RR: Roadtrip a Month Club #4

[stjunkie]

The Plan: Leave town Friday after work and drive to Gooseberry and camp. Ride Gooseberry Saturday, then head over to Littlecreek Mesa and camp. Ride Littlecreek Sunday and then head into town and get a hotel room. Monday, ride somewhere and drive home. This was originally planned for the previous weekend but chances of rain postponed. Unfortunately temps were supposed to be in the 90's this weekend.


The Riders: stjunkie(me); Good ol' Slappy (Nick); sheclimbs (Lynn)


After picking everybody up and shopping we didn't leave town until 9pm. Stopping to eat and the time difference got us to Hurricane at about 4am. Knowing we wouldn't get much sleep at Gooseberry, and the thought of +90 temps on hot slickrock I threw out an alternate plan and nobody objected. We continued on to Red Cyn and Thunder Mountain. We get to the trailhead at about 6am and it's 45 degrees. None of us brought any cold weather gear. “Ah, lets head over to Bryce and watch the sunrise, get something to eat and then ride” my excuse to let things warm up a bit.








The loop starts with a 4-5 mile paved bike path up scenic Red Cyn. That hooks up with a couple miles on a dirt road before the start of the singletrack. We made pretty good time on both sections. The first couple miles are rolling terrain through sparse forest before opening up to the land of HooDoos.


Climbing in the red



After a few rest stops that we all wanted to sleep at, the trail finally led us to unrivaled red rocks. Words can't explain what this trail is like. I've done it about 10 times now and it still leaves me speech less every time. Once you get to the red rocks the trail is mostly downhill.


Moon-scape-ish



Lynn on one of the steeper switchbacks



Rollin...Rollin...Rollin



Kicking back on the spine



Leaving the HooDoos



The last mile is a slight downhill of semi bermed twisty trail. We hung out in the shade for awhile at the trailhead re-hydrating and trying not to fall asleep. Packed up and drove to Littlecreek to get back on the original plan. Driving through Zion was a little nicer in the daytime. I had read about another trail near Littlecreek, so we did a little exploring to try and find the trailhead. We must have taken a wrong turn somewhere and couldn't find it. Set up camp at the LCM trailhead, ate some food, drank more beer and fell asleep. I was surprised that it was still light out at around 9pm and the temps weren't too bad.


I woke up before the sun came up and decided to go for a short ride to watch the rise. I can't ever remember seeing the sunrise two days in a row. Temps were actually a little chilly in the morning. Started riding around 8am with a slight breeze. The wind would keep us semi cool for the rest of the day. Did the main loop CW and then branched off to the playground loop. Fooled around at the big slickrock patch for awhile and continued on the shorter loop. When we got back to the start we did an out and back on the section that the two loops shared. Total was 15 to 20 miles. It was still early but was starting to heat up. Hung out in our official Turner shade pit for awhile before packing it up and heading to town for a much needed shower and bed. While heading into town we talked Lynn into shuttling us on the singletrack section of JEM. We were rippin it like there was no tomorrow. It took us what seemed like 15 minutes (20 actually and that's because I was leading). Lynn said she was only waiting about 5min. It was so fun we decided to do another run. This time Nick was leading and left me in the dust. I don't have a big ring on my playbike and was spinning out. After awhile I couldn't see Nick at all. He probably did the second run in 15 minutes. On the way into town my battery light came on and my gage was reading about 11volts. I had just replaced the alternator 3 months back and the battery the week before. The only thing it could be... Shuttle Karma. The truck makes it into town We eat at DQ (mmmm..... Blizard), get a room at the Motel 6 and went to sleep.


Timing is everything



Good thing we didn't have to filter water



Don't turn left



Natural picture frame



On the edge



Not most peoples idea of a playground



The official Turner pits...we still let Nick in even though he rides an Elsworth



When we started off in the morning the truck was back to normal. We planned to hit the Goose today (no shuttles planned). We get about 10 miles down the road and the voltage drops again. Not a good idea to continue on but we got riding to do. We start out on the Practice Loop and link some other trails on the north side of the road. Somewhere along the trail Lynn broke here derailer hanger and thought her day was over with a long walk back. Luckily I had a spare and she was back on track in no time. Hooked up with the North Rim tr to the road and then took the Sand Bypass tr. From there we followed the road and then on to the point. The point is a 10' by 20' rock with cliffs and views 270 degrees around. It was heating up and there is no shade at the point, so we didn't stay long. Took the South Rim trail back to the lot. The whole day I was stressing about my truck and was glad when it started right up like nothing was wrong with it. We got into town right before the mechanics closed and got a diagnosis that the alternator was bad. Got a rebuilt one at a parts shop and found a place in the shade to replace it. With the truck back to normal we hit the road for home. I won't soon forget this trip.


