Moab Trip Notes 2000

May 18 to May 25,  2000 

Thursday May 18th

Loaded six bikes and most of the gear into Carey’s trailer at John’s.  When we checked the trailer bearings we found the inner bearings and the seals were “shot”.  We put the trailer into John’s garage and stripped down the hubs and cleaned up the shafts ready for new bearings and seals (finished at 11.30 p.m.) 

Friday May 19th

Sara collected John F at his house and we drove over to Minar Ford rental, picked up the van at 11.20 a.m. and were at Sara and John’s by noon. Tim arrived with the new bearing parts, which we fitted. Todd, Dave S, Rob and Carey arrived at 1.15 p.m. and we started the final loading. Took out the rear seat and stored all the food in the van. (Greg’s dog was getting better so he left for Moab on his motorbike Thursday at 4 p.m.) We also loaded Greg’s bike (seven total) and gear. Sara provided food and drinks while we loaded. Left at 2.21 p.m. had a good run down.  With the extra room in the van it was better for sleeping.  Carey had the most excitement during the night with snow while going over the Eisenhower Pass and then clipped a deer early in the morning, (minimal damage to the van).

The bearing cap on the right trailer wheel left us shortly into the drive so several stops were needed to improvise a cap with plastic and duct tape (at one time a Gatorade bottle cap was taped in place).

Saturday May 20^th

 We arrived at the campsite at 10.21am rolling in behind Dave and Crew from Phoenix.  Greg had arrived earlier in the morning.  We settled into camp after some compromises with the previous group on our site not realizing it was an 11am checkout.  We had breakfast of quiche and thus began Sara’s meal regime.  We set up camp and loaded the bikes into the trailer leaving at 3pm with both vehicles for Flat Pass.  Dropped off Dave W’s vehicle at Spanish Road (end of trail) and drove up to the trail start by Ken’s Lake.  Started riding at 3.45p.m.  First stream crossing all except Tim and Paul, removed socks and shoes for carrying bikes across.  Second crossing a mixture of riding and walking across, last two crossings we all rode across. The trail was sandier this year with evidence of four-wheel vehicle use.  We finished at Dave’s car at 6.21pm.  Dave and Carey retrieved the van and trailer, Greg and John F waited with the bikes and the rest rode back to camp.

On our return to town Cary with John and Greg was pulled over by the Police.  When the officer approached the passenger window he asked what had happened to John F’s elbow that he was elevating with a blooded paper towel, told him crashed on his mountain bike .  He offered to escort us to the hospital, but we told him we were returning to camp where we had first aid available.  Told us we were going 51mph in a 35mph speed limit, but since we were trying to get him to first aid he would not take any action.  Asked him for directions to the hospital and left.

At camp we had for dinner what was originally intended for lunch, salmon with rice and orange jello salad and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.  An excellent meal enjoyed by all.  Cleared and bed by 10pm

Sunday May21st

We were up around 6.30am.  Had an excellent breakfast of scrambled eggs with green and red peppers and cheese with leftover quiche plus bagels with cream cheese and jam.  There was then intense activity of bike cleaning and maintenance after the water/sand combination of Flat Pass.  We loaded the trailer and drove to the start of Porcupine Rim on the way booking our Colorado River outing.  At the start of the trail there were surprisingly few cars (three), began 9.51am.  Weather was a little overcast making it perfect for the ride.  There were several groups on the trail that we met and crisscrossed at the rest stop.  Took group pictures at the summit and enjoyed the excellent views overlooking the Colorado River on the way down.  Completed the 11.2 miles and then rode the five miles on highway 128 to camp arriving around 2.27am (the fast groups were much earlier!)

John took a high air jump off a rock with about an 18” drop, looked well, bad news was the hard landing.  John and bike crashed resulting in a bruised hip and a broken shock assembly. John recovered and used a spare shock to fix the bike.  Another picture opportunity was Paul jumping over Dave W. lying by the same rock.

A hungry crew ate the sandwiches leftover from the drive down, drank lots of Gatorade and eat a variety of snacks.  Tim, Paul, Dave S. and Todd left for Portal Trail/Poison Spider around 4pm.  Dave W. John I, John F and Rob went into town, Greg stayed to watch our campsite.  On return we all did the routine of showers/hot tub.  Began to cook supper 8pm chicken breast, pasta with chicken broth, artichokes, mushrooms and seasoning, and grape tomatoes with orange jello salad.  We had finished cooking, 8.40pm when the group from Poison Spider returned after a great ride.  After dinner, sat talking until bed at 10.35pm.

Monday May 22^nd.

Arose 6am.  Prepared breakfast of oatmeal, coffee, toasted bagels.  Loaded the van and en route to Rim tours by 8.05am.  Met Jenna and Janice and decided to follow them rather than transferring bikes. Drove to the Monitor and Merrimac trail start and were on our way by 9.15am.  The Blue Buffalo ride follows the trail for about a mile and then diverts to the left on smooth rock instead of the sandy trail to M & M.  With some rock and gravel trail climbing we had a great view over a rim.  Carrying on we came to an arch similar to Gemini Bridges.  Then rode across Tusher Canyon Slickrock and walked to the pictograph of the blue buffalo along with some petroglyphs, some being obvious modern additions!  We wended our way back to the return loop of the M & M trail and back to the vehicles 12.5 miles).  Jenna and Janice set up an excellent cold buffet meal.  Paul and Carey rode down highway 191 to pick up the Gemini Bridges trail, the rest of us returned to camp by van. We changed tires for Slick Rock trail Tuesday.  John, Dave W and Tim left in Dave’s vehicle to look for Paul and Carey at 5.20pm.  They returned about 6.30pm after having driven the entire Gemini Bridges trail in reverse direction and asked several people, but there was no sign of Carey and Paul.  They finally returned 8pm absolutely shattered.  They had decided to take the Golden Rim trail which climbs up to the top of the Portal trail, a long technically difficult/ gonzo abusive trail that serpentines twelve miles to top of Portal trail.  They were unable to find the portal and had to double back around the Golden Rim jeep trail and then descend the portal trail leaving them an eleven-mile ride back through town.  They estimated having walked 60%, Paul had a blow out and repaired the cover using three one-dollar bills to hold in the inner tube.  Carey ran out of water and said the feeling resembled a scuba diver running out of air!  Paul described it as the worst afternoon of his life, (but in the morning it did not feel quite so bad).

