Return to Moab for more mountain biking

Will and I had agreed he'd fly into SLC where I'd pick him up at the airport, and we'd drive down to Moab where he had a rugged Cannon Jackel mountain bike rented from The Bike Fiend. Will had also made reservations for our stay at the Lazy Lizard Hostel.  The Bike Fiend's website advertises being opened until 8:00 p.m., but the shop actually closes at 6:00.  Otherwise, we have nothing but compliments for them. Fortunately, we arrived early enough to pickup the bike on Monday afternoon despite this false claim.

Day 1 - 29 May 2018
Arches National Park plus Monitor & Merrimack
66.9 miles  10:56 riding time  3,789 elevation gain

Will and I both have fun on our bikes and want to see and experience everything with little regard for riding as fast as possible, so we've been known to have many a late day. Today we'd planned to ride to Arches NP via Willow Springs road (jeep road) which is normally a roughly 5 hour day, but I wanted to add in Monitor and Merrimack trails.  Will wanted to ride thru the park to Delicate Arch (the famous one on the UT license plate), so we added both and were pushing the end of daylight even as May turns to June.

Colorado River at Moab

Will 8 miles above Moab on the new paved bike path

Will climbing up the Jeep trail to Monitor & Merrimack

Steve climbing up to the Monitor & Merrimack Trails

Will entering the Monitor & Merrimack Trail (the rocks supposedly look like the ironclad Civil War ships

Will between the "ironclad ships"

Great views on the ride.  We didn't even notice these pillars until we looked back at where we'd been!

The diversion to Monitor & Merrimack was definitely worth the time.  This ride was recommended as somewhat easier than Slickrock.  It's quite a bit easier and the slickrock here is excellent.  Ridden in a clockwise direction, the sandy sections will be on the descent which might be too much if taken on the ascent.

Entering Arches NP

Being unconcerned with time as we headed to the park, I talked Will into riding the excellent trails beside the old Willow Springs Jeep road which is again opened to vehicles despite the above sign.  3 vehicles passed us, and the sign going out of the park shows motorized vehicles are allowed (in contrast to the sign in the above photo).

We had our lunch at a picnic table in the park just above where Willow Springs Rd meets the park's main highway,  and then we noticed a traffic jam going on for miles.  Park employees had stopped all traffic between us and the park's exit for at least an hour.  We decided to ride down to check out some arches which we had not seen the last time we were here.

Will in front of an arch

We stayed in that area an hour or two and realized we didn't want to be part of the traffic issues when the park service finally let people out, so we decided to return via Willow Springs jeep trail (and side trails), a decision that made this an almost 11 hour riding day.  Although it was almost 1 June, we still got back to the cabin only a few minutes before sunset. Moab Brewery is opened late for dinner though!


Day 2 - 30 May 2018
Hurrah Pass and Jackson's Loop (including Jackson or Jacob's Ladder)
37.6 miles  10:57 riding time  3,080 elevation gain

The Colorado is quiet and reflective below Moab

I'd requested Hurrah Pass and Chicken Corners - a ride Doug and I did back in 2010 that took 6 hours.  Will decided Hurrah Pass and Jackson's Loop would be a more challenging which it was.  

before we got to Hurrah Pass - 14% grade - down but we'd make up for that

Will nearing Hurrah Pass

 

the climb up Hurrah Pass begins

Steve near the top of Hurrah Pass

Will & Steve at the top of Hurrah Pass with the Colorado in the background

The descent from Hurrah Pass is a little steep and rough but fun, and that's followed by some sandy crossings.  Will's altered course showed a steep "DD" (double difficult) trail ahead so we had lunch at the bottom.

Will's after lunch nap - under a rock

Although the heat was up, the clouds were building.  Soon some concerning thunder was replaced by light sprinkles of rain which were nearly perfect to cool us down without soaking us.  Soon we faced the side of a high mesa, and Will said, "that's the trail".  There was no possibility of riding bikes over this trail, and I doubted my ability to climb the mesa even without a bike.

Will almost to the mesa's wall

 

Steve taking a well deserved break while contemplating what he's climbed with bike in hand! Don't bother trying to talk me into repeating this!

