Stardate 2016.184

Moab Delights

Recently, Snowcatcher and I snuck in a mountain bike visit to Moab, Utah, while returning to Colorado from a trip to Salt Lake City, Utah. We decided to cut the distance home into 2 days, which allowed us to ride early the second day. We both are quite fond of Moab and surrounds.



For our rides, we headed north to the Moab Brands Trail network. The brand named trails are Bar M, Circle O, Rockin A and Bar B with the second-half letters spelling MOAB. From the staging area, we started together on the EZ Loop. Once to the Bar M trail, Snowcatcher rode the Rusty Spur route while I tackled the Bar M and Rockin A before returning to the staging area via the Bar M.



The hazy 11,000- and 12,000-foot peaks of the Manti La Sal Mountains rise in the background. The picture haze is the result of a controlled burn not far from where we were riding. Hopefully, the wind didn't make things too worse from an out-of-control fire standpoint.



The Rockin A route travels across ancient sandstone for its entire length. That's Arches National Park in the background. North Window Arch can be seen in the photo. It's a rather interesting line of site because there are numerous large arches around North Window Arch, and they aren't seen in this photo.



This is where a lot of snowmelt ends up along the Rockin A Trail. As summer beckons, the water will evaporate. This particular pothole (erosion feature closest to the bike) was about 3 feet deep and already teaming with aquatic insects. Many of the insects burrow until moisture returns. Summer thunderstorm events (and flash flooding) can recharge potholes and intermittent streams as well.



The Manti La Sal Mountains tower above a sea of ancient stone. Newer map nomenclature excludes Manti for some reason; the peaks are now simply referred to as the La Sals. Mount Peale is the highest peak in the range, touching desert sky at 12,721 feet. Moab sits at the western base of the Manti La Sal Mountains at an elevation of approximately 4,000 feet.




Bar M Trail landscape




Bike season is just around the corner, and I'm very much looking forward to it. More to come...

Adios

Stardate 2015.975

Mystic Sandstone

Our trip to California came to an end, and we began our journey back to Colorado. Our journey across the Mojave Desert was uneventful, and by evening we found ourselves back in Cedar City, Utah, and snow-covered slopes. We enjoyed our overnight in Cedar City (nice vibe to it) and had a short hop the next morning to my favorite (in the top 5) locale – Moab, Utah. Moab has some of the most magical landscapes on the planet; especially during the off-season when the town is dead quiet. Following are some pics of this fantasy land.


Cedar City bids farewell to another day.




Arches National Park prepares for a long, cold night.




A 10-minute sunset in Arches National Park enhances the senses. December sunsets are awesome!








We enjoyed the early morning along the Wallstreet climbing area, Potash Road, Utah.








The sandstone cliffs reflect off of the surface of a cold Colorado River.




Desert cathedrals catch the early morning light.




The Colorado River visits a labyrinth of sandstone canyons while on its journey to the sea.






That's it for now; I'm not sure what's up next. Thanks for reading!

Adios

Stardate 2014.827

Gimme Some Slickrock

It's a warm Thursday afternoon in October. Several miles to the east sits my hometown of Grand Junction, Colorado. Snowcatcher and I are on Day One of a multiday mountain bike getaway. We've just completed a 4-hour drive through the mountains, and it's time to ride! The high desert is getting me all giddy.

I decide to ride a portion of Mary's Loop, Horsethief Bench and a segment of the Wrangler trail. Snowcatcher plans to tackle Rustler's Loop. These trails make up the east end of the 140-mile Kokopelli Trail that travels between Loma, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. I take most of the day's photos along Horsethief Bench. However, these shots are representative of the riding along Mary's Loop as well.



The gonzo drop onto Horsethief Bench is reached after a short ride along Mary's trail. The drop onto the bench was much easier in 1987 when the route was first built. In its current condition, there probably is a small percentage of riders who can ride down it; I'm not one of them. For scale, there is a 3-foot-high sign and its shadow in the upper left of the photo.



Once on the bench, I face delectable singletrack and sandstone riding.



Lots of sand, rock and stone steps keep me on my toes.



Riding along the bench can be smooth and quick in places.



Not everything is easy rolling. Some hike-a-biking exists as well.



I especially don't want to miss any turns because I may turn into a living scab.



Farther up from the river, riding is sandier and smoother.



A pinion/juniper landscape dominates this corner of the world. Mary's Loop traverses the edge of the sandstone cliff directly above me.



As the sun wanes, it highlights the tilted, northern terminus of the Colorado Plateau.



This very old, narrow, two-track, comprising a segment of Wranglers Loop, may have begun as a jeep road for uranium hunters. As usual, the ride was over too soon, and the Wrangler trail spits me back onto lower Mary's for the short pedal back to the car.

Up next...

UTAH!

Adios