Snowflake Monday

Moore Fun Trail

This week's snowflake is another jewel located in the Kokopelli River loops area, several miles southwest of Loma, Colorado. The Moore Fun Trail is a technical ride ascending and descending a ridgeline above the Kokopelli Trail proper. The trail was built for mountain biking between 1999 and 2000. I think the trail got its name from the guy who laid it out. Borrowing from the ski industry, the difficulty rating is double black diamond. It's a popular trail. Geology remains the same colorful, fractured rock of late Triassic, Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous Periods. It's high desert riding at its finest.

I am drawn to Moore Fun, yet it's my nemesis. Every time I ride it, I get beat-up pretty good. I don't think I've ever had a "wow that was awesome" moment on it. On the other hand, I'm kind of a dolt because I usually ride it at the end of a 30-mile single track loop. Duh!

Nowadays, I'm not as wild-eyed and competitive as I was in my 20s and 30s. Instead of challenging the line and hammering it out, I often view the rocks as being demons of pain, lying in static wait for a middle-aged guy like me. My excuse becomes, "If I fall down, it's going to hurt really, really, REALLY bad." I think it's called being wise. Hence, at this point in my life, Moore Fun isn't really fun anymore because the wise man said.

In order to survive, you have to watch the top tube (upper length of frame that is straddled), know when to click out of the pedals, hope you don't click out prematurely, keep muttering "momentum is your friend", hope you don't miss a shift, try not to notice the rattler laying in the shade next to the foot you just placed on the ground, or anything else that may go wrong. Bottom line? There is nothing more embarrassing than screwing up, smacking the top tube with your crotch and lying in the rocks writhing in pain. Invariably, a rider will come by at that exact moment, after witnessing the whole charade, only to ask, "Dude, are ya ok?" Then, invoking a little white lie and coughing up a whiny, high-pitched meek response of, "yes, wow, I almost lost it!"

I have no pictures of Moore Fun. Sorry. That's because I have too much fun trying to avoid the top tube or being thrown over the handle bars. The 30 miles prior to Moore Fun take 2.5 to 3 hours. Several miles of Moore Fun consume an hour. If it's hot out, you will run out of water. Sweat has precipitated, and you look like you've been rolling in alkali-covered sand. When I was single, this is when the girls would come whizzing by, doing it the smart way – Moore Fun first. Nonetheless, the desert views are quite nice.

Today's flake is the man of manflakes.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: 4 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread, size 8 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Moore Fun Snowflake Instructions

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc), 2 hdc in ring, ch 8, sl st in 8th ch from hook, * 3 hdc in ring, ch 8, sl st in 8th ch from hook; repeat from * around 3 times; 3 hdc in ring, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2, ch 3, 1 dtr in same ch to form final ch 8 loop of round. Do not pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same loop, * ch 8, 3 dc in next loop, ch 3, 3 dc in same loop; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 8, 3 dc in starting loop, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form final ch 3 sp of round.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same sp, * ch 8, sk next ch 8 sp, 2 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 8, 2 dc in starting sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form final ch 3 sp of round.

Round 4: Ch 11 (counts as 1 dc and ch 8), * sk next ch 8 sp, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 8, 1 dc in starting sp, ch 1, 1 dc in 3rd ch of starting ch 11 to form final ch 3 sp of round.

Round 5: Ch 6 (counts as 1 dc and ch 3), 1 dc in same sp, * ch 4, 1 sc over all three ch 8 spaces of previous 3 rounds, ch 4, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 5, 1 dc in same sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp; repeat from * around 4 times; ch 4, 1 sc over all three ch 8 spaces of previous 3 rounds, ch 4, 1 dc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, ch 5; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 6; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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