Just a few days short of actual first day of winter, only here the month of December so my reference is only this month. Winter means lower temps and here is no exception. As previously written freeze thaw is the norm because of it rides are chosen to be on not muddy trails. Last night temp just dropped below freezing so less likelihood of freezing eliminating resulting mud in the day. From where I anchor elevation is 2881, Hurkin is a bit higher, Sheep Bridge road is at 3900′. I drove to town and hung for a bit at OTE letting sun warmth. Drove away climbing up canyon with no sight line further up canyon. Highway broached the crest at 3900′ as marked by the state and there was Gooseberry ahead and on the skyline. Red rock splattered with white. Looked lower at Dead Ringer climb which prolly had patches of skiffs of snow. At the intersection there was mud. Condition will be mud. Turned around to ride Prospector and Church Rocks at 3,000′ on no clay dirt.
This time I drove to the developed TH for N end of Prospector. Fewer horse trailer slips. Several rigs parked. Still chilly to wear winter wool jersey and wind shell. Sunny. Horse trail marked by just a few horses since last rain however trail tread was pock marked cast in depressions. Small bump chatter. All of this part was burnt summer of 2020, down the way entered natural desert, see previous ride here to see natural and contrast of now. Rode the loop around the Rocks. Prospector runs parallel to interstate maybe 3/8 mile to the west Traffic noise. I wrote a thank you note to the PT in Moab, I wrote, setting seat height was almost as enabling as a dropper post. I continue to develop more powerful pedal strokes. The dropper is well known. Encountered fewer than 15 people, 3 were trail runners. There are several sand pits to ride over, stay on the track from previous riders, keep speed up, and look ahead. Made them all both ways. 15.8 miles climbing1148′, average bpm was 121 ( 128 threshold).
As I was finishing the drive to my anchor spot at Quail lake I saw the engine temp was way cold which indicated a cooling system issue. I checked level that needed maybe a pint of water since it was topped off earlier in the week. No indicator lights lit up. Will stay here tomorrow then Monday morn start calling for knowledge and maybe shop time. I will ride from the van. I have hiked the Boy Scout trails here this visit as the past, I even “rode” them, lot of hike a bike. Black Diamond tech difficulty. My skill level and strength of engine are not sufficient for the upper trail. It’s the death by 1000 cuts versus several big features.
The sunny days warm the van, so nice to be nicely warm. Sun goes down, air cools off, van temp starts to drop as sun drops. Still too warm for the heater to kick in. Van cools, heater kicks in, for a while the heater matches the outside lowering temp till a threshold then inside temp drops, 36 degrees out at 8:22 PM, inside at the ceiling is 68.7, my seat is lower and further away from the hot air vent. Just saying that dry heat is luxurious. This summer I recorded 98 degrees at the ceiling, that was excessive.
So, riding will be from here and lower to St George.