Mountain Biking Canyonlands!
November 14, 2009
So if you haven’t heard of the White Rim in Moab . . .
It’s a trail in Canyonlands National Park & it’s PURE awesomeness!!
Let’s see — it went a bit like this:
Day 1: Drive 8 hours to get to the campground & meet the group (8 of us total). Eat a fabulous chicken chili dinner & drink a plastic glass of wine, then sleep on a camping pad & in a sleeping bag - which I haven’t done since June…
Day 2: Ride into Canyonlands National Park. Marvel all day at the amazing scenery while biking down into the canyon. Hoot & holler down the switchbacks ’cause it’s an amazing ride! Do 12 miles of driving the Toyota too, but hit a bit of a hiccup while 4 wheelin’ a crazy steep rocky hill & almost had a heart-attack. Make it to the camp, can’t believe all the stars I’m seeing & hit the hay.
Day 3: Ride my bike all day — avoiding sand pits, rocks that can easily take me down & wiping sweat from my brow (the weather was great & I have a bit of a tan)! I eat jerky & tuna all day, get to the campsite & explore the rock faces & take pictures by the amazing drop off places. There’s a fabulous sunset, the group plays games, we watch the packrats run over people feet in the dark & laugh a lot 
Day 4: 31 miles, woo! We were constantly up & down steep grades, & I couldn’t believe I did most of them! Totally tuckered out from a long day of riding, so we ate some dinner & hit the tents by 8:30pm (it was a late night)!
Day 5: We drive up & out of Canyonlands because it’s important to get back to Jackson Hole today! Had a panic attack on the way out because of the steep grade + being in a truck. I thought for sure I was going to heaven today because we were going to fall of one of the cliffs! Drove back to JH in 9 hours & arrived home to my fab boyfriend who had cooked me a wonderful steak, lobster & crab dinner to celebrate my birthday! He also baked a chocolate cake with coconut frosting just for me too
All in all, it was an epic trip!
Guaranteed, this is not the last time I see & experience Moab . . . I’m hooked!! LOL
All pics are located here (always!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/rocaiazzo
Rocky Horror & Halloween!
November 1, 2009
A fun time was had by all!
The weekend before last, I went to a cyclocross race in Victor – really cool to watch! Also went to see Rocky Horror with my neighbor & we had a great time sitting right in front!! I also took the mayor’s puppy for a run, watched the Kiwanis Follies & stopped by Mulligan Stew Pet Food’s warehouse. I am now officially their Social Networking Consultant!
Then, this weekend came & the parties began! There were many parties to attend, & I dressed up differently Friday & Saturday. At the big Snow King party, I made sure I got some pics with some peeps in fantastic costumes! It’s so great living in a town where almost everyone dresses up for Halloween & goes out 
All pics are located here (always!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/rocaiazzo
Raptor Center + Cesar Milan Event
October 11, 2009
Going to the Raptor Center in Wilson, Wyoming was a great experience! I was able to see all of the birds & learn so much from the handler. My favorite was “Owly,” whom the handler said was a bit b*tchy at times. It was amazing checking out all of the birds in residence! Check out this YouTube video of the peregrine falcon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3mTPEuFcWk
D & I took a road trip recently to Rexburg, Idaho to get our hair done at the Paul Mitchell school there (it took them 4 hours to do my hair!). You’ll note how much better my hair looks in the last 2 pics LOL & yes, it has been snowing here in Jackson – so I went hiking in it the other day & thoroughly enjoyed myself. It of course has since melted (in the mountains it’s there to stay), but I’m ready to brave another winter with my bike & look more often to make a purchase for the used Subaru of my dreams!
Also, last night was the Cesar Millan (the dog whisperer on Animal Planet) event which was super fun. PAWS sponsored the reception, so we were able to meet Cesar & take pictures with him! He is a very dynamic & funny speaker – it was a great time
All pics are located here (always!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/rocaiazzo
Fall PAWS Events + Hiking
September 28, 2009
This is my 100th blog post!!
