The refurbished evaporative cooler...

is ready for the forecast high temperatures this weekend. The blower was lubricated and the original water pump was replaced with a new one that is much quieter, while the aspen wood pads were replaced last year. I’m grateful that a Wi-Fi connection to the Internet wasn’t required for the pump. It’s very simple tech that works extraordinarily well.

The sweet time to ride...

is shifting to earlier and earlier in the day as the arrival of summer is exactly two weeks away. Here’s a look at a most magnificent back yard at dawn and my shadow proves I was there.

Panorama view of Castle Valley National Park including the big five: Round Mountain, Porcupine Rim, Parriott Mesa, Castleton Tower and Adobe Mesa. (Click on image to enlargenate.)

Stalking the wild columbine flower...

at the nearly 9,000 foot (2,740 m) elevation in the La Sal Mountains above Castle Valley, but, alas, none are in bloom during this year of drought in an ordinarily gorgeous patch among the aspens. But it did afford a visit with two of my favorite ancient ponderosa pine trees.

Continuing on to Gateway, Colorado, dropping into John Brown Canyon.

A portal into an atomic future...

at the Mi Vida Mine, the most significant uranium mine in the largest uranium district in Utah. Located south of Moab on the southwest flank of the Lisbon Valley salt-cored anticline, the mineralized zone is contained in the Moss Back Member of the Chinle Formation (Upper Triassic (237 Ma - 201.4 Ma)). Discovered by Charlie Steen and worked from 1952 to 1960, the high grade uraninite ore was transported to the Atlas Mill in Moab for processing. This is what remains at the historic site today.

Mine entrance at the oxidation/reduction boundary in a mudstone in the Chinle Formation.

Wide view of Mi Vida Mine site. Wingate Sandstone forms the jointed escarpment. The red oxidized zone in the Chinle Formation is clearly seen, with the mine entrance (right of center) in the bleached reduced zone.

Tipple to transfer ore from the ore cars onto trucks for transport to the mill for processing.

Electric tender and ore cars, frozen in space and time.

Comprehensive overview: Uranium and Vanadium Resources of Utah (pdf).

An old ranch well is being refurbished...

after being little used for more than 60 years, since the time when the ranch was subdivided into five acre parcels that now comprise our small rural community. Considerable sedimentation has occurred in the 180 foot deep - 16 inch diameter (55 m - 0.4 m) bore that is located mid-valley and will have to be jetted out before pump installation.

Once fully refurbished the new landowner will allow the Castle Valley Fire Department access to the high yielding well for use in emergencies. A big thanks in advance!

Ride the dirt and not the mud...

at the Mud Springs Trail System south of Moab, and that’s exactly what I did this morning with my good friend and neighbor. Conditions were dry and fast!

Scenic view to the east from the summit of the Mud Springs Trail.

Annotated image of my Garmin GPS track, color reflects speed. The turnoff onto Yellow Circle Road is unsigned and is 12 miles (~19 km) from downtown Moab.

Trail information posted by the BLM at the trailhead. Several more trails are planned to complete the network.

Taking the long way...

to the US Post Office in Moab today via the Shafer Trail and Potash Road, about an 80 mile (130 km) long detour. Pretty scenic though!

View from Island in the Sky down to the White Rim in the inner canyon with the La Sal Mountains on the distant horizon.

The Shafer Trail switchbacks descending onto the White Rim Trail.

The Colorado River is running about 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) right now where median discharge on this date is around 10,000 cfs.

Thelma & Louise Point overlooking the Colorado River.

Potash evaporation ponds and the gently dipping red beds of the Cane Creek anticline (left of center).

Petroglyph panel along Potash Road depicting a bighorn sheep hunt and bear encounter. The bear glyph is enormous and is more than three feet (1 m) across.

The acid test for a newly tuned bike...

is an early morning lap at the Slickrock Trail of course! The shop mechanics at Poison Spider Bicycles in Moab are top notch and do terrific work. Highly recommended (no commission earned).

Large-scale trough crossbeds dominate the Navajo Sandstone (Lower Jurassic (201.4 Ma - 174.7 Ma)) and the coarsely etched foresets in the rock adds texture to the rolling landscape. The lack of joints and fractures in this area above Moab makes it particularly fun to ride but there is considerable vertical relief as this image shows, making the trail challenging due to the steep ascents/descents and off camber riding.

View down Grandstaff Canyon from the Slickrock Trail with Arches National Park on the skyline.