Desert Snow

Tuesday I finished my drive to Moab North Klondike camping which attracted about 4 campers. Stutter bump road in jars the incisors. Cost is $20 / night that I pay half price because of my seniors’ pass. I waited for solar gain  for comfort. I rode out DIno to its end then returned on the easy trails on the west side of the valley.

colors
not snow, mineral leach out Jurasic trail

No trees. I like riding these trails and Moab in general.

Spent the night snug as a bug  in a chilly rug. So nice as the new heater works as engineered and as built.

Wed I had more of these trails. Weather forecast called for strong winds, gust to 40s. I pedaled Dino to Baby Steps climbing up to Mega Steps. I planned on continuing on Alaska which is more exposed to wind but chose to cut short by descending Mega Steps to Dino for return. I felt strong wind as I pedaled what I rode, Alaska would have been wind tough.

Spent another night. Quiet and chilly.

Thurs forecast was for precip including snow. I planned on a rest day to stay dry. Thurs was laundry day and I needed provisions necessitating town trip. Rain started. I picked up my mail, which contained my election ballot, on which I selected my choices then slid the vote by mail ballot directly into the post office out slot. Filled my water tanks at Gearheads. I stayed up on Sand Flats XG as the dirt was sand which is better to drive on than dirt mud. Snow started falling after dark and continued to before 10.

This morning the sun melted the snow up to an elevation and exposure setting. I parked the van with the rear pointing to the east. Again what happens is the rear of the van is warmed to a point that tells the heater thermostat I have reached the setting and shuts off, again the living room is chilly. While waiting for sun to melt snow I made 1 call to research my medigap insurance coverage. Amazing to me that who I selected was a broker who walked me thru my insurance needs. I picked Plan N which will save me almost $1,000 per year. While on the phone I didn’t watch the snow melt off.

Today I planned on driving up to Horse Thief. New friend Cory spent last night up there, he reported 2″ of snow and not melting. Today we made a plan to ride Bar M trails in the afternoon. We met then pedaled away. Cory is just 45, I only saw him at his rest stops.

 

Cory on Dead man’s Bar M

I decided to stay low elevation at Willow Springs which is now pay $15 per vehicle per night. I scored my favorite spot up on the slick rock. Cory joined. Place is almost devoid of campers since the fee was implemented. In years past the place was packed. Willow Springs road goes thru state land, it is now a state park with undeveloped sites. Now there are numerous portipotties and even a dumpster. I checked 2 potties out seeing last service date was 2 days ago.

Tomorrow I plan on Riding Klonzo out the road. Hope is sun will melt off the snow up at Horse thief. Forecast is favorable for snow melt.

Luke’s

Above freezing morning but still chilly. Going to ride Luke’s right from van, just a matter of waiting for sufficient solar gain to start. Van was parked with the thermostat aimed directly into sun, as result rear of van warms up telling thermostat to turn off heat, but I’m chilly up front. Made 10 AM start.

I rode here this spring and once years ago. Last spring I missed a move, consequence was falling backwards onto a cactus, several spines transfered from plant to my posterior. I pulled out what I could, others remained embedded. Several days later  Steve tweezed those out. Today I missed seeing where that fall occurred. I was focused on tread which all over is rocky. Technique is to keep power on the pedals for propulsion over those rocks. I rode the same ride as this spring. More attuned to suspension performance.

on Lukes
trails are on this mesa, access road climb

Short distance ride that worked my body twisting snaking the bends.

Back at the van I stretched and warm water wiped down my body. Made ready to travel.

Controlled speed descent. Grocery shopped  in town for 2 day stay at N Klondike. Headed south towards Moab. I arrived at side road to primitive camping where I stayed this spring. I decided to stay here then finish the drive to Moab tomorrow to paid camping. By staying here I avoided paying camping at N Klondike, I just needed a spot to anchor and Moab is about an hour away, short drive.

5600′, another warm afternoon enjoying the fall sunshine.

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Now above Price, UT at start of Luke’s trail. A steep somewhat loose, stutter bumped, wheel spun out piece of road climbs up to the mesa where the trails are. The van pulled it w/o spinning out and loosing traction. Only option was climb. 1 lane to boot with steep out slope.

Luke’s TH

I visited here this spring as I was heading north. Going to ride here tomorrow then finish drive to Moab.

45 degrees at 9 PM, 5899′. Was sunny and in 60s earlier. Side door was opened.

Friday I finished the drive to Steve’s house in Bellevue, ID. More fun driving rt 20 then I 84 thru Boise, take off on 20 again with more winding and climbing, then coasting. Was an attention holding drive.

Pulled into Steve’s driveway. Sunny day but chilly. Short visit as belly alarm was going off. I drove up to Hailey to eat a known salad at KBs. I drove by Sun Summit South, Chip’s bike store, his OPEN sign was on. I drove around the block back to his shop door. He let me in as he was closed. We visited for many minutes. Chip and I met back in maybe ’99. Nutritious and filling salad. Returned to Steve’s. He visited me later inside my warm van. His Jack Russel terrier Luxie(?) has allowed me to be her pal. She hopped into the van and my shedding producing fingers went to work on her coat leaving the cast off on my carpet. Plans were made for a 1:30 ride on Hidden Valley trail, it would be an up then down ride. Locally the time is popular. Kirk and Tony joined. Kirk rode his ebike which are allowed, he stayed behind me. Shit I was working and he was smiling. His brother Tony killed the climbs.

Tony climbing Hidden Valley

He is a speck towards the right edge of pic.

All mountain bikes today on trail open to dirt bikes.

Hidden Valley area, snow top out there

Tony, Steve, and I had a coast off on road descent. The start signal line was stated, somehow others got in several hard pedal strokes before the coast that I did not match. Tony led with Steve several bike lengths ahead. All was screaming until a car headed uphill to us. Grapped both brakes skidding to a stop. No harm no foul. No prize for the fastest. Aspen leaves are off the trees.

horse rider manners

Beautiful fall weather. I stopped at Croy TH to savor fall.

From Croy main TH, looking east

Spent night at Steve’s. Chilly, 23 degrees. Scratch pancakes for Sunday breakfast. Cleaned up, bid Steve adieu, then continued my way east. Interstate driving thru Salt Lake City mess. 4 lanes, 65mph.  Then climