Trip report: Moab/Frootah

[Anthony Sloan]

Dateline 11.10.03
End of trip, LoDo Denver. Wynkoop Brewery.
Late afternoon sun setting red brick buildings ablaze with colour.
Burgers and a variety of pale ales.
It’s Two O’clock on a Monday afternoon. Someone has to keep this brewpub
in business…

“It was me and my sidekick,
He was drunk and I was sick”
~~Tom Petty

The Melancholy of Departure.

So about all that's left to do is to drop my best friend off at the
airport, he’s headed back to Austin. Between now and the next visit lies
the holidays…an Antarctic Field Season…Winter.

We had another good run; a surgical strike on the high deserts of
Western Colorado/Eastern Utah. 4 days, 70 miles of trail, 3 miles of
pavement. Countless beers. We left the Denver area at about 8 on a fine,
promising morning, and within a few hours found ourselves in a snowstorm
atop Vail Pass. Undeterred we forged on to the Fruita area. A few beers,
some Mexi-lunch and we were ready to ride. Destination: Mary’s Loop and
environs. Dave was shaking off a quite nasty cold, I had recovered from
same, but had been off the bike for a few weeks - so we hardly brought
our A-game to these lovely trails. Still and all we had a fine ride.
T’was a layover ride en route to Moab, and a darn fine way to break up
the drive. A coupla hours wasn’t nearly enough time to hit all the good
stuff, but we had a nice Horsethief/Mary’s/Handcuff loop.

http://www.anthonysloan.com/marys.html

Thence into Moab; Castle Valley by dark. Pulled in, found accommodations
and more beer.

Saturday broke fine and clear. Much better than the weather reports had
predicted. This was the something old/something new day. The morning’s
ride consisted of the legendary Slickrock Trail and in the afternoon we
hit the relatively new Soveriegn Trail. Slickrock was Slickrock.
Excellent fun, thigh bursting climbs, dazzling scenery. The fresh layer
of snow on the La Sals made for good backdrops. We even managed to make
new friends and then wheedle them into a Porcupine Rim shuttle for the
morrow.

http://www.anthonysloan.com/slickrock.html

The Sovereign Trail was recently constructed North of Moab, but I think
it will quickly gain fame commensurate to it’s more notorious brethren
(Amasa Back, Poison Spider, Porky’s, et ales) While perhaps not as
“epic” or “gonzo” feeling as Porky’s and the like, Sovereign is able to
sit at the same table because it smugly, quietly offers up singletrack.
Like the bespectacled geek at the poker table who primly lays down a
royal flush over everyone else's hand. These are not old jeep roads, but
true singletrack. And quite tasty, techy singletrack at that. We put in
at Willow Springs road, did a six mile out to a huge slickrock
playground, goofed there for a bit, and rode the same fun singletrack
backwards to the truck. We shut down the parking area with a few
celebratory brews and as an added bonus got a fine view of the lunar
eclipse. Moab, two rides, celestial phenomenae: Perfect day.

http://www.anthonysloan.com/sovereign.html

Sunday broke cold and threatening. We breakfasted quite nicely at the
Jailhouse Café and then, after a bit of basic bike maintenance and
upkeep at Poison Spider’s public works station, we hooked up with our
new friends for Porcupine Rim. Some say this ride is overrated, but I
quite like it. The package is hard to argue with.

http://www.anthonysloan.com/porcupinerim.html

The rain started just as we got the truck packed, so after strategically
placing a Bike Mojo decal on the Poison Spider Bike Shop environs, we
headed out of town, back over the cordillera of the Rockies, through a
few snowstorms and thence into Denver.

Monday we had a nice little serving of flowy, Colorado singletrack out
at Lair O’ the Bear. The day was glorious. Quoth the girl in the parking
lot: “Not too bad for November!” Considering the last few days, I must
agree, babe. Not too bad.

