Mountain Biking - Moab

Adventures in Moab, Utah

Over the last eight years I've gone to Moab, UT multiple times to either mountain bike, climb, hike or backpack.  Of all these activities I always have enjoyed mountain biking the most.

Riding Moab

Moab provides opportunities for riders of all skill levels, but does cater more toward people who have the ability to ride intermediate to advanced trails.

My most recent trip in September 2015 allowed me to continue to push my riding capabilities to new levels.  From starting out on trails I know well to stretch my legs after 20+ hours of driving from Wisconsin to dropping down loose gravel and tight switchbacks at 11,000+ feet.

Moab Brand Trails

Moab Brand Trails, Moab UT

Day 1 - Arriving early afternoon on Sunday in Moab I quickly found a place to set up my tent at one of the BLM campgrounds along the Colorado River.  I immediately decided I needed to stretch my legs and choose what I consider to be one of the "easier" trail systems in the area - the Moab Brand Trails.  Now don't get me wrong, trails here are rated from easy to difficult.

I started off with stretching my legs for a short distance on the Bar M Trail (rated easy) out to the Rockin' A (intermediate) back to the Bar M to catch the North 40, a fun single track trail.  Finishing this off I was ready to head back to camp and relax.  I knew the next five days would include a lot of riding.

Amasa Back / Hamasa

Hamasa via Amasa Back, Moab, UT

Day 2 - I rode one of my favorite areas in Moab.  The first time I rode the Amasa Back jeep trail was in 2007.  Hamasa and Captain Ahab didn't exist.  You had no option but to ride the jeep trail - rated black for mountain bikes.  After years of riding that, last March 2015 I finally decided to do Hamasa and take the single track.  About half way up my rear brake went out and I had to bail and hike my bike back down 2 1/2 miles to the car.

Amasa Back Jeep Trail Overlook, Moab

Redo - in September 2015 I went back and was determined to head back up Amasa / Hamasa to get to the overlook that I appreciate so much.  New bike with new brakes.  Nothing was stopping me.  The single track was a lot more fun than taking the jeep trail.  The view at the overlook was amazing as usual.  I have no idea how many times over eight years and multiple trips I've seen that view - it still is beautiful.  I'm sure I'll be back again in the spring.  

Klondike Bluffs Area

Klondike Bluffs, Alaska/Mega Steps.
 Overlooking Arches National Park.

Day 3 - Over the course of eight years the Klondike Bluffs area went from a couple of trails that headed up to overlook Arches National Park to a full on trail system.  Each time I go back I get to ride new portions of this trail system.  From old jeep roads to single track to rolling flowy trails to climbs and drops to the overlook, it's a great place to explore.

Today I rode 18 miles getting ready to do the Whole Enchilada the next day.  It was a good way to make sure the legs were stretched out and continue getting used to being at a higher altitude.

Whole Enchilada

Whole Enchilada

Day 4 - Early morning round up at Chile Pepper bike shop to catch the shuttle to the top of the Whole Enchilada.  Excitement was in the air.  Everyone was chatting on the ride up about where they are from and where they ride.  I think one of the things I love most about coming out to Moab to ride is I always get to meet interesting and fun people and make new friends.  Today was probably no exception.  These people had interesting tales to tell as we took the ride up.

Riding up we left the red rock that surrounds Moab and headed up into the La Sal Mountains to get dropped off at roughly 10,500 ft.   Getting dropped off the adventure began.  31 miles of trail and 7,000 ft of decline ahead.  But first we had to climb Burro Pass to 11,200 ft.

Burro Pass, Whole Enchilada

Once on top of Burro Pass I took a break to take in the surrounding area before dropping down the other side.  I had been warned the day before about the drop on the other side of the pass.  Loose dirt/gravel on a steep decline with tight switchbacks.  Tough - Yes.  I rode some and walked some of it.  Once I got down past this area I started to ride and felt pretty good with what was ahead.  Time to ride and enjoy.

And then it all changed...  I hit a rock with the side of my tire and put a big gash in the tire.  All I could hear was air coming out of my tire and felt my happiness with my ride disintegrate.  I put in a tube and found that it wasn't holding air, ugh.  After a while of messing around with that, my riding partner for the day and I had fallen pretty far behind the group of people we started with.  With the outlook not good for me with no tubes and a tire that had a cut too large for the Stan's Sealant to fix, I had to bail.  I hiked the bike to Warner Campground and started walking down the road.  Thankfully a great couple rode by with their truck and drove me and my bike the 30 miles back to Moab and Chile Pepper bike shop where I was able to get a new tire put on the bike.  A frustrating end to my day, but this is not the last time I will do this ride.  Next year I'll start at the Hazard County line and finish off the Whole Enchilada.  Never give up.

Dead Horse Point State Park

View from Dead Horse Point State Park, Moab, UT

Day 5 - Eight years of coming to Moab and I had never visited Dead Horse Point State Park.  I learned in the last couple of years they put mountain bike trails in the park.  After the day I had previously and the 90+ degree weather, I decided to take a late day drive up and check out the trails and ride into the sunset.

Driving up the temperatures started to drop and were comfortable when I got there.  The sun was starting to sink as I took off to ride some of the trails.  As I was riding I realized that I was across from where I rode on day 2 - the Amasa Back trails. The view was just as good from here as it was on the Amasa Back overlook.  As the sun set I continued to ride and got back to my car just in time where I didn't need headlights on my bike.  What a great way to end the day.

Navajo Rocks

Navajo Rocks, Moab, UT

Day 6 - My last day of riding in Moab I decided to ride Navajo Rocks for the second time.  The first time I rode these trails was earlier this year and I really liked them.  It was a great place to ride and end my trip to Moab.  Riding on this last day I took my time to enjoy the desert surroundings.

I stopped and talked to a group of four riders, some of them on fat bikes, each of them with a unique story.  Two guys from the UK had just completed riding the Great Divide from Canada south.  The other two were a couple who were moving from New Zealand to Australia via fat bikes.  They were taking their fat bikes around the long way across continents to get to Australia. Their story was amazing.  I felt fortunate to meet these people and hear their stories.  It was a great way to end my adventure and my journey.

Amazing Moab

Moab always amazes me.  From the surroundings to the people I meet.  I think it's one of the reasons I continue to return to this place.  For eight years I've been visiting Moab and this is not my last trip.  Mountain biking, climbing and hiking - I will visit again.  It's a place to be appreciated.  A place to build great memories.  A place to just be...

To end this post I'll quote Edward Abbey from Desert Solitaire because it's fitting.  Desert Solitaire is written about this area of Utah and Arches National Park.  And this sums it up pretty well.

"A man on foot, on horseback or on a bicycle will see more, feel more, enjoy more in one mile than the motorized tourists can in a hundred miles."  Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire

Mountain Biking - Returning to the Dirt

I bought my first mountain bike back in 1995.  It was a rigid Schwinn Frontier - it was what I could afford at the time and before I knew anything better about mountain bikes.  (Before the days of when you could just "Google" it.)

1995 Schwinn Frontier

For years I rode that bike.  It went with me when I left Wisconsin for North Carolina and then Florida.  I rode that bike along the ocean during low tide and high tide.  Brought it with me when I moved back to Wisconsin and took it on trips to ride in Acadia National Park in Maine and on the trails around Stowe, VT.

It's been on the John Muir trails and the Milwaukee River trails - it was my bike and it was fun.

Giant Anthem 3 Upgrade

2006 Giant Anthem 3

Then in 2006 I finally decided it was time to upgrade to a full suspension.  After renting one in Vail, CO to ride down Vail Mountain on some blue and black runs I was hooked.  When I got home I started researching and talking to friends about what was a good bike.  I ended up finding a great deal on a Giant Anthem 3.  Wow, what a difference the full suspension made.  Riding John Muir with a full suspension versus a rigid was such a smoother ride.

Vacations were now going to be upgraded.  In spring 2007 I started making annual trips down to Moab, UT to ride the infamous slick rock and trails in the area.  Amazing.  Any where I went I brought my bike with me.  I loved riding this bike.  Every weekend you'd find me at the trailhead.

Riding Burnout

I did that til about 2012/13 and then I hit a wall and burned out from riding.  I still rode some but managed to not look at the bike like I used to.  I pretty much put it aside and picked up a new sport - rock climbing.  I kept looking at the bike thinking I should really get it out but just didn't have the desire.  I almost felt guilty for having it and not riding it.  

In November 2014 I started talking to and hanging out with someone who rode mountain bikes.  These discussions revived my guilt feeling for leaving my bike hanging in the basement.  In December I finally pulled the bike down and took it to the trailhead.  I'm so glad I did.  My burnout period was over.  It was time to start riding again.  But now what - winter was coming.  

Winter Riding - Fat Biking

Fyxation Blackhawk

With winter coming and finally getting beyond my burnout period I wanted to keep riding.  To do so I bought a Fyxation Blackhawk fat bike.  It was awesome - riding in snow.  I was able to ride all winter.  And I even decided to try racing - something I was always afraid to do.  It was fun, I took home a few 2nd places and I was addicted.

Spring 2015 - Back in the saddle

This spring I took the Giant Anthem 3 to my local bike shop - Fyxation and had a tune up done on the bike.  New tires, new rear shock, new derailuer hanger.  Back in the game - it was time to head back out to Moab, UT and ride.  I didn't realize how much I had missed riding the slick rock.  But I did realize how much I needed to work on my riding to get back to the level I used to be at.  And I think my Giant Anthem 3 was starting to show its age of 9 years old.  Even with the tune up - I managed to do something to the rear brake when I was out there and had the brakes replaced upon returning home.  Then the next trip over Memorial Day weekend to ride the CAMBA trails I started to have issues again with the gears jumping all over the place.  I finally decided it was time for the next upgrade.  And that this bike would become my project bike.  Something to use to learn how to work on bikes and drive trains.

Salsa Spearfish Upgrade

2015 Salsa Spearfish

It was time, I reached out to the owner of Broken Spoke Bike Studio who I made a comment to about a month earlier and let him know.  I did some research before contacting him and new what I wanted and could afford - or at least I thought I did.  

That conversation ended up going in a direction I hadn't thought it would and I happened to contact him at the exact right time and had an opportunity to upgrade the original upgrade I thought I was going to do.  I ended up getting a custom built bike that was built to race in the WORS (Wisconsin Off Road Series).  It was actually my dream bike.  Wow.  But now - I have a bike built for racing.  I've never raced a mountain bike.  And WORS is a pretty big series with some pretty serious competition.  Not like the fat bike races I did during the winter.  Do I do this?  This is crazy.  Do I do this?  I guess I knew deep in my gut the answer.  As I said above racing the fat bike was addictive.  Yes - I will do this.  Starting this August - I will race my new bike.  It's a little stressful, but if I could do the fat bike race, I can do this.  My goal for my first race - finish it.  

I'm so glad my burnout period is over.  I've been training by riding as much as possible.  Riding on dirt as much as possible and getting out with other people to get used to riding with a group.  Riding my road bike when I can't get out on dirt and working to push myself as hard as I can or as hard as riding in the city allows.  Yes, I'm nervous.  But I'll let the nerves drive me forward and get over my fear.  

"Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world."  John Muir

I'm going to keep exploring between the pines and looking for new worlds to explore whether it be hiking or biking.  

Never Giving Up - Adventure on the Trails

Being an avid outdoors person, I have encountered more than my share of things that would make most people pause, stop and possibly turn around on the trails.  But not me!  I find times like that as the perfect opportunity to stop, assess the situation, analyze the possibilities and then make the next move.  This goes for encounters with wildlife and crazy weather conditions.

Wildlife on the Trails

I think of all of them, wildlife is the scariest, but is also the most amazing.  Mountain Biking has usually provided me the most interesting encounters.

Running into a mother black bear with her two cubs in northern Wisconsin.  Thankfully I saw them early enough that I was able to stop, assess and turn my bike sideways to make myself look bigger and then just wait.  Finally after standing on her hind legs, she dropped down and took her cubs back into the woods.  After a little while, I jumped back on my bike and continued on - definitely making sure to watch and listen closely as I rode by where she wandered into the woods.

The second scariest was while mountain biking in Moab, UT.  Taking a break at the top of the Amasa Back trail, I took a walk to the edge to look at the Colorado River and was standing next to a tree.  Next I know I heard a rattle - let me say - I looked, saw how far away it was and backed away quickly.  I don't mind snakes, but standing close to a rattlesnake is not where I wanted to be.  The bike ride back down Amasa Back was much more uneventful.

Crazy Weather on the Trails

Backpack with me and be ready for anything.  Because that's probably what you're going to get.  Rain - not just rain, but torrential rains, snow, sleet, wind, mud, ice...  Shall I go on?  It will definitely be a trip you'll never forget.

Cabinet Mountains and Glacier National Park

My most memorable was a vacation out west.  First three days was a trip up into the Cabinet Mountain range of Montana.  On day two as we climbed up to St Paul Pass the storm moved in.  Not a bad storm, but snow started falling as soon as we got to the top of the pass.  What makes it memorable is when you are heading down and you realize that with all the wet snow and then rain, that your Goretex boots have finally given out.  

St Paul Pass, Cabinet Mountains

It was a long hike back down to camp in the rain and snow with cold, wet feet.  At camp I had to ring out my socks and put them back on.  Still had one more day before heading out and moving on to Glacier National Park for part two of the trip.  The next morning my socks were almost frozen when I put them on and made the long hike back down to the car.  