I was happy to be a part of PAWS events — the Brookover art viewing & wine tasting event + Old Bill’s (all donations to non-profits get matched). Since my schedule has slowed down now (no more mountain biking!), I’ve been taking advantage of this beautiful indian summer we’ve been having here in the hole . . .
A major hike up to Ampitheatre & Surprise Lakes was great, however – I think I almost killed my bod in the process. We were in a time crunch, so it was necessary to mostly jog down (!!). On another hike through Cascade Canyon, we enjoyed all of the fantastic autumn colors & of course, the most fab view of the mountains all around
Another big week ahead: visiting the raptor center, paragliding & the Paul Mitchell Salon in Rexburg, Idaho. Good times over here in the fall — I even bought a pumpkin already!!
All pics are located here (always!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/rocaiazzo
Vegas Baby, VEGAS!!
September 12, 2009
Ummm, yeah I went to Vegas — & that’s all I’m going to say for this post 
Oh just kidding . . . I had fun with my friends & momma in sweltering Las Vegas. I did party a little much the day I flew in (with Becky’s sister’s bachelorette party. I was up until 6am – UGH!), but the nights remaining were pretty darn tame. Uneventful really — with the excitement of the day either being shopping, watching my mom gamble or walking around the pool in my floppy hat & high heels LOL It was nice to just have some down-time really.
Anyway – The celeb turned out to be Chris Rock (!!), however — he went paragliding 1st & he was feeling the need to vomit, so me & Bill took his 3 darling daughters under the age of 7, the huge bodyguard, the nanny & the Godfather on a bike tour. C’est la vie!
All pics are located here (always!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/rocaiazzo
Downhillin’ Targhee!
August 30, 2009
I have been working my tail off; went to Yellowstone again, did a few tours with Trek Travel (borrowed/rode a $6K bike!!) & tomorrow I may be doing a private tour with a celeb & his family if the weather is good (not sure who it is yet)!! I also had some fun doing some downhill biking at Grand Targhee Mountain Resort. What a rush taking the bike on the ski lift & then coming down wicked downhill runs Definitely one of my fav things to do!
So, the car hasn’t happened yet, but I am the proud owner of a new “cruiser” bicycle & love riding it around town! I got it for a sweet $$ deal at a yard sale: http://www.hunch.com/bicycles-for-adults/result/electra-hawaii-3i-step-thru-bike-women-s/149941/ It’s been quite wonderful eating out of my friend Renee’s garden — spiniach, sugar snap peas & lettuce so beautiful, so fresh & soooo very delicious!! I also went over to Driggs, Idaho for some “Music on Main” one night & was happy to have experienced that. I had a few nights out on the town, a few nights in with girlfriends & worked PAWS yesterday for the Saturday Farmer’s Market!
Next weekend? I’ll see my momma & some ladies from Connecticut . . .
It’s all about relaxing in Vegas baby, VEGAS!!
All pics are located here (always!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/rocaiazzo
Boating, Biking & Floating — Oh My!
August 7, 2009
I went boating with Andy & D! D killed the wakeboarding, I . . . tried LOL
I never even got up on the board & my upper bod hurt for days!!
Let’s see what else? OK, yeah I’ve been guiding bike trips like crazy & making summer molah — some of the highlights: A woman from Beverly Hills going over the handlebars (yes, there was blood & I didn’t freak out), getting eaten alive by bugs doing a Flat Creek tour and riding with a jewish rabbi & his clan where all the women wore long black skirts!!
On the business side, I was an actor in a commercial & also voiced a few for the Rustic Inn. When they are ready on YouTube, I’ll post of course! Also — I think I forgot to mention earlier that I’ve been writing the Teton Mountain Bike blog! Check it: http://www.tetonmtbike.com/wordpress/
More fun to come, summer’s not over yet!!
