Julie Andrew's meadow and beyond.

Two Days last week I Snowshoed to Julie Andrew's Meadow in AF canyon. The first was exploratory as I had never been there in the winter, but we still made it. It was a Beautiful day.

Heading up the Bear Canyon Trail.

My 68 year old Dad, with timpanogos in the background.

Heading into the valley.

Later in the week on Saturday. Myself, Tiny, Dallas, Tanner, Guthrie, Gavin and my Dad all went.

We made it to the Valley, then Dad and Gavin turned back and the rest of us decided to do a little more exploration.

Heading up a 45 degree slope.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=10150335371820293&comments

The link above is a video of us Climbing.

Me and Tiny at the top. That is Utah Valley in the Background.

Heading along the ridgetop.

We did a lot of jumping on the way down. This is Tanner.

Guthrie

Guthrie

Me and Tiny.

What a great couple of days snowshoeing.

Goodwater Rim, San Rafael Swell

In my quest to see much if not all of the state of Utah before I die, it was time to try a new biking location; the San Rafael Swell. Having lived in Utah for most of my life, I was surprised I had never been to a place that is so amazing. The drive out seems lifeless enough. . .Huntington and Castle Dale are anything but "outdoor" cities like unto Moab or Park City, but the pictures we had seen were too intriguing. Before Castle Dale we hung a left and began a 50 mph dirt road through a large prairie "for the lack of a better word".

At a "V" in the road there was a lonely outhouse and map, both of which looked new but contained bullet holes.

There we parked and began riding a dirt road to the "rim" of the swell and a place called the "wedge" or "Good water rim". After a short 15 minute ride, we found the rim, and it did not disappoint. Pictures can never do it justice. It was an overcast day, but the scenery was still amazing. The trail follows the rim for the next 16 miles...all single track...no other people...not too technical...and beautiful.

It only took us three hours to ride and we had cell phone and even Internet coverage the entire time. (at our lunch break I was actually Gmail chatting with a friend in the northern most part of Brazil).

At the bottom of the Gorge is a small river called the Little San Rafael. It is a very popular Kayaking river as it is very scenic and only a class 2 float (that is less than the Provo river). Next May we are floating it.

Another Amazing place, yet much less crowded, to keep the outdoor adventure bug alive.

For a lousy video of our adventure click this link;

Terrible Timp Hike

Ever had one of those hikes that you just can't find something good to say about it, except "At least I went" ? That was My attempted Timp Hike. First off Timp isn't my favorite hike, it's crowded, I've done it various times, and the first time I hiked it my dad dislocated his shoulder and we ran down in an hour. I was 8, it was not fun.  However, my two brothers and I decided, after much encouragement from Sasquatch, to hike it early Saturday morning. It wasn't a good start as we left at 3:30 and I didn't fall asleep until 2.  I just wasn't feeling well.

We began at a fast pace, we tend to hike fast, faster. Our goal was to finish it in 5 and 1/2 hours. We all hike, bike and workout frequently, so it was achievable. I was a little tired but just thought it was from a lack of sleep. Arriving at the first step, I was really feeling it, breathing hard and sweating, but just attributed it to the altitude. By the second step I was having trouble keeping up, and began feeling nauseous. Mid-way to the third step, the big valley where the shack is, I couldn't keep up at all and was feeling terrible. I sat to rest and when I started again felt like I was going to throw up and began to shiver.

Now understand, I never get cold. It was below 30 degrees, but I was dressed well and still shivering. I shouted that I was going back, they should keep going  and I would just lay in the back of the truck until they got back. It took me longer to get down than up. I spent about an hour laying in the dirt by the side of the trail. It took me four hours to go 11 miles.

The pictures were all taken on the way down, it wasn't that light, but I was bored.  Arriving at the truck I laid in the back,shivering, on the dog bed, for  an hour and a half until they got back. Driving down the canyon I never stopped shivering.

