Moab May 3-9, 2002
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
Day 4 |
Day 5 |
Day 6 |
We started out with a nice easy ride up Amasa Back and off the spur to this
overlook of the Colorado.
The trouble day. Everyone split into 3-4 groups, one did the nice little climb
of Shafer, one group decided to try Around the World and La Sal pass (aka the death march
of the trip :-) ), and Chris and I decided neither sounded good. So we went for Moonlight
Meadow up in the La Sal's. After all it had been a dry winter and warm spring, there
shouldn't be much snow.
And for those wanting the full multi-media experience, here are 2 clips Chris showing us how
to ride in the snow! Clip 1 (AVI), Clip 2 (AVI).
It was actually entertaining riding as you'd be going along on solid snow for a while and then
next thing you knew, your front wheel was axle deep in slush, or your rear wheel was
axle deep in slush. Entertaining, but not what I came to Moab for!
After that short ride, we decided we needed another ride, so thought we'd got to the far
end of Moab and ride Top of the World. After riding 5 miles on 2wd dirt road (Doh!) we
started up the more interesting jeep trail for the final 4 miles or so. Very porcupine like
for terrain. Some of the best viewpoints I've seen at the top. Also very drivable with
a 4wd.
Top of the World is well worth the trip, just remember, you don't need to ride the first 5
miles. A cadillac can make it to the Top of the World spur. I'm still amazed that
the Taj ma'Howell made it through that Bridge....
Again, we split up. Most of the group who did La Sal pass and Shafer went to do
Top of the World; Raphael, Chris, John W. & I went and did Porcupine, and the rest did
Klondike Bluffs for the morning ride.
The for the second half of the day, we finally got a crew out to ride Flat Pass again.
We did it the smart way this time. Left 2 cars at the trail head, let all us slow pokes
start the ride, and sent the 3 fast guys (Ric, Rick & Andrew) to shuttle one car (and cooler)
to the end of the trail. Very nice.
The crash was quite nice. I stood on the front wheel long enough to think "this is going to hurt" -
and it did! Leith and all patched me up, and Mike tried to get my rear wheel trued again
(that never happened - we got it enough to turn but brakes were gone). Just as we got down the last bit
to flat land, Ric, Rick, and Andrew show up. If I hadn't fallen, we would have beaten them!
Still a fun trip, though Grand Junction at night isn't that hot, but the fold at St. Mary's Hospital
in GJ did a great job on the stitches (7).
Unfortunately the stitches, the ruined rear wheel, and the biggest culprit the torn cartiledge
in my chest, kept me from riding Slickrock the next day :-( But here's a picture from there from
2 years ago on the S-curve. Gotta have a Slickrock picture!
Tuesday and Wednesday were going to be 4 wheeling days with Scott, Laurie & his parents.
But, one day of 4 wheeling was more than enough for my ribs....
After that Scott and I went to do Baby Lion's Back. Ain't no way you're getting me up the
real one!
The 4 wheeling just got to be too much bouncing. So, I headed off hiking up
Negro Bill Canyon. A very nice hike. The canyon's located just south of where
the Porcupine Rim trail intersects 128.
Later I took a drive out 313 a ways and hiked around some there and enjoyed the scenery.
All in all, a fun trip. Though, me, the bike, and the car got damaged some - though the car
was barely damaged (a bolt broke off the tire carrier). Can't wait for next year!
