails where you can pick up speed, places you can ride side...