Arriving home I couldn't get warm, hot tub, blankets, nothing worked and I was having serious, shall we say "stomach problems". Turns out I had a fever of over 102 degrees. Now I associate the Timp hike with all that is horrible.

I will probably never do it again.

Actually, I'm sure I will.

I'm just that way, you can't let a trail beat you.

Why did I share this? Because I still feel lousy and I'm bored.

The Whole Enchilada

The Whole Enchilada has become Moab Legend. A 27.5 mile long Bike trail that descends 7,000 feet from Burro Pass in the Manti-Lasals, to the Colorado river via Porcupine Rim. The trail changes from High Alpine riding. . .fast quick turns. . .wide open fired road. . .desert technical single track. . .ending with he Porcupine Trail then Single track.

27.5 Bone Jarring, amazing, technical, scenic Miles.

At 4 A.M. Saturday Morning we loaded up the four bikes.

Arriving at 10,000 feet it was 30 degrees at 9 in the Morning and windy.

The ride up is more of a ride/walk. It isn't overly steep, but at around 11,00 feet it is rough. My Brother-in-law, Corey "The Animal" Boren left Pennsylvania at sea level, flew here and within 12 hours was at 11,000 feet. Not highly recommended or healthy. But adventurous!! Thus the nickname "the animal" I spent most of the day trying to keep up.

I had to ride the last few feet, not miles, to the top.

Looking back at the climb.

The Ride down burro is loose, steep and beautiful with various stream crossings. It is hard to believe this is 40 minutes from Moab.

The Aspens were Phenomenal. The trail was perfect because the mountains had received a light amount to rain recently.

This is looking back at Burro pass. Gavin is climbing the single track from Burro up to the Hazzard trail. Which is filled with Quick single track with various man-made gap jumps and bermed turns. One note, this was Gavin's "sasquatch's" third mountain bike ride in many years and the first on a full-suspension and he rocked it. He hit a few trees, ate some dirt, danced with his bike and had problems changing his tire, but for his third time. . .amazing.

The Colors were amazing and the Light was perfect.

This is a picture of the Rim on which you descend. Th trail winds out to and away from this rim for the next 10 miles or so.

"the Animal", Guthrie and Gavin "Sasquatch" standing on the rim overlooking some cool valley.

"The Animal" Riding along the rim, looking back at the Manti-lasals where we started.

Gage

Guthrie

Gavin "Sasquatch"

"The animal" is pointing to the peak by the side of the pass where we started, 3 hours before.

Gavin "Sasquatch"

Guthrie

The overall first time feeling of the ride;

"The animal" this is the most amazing ride I have ever done" - "This is like a sampler ride"

Gavin "Sasquatch" "I liked some parts." - "I can't believe I spent 50 dollars to ride this" (He rented a bike) - "I can't believe people actually ride that. . ."

It was Mine and Guthrie's fifth time, it was amazing but not as eye opening.

After we finished the Whole Enchilada we hit subway for lunch (a tradition). Visited various bike stores, eyeing the new bikes, parts and clothing. Then headed out for ten more miles on the Moab Brand trails

It took us 3 hours and ten minutes of riding to ride the whole enchilada. But a total time of 5 hours because of Lunch and waiting one hour to fix a difficult flat. (It was Gavin's first time using presta tubes and pumps.) Another hour and a half riding ten miles on the Moab Brand trails.

A total of 37.5 miles of riding . We arrived home at 10:30 P.M., not too bad for one day but also not our most mileage.

We love these trips, the scenery is absolutely amazing and the adventure factor is off the charts. Only Biking could you see this much mileage in this amount of time via man-powered travel.

What an amazing state in which we live. People come from the world over to ride these trail and yet within three miles we can be partaking in the single track bliss. If you bike, you need to ride this trail - but be ready for a very difficult, but incredible ride. Miles and miles of rough technical riding. If you don't bike - you are missing out!

For another good explanation, detailed biking and driving directions check out Utah Mountain Biking.com Click on trails - select by region - Moab - Whole Enchilada is at the very bottom