All pics are located here (always!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/rocaiazzo
The 4th + Summer in JH
July 22, 2009
The 4th of July parade was super fun! In fact, the whole day was super fun — check out the drink in my hand in almost every picture LOL The parade went right by my cabin, so my friend Renee & my neighbor Darin had blueberry pancackes & then took our mimosas right outside! Then, we jauntied off to Grand Teton National Park & motored around on a boat for a bit. There was lots of wakeboarding going on, but of course, before I could try it – the storm clouds rolled right on in 
I also finally unpacked the rest of my things into my cabin (yes, I know its almost been a year!) & visited the Farmer’s Market to by fresh fruits & veggies! I also hosted a couch-surfer from France for 2 nights — she was a wonderful young lady, living her life’s dream of traveling the states. This past weekend was busy with 2 pet-sitting gigs, as I’m just workin’ it for that summer $$$$ – & I also attended a chicken fry (yum!) & a “red dress party” which were fun times!
& last, but never least — Outward Bound posted my life-changing story LOL To be honest, I didn’t think they’d post it, but they did! Check out the link (I’m the 2nd story listed): http://www.outwardbound.org/index.cfm/do/obs.story Also – a complete stranger contacted me on couchsurfing recently & I thought her note to me was just lovely — so I posted it here & I’ll leave you with that
Hi Rose, While looking for a trip for my teenage son on the OB site, I came across your story. I must say, it really was an inspirational one and the experience seemed life transforming for you. You’re very brave to make such changes in your life and move out to Jackson. I’m hoping my son is going to grow a lot thru this experience, too, and that it will prime the pump for future trips and adventure! After finding your blog (which I enjoyed reading a great deal), I decided to look you up on CS, and I was glad to learn that you’re guiding and doing mountain biking trips. Anyways, just wanted to say ‘hi’ and introduce myself! Happy trails, Beth
Rose = a road biker?
June 30, 2009
Yes, I’m a road biker — when my bike boss tells me I am! LOL
I did have the hottest road bike in town though . . . complete with a “Jake the Snake” sticker on it (I borrowed it from my friend Bill, who has like 20 bikes)!
Anyway — here are some bullet points from the past week!
Tue – Biked along the Firehole River with a hawk, checked out the many beautiful geysers & watched silly people try to get cuddly with Buffalo (34 miles)
Wed – Hucked up the Continential Divide (elevation of 2,300 feet) & started reading the book my momma gave me: Be Your Own Matchmaker (I am officially in “boy detox” for 60 days now because of this book LOL) (48 miles)
Thurs – Visited the Canyon, saw a grizzly bear & was invited by the guides on mountain bike/camping trip to Moab to do the White Rim in November (36 miles)
Fri – Biked in pouring down rain for half the day, ate yummy pizza at Dornan’s & made BANK in tips at trip end! (54 miles)
Sat – Caught up on emails & work, admired my new sunny yellow door & went to a Laff Staff comedy performance with my friend Renee
Sun – Went to an outdoor music fest w/Jo & Cat over in Idaho
& today? It was back to biking in paradise of course!
Now the rest of the week consists of working until the holiday weekend appears 
All pics are located here (always!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/rocaiazzo
Tentsurfing in Colorado!
June 15, 2009
Great times were had @ 10K feet in Colorado!
I was so glad to stop in Denver to see my BF Marti & her family for an evening of catching up on life before camping (plus, she has a hot tub)! Then, I was able to see my friend Bryon & his friend Bonnie at the Couchsurfing event in Fairplay, CO for a few days. We did everything from hiking, lounging in the hot springs, sipping coffee, playing card games in huge tents during major wind/rainstorms, hanging out by the bonfire & meeting a bunch of new couchsurfers! For those of you who do not know what “couchsurfing” is & would like to know — check out www.couchsurfing.com & see what it’s all about!
& now I’m paying for all my play-time, as I’ll be working PAWS 3 days in a row & preparing for next week’s road bike tour (yes, I did say road bike) with a woman’s tour group for 4 days. Happy Monday everyone!
All pics are located here (always!):
http://picasaweb.google.com/rocaiazzo
