Moab - the first installment

We arrived in Moab last Monday and spent the afternoon doing the usual orientation, find a bike shop and purchase maps. It was immediately apparent that there is an enormous amount of riding here, not to mention the Aches National Park entrance 2 miles from the RV park. Where to start? Moab is a playground, there are a huge amount of off road vehicle trails and the town is crawling with ATVs (allowed on the road here), 4WDs (jeeps+++) and motorbikes. Your average 4WD is not going to cut it on most of the trails seen, they are technical and nothing but a highly modified 4WD is going far here.

Rockstacker, looking down to the Colorado River

Lower Ahab, too much fun.

 

Ride one was into the Amasa Back area. Apparently there has been a massive trail building effort here, HyMasa (climb) and Upper/Lower Ahab (descent, double black) were two new trails in this area. Rob rode up HyMasa to the Pothole Arch, back down the double black Rockstacker to Ahab. There was some jeep tracks linking these trails, 95% of mountain bikers will have to walk sections of these trails! Just a mention of the amazing scenery, massive vertical red cliffs everywhere.

Symi on Nomad (Lazy)

The next two days we ventured 8 miles north of town to the Moab Brands MTN bike area, another new trails system that borders the Aches NP. More awesome riding

Park Avenue

 and scenery with Fiona and Symi enjoying some blue and green trails. Symi is taking a liking to Rob's bike and flew down the 'Lazy' trail on it. It's also a great place to park the RV, Rob can get his extra ride time in while Symi completes her school work for the day. The first afternoon it decided to hail and rain, so we cut the riding short and went for a walk down 'Park Avenue' in Arches NP. Very spectacular and freezing, wind went to the north and blew hard.

'Lazy'. La Sal Mountains in the background. 

Yesterday we went for an explore of the Arches NP. There are over 2500 arches in this area. Understanding the amazing geological history behind their formation adds to the views of the unique landscape. After a look around 'Double

Double Arch

Arch' and North and South Window, we drove out to 'Delicate Arch'. The walk up to 'Delicate Arch' was harder and steeper than anticipated but well worth the effort, it's the symbol of Utah (and on all of the new number plates) and it's easy to see why. Seeing the image on endless cars doesn't diminish the impact when you first see the arch.

Delicate Arch



South Window

Today Rob rode the famous Porcupine Rim trail. It's part of the 'full enchilada' that starts high in the La Sal mountains. Unfortunately this time of year you can only start at LPS

Beginning of LPS

(lower Porcupine singletrack) as higher up is still in snow. It's good to ride from early June to early October ;-). After a 40 minute shuttle up the hill it's down, down and more down on

Porcupine Rim Trail, near the end :(

this classic ride. The beginning on LPS has some huge views and beautiful sticky dirt. The mid-section is fast on a jeep track with plenty of rock drops for entertainment. The last section brings you down to the Colorado River on some technical singletrack with some exposure (all being mild after the Hangover trail in Sedona).

Park your Tex here!