Its just flat out hard to beat some good ole East Coast exploration days with great friends...

Spent the weekend crashing at Mike Coco's pad outside of Brevard, NC in the Pisgah National Forest. Explored some trails through Pisgah on Saturday and headed to Dupont State Forest today. I want more...

The area is littered with awesome waterfalls...

The trail passed us by both the top and the bottom of this waterfall...

Brandon looks to be enjoying himself....

Lemma relaxes by the waterfall after a hard days ride...

Cool slick rock trails!

Gavin knows how to handle a bike...

With the heat, the stream crossings were a welcome site...

Lemma can hold her own on difficult descents...

Not a bad place to stretch

This is one of the many falls in the world named "Bridal Veil Falls," yet this particular one was where parts of this scene from The Last of the Mohicans were filmed. 

Its been an interesting year, to say I've been doing so much exploratory riding. You can't beat long rides in the forest, and new rides are always interesting. Its addicting... 

Congrats to SMT for another great Wilderness 101 this year. Zerbe said it was awesome. NICE WORK!

Jasper National Park, Alberta

Riding the trails through "The Valley of the Five Lakes."

By the Athabasca River...

Pyramid Mountain from Patricia Lake

"Stop taking my picture while I eat...."

Looking down on the town of Jasper from The Whistlers

This little fellow was quite hungry on top of the snowy Wistlers. He came quite close hoping to snag some of my food...

Inuksuk - Very, very cool...

I just got back from spending a few days bouncing around outside of my comfort zone, in another country, a totally new and wild landscape, doing some riding, hiking, and meeting some interesting people. 

I'm not really sure I can choose the right words to describe how incredible Jasper National Park is. The town, the mountains, the wildlife, and the history make it all such an exciting place to be. My short few days was hardly enough time to scratch the surface of the bounty of outdoor exploration to be had there. 

A return trip is in order....With that being said, I need some rest...

Not too much to say other than it was good to maximize my time visiting in Virginia. Some big time riding during a couple stages of the Tour de Burg. Some great time visiting with my cousins and friends back home, and I even snuck in a run down Balcony Falls.

Crushing...

It was very good to spend a few days in Harrisonburg visiting some of the great friends I made last year. 

This morning I was introduced to a nice stash of gravel road around Talona Mountain. Up early in the morning to beat the heat. Steep climbs up the mountain, drop off on fire roads to the gravel goodness. I smell an epic cross bike loop in the future. 

I even saw a fat copperhead chillin on the side of the road. I don't think he was very interested in having his picture taken. 

Like I said, it was great to run up the road and spend a few days visiting so many great people. I've been very lucky to have made so many good friends over the years of bouncing from here to there. Starting to make some good ones during this stage as well!