Over the years my bicycle rides and pounding the pavement on my feet have turned into a lab of testing energy nutrition from a menu of fuels packed with carbohydrates, electrolytes, a blend of protein and whatever else the manufactures think my slow body needs. Today was no different. In short: Hammer Chocolate Recoverite mixed with cold non fat milk is freakin tasty for a post exercise beverage.

Now for the longer version that you can skip. The cast: my wife Shelly and her friend Brandi along with Dr. Barry Noorda OBGYN (no relation to Norda's Inc. but a fine customer none the less) who is my personal Gynecologist. I try to never leave home without one because I never know when I may need some treatment or an exam. Barry was due in the office so he kept his miles short and turned around a third into the ride. The girls and I were riding the Tour De Wellsville’s* a 80 mile loop located in Northern Utah with a couple climbs.

On the back side of the ride the road rolls through small farm towns with a few ups and downs. The wind was favorable and the temperature still had not climbed to unbearable July heat. We saw a few other cyclists enjoying the morning vistas but for the most part traffic was minimal and we had the two lane country road to ourselves. We pedaled into Brigham City ready to fill our water bottles and decided hash browns with a Dr Pepper chaser at McDonalds would only help further our energy testing for the big climb ahead.

Brigham City sleeps at 4400 feet, the canyon climbs through a winding four-lane road passing through the small town of Mantua at 5200 then steps up the climb to summit just over 6000 feet. All of this beauty radiates in the Cache National Forest. Just out of Mantua Shelly and I spotted a red fox who appeared to be looking from the brush for a good time to cross the road. I wanted to tell him there were too many cars but I’m not sure he would of listened.

at the summit

I had been enjoying Hammer Orange-Vanilla Perpetuem (tastes like a dream cycle) and Hammer Apple-Cinnamon Gel (tastes like apple pie filling and is more of a treat then actual energy gel) but I must admit my thoughts turn to chips and salsa when I am heading home after a longer activity and today was no different. If I am out for two hours or more I will usually drink some sort of recovery drink. I’ve been mixing up the flavors and brands but today I tried the Hammer Chocolate Recoverite** mixed for the first time with low fat milk. THUMBS UP!!! Not as creamy as 2% chocolate milk but tasty just the same.

*Wikipedia: The Wellsville Mountains are located in northern Utah and are often considered part of the Wasatch Mountains. The mountains separate the Cache Valley from the Wasatch Front. Nearly all of the water collected by the Wellsville Mountains drains into the Bear River.

While only moderately tall, they are particularly narrow. For this reason, it is often claimed they are one of the steepest mountain ranges in North America. ^{[1] [2][3]} Box Elder (9,372') and the Wellsville Cone (9,356') are its two highest peaks. U.S. 89/91 traverses Wellsville Canyon east of Brigham City as a four-lane highway, curving north then northeast and entering the Cache Valley at Wellsville.

** Hammer Recoverite recovery drinks come in these delicious flavors: Chocolate, Citrus, and Strawberry.

How well you perform tomorrow depends on how well you recover today, which is why you can't cut corners when it comes to your post-workout fueling. Recoverite supplies your body with the proper 3:1 ratio of complex carbohydrates and the highest quality whey protein isolate, along with generous amounts of multi-beneficial glutamine (a whopping 3 grams per serving!), the potent antioxidant l-carnosine, and a full-spectrum electrolyte profile. The result is rapid and enhanced recovery, which allows you to obtain the maximum value from all your hard workouts, ideally prepping your body for your next workout or race. Make sure you're recovering right with Recoverite and remember, it makes a superb meal replacement drink as well. Train hard, recover right today and feel great tomorrow.

Extra Benefits:
The amino acid glutamine, also contained in Hammer Whey, plays a vital role in the health of the muscles, immune system, and digestive tract. Glutamine is arguably the key "recovery amino" as it (A) helps boost the immune system (B) helps to reduce the symptoms of overtraining syndrome (C) plays a role in enhancing glycogen synthesis (D) stimulates muscle protein synthesis for the rebuilding of lean muscle tissue.

• Minimize post-exercise muscle soreness
• Rebuild muscle tissue
• Restore muscle glycogen
• Made with natural ingredients
• Gluten-Free
• Contains no MSG
• Kosher Dairy Certified

I think, therefore I... (fill in the blank). Today I will fill in with "trip." Going on a trip can be an exciting adventure to a place far away or around the corner close to your back yard. A trip can be months, weeks or maybe a few short hours. Trips can take your body places you dream about while letting your mind carry you to a place away from the frustrations of daily work and stress. Family trips can be full of fun and frustration like our recent trip to Arches National Park. Another trip can be like good friend currently in Africa on a humanitarian medical trip with his family. How lucky is he to spend time helping others and allowing his kids to learn a cultural life changing experience. However, today I will focus not on the outside pleasures of the world but the joys found close to home in my back yard.

The alarm was set for 5:30 on a crisp Saturday morning. My wife was getting up early for the annual Little Red Riding Hood all women bike ride around the rolling country roads of Cache Valley. I turned over for a few more minutes of sleep before crawling out of bed in preparation for a local trip to the stunningly steep Dry Canyon trail. My wife and I finished our preparations for our morning activities together in the kitchen. I was busy mixing some Hammer Perpetuem to keep me fulled for a few hours and Shelly was filling her water bottle with the same and another with her favorite hydrating concoction, Camelbak Elixir. We ate a light breakfast and said our goodbyes. Shelly left with her road bike as I left with my trail running shoes.


