RR: Utah Adventure 5/2-5/5, part 2 Little Creek Mesa

[art23rockpile]

After our first day of riding, we drove to Little Creek Mesa and set-up camp after getting there that night.
This is the mesa which is visible from Gooseberry Mesa, to the southwest.

We set out early and started our loop. The trail alternated between XC in desert juniper forest and long sections of slickrock marked by cairns. This was my first time riding slickrock, and I was in heaven. It's really physical riding, and requires upper-body strength. There's no long climbs or descents, just a LOT of continual short steep drop-offs and climbs up and down the rocks. As Scott pointed out, this type of terrain cant help but improve one's riding skills.

At a certain point, the trail skirts the edge of the mesa in a number of spots... at some points a couple of feet from the edge . Don't look down... it gives a whole new meaning to the term "exposure" as the drop is hundreds of feet.

After our rest, we continued on and encountered one of the locals (see photo #6), who quickly proved unhappy with our intrusion. Some passing riders informed us of our second 'bizarre incident' of the trip: a 'dust devil' had touched down in our campsite (Dean's spot seemed to be the epicenter ) and -they said- our stuff was strewn everywhere! One of them described the scene (through bouts of laughter)... this mini tornado with our things whipping round and round... Steppie's green tarp way up in the air (we never saw it again).

After getting our camp back in order and eating lunch, we went back out on a different loop. One thing I remember about this area (aside from the awesome trails and terrain) is how confusing it is: SO easy to get lost. We had the advantage of Scott's guidance (he's ridden here a number of times). We talked to a number of people who'd lost their way while riding.

Anyway, I didn't take many photos, but here's some:

1) Little Creek Mesa (from Gooseberry)
2) Dean riding the bridge at The Point (note the drop)
3) Exposure (see the trail at the edge?)
4) Scott
5) View from the mesa's edge
6&7) Local bubbs

[Lor]

Isn't Utah fun!!!!

[dstepper]

I have been to Little Creek Mesa a few times and normally you see a person or two. This Sunday I was surprised how many where out there. I talked to Mike who runs a shuttle service out of St. George, he said that the environmentalists have found Indian artifacts on Little Creek Mesa and they are working to have the Mesa declared a Wilderness Area.

Dean