Transition Tuesday Week 25

Telling Stories In Moab

The majesty of Moab.

Moab has long been used as a location for films, TV programs and commercials: many of John Wayne’s movies were filmed there. You can see some of Moab’s majestic vistas in Rio Grande; The Comancheros; Cheyenne Autumn; The Greatest Story Ever Told; Once Upon a Time in the West; Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade; and Thelma & Louise. Moab was also used as a backdrop for images in the Marlboro Man campaign.

Looking east towards the La Sal Mountains.  Utahs’s second highest mountain range with six peaks rising above 12,000 feet.

The third annual Moab Canyonlands Endurance Ride was hosted very capably last weekend by Sheri Griffith and her plucky team of volunteers.  A winter storm kept many of us away for the first day of the three day ride, bringing the number of riders on the first day down from the 135 who had pre-registered to less than 100.

Stunning trails.

Redford crossing some of the Slickrock.

I confess I cringed for the first five miles on Day 2. There was more deep sand than I had anticipated and I did not know if Redford would get rubbed by a build-up of the powdery sand in the gaiters. I stopped on the trail at about five miles and pulled back all four gaiters to check for abrasion: there was none.

I used these four Gloves for the two 50 mile races. They are only just getting broken in.

This was my second time to use Easyboot Gloves at a race: this time I used them as they were designed to be used. I have been trying out the Easyboot Glue-Ons at all the other races and they have worked so well for me that I was hesitant to try anything else. I rode Redford 100 miles over two days in the Gloves and the variety of trail conditions were a great test. We did many miles of deep sandy wash trails, Slickrock and gravel roads. The boots worked really well – there was practically no rubbing by the 100^th mile, and the boots hardly look like they have been used.

As Julia Lynn pointed out during our 19 hours in the saddle together over the two days, endurance is like several sports all in one. Not everyone has the same goal; some of the riders are out there to savor the miles and use every hour allotted to complete the course. I was one such rider this weekend: the scenery deserved all the attention it could get. I enjoyed being witness to some stories from some of the high mileage riders at the back of the pack.

Carol and Robyn Wadey.

MR Ladybird’s Easyboots.

Carol Wadey and daughter Robyn drove three days from their home town of Edson, Alberta, Canada to attend the event. Carol rode her 20-year old Spanish Mustang mare, MR Ladybird. She rode all three days in Original Easyboots. “I just love them” said Carol, “I only use Gloves when there is mud. The rest of the time I just use regular Easyboots and I never have a problem.” Carol and Robyn looked quite the part in their witch costumes.

Kerry Redente and Bountyful Prince.

There was Kerry Redente riding her gelding, Bountyful Prince, to become the 2009 National High Mileage Champion. She is well clear of the 1,800 mile mark with him for this year alone. You’ve seen Kerry’s smiling face in some of the EasyCare publications.

Carla Richardson knows how to crack a joke.

I had the pleasure of riding several hilarious miles with Carla Richardson on Day 3. She is definitely one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. Carla is originally from Texas and now lives in Delta Colorado.

Carla completed her first 50 mile race in 2008 and was immediately hooked. She and her gelding, SS Kharady Khid, have completed 1,430 miles together in 2009. “I had noticed so many endurance riders using glue-ons, and I was intrigued. After Color Country I went over to Christoph's and he put on Glue-Ons. I've used them on every ride since then, except for Virgin Rim when I used Gloves. My tough little energizer bunny Khid did beautifully in the Gloves, even through the clay, mud and volcanic rocks of the Rim ride. He didn't get any rubs at all.”

Dave Rabe and White Cloud.

Dave Rabe was out there too with White Cloud who looks like he will take second place in the National High Mileage standings. White Cloud has more than 1,400 miles this year, all of them in Easyboot Glue-Ons. Dave will probably clear 46,000 career miles before the year is over and is one of the most gracious people you could ever hope to meet on the trail.

Mari Ural at the start of Day 2.

And there was Mari Ural, who is about to cross the 20,000 career mile marker. Mari was there with her gelding Psyches Quest. She used Gloves all three days and her horse looked fantastic.

There are some good lessons to be learned at the back of the pack. And if you’re looking for ease of use, the Gloves could not be simpler to use.

Keep up the boot legging!

Kevin