Last First bike ride?

Every year, when the first snow falls, I try to do one last ride. This year, or I should say season, was a little different however. Because the temperatures were so mild and there was a lack of snow, we continued to ride through November and December. Last week I even was able to do two night rides, wearing only a long sleeve jersey and long pants, that is crazy!!

This year the first snowfall, that stopped biking (maybe, as it was so minimal) , didn't happen until January 7, 2012. So I rode from Timpanogos park up racecourse to the "altar" (the pile of rocks in the first picture), Down crank to Beginning of Dragon's back then dropped into Johnson's Hole and back down to the parkway trail and my car, about 9 miles overall. Not long, but long for January 6th.

This picture is looking down into "Johnson's Hole" as it is called. This is a newer trail we just recently found and is a fantastic addition to the trail network at the mouth of Provo canyon.

Utah is such a fabulous place to live. Within one hour of our home there lies, Payson canyon (black hawk, Bennie), Spanish fork canyon (Three fork loop, Monk, Strawberry ridge), American Fork Canyon (Ridge, Ant's knoll, Tibble fork) Corner canyon, Lambert...Etc. Within two hours there is Price, The San Rafael Swell and  Salt lake valley. Within 3-4 hourse lies the world famous Moab with all it has to offer and St. George/Hurricane with what some regard as the best trail in the United States, Gooseberry Mesa and it's twin, little Creek, among many other greats (Guacamole, Slickrock swamp, Grafton, Zen, etc).

People travel around the world to ride these trails. Trails which grace the cover of multiple magazines regularly. Bike tests are done there. Outerbike is held in Moab. MBA action devotes entire photo sections just to Moab because they receive so many pictures from there.

And we can ride it almost any time we want.

Yes Utah is quite a place for the Mountain Biker or Outdoor adventurer.

I am glad to call it home. 

New Years Eve Kokopelli Ride

It is rare to have good biking on New Year's Eve. Moab occasionally has lower level trails rideable, St. George may have a few of our non-favorites and other than that, locally, there just isn't much available.

We have been wanting to explore the Kokopelli trail system near Grand Junction Colorado for some time. So with the weather holding, Guthrie wanting to test his new Christmas bike  and the trails in decent condition we decided to head down Saturday morning at 4 A.M.

The trail system around Loma (near Grand Junction/Fruita) is quite expansive. We wanted to ride as much as possible so we hit Mary's Loop, Horsethief, Steve's Loop, Lion's Loop, Mack's Ridge and returned on Moore fun.

The views are gorgeous with the river, the red rocks and the light dusting of snow.

Testing out the suspension and seatpost that drops at the touch of a button.

Mack's Ridge, the trail follows the Rim. The climb up was a steep fire road, but the sweet singletrack on top and the descent to the bottom was worth it.

The look out off Moore Fun or Mack's Ridge, I forget. The day began windy but by afternoon we only had a long sleeve shirt and leg warmers. Actually a great day for riding.

This is a section of trail on Moore Fun, or as another rider put it; "ain't moore fun". It stood out in my mind because I was on a hard tail (no rear suspension) and it was a little rough, but still worth it. The ride/hike in the snow up moore fun was a little tedious as the trail is steep, rocky and had about 4 inches of snow on it. But the riding at the top and descent was worth it.

Grand Junction is worth trying out. With Tabegauche and these trails it could easily provide an enjoyable and long day of riding. Plus, any time you can ride 25 miles on New Years Eve in 30-40 degree weather it is worth it.

Gooseberry's Fraternal Twin - Little Creek Mesa

Gooseberry Mesa -  for Mountain bikers the name evokes images of winding around and through trees while hopping rock ledges, skirting cliff edges and riding one of the prime trails ever created. Little known too most is it's twin; Little Creek Mesa.

While similar in riding, many have suggested that Little Creek rivaled and even surpassed the riding to be had on Gooseberry. The trails are less marked, but for the adventurous in spirit that becomes and indeed is part of the allure that keeps them coming back.

We had ridden Little Creek before, but I broke a rear hub after only a few miles. We went and bought a new rear hub and rim, but with daylight fading we were only able to get in 10 miles or so. We had heard rumor that there are many more miles of trail (actually up to forty according to over the edge sports in Hurricane) so we had to go back.

We didn't end up taking many pictures. We were too busy riding.

After riding much of what little creek has to offer, I guarantee we will be going back again and again!

Night Ride

Sunset

Back to Blogging....Saturday morning I awoke with a little cold so I didn't go biking. Later that night I still wanted to go so I went on my first night ride of fall...alone. It was a little Creepy, but with some music on it wasn't too bad. I rode the pipe line road up to the corner canyon trails then to the Altar.

