Chasing light on bikes in Moab

In All, Biking, Moab, Utah by DylanLeave a Comment

Jacqui Edgerly on Captain Ahab.

Jacqui Edgerly on Captain Ahab.

Whether intentionally or not, it seems that a handful of my Colorado friends keep returning to Moab each fall and spring. If you look back through my blog, you’ll see that I rarely let a Moab trip slip past, and thus, as my blog fills up with more and more rides of the red rock trails, I am routinely faced with coming up with different ways to present our trips. I wish I could say it’s because all the trails we ride look the same. But what can I say, we are creatures of habit, and I have found Captain Ahab and the Gemini Bridges trails to be superb. Plus, when you get to know a trail, you get to ride it faster and harder. This trip was no different, we rode the same trails.

I mountain bike, ski and backpack for pretty much the same reason, to get out and explore. Sure, I get my thrills by dropping a ledge here and there, but existentially, it’s all the same: I enjoy being in nature. But how do we as photographers show nature through the eyes of a skier, a backpacker and/or a biker? Many times I’m ripping around in the middle of the day, and although I do take photos during the washed out part of the day, those photos rarely make it on my blog. I prefer, like most photographers, to shoot during the magic hour. But when adventuring, this can present several challenges, namely, getting lost in the dark (Flashlight? Check.).

When sitting on top of a line and the light is fading, I, the man with the camera, who also loves to shred, is faced with a dilemma: Let go of the artist’s eye and just let gravity take hold or ask to go first, post up on a cool corner and try to capture my buddies blasting through the best section of trail. Now, at first I feel like I’m losing a great moment by stopping in the middle of my “flow,” but days—sometimes weeks later—when I sit down and have completely forgotten the inner conflict of whether I should have stopped or not I see the photos of my buddies and know it was all worth it.
 

James Gorman, Captain Ahab.

James Gorman on Captain Ahab.

 
Jacqui Edgerly on Captain Ahab.

Jacqui Edgerly on Captain Ahab.

 
Jacqui Edgerly, Hymasa, Moab.

Jacqui Edgerly, Hymasa, Moab.

Magnificent 7, Moab, Utah.

Magnificent 7, Moab, Utah.

 
Jacqui Edgerly in the Gemini Bridges zone, Moab, Utah.

Jacqui Edgerly, Gemini Bridges trails, Moab, Utah.

 
Shane Spyker following a Gemini Bridges loop.

Shane Spyker, Bull Run trailhead.

 
Sunset at camp, Horsethief Campground.

Sunset at camp, Horsethief Campground.

 
Shane Spyker, Klonzo North trails, Moab, Utah.

Shane Spyker, Klonzo North trails, Moab, Utah.

 
Michael Gorman, Klonzo North Trails, Moab, Utah.

Michael Gorman, Klonzo North trails, Moab, Utah.

 
Jacqui Edgerly, Klonzo North Trails, Moab, Utah.

Jacqui Edgerly, Klonzo North trails, Moab, Utah.

 
Jacqui and James, Klonzo North Trails, Moab, Utah.

Jacqui and James, Klonzo North trails, Moab, Utah.

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