Becca and I just finished up two weeks in Moab. It was a very multisport trip, but we had a great time riding some classic trails with some great friends. We had lovely weather, good fun, and everyone rode fabulously, no matter their experience level!
We started off riding the Slickrock Trail, a rolling, cross-country style trail that is one of the oldest mountain bike trails in the area and a true classic. With some short but punchy climbs, it offered a great intro to riding on slickrock (very different from the loam of the PNW!) and fun opportunities to explore.
Mack looks on as Helene descends a steeper section of the Slickrock Trail
Becca leads the group with the La Sal mountains in the background and endless sandstone on the Slickrock Trail
Becca looking cool riding past a pothole full from recent rains
Adam getting some air on a fun feature towards the end of our ride on the Slickrock Trail
With a bit more daylight left, the less tired of us headed up to ride two nearby trails on the “Raptor Route:” Falcon Flow and Kestrel Run. It was super cool riding in the evening sun, starting up high on the canyon rim before dropping down into a chilly, narrow canyon in the lower half of Kestrel Run.
Adam riding on Falcon Flow
Louis hitting a drop on Falcon Flow in the evening sun
The next day we set out for another of Moab’s most famous rides: The Whole Enchilada, which starts high above town in the La Sal mountains, descending through several different ecosystems before finishing with a last descent all the way down to the Colorado River right on the edge of town. Unfortunately, due to snow and ice up high, we couldn’t start all the way up top, but instead at the top of Hazard County. A few of us peddled back up a few miles towards Burro Pass to get a feel for the uppermost part of the Enchilada.
Any time Adam is involved, the hacky sack comes out, here for a pre-ride warm up at the trailhead.
Pedaling past Warner Lake in the La Sals, through gorgeous aspen forest
Dunlin getting boosted on Hazard County, with slickrock country inn the distance far below
Group photo on Porcupine Rim, far above Castle Valley. The trail winds along the valley rim for miles before descending to the Colorado
Plenty of onlookers to encourage Dunlin as he rides the lower section of the infamous Snotch, the most challenging feature on the Whole Enchilada, as typically ridden.
Helene crushing singletrack on LPS, with Castle Valley in the distance
Louis dominating a drop on the doubletrack portion of the Porcupine Rim trail
Adam and Louis nail the timing on parallel drops as we get closer to the Colorado
Mack and Dunlin descending the beautiful final section of the trail above the Colorado River
Adam is all smiles as the moon rises just above the end of the trail
After a break for some other activities (more on that soon!), Adam, Helene, Becca, and I all headed up to Navajo Rocks for a quick ride on our last afternoon in the desert. Navajo Rocks has some great loop options that Adam and I really enjoyed riding the last time we were in the area.
Helene and Becca rolling through the slickrock on Big Mesa
Adam reminding me of his superior manual skills on Ramblin’