View From the North Rim tr



Lynn droppin in



Just follow the dots



The Point from the shade



Nick on an “alternate” line

[dstepper]

Very nice Scott, ready to do it again in a couple of weeks? That orange dirt on Thunder Mountain is unlike any place I have been...it is other worldly.

For those of you on the fence for the Memorial Day Cram Session this should put you over the top. These are some of the trails we plan on riding. I have never rode Moab, but many I talk to prefer Gooseberry to Moab. These trails are the best in the west and spectacular does not cover it.

Come join us! Riding in the Hoodoos on Thunder Mountain can be life altering. Turned me into a total MTBing road trip junkie. As much as I like Sedona, this takes it up another notch and you are minutes away from Bryce Canyon, a must see in everybodys book. Having been to Bryce and North Rim of Grand Canyon, I do prefer Bryce.

Dean

[jfromlv]

Man Scott, great pics and RR. Someday we'll have to ride together again. Definitely makes me think about finagling a way to go on Memorial Day, but that would not be a wise choice.

[Fired Yo Momma]

nice pics, never underestimate the high or low desert. Harrshest enviornment to live in. Where else can you go from 110 degrees to 50 degrees at night?

[allison]

Looks like the Memorial Trip!! Sweet photos.

[mechmann]

wow... perfect timing to pump people up for the Cram Session!

i can't wait to get out there and ride the mesa and thunder mtn. i have heard that casto canyon is more scenic than thunder mtn if you can believe that!? i have been checking the webcam at brianhead almost daily though because dropping down bunker creek is wicked fun.

thanks for the pics/rr!!!

[sheclimbs]

Great RR and Pics Scott. Thanks to Scott - the super human - driving straight through the night, we arrived at Bryce at sunrise, this was one of the most spectacular sights I've ever seen.
Thunder Mountain has jumped to the top of my favorite trails list. Then to top that off, we ended our day with the drive through Zion- stunning in it's own right. I agree with Dean, I thought Sedona was IT, but this area just takes your breath away. I think I spent the entire weekend with my jaw dropped in awe.
Those of you that were asking about Little Creek Mesa in the Memorial Day thread should consider giving it a go. Not sure how Scott knew exactly where the trail head was, but after driving down what seemed like several unmarked dirt roads in the middle of no where, we pulled over and put up camp right next to a slick rock patch right by the LRC trailhead. IMO there's nothing better than bare bones camping in the middle of the wilderness. Late in the night, with a full moon overhead, the only sound we could hear were the coyotes howling.
I threw an additional twist into my trip as I happened to forget my old pedals so I was forced to practice clippless for the first time. Nothing like practicing on THE most challenging trails. Definately trial by fire.
After LRC, new pedals, 90 degree heat and no sleep, I was more than ready to chill. Scott says they "talked me into shuttling them" on GEM. It was actually a treat for me too. Having never been in this area before, I just took a slow cruise down the road, where you are surrounded on every side by the most magnificent and dramatic red rock cliffs. I was happy to do it as the boys were most patient with me riding without my training wheels.
On to Gooseberry, I now understand why Scott says it is one of his favorites, there's nothing quite like it. I broke that duraller hanger just a little ways in but Scott had it switched out in what seemed like a matter of minutes so I was able to carry on.
The guys were clearing the most amazing boulders and drops! Great fun to watch these two ride, jump, climb and clear some pretty amazing stuff. Had to be one of my favorite MTB trips thus far. I can't wait to get back there in a few weeks.

[Chaos]

Thanks for the rr and pics Scott! I am really getting stoked for the MDCS weekend.

[Keith B]

WOW!!!!!!!!! That 1st picture is simply stunning - can't wait to get my swerve on with that stuff !!!!!

[allison]

Lynn - you definitely need to hit up JEM. The climb back (either on the fire road, or even riding up the trail) isn't bad at all. We did it when I had NO fitness or skills. JEM was so much fun, though! Great singletrack! I'd highly recommend it. Not a really long, technical trail, but just so much fun.

[0gravity]

Thunder mtn just might be my favorite trail of all-time.

[tkblazer]

ok, you did it scott.... now i really can't wait til the memorial day trip

[mechmann]

another great place to take pictures from is up at Cedar Breaks. if we get to ride Bunker Creek we will stop off up at the viewpoint. so pretty up there!

[Burner]

Damn... wish I could have made it

can't make the cram session either



(Scott, I'm bringing you a blank cd on Sunday's ride)

[OMR]

Scott,

Extremely well written RR with the right photos to back it up. Utah dirt is really something special. I just got back from Moab with a stop over in St George (Bearpaw/Poppy trail... world's largest BMX track) as well. The Utah pics make great wall paper for the computer... just enough to remind of good time Utah dirt.

OMR

[Good_ol'_slappy]

Nice RR Scott. Here are a few more for you STR boys and girls.