Thankfully we found one store in Libby, MT that had a pair of boots.  I bought them and decided I would break them in while backpacking through Glacier National Park over the next four days.  And I had plenty of opportunities to make sure they were waterproof.  Almost every day in Glacier National Park it rained.  Lots of rain, lots of mud and glaciers. 

Boulder Peak - Glacier National Park

Someday I really need to go back here and see the back country without the rain.  

El Chalten, Argentina

Yes, typical Patagonia weather, hard to predict.  Woke up one day and decided to hike the trail up to Fitz Roy - it was supposed to be a nice day.  I thought perfect day to view the infamous Fitz Roy.  I packed my lunch and threw my rain gear in my backpack for a day trip.  As I headed up - the weather changed.  Rain, sleet, snow - it was all there.  At the climber's camp many people were hanging out in the shelter and turning around to head back down.  From there up to the lake and the route to Fitz Roy was where the wind and wet snow really hit.  While most people turned around to head back to town - I continued and ventured up alone to the top.  Very slowly climbing the trail of wet, snow covered rocks, I finally made it to the top.  I connected up with the two other guys who ventured up before me - the three of us exchanged cameras and turned around knowing if time permitted, we'd have to come back.  The weather was so bad you could just see the lake but no view of Fitz Roy.

Lago de Los Tres and "Fitz Roy"

Thankfully - I did have the extra day and did get to go back up and catch a great view of Fitz Roy.  Gotta love Patagonia and the crazy weather.

Lago de Los Tres and Fitz Roy on a clear day.

Nope, I never gave up and continued on with my adventures and still do so today.  I love the adventure, I love the challenges it all brings and by never giving up - I always feel accomplished when the adventure is over.  And then of course, I'm ready to start planning for the next.

2013 - Resolutions and the Great Outdoors

2013 is now underway and I've been starting to think about what do I want to do this year.  No, I didn't make any resolutions on New Year's Eve, but I have ideas in my head of some of the things I want to accomplish this year and here's to hoping I can make them work out.

Doing Good for a Cause - Big City Mountaineers

In 2012 I was determined to give back more which I did, but not as much as I wanted.  So in 2013 - I've committed myself to Summit for Someone and doing a benefit climb with them and Backpacker Magazine to support Big City Mountaineers.  I'll be raising $4,000 to help out some well deserved at-risk youth gain opportunities to have a one-on-one mentoring experience in a wilderness experience.  In my opinion, it's two-fold, not only will these kids come out with an experience that will provide them some great skills to help them get through school and become leaders to their peers, they'll also get a great experience in the wilderness, which is something I hold close to my heart.

And in return as I'm doing this through Summit for Someone, I'm going to get to climb Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous 48 states, meet some new people and hopefully make some new life long friends.

Summit For Someone

More Training - Wilderness First Responder

Last year - I invested time into becoming Wilderness First Aid certified to make myself more readily available when I'm out in wilderness settings.  It made me feel more confident to take other people out hiking and camping and getting them to experience what I really love.  This year I plan to take it another step further and get the Wilderness First Responder certification.

Why?  Because I really love being in the back country and experiencing life unlike the majority of the people I know.  And I would really love to take some of the people who want to see this part of the country / world with me.  But doing so requires me to be prepared to take care of not only myself, but those who have placed their trust in me as well.  By getting certified - I get trained on standards and protocols to follow to ensure that if someone gets hurt, they'll be in good hands until I can get them out or get emergency personnel in.

Driftless Area - Wisconsin

Yes - I do have more to explore.  In 2012 I found the Black River State Forest where you can go backpacking.  I hiked a few trails in the forest, but didn't get time to go back and do any backpacking.  In 2013, I'm determined to get back there and take the dogs on a weekend backpack trip in the forest.

And I would like to go back to the Kickapoo River Valley area and do some backpacking on the trails along the river.  This was probably the most magical of the Driftless area I found in 2012.  It was just amazing.

Kickapoo River Valley area.  Wisconsin's "mountains".

So I'm extending an offer to anyone who reads this to join me in 2013 to visit one of these area's with me.  Don't worry if you don't have the gear - I know where we can get it.

Exploring Beyond Wisconsin

I have a few ideas of ideas I would like to explore in 2013 beyond Mt Whitney (not sure what, if anything I'll actually get to do yet).  

• A trip back out to Colorado and Utah to do some mountain biking, climbing and backpacking.  Specifically I would like to get out to SW Utah and check out Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.
• Head back out east to explore - haven't gone in that direction in a number of years.  West Virginia's Dolly Sods Wilderness, the White Mountains of New Hampshire or something else.

That should keep me busy most of the year beyond camping in and around Wisconsin's State Parks.  And exploring my own backyard in Milwaukee.  Looking forward to a good 2013.  Join me if you want.