We all went to Eddie McStiffs – had pitchers of our favorite mini brewed Chestnut ale and some excellent large portions of Italian food. 

Tuesday May 23^rd

Arose 6.30am for breakfast of pancakes, toasted bagels, juice and coffee.  We walked to the nearby western rivers expeditions and loaded for our morning rafting trip.  The bus took us on highway 128 to Hittle Bottom.  Three large rafts were launched and our group had six single rubber duckies and two doubles (John I & Dave W, Dave and Todd). There was a little breeze with a pleasant temperature.  We had fun drifting down the river and going through five sets of rapids before returning on the bus.  We cooked lunch of steak fajitas, tortillas, chips and rice, loaded bikes into the van and left 4.20pm for Slickrock.  It was a beautiful evening for the ride with sunshine and a slight breeze.  Greg and John F. rode the shorter route finishing 6.30pm and sat on an overlook with a great view of the Slickrock area. Some of the group returned and said that Dave S. had broken his derailleur.  He finally returned with John and Todd at 8.05 – with the chain cut to single speed and using the Granny gear the strain was too high and it took out two teeth making the gear unusable and he had to scoot home.   We had malts at the soda fountain.  Dave S. and John searched for a shop for bike parts and Dave W. reserved a table at Jay’s Pizza.  All met for supper except Paul and Greg, home around 10.30pm.  The next day we would be starting early so Dave S. rebuilt his chain wheel and derailleur (Dave W. loaning him one), everybody prepared for the next day finishing around 11.30pm.  About 3.30am rain began so we were up covering things.

Wednesday May 24th                                                                                                                       At 6.30am it was still raining and cold.  Breakfast was toasted pancakes and jam.  We loaded the bikes and drove into town to the local coffee shop.  Drove to the start of Amasa Back and dropped off Dave W’s vehicle.  We then drove up Kane Springs Road and down into the canyons for the beginning of Hurrah Pass – it was a pretty drive.  Drove as far as we could on the switchback road (about eight miles from Amasa Back start). Started riding 9.51am, the road is an old uranium road and in quite good condition.  Taking a right turn across some private property called range camels, we passed an enclosure on a hill housing several camels on our way to the peak of Hurrah Pass (4,780ft).  It was a fast descent on the way to Jackson Hole (an old river bed contributory to the Colorado River).  We stopped to find our turn off and had a fine view of the river and a potash plant.  We continued down and found our turnoff.  This took us along the bottom of the cliff of Amasa Back.  Located the 4 inch steel water pipe, which descends the 700ft cliff and indicates Jacob’s ladder (looking up the cliff the pipe looks like a small cable and drops almost vertically down the cliff).  When we reached the base of the cliff one could see a winding trail through the rocks, which meandered over to the vertical water pipe.  It then became evident one must climb over the pipe and work up a rock filled cleft next to the pipe – it was a tough carry bike and serpentine climb through the cleft.  Tim carried John F.’s bike through most of it (also helped by John, Carey and Dave W.).  Once at the top there is a short ride over the top of Amasa Back with a fast ride down to the Creek bed (dry this year) and the usual tough ride/climb to the road.  Finished 1.27pm.  We were told that they hold a race over Hurrah Pass, up Jacob’s ladder and down Amasa Back of 27.7 miles and the winner did this in one hour 45 minutes.  John F., John I. and Dave W. took Dave’s vehicle to retrieve the van and trailer.  Paul, Carey and Rob rode back to camp and the rest returned by the van.  It was nice to find the riders had prepared lunch of sausages, rolls, pasta and beans.  As we relaxed after lunch a storm rolled in.  We were in the hot tub during the rain and when we returned to the campsite afterwards saw a blast of wind blow over the food canopy (unhooked itself from eight pegs!).  Had dinner at 7.40pm using all the leftovers and reviewed the trip and any changes for next year.  Bed 10.30pm

Thursday May 25th                                                                                                                                            Arose 6.30am and breakfasted on scrambled eggs, cheese and coffee.  John F. drove all except Greg to the chairlift, which went to the top of Moab Rim trail.  Drove back to campsite and Greg helped me load the bike rack into the trailer.  Greg left 9.30am.  Packed available gear, Greg and John’s bikes.  Group returned 11.23am after a great ride, which will be added to next year’s list.  We adjusted the bearings on the trailer, finished loading and left at 12.43pm.  Drove to Wendy’s for lunch and left Moab 1.21pm (2.21 Minneapolis time).  Had a good ride home except for storms occurring soon after beginning the drive.  Arrived at Sara and John’s Friday 9.40am. 

Statistics

John F Walker  May 29, 2000