Camped for 3rd night out on Sand Flats rd BLM land just above Slickrock TH. $10 a night includes $2.00 day use pass to ride Slick rock.
Yesterday’s forecast was suspect after raining the night b4. I was concerned that the sandstone would be slippery. Well, duh, this is the desert that is so dry no plants grow on the sandstone that absorb the rain and make the rock slippery. So I didn’t ride but hiked around on the rock. Beautiful day. Snow fell on La Sals.
Drove down to town. Stopped @ Western Spirit just downhill from Sand Flats and said Hi to Ashley Korenblat. She remembered me from Augusta.
Checked another bookstore for Massacre @ Mountain Meadows and scored. New copy. Bought my own copy of Pulp Fiction elsewhere.
Spent last night again @ Sand Flats. Forecast again calls for wet in PM. Out here by myself. Chilly @ night but inside I am comfy w/ heater on low.
Last night freeze left frost. I enjoyed comfort of van while waiting for frost to thaw. Going to ride Slickrock b4 weather change.
Drove short distance to large parking lot @ TH. 2 rigs in it. Chilly, wore tights, long underwear top & long sleeve jersey & fingered gloves. Headed out. Rode practice loop and flowed into main trail riding it in easier direction. Trail as it is is marked by white rectangular paint blazes. Purpose is to lead the rider on a proven “path” avoiding the deadends & unrideable pieces. The surface is sandstone which is petrified sand dunes from 150 million years ago. Friction climbing. The trail subjects the rider to all kinds of acts of faith that if you have the lungs & legs you can climb almost vertical and traverse sidehills that you trust the side lugs on your tires to stay stuck to the rock. Most times if I couldn’t ride the white line going straight up I could tack across the line picking my own shallower line. I wear Specialize shoes that have a sole that provides grip on the sandstone, not like the Seddis that are plastic and slip like you are on ice. I still walked some nasty steep sections as I did not trust my lungs to gut out the grunt move. I played w/ traction going downhill by braking holding myself against gravity. The Formula brakes are strong enough to hold me and the tires stayed stuck.
Again, my breathing is of concern. I am strong but my lungs give out quickly. I did manage to force myself beyond what i thought I could do because to bail would have meant not making the top of a climb. I ight have finally cleared up the bottom of my lungs as a result. Climbs are short, some were quite steep.
I watched clouds coming in during my ride. I was concerned about getting rained on. Maybe the rock wouldn’t be slippery but it would have been miserable to be in. I saw just a few riders. Again I saw 2 riders w/o helmets. How stupid & inconsiderate should they hit their head and have to be rescued. Riders are attracted to Slickrock because of it’s reputation and notoriety. Many riders lack skill. The rock has many pedal & crank arm scars from bad moves.
Made van b4 weather broke. I was beat and mentally exhausted.
I rode Moab first back in’92 and over the years have returned many times. I spent several thanksgivings here driving down from Spokane when there was no skiing snow. In ’92 Sand Flats camping was what you made out of it which caused ecological damage. I pass by my original camping spot each way going to TH. I slept on the slickrock, just threw out my sleeping bag and pad. Spot is closed off now.
After my ride I drove into town for a shower, propane, & groceries. Found Lazy Lizard hostel for $3.00 shower. Roughest hostel I have ever been in. Clouds were moving in w/ precipitation falling. Temp in town was @ 40 degrees. Bought propane, 4.6 gals, full tank is 5.6 gals. i would have run out during the night. Rain started falling. Bought groceries. Still raining. I want to ride the Sovereign trail north of town and could camp out there for free. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for more rain and if so, i wouldn’t ride and I would come back into town. I decided to camp @ Sand Flats again because it is a short drive to town and road is possibly easier to get out of when wet or snow covered. As I drove uphill the rain changed to snow which is sticking only to things that are above the ground.
Snug inside my heated van. It is dark out. Nobody around me.
Outhouses here are roofless.
Dinner:
