Less Talkin', More Rockin' 2012 LA to GC ADV Ride

Looked very nice out there. Can't believe it would be cold out there at this time of year.

Thanks for the encouragement Bob.

It was 32 at Indian Hallow. Here is Joel's thermometer:


Once the fire was out, I was freezing my ass off. I couldn't get up to put my rainfly on. Also our last camping night at Navajo Lake, Dixie National Forest, was really cold. We were over 9,000 ft high by this georgeos lake and pine trees... But we'll get that later...

As mentioned, a rather large storm front rolled through central CA and into southern Utah and northern AZ on Friday our departure day, ending by Saturday night by the time we got to Toroweap. The storm warning was wind warnings - sustained winds of 40mph with gusts to 65, red flag warning - fire danger, and a general storm warning for the 3 states.

Apprehension was putting it mildly. It also dropped temperatures 20 deg below normal. So instead of vented gear and a 40deg sleeping bag, we donned regular spring gear, jackets, and 20-30 deg bags. I was glad I brought my warm down sleeping bag and tent, was probably the only one that wasn't cold.

At Navajo lake I washed out a riding shirt thinking I'd wear it the next day, laid it out over the bike hoping it would dry. It was frozen the next morning.

It did make day-time temps rather comfortable though. The ride out to Lee's Ferry got pretty warm, maybe 90deg.
Temps 90-100 the whole trip would have made for a completely different experience.

Toroweap is at about 4000', Indian Hollow on Kaibab Plateau about 6K', and Navajo Lake at just over 9K'. The elevation is what keeps the temps down. For comparison, Mesquite had been right at 100deg.

Nice forest roads going into Indian Hollow Campground where there are just 3 campsites. There were two cars in one site, we took the other two. Very nice place in the forest. These roads don't get much traffic as the grass growing in the center indicates.

sean, really very nice out there. the route that we did, we hit 5 national parks. yes it was cold....especially the 4th night, brrrrr. i woke up in the morning in someone's tent.....hahaha.

will make it happen lior.

dave, we did elbow last year on loaded bikes, jim was on his 950 and no issue. strange, the whole trail looks chewed up.

we all happily obliged to pay for the $22 lunch (was $27); having bar10 there is an oasis; unfortunately no yoga girls while we were there.

You know the site rules Joel,
No pictures = it never happened.
So let's keep it that way...

hahaha......a wiseman once told me "feel the mighty earth with every step", yeah, what should i do with my blisters now....ouch ouch ouch.....


truth is i lost my right sneaker that was strapped on my giant loop. i ended up staying in camp while everyone hiked out to the rim.


next morning, waking up to a beautiful day



the picnic table was the only spot that was level and soft; this place is one mammoth rock



the view from my bed














chris and rich got the best spot in the campground



we were lucky to secure the group campsite ahead of time



by my standard, the cleanest and nicest pit toilet in arizona







everyone but aram and me

from my camera but i didn't shoot it. since i was camp ridden, i asked john to take my camera and i wasn't disappointed......

not bad john, 1 out of 4

not easy to leave this such beautiful place









we rode out to the other vista point, just southwest of the campground



all are spread out looking for the best spot, and soaking the view



that's rich, and now i wonder if he's going to post his pics.....:ddog



jon and rich


john and frank


ersin and paul



my favorite






truly grand!


great memories for sure!

still in the park, and heading out towards fredonia @ 70 miles of smooth dirt....



the big bikes took the lead, and the dust clouds say we have to do a lot of catching up



the ranger station


















john was waiting for us when we made it to the highway

we didn't see a restaurant in fredonia, and so we rode up 5 miles north to kanab ut



good food



gassing up in fredonia before heading out to our next campground....indian hollow



gas was cheaper here for sure

for some crazy reason, i dunno why, i went rogue. i missed a turn and ended up in the wrong place. then i got a phone call from jim (spafxer) who was home monitoring our movement, he said "joel are you lost?"....bwahahaha.
he pointed me to the right direction. thanks jim, you did us a great service.

jon and john volunteered to look for me; i found them, and now the 3 of us are riding together, and we got lost too....

we're too deep in the trail that we don't want to turn around.



ok, let's try it


john had to walk the bike


jon's turn



my bike being smaller, i didn't even get off the seat and just rode it through.......right!



this for me was the best section that afternoon

One of my favorites...

we were all filled with awe and seen remarkable things that day

nice pic ersin....

Another one of Joel at the Toroweap overlook. If you get out to Toroweap be sure to go to the end of the road past the campground turn off. Great views, no hiking.

chris, once again nice campsites, we lucked out 2 days in a row....










and not too far from our campsite there are more to see

I was there a few years ago


we found firewood above the overhang


we had the camp ground to ourselves

Wow, nice pix Joel...

Indian Hollow was really a sweat spot to campout for the night. Everybody was enjoying themselves after a long day of riding. I keep saying Kaibab Plateau is ripe for exploring. Reminds me of the Sierras but way fewer people visiting there and the roads are more fun.

At camp Sunday night...

Great pics!!!

I agree Larry. Either these guys are great photographers or its just so beautiful out there that you can't take a bad pic.

It's the latter. Mostly, we were just getting in the way of the incredible scenery.