Moab in December?

[trailuser]

About 10 days ago I realized I had a week of vacation to 'use or lose'. Had planned to head up to the U.P. for a few days, but also had my eye on the weather forecast for Moab Ut; My daughter reminded me that I had never taken her on any of my past trips to Moab....

The U.P will have to wait

We left Illinois early Monday and was able to make it back to Iowa on Christmas day to spend time with family etc...




Rode a bit at sand flats rec. area near Slickrock trail..



We rented mountain bikes one day. This is at the trailhead of Klondike Bluffs. It was a beautiful day around 50 degrees and sunny, felt warmer though



We ran accross a few dinosaur tracks



God dad-these hills are tough.....



Yes-time for a break...



View at the end of the bike ride located at the back of Arches Nat. Park.



Steph. standing along the Colorado river...



The LaSalle Mtn range off in the distance; Pic taken from Canyonlands Park



Thursday morning I trucked the bike out to the 'Island in the Sky' (visitors center at Canyonlands) unloaded the bike and was about ready take off on the White Rim trail....a 90 mile remote ride; Noted oil dripping from the bike. A couple days earlier I dropped the bike at Slick Rock trail and apparently knocked a small hole in the side cover. A little liquid steel and I would be ready to ride the next day.



View from the top of Shaffer's trial just before the steep decent. That's a road way down there at the bottom The view is totally amazing from here!! Hard to explain the feeling I had the 1st time I rode this 6 years ago

Unfortunately I don't have any pic's from my ride on the White Rim Trail on Friday as I left my camera in the truck and my daugher had the key. Sure was glad I found the oil leak a day earlier before I got 45 miles from anyone; This is no place to break down when riding alone. The ride itself was absolutely beautiful & serine. The DRZ (ok KLX) ran like a champ.

Moab is one of my favorite places as I never tire of riding there, my daugher was impressed as well.

[PunkinHead]

I'm envious. It's 1500 miles from me to Moab and I won't get to go back until April.

Originally Posted by runner

Thursday morning I trucked the bike out to the 'Island in the Sky' (visitors center at Canyonlands) unloaded the bike and was about ready take off on the White Rim trail....a 90 mile remote ride; Noted oil dripping from the bike. A couple days earlier I dropped the bike at Slick Rock trail and apparently knocked a small hole in the side cover. A little liquid steel and I would be ready to ride the next day.

Get some CFC guards on those cases! They're cheap insurance against this kind of thing. If you haven't already done it, pull the shifter off and grind/file off the sharp edge on the back side. I don't know what Suzuki was thinking when they did that - must have wanted to sell more cases.

[ezekiel]

Nice report Joe! I gotta get outta Chicago!

[The Fist]

Sorry I missed you Joe ...

Moab is unlike anywhere else in the world -- maybe next time I can join you.

Do yourself a favor and invest in some mag. case savers!

[trailuser]

Originally Posted by The Fist

Sorry I missed you Joe ...

Moab is unlike anywhere else in the world -- maybe next time I can join you.

Do yourself a favor and invest in some mag. case savers!

Yes- agreed, very unique!!

[freeflow]

good call...Moab in december ...OR the UP in December....right choice!.

cheers

[Panic]

Originally Posted by ezekiel

Nice report Joe! I gotta get outta Chicago!

My thoughts exactly. Utah for me in 2 weeks ! Only totin skis though

Joe, looks like it was a good trip.

[12bridn]

Looks like a good time, glad you enjoyed yerself.


Moab Chaingolian Invasion anyone?

[2whlrcr]

Originally Posted by runner

About 10 days ago I realized I had a week of vacation to 'use or lose'.

What kind of jobs do you guys have? First I could never forget about vacation time and if I did, I could never take a week off, at the spur of the moment!

I've been to Moab twice, both times on bicycles. Need to go back, since the girlfriend's brother has a second home there and urges us to come out and stay with him.

We rode the White Rim trail one year. Four days was a leisurely pace on a mountain bike. One day two up on the 640 sounds like fun.

[trailuser]

I've been to Moab twice, both times on bicycles. Need to go back, since the girlfriend's brother has a second home there and urges us to come out and stay with him.

We rode the White Rim trail one year. Four days was a leisurely pace on a mountain bike. One day two up on the 640 sounds like fun.[/QUOTE]

Speaking of two-up I seen someone attempt going up Murphy's Hogback two-up on a KLR. He dropped the bike and dam near went over the side

Of course it appears that some of the ledges have been 'smoothed out' in recent years

I've riden the White Rim 6 times on motorcycles and would like try to try it on a bicycle someday; I'm assuming you had sag-wagon following you with water and camping gear

[Skinner]

Oh great, thanks a lot Joe. Now I gotta go to Moab,that looks awsome.

So, now it's a new year, does that mean you have more vacaction to burn?

I love the pics, thamks for the report

[trailuser]

Originally Posted by Skinner

Oh great, thanks a lot Joe. Now I gotta go to Moab,that looks awsome.

You will not reget it!!

So, now it's a new year, does that mean you have more vacaction to burn?

27 days

I love the pics, thamks for the report

Wish I could have taken a few more pic's on the White Rim..

Happy New Year Jim!!

[30Bones]

Moab is sooo beautiful. Been there twise when I was into 4x4's and am hoping I can get out there this year with a friend from S. Dakota on the dual sport. I think it'd be even more fun.

[2whlrcr]

Originally Posted by runner

I've riden the White Rim 6 times on motorcycles and would like try to try it on a bicycle someday; I'm assuming you had sag-wagon following you with water and camping gear

Joe:

We did the White Rim Trail, the yuppy way. Went with Western Spirits touring group, based out of Moab. They carry all your gear, prepare gourmet trail side meals and act as trail guides, mechanics, hosts, etc... A first class operation, although it's a little pricey.

The ride is a leasurely four days, about 25 miles a day, with a side trip or two each day. You want to be in moderate shape, so it's more enjoyable, instead of grueling. I was doing a lot mountain bike racing at the time and was rather bored with pace. But I had a lot fun trying to ride Murphys, etc, without dabbing. Plus I would ride up ahead and turn around and get a few more miles in day. Our tour leader was very fit and every now and then, we'd takeoff and race for a few miles. Lots of fun.

[trailuser]

Originally Posted by 2whlrcr

Joe:

We did the White Rim Trail, the yuppy way. Went with Western Spirits touring group, based out of Moab. They carry all your gear, prepare gourmet trail side meals and act as trail guides, mechanics, hosts, etc... A first class operation, although it's a little pricey.

The ride is a leasurely four days, about 25 miles a day, with a side trip or two each day. You want to be in moderate shape, so it's more enjoyable, instead of grueling. I was doing a lot mountain bike racing at the time and was rather bored with pace. But I had a lot fun trying to ride Murphys, etc, without dabbing. Plus I would ride up ahead and turn around and get a few more miles in day. Our tour leader was very fit and every now and then, we'd takeoff and race for a few miles. Lots of fun.

Your just a "jack of all trades" aren't ya

motorcycle racing, mountain bike racing, trials competition.......