The City

The "Altar"

The City upon returning

The Highlight of the night, if you can call it that, or perhaps the most vivid memory was this; While riding up a small hill two sets of eyes came running over the hill towards me, they darted in the bushes then slunk back through the grass towards me. I was, well, very, very startled. Shortly after a very large animal came bounding over the hill behind them...I got off my bike very quickly. They turned out to be two dogs and a horse, followed soon after by a horseman.

I was relieved that is all it was.

Miners Run...the trail with no trail

Okay, here it is, I love to bike.

 There it is finally out.

It sure feels good after so many years of keeping it in

to get that out in the open.

One of the things I love about biking is the adventure of finding and riding new trails, or non-trails in this case.

riding along the Rim

We heard about this trail through Utah Mountain biking.com. It is basically on the edge of the San Rafael swell, right off I-70 in the middle of nowhere. Its unique because there really is no trail and it winds in and out of old mining claims and equipment.

It begins on a dirt road then just takes off into the hills. No trail, only Gps tracks to follow.

This is an example of the non-trail, trail.

The trail itself is only about 11 miles long so we figured 1-2 hours maximum ride time. It took us four. Yes, we could have walked it faster. We got lost countless times and had to backtrack and find the right way, couple that with the rain the night before and sinking in about 3-4 inches, it made for a much longer more difficult ride.

The riding is very unusual, except for the return via dirt road there are no sitting sections. It is all on rough slickrock which required constantly changing of body and hand position.

On the way Back, Guthrie wanted to rest so faked a flat. I always believed that the moon landing was real until I pedaled through this place. Now...I'm pretty sure it could have been faked.

Now I know you are thinking...

"That ride sounds horrible"

O' Contraire...We loved it and plan to return next year. That is the adventure that leads us to bike.

Sometimes it's a lot like life. You know where you want to go, or think you want to go, but getting there is the real fun and it may require backtracks, retracing of steps, or just riding into the dark...

Like Miner's run.

Room to Grow

Last year on our annual M.A.T. (Moab Adventure Trip) My three oldest and I rode Gemini Bridges which is about fourteen miles. On the trip I took a picture of them that turned out rather well. MBA Action Magazine, a mountain biking magazine I enjoy asked for some pictures with children biking so I sent ours in...

And they chose it.

So here it is and here they are in all of their Glory!!

Middle Picture!

Just a little update on our adventure family;

E (The middle one in the picture) wants a harness and helmet for rock climbing for her birthday.

C - Not in picture, he is 9 wants a sit on top Kayak for his.

A new adventure sport..

For some time now I have been waiting to go canyoneering. I joined a group last year called "the brethren" but until now I have been unable to go on any trips. Last Saturday, there was a trip planned, and Guthrie and I joined them for a great day in arches.

The first route we did is called "lomation" and is located in the fiery furnace. Not many do this route unless guided professionally with a Moab guide, because it is like memorizing a maze. Lucky for us Steve, my friend who took us (and co-founder of the brethren) knows his way around inside there.

It was absolutely amazing. Imagine exploring and climbing around on rocks, fins, washes and then rappelling down into slot canyons. It was even better because the weather forecast, which was wrong, turned many tourists away from arches so it was in a large part empty.

We first made our way to the top of the fins, then rappelled back down into the canyons.

The first rappel in Lomation is done by slinging off an arch, cliff arch to be exact.

Robert on the first rappel in Lomation

Guthrie doing the second rappel in Lomation.

Heading down to skull arch then up to the Krill route.

This is the same shot as the previous picture, only from the side.

This is the guy who kept us all safe.

The rappel in Krill canyon into the "belly of the whale".

Me rappelling into "Belly of the whale".

Upon completing Krill, we headed to park avenue and did Tier drop. A steep climb, easy route finding and then three rappels, each increasing in size.

The last rappel on tier drop. Park avenue is in the background.

Well another sport to which I am addicted. Canyoneering is amazing, there is no other way to describe it. I love mountain biking because of the scenery, the speed and the adventure, along with the physical workout I get. Canyoneering is just as fun with it's exploring, challenges of route finding or getting up, over or through something coupled with the adrenaline that comes with rappelling. Now guess what Esther wants for her Birthday in June; a harness so she can go...

After completing the three routes, Guthrie and I rode Deadmans Ridge (Part of the Moab Brand trails), a new trail in Moab, on the way out. (What Moab trip could be complete without some biking?) It was only about six miles total so no big deal.

There will be more stories to come I'm sure. We are doing another canyon in May and at least  one in June. Not to mention, kayaking the Little San Rafael in May and a bike trip I'm sure.

Man what a state we live in...