[Chris Glidden]

"Anthony Sloan" mused:
<SNIP>
Quoth the girl in the parking
> lot: “Not too bad for November!” Considering the last few days, I must
> agree, babe. Not too bad.
>
A most excellent tale...

cg

[BB]

> http://www.anthonysloan.com/marys.html
> http://www.anthonysloan.com/slickrock.html
> http://www.anthonysloan.com/sovereign.html
> http://www.anthonysloan.com/porcupinerim.html

Nice. I always heard Porc was a sandy road climb..did you ride it
"backwards"? I missed it on my last trip.

Sovereign looks nice. Has me thinking about another trip out that way.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)
"It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars" - Garrison Keillor

[MattB]

"Anthony Sloan" > wrote in message
...
> Dateline 11.10.03
> End of trip, LoDo Denver. Wynkoop Brewery.
> Late afternoon sun setting red brick buildings ablaze with colour.
> Burgers and a variety of pale ales.
> It’s Two O’clock on a Monday afternoon. Someone has to keep this brewpub
> in business…
>
<snip>

Nice pics as always, Anthony. Sounds like it was a fine time. Thanks for
sharing (and caring!).

Matt

[DP]

Aw man, I can't believe I live in KY again!! Loved the Porky pics
(especially the one with the guy sitting in front of the bike, I loved that
ride!) and to make matters worse I had to look at the Rockville pics, damn
that was good riding and so close to where I used to live! I think I'll
quit my job and tell my wife I'll be back in like 6 months...actually I
guess I'll go take a walk through the neighborhood.
Drew

[tcmedara]

"Anthony Sloan" > wrote a damn fine piece, and
I must therefore comment:

I'm sold. Gotta go do Sovereign trail. My only complaint with Moab was the
lack of singletrack (and the damn 3.2 beer -- big bro imposes a "real beer"
tax on all out of state visitors). Seems like the MTB Gods have heard the
plaintive cries of the masses. Beautiful pics. Thanks

Tom

[Paladin]

Anthony Sloan wrote:

> Dateline 11.10.03
> End of trip, LoDo Denver. Wynkoop Brewery.
> Late afternoon sun setting red brick buildings ablaze with colour.
> Burgers and a variety of pale ales.
> It’s Two O’clock on a Monday afternoon. Someone has to keep this brewpub
> in business…
>
> “It was me and my sidekick,
> He was drunk and I was sick”
> ~~Tom Petty
>
> The Melancholy of Departure.
> Monday we had a nice little serving of flowy, Colorado singletrack out
> at Lair O’ the Bear. The day was glorious. Quoth the girl in the parking
> lot: “Not too bad for November!” Considering the last few days, I must
> agree, babe. Not too bad.
>

Most Excellent.

Paladin

[JD]

Anthony Sloan > wrote in message >...
> “It was me and my sidekick,
> He was drunk and I was sick”
> ~~Tom Petty

Why did you have to ruin it by quoting tom pathetic?

JD

[Anthony Sloan]

BB wrote:
>>http://www.anthonysloan.com/marys.html
>>http://www.anthonysloan.com/slickrock.html
>>http://www.anthonysloan.com/sovereign.html
>>http://www.anthonysloan.com/porcupinerim.html
>
>
> Nice. I always heard Porc was a sandy road climb..did you ride it
> "backwards"? I missed it on my last trip.
>
> Sovereign looks nice. Has me thinking about another trip out that way.
>

The ride up Sand Flats road, while not as sandy as the name would
suggest, is a long, long uphill schlog. We set up a shuttle that started
at the "jeep road" which is a quite enjoyable, ledgy climb up to the top
o' the rim.

A

[Anthony Sloan]

JD wrote:

> Anthony Sloan > wrote in message >...
>
>>“It was me and my sidekick,
>>He was drunk and I was sick”
>>~~Tom Petty
>
>
> Why did you have to ruin it by quoting tom pathetic?
>
> JD

If that's all it took to ruin it for you, your torch was going out anyway.