I set out for a mile warm up run on the flat base of Logan Peak rising 5,000 feet above my home. I turned right to start the very steep accent up the canyon. My goal was not to summit today but to change from the city streets I run to the trials and nature I love. The previous days rain had left the earth soft and damp. The trail was loose gravel and soft dirt. "Wow (breath)... "this" (breath)... "is" (breath).... "steep" (breath)... I hiked this trail many times but today I was trying to maintain a quicker pace however my jog turned into a brisk walk and spurts of a slow jog. Soon I was to the snow line in the canyon. I stopped to look down into the valley with the morning clouds below me and the rising sun warming the valley floor. I listened to the birds and the light breeze moving the pine trees. The smell of crisp pine, melting snow and fresh mountain air filled my expanded lungs as thoughts of a beautiful world ran through my mind. "How lucky am I?" This was turning into a splendid June morning trip.

I continued up the trail stepping aside for the only other human I would see on the trail. He was on his way down the trail as we exchanged greetings. He looked fast, I didn't. I continued on a now snow covered trail following fresh tracks and several older tracks. Soon I was 4 miles up the trial at the junction where the trail splits. To the south, snow covered the trail so I headed north on the southwestern facing slope wet from melting snow but cleared from the winter's blanket. I filled a water bottle at a brisk running spring. The water was cool and clear. It tasted so good. Now at my turn around point close to 9,000 feet I gazed at the valley floor thinking about my wife riding her bike and enjoying her Saturday trip.

Like most trips there is a time to return home. Running down the trail is easier on my lungs but my legs quickly felt the fatigue of the climb up. Snow always brings a smile to my face and soon I forget about the hard effort of the ascent and the pain in my legs. My feet were wet and cold as I slid on the firm snow. I made a quick detour following the wrong set of tracks but realized my mistake before bushwhacking back to the main trial. Soon after I left the snowy trail I stopped to empty my shoes with a few little rocks and tighten my laces. I could feel my feet slipping and didn't want to return with blistered feet. I was back running on the soft trail again, picking up speed and lost in tranquility with the sounds on my iPod. I recalled when I was in neighboring Logan Canyon trail running. Everything was jake running along the ragging river before I landed splat on my face, chest, and legs. This was a trip created from a small rock catching the toe of my shoe and sending me falling to the earth with a splat. A real trip.

No sooner then I was recalling this fond memory and laughing about it I caught the toe of my right shoe on the side hill. A trip. Not a trip to Africa, no kids in the car yelling at each other and nothing like a trip around the valley on a bike. One step and I'm alright. Second step and I'm going to pull this off. Third step and I'm getting worried. Forth step and I am going down. The fifth step sent me to the side hill's soft dirt. I almost pulled it out. I thought about a previous trip, therefore I tripped.

Years of skiing have taught me one thing about falling. Tuck and roll. Don't try to stop the falling nature of force. As I went down with my hands out and my shoulder tucked in I absorbed the fall high up on a mountain trail. After a quick survey of myself I realized despite a water bottle being ejected from my belt, dirt on my Smith sunglasses, my earphones pulled from my ear, and mud from my ankle to my face I was alright. No injury today. I stood up making sure no other human was laughing at the cascading crash. Realising I was by myself I replaced my Skullcandy earphones and started back on the trail home.

I felt great running into the culdesac where we live, a muddied ego but alright. Returning home after a "trip" one can always say there is no place like home. I think about good things in life; my family, cold fresh mountain spring water, and my ability to savor activities like skiing, biking and running. These are the things I love. Maybe, just maybe, I think, therefore I love.

sponsors:
Hammer Nutrition
Smith Optics
Skullcandy
Camelbak

C.R. Johnson was killed Feb. 24, 2010 while skiing Squaw Valley, California. C.R. was at Norda's Park City, Utah grand opening a few years back and was truely one of the nicest guys I've met. The skiing industry lost a great man and a true lover of the sport. We respect C.R. and pray for his family.

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Dynastar's & Lange's Performance Guarantee

Oct 1st, 2009: In a difficult economy, Dynastar, Lange, and Look realize the importance of customer satisfaction. That is why we guarantee our products 100%. Now you don’t have to demo, you can return the product if it isn't perfect for your skiing style!

All Dynastar alpine skis, Look bindings and Lange boots have a performance guarantee. If you are not not 100% satisfied with the performance of your product within 3 days of skiing, then return it to the dealer, and get a 100% credit toward another Dynastar/ Look/ Lange model of equal or greater value. Dynastar/ Look/ Lange stands behind every product we sell, striving to deliver the highest performance product at every level. The ski, binding, or boot must be purchased from an Authorized Dynastar/ Look/ Lange Dealer and the model must be from the 09/10 collection. Performance Guarantee for all 09/10 collection expires April 1st, 2010.

Looking for a tasty snack on a ride, hike, or anywhere? I am a fan of the Hammer Nutrition Energy Bar. This easy to digest bar is made from wholesome ingredients. Plus it carries USDA organic, non-dairy kosher and vegan (Almond Raisin) certifications.

check em out

Try one of these bad boys and you'll be hooked. The Coconut Cashew Chocolate Chip rocks my world... great for an afternoon snack, on a long bike ride and soon to be my fovorite ski lift snack.