Sometimes you have to just stop and enjoy the
view!!
My friend Scott and I decided we wanted to do a Mountain Bike trip around Moab
Utah. We selected an outfitter 'Rim Tours' for the trip. The outfitter would
provide all the meals, transport our camping and bike gear, provide mechanical
support, and guide us along the trip.
We choose the Kokopelli
trail a 5 day trip in the middle of May. The trip started west of Grand Junction
Colorado and finished in Moab. Our tour group consisted of 14 guests and three
guides. The guests were from New Jersey, California, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia.
Ages ranged from about 25 to 55. Abilities ranged from Mt bike racers to weekend
riders.
The trail was about 15% single track, 30% very rough jeep road, 50%
gravel road, and 5% hardtop. One guide lead the riders, one trailed, and one
drove the support truck. The trail often ran next to shear cliffs and so biking
in control was a must. When riding the group broke up by abilities and
interests. Some rode fast for the excitement of fast decents and competition,
others rode slow and stopped often to take pictures and take in the views. We
regrouped at all trail intersections, points of interest and lunch. The scenery
was awesome, canyons, plateaus, mountains, cliffs, ect.
It's hard to hold form with all this scenery but
Bill seems to be doing just fine!!
We rode about 25 miles a day. The tour was rated as moderate with some
difficult sections. The single track and Jeep trails were challenging, with many
in the tour walking bikes through a few technical sections. There were also
several short climbs too steep to bike for most in the group. The most difficult
day was the third afternoon which started a 10 mile climb that was quite
difficult. Some of the group elected to get sagged up that climb. There were
several minor wrecks resulting in some bruises and scrapes.
Temperatures peaked around 86 during the day in the canyons, and fell at
night to below freezing on the Mountain top camp site. Elevation ranged between
4000 and 8000 ft. The meals provided were great, always plenty to eat and a good
variety. The guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Cost of the trip was about
$120 a day. Renting a front suspension bike was $25 a day.
The expression on Bill's face tells you what he
thought of the trip
Having mountained biked only the East coast it took a little time to
adjust to the rock ledges and loose rocks on the trail. The trail also was
totally without protection from the wind and sun.
It was not easy, everyone had a sore butt at the end, but it was worth
it. Hope to go back and do it again.