The hard part is over, but this is still a lot of work! that slight draw is our path up- photo by Will

The climb was hot and exhausting.  We were both out of water when we reached the top, but Will was promising a road that would quickly get us back to Moab.  Not so, it was a jeep trail over slickrock with many "drops".  I'll admit I didn't enjoy this section in my worn out state  Eventually we'd reach a real road, and once there passed a campground which provided WATER.

Steve refilling his water bottles - photo by Will

Day 3 - 31 May 2018
most of "The Whole Enchilada"
37.2 miles  11:02 riding time  1,709 elevation gain


The Whole Enchilada is an extension of Porcupine Ridge that starts at Burro Pass.  Unfortunately for us the shuttle service won't go that high until early June, so we were dropped off at "Hazard County" below the official start which would have included Burro Pass.

photo by Will

view of the La Sal mountain from near the drop off point

trail thru the aspens - this was a fun section - photo by Will

Steve riding thru the aspens

from the first overlook

 

Will in the classic view from Porcupine Rim

Steve from the top of Porcupine Ridge

Will starting down Porcupine Ridge with his full face helmet

Just before the above photo was taken, the Superfly 8 had a small wreck catching its front wheel in a rock nest and throwing the rider who was unhurt.  However, the Superfly 8 suffered a bent derailer.  Will used his leatherman and brute strength to make a roadside repair.  The set screws were off, so Superfly 8 couldn't use its highest or lowest gears in the back.  Steve lost confidence both in the bike and himself at this point and had a slow descent as a result, and the Superfly 8 took the next day off as the hardtail with a fully functional derailer substituted for it.

Will completes most of the "Whole Enchilada" which joins the paved bike path here at the Colorado River

Day 4 - 1 June 2018
trails north of town: Jurasic, Jasper Loop, Agate West, Chilkoot Pass, Dino Flow Little Salty, Salt Valley Rd, Klondike Bluffs Rd, & Inside Passage
25.9 miles  6:46 riding time  1,615 elevation gain

With Will's required bike turn in time of 5:00 p.m. we had to take seriously getting in well before dusk, so we headed off to some easier trails north of town.  My rump was happy to be on the Brooks saddle again though I was missing the rear shock!  Most of these trails were smooth to mildly rocky with nicely banked corners - fun!  

Steve back on his hardtail enjoying fairly smooth trails - photo by Will

Will on Steve's hardtail.  We switched bikes for more than a hour

Will chose a lunch spot up in these rocks- he's the small red spot

Will's become addicted to after lunch naps under a rock!

The day had gone according to plan through lunch time.  We decided to head down the other side of the bluff and catch Salt Valley Rd which wasn't according to plan.  It took us back to Arch's NP where we didn't want to be, but we noticed another trail- Baby's Ladder (hint avoid anything called a ladder).

Will pushing his bike up Baby's Ladder

 This took us to lots of slickrock though.

Steve on some of this slickrock - photo by Will

 

Klondike trail provided fun and interesting slickrock - photo by Will

Despite our change in today's riding  plan we had Will's rental bike back to the shop by 1645 a good 15 minutes early!  Then onto sharing photos.

The Lazy Lizard Hostel
My first impression of the hostel at $47 a night wasn't good.  The staff would have charged us an extra day had I not caught it, and as we went to look at the place, a bossy woman had taken over the kitchen and told us there'd be no room in the refrigerator for our food or drinks.  The place was so cluttered it looked dirty, and there was no room in the refrig.  People who looked liked they lived in the hostel were loitering outside the main door.  In retrospect, our little cabin was away from that, and nearly all our cabin neighbors were mountain bikers who were interesting.  The bathroom and showers were 300 ft away (through dust of the Southwest) but were very clean.  We had two bunk beds, a small desk, and enough room to squeeze 3 bikes in the cabin.  Since we were eating out every meal it was quite adequate.  

Our cabin at the Lazy Lizard

the bunk beds - photo by Will

 

Will working on his computer in our cabin

Will, it was a great 4 days!  Looking forward to the next one!

Happy cycling for fun, fitness, and transportation!


Steve