A

[JD]

Anthony wrote:
>JD wrote:
>> Anthony Sloan > wrote in message >...
>>
>>>“It was me and my sidekick,
>>>He was drunk and I was sick”
>>>~~Tom Petty
>>
>>
>> Why did you have to ruin it by quoting tom pathetic?
>>
>> JD

>If that's all it took to ruin it for you, your torch was going out
anyway.

Your post and photos have more meaningful content than all of what tom
pathetic has ever "contributed" to Rock and Roll. He's a taint.

JD

[Anthony Sloan]

JD wrote:


>
> Your post and photos have more meaningful content than all of what tom
> pathetic has ever "contributed" to Rock and Roll. He's a taint.
>
> JD

I like some of his stuff, and have always found it difficult to quantify
musical taste.

Sometimes...things just are. And if something is, I suggest letting it be.

A

[Mark Bockmann]

> Nice. I always heard Porc was a sandy road climb..did you ride it
> "backwards"? I missed it on my last trip.

You climb on the Sand Flats road only if you do the whole thing as a
loop. Once at the trailhead, there is approximately 500 feet of
ledgy/slickrock climbing in the first 3 miles before you get to the
big overlook.

bock

[Mark]

> >
> > Nice. I always heard Porc was a sandy road climb..did you ride it
> > "backwards"? I missed it on my last trip.
> >
> > Sovereign looks nice. Has me thinking about another trip out that way.
> >
>
> The ride up Sand Flats road, while not as sandy as the name would
> suggest, is a long, long uphill schlog. We set up a shuttle that started
> at the "jeep road" which is a quite enjoyable, ledgy climb up to the top
> o' the rim.
>
> A

Sand Flats road is not as bad as it has been historically.

They did a HUGE amount of maintenance on the road this spring, and you
can actually drive it very easily in a 2wd now. Last year it was
chock-full of holes, huge washboards and wash-outs.

The bad part is the paved road from town.

I have only Not ridden the entire 30mile loop once. I can never find
a shuttle, and always miss the busses.

[Mark]

Anthony Sloan > wrote in message >...
> Dateline 11.10.03
> End of trip, LoDo Denver. Wynkoop Brewery.
Snip
> lot: “Not too bad for November!” Considering the last few days, I must
> agree, babe. Not too bad.

Great write up. Great pics. I spent about an hour looking at all
your other ride pics. I really have to venture out more next summer.

You motivated me - I was destined to sit around my house all weekend
waiting out the rain, but now I am going to solo Moab yet again.
Anyone want to come along?

I have to try out the Sovereign trail. I would really like to do the
Gold-bar rim to Poison Spider ride, but am a little leery of hitting
that one the first time without backup.

Don't want to end up with my arm pinned under a rock somwhere, and
have to saw it off :)

Mark

[Anthony Sloan]

Mark wrote:


> Sand Flats road is not as bad as it has been historically.
>
> They did a HUGE amount of maintenance on the road this spring, and you
> can actually drive it very easily in a 2wd now. Last year it was
> chock-full of holes, huge washboards and wash-outs.
>
> The bad part is the paved road from town.
>
> I have only Not ridden the entire 30mile loop once. I can never find
> a shuttle, and always miss the busses.

Yep ten years ago the whole road was pretty much like the last 100 yards
is nowadays.

I've done the whole epic loop once or twice. I quit that after an
epiphanous moment on Sand Flats Road that went something like: "I've
travelled all this way, spent all this time and money to get here to
schlog up a gravel road?!?!"

A

[P e t e F a g e r l i n]

On Thu, 13 Nov 2003 17:03:50 -0700, Anthony Sloan
> wrote:

>I've done the whole epic loop once or twice. I quit that after an
>epiphanous moment on Sand Flats Road that went something like: "I've
>travelled all this way, spent all this time and money to get here to
>schlog up a gravel road?!?!"

Exactly our sentiments. Why waste time on that boring road when you
can use that extra daylight to hit another ride after doing Porcupine.

[Zilla]

"JD" > wrote in message
om...
> Anthony Sloan > wrote in message
>...
> > “It was me and my sidekick,
> > He was drunk and I was sick”
> > ~~Tom Petty
>
> Why did you have to ruin it by quoting tom pathetic?
>
> JD

Oh man come on. I'm not a big fan but he's not bad
for a white boy! :)

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC
(Remove XSPAM)

[SkaredShtles]

BB > wrote in news:boud7m$1hgk40$1@ID-
130844.news.uni-berlin.de:
<snip>
>
> Nice. I always heard Porc was a sandy road climb..did you ride it
> "backwards"? I missed it on my last trip.

Do not.... I repeat, do NOT do Porcupine Rim backwards. It's brutal
backwards (maybe it had something to do with riding it backwards on a
rigid). And Sand Flats is a perfect bore to descend. Ahhh.... the Good
Ol' Days. <grin>

-S.S.-

[JD]

SkaredShtles > wrote in message 0>...
> BB > wrote in news:boud7m$1hgk40$1@ID-
> 130844.news.uni-berlin.de:
> <snip>
> >
> > Nice. I always heard Porc was a sandy road climb..did you ride it
> > "backwards"? I missed it on my last trip.
>
> Do not.... I repeat, do NOT do Porcupine Rim backwards. It's brutal
> backwards (maybe it had something to do with riding it backwards on a
> rigid).

I disagree, in fact, I have ridden it counter-clockwise and as an out
and back and enjoyed the climb.

> And Sand Flats is a perfect bore to descend.

That, I agree with, though only an uninformed fool thinks the only
other way down is on Sand Flats Road.

JD

[JD]

Anthony Sloan > wrote in message >...
> JD wrote:
>
>
> >
> > Your post and photos have more meaningful content than all of what tom
> > pathetic has ever "contributed" to Rock and Roll. He's a taint.
> >
> > JD
>
> I like some of his stuff, and have always found it difficult to quantify
> musical taste.

There is quality and crap in every genre, regardess of taste.

> Sometimes...things just are. And if something is, I suggest letting it be.

Yup, changing the station is as easy as pushing a button.

JD

[Raptor]

JD wrote:
> SkaredShtles > wrote in message 0>...
>
>>BB > wrote in news:boud7m$1hgk40$1@ID-
>>130844.news.uni-berlin.de:
>><snip>
>>
>>>Nice. I always heard Porc was a sandy road climb..did you ride it
>>>"backwards"? I missed it on my last trip.
>>
>>Do not.... I repeat, do NOT do Porcupine Rim backwards. It's brutal
>>backwards (maybe it had something to do with riding it backwards on a
>>rigid).
>
>
> I disagree, in fact, I have ridden it counter-clockwise and as an out
> and back and enjoyed the climb.

I wondered if he meant trying to *pedal* backwards, or sit backwards on
the bike. That would be difficult.

--
--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall
"We should not march into Baghdad. ... Assigning young soldiers to
a fruitless hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinnable urban guerilla war, it
could only plunge that part of the world into ever greater
instability." George Bush Sr. in his 1998 book "A World Transformed"

[SkaredShtles]

(JD) wrote in
om:

> SkaredShtles > wrote in message
> 0>...
<snip>
>> Do not.... I repeat, do NOT do Porcupine Rim backwards. It's brutal
>> backwards (maybe it had something to do with riding it backwards on a
>> rigid).
>
> I disagree, in fact, I have ridden it counter-clockwise and as an out
> and back and enjoyed the climb.
>
>> And Sand Flats is a perfect bore to descend.
>
> That, I agree with, though only an uninformed fool thinks the only
> other way down is on Sand Flats Road.

Was a Moab first-timer when we did that. So we were indeed miserably
uninformed. 'Twas definitely an adventure. No guide book, no guide. Back
when there was freebie camping right across from the Porc Rim egress.
Looked at the little sign and said to my buddy "Hey - this is Porcupine Rim
trail. I've heard it's a good ride. Let's do it."

The best part was only seeing three people descending all day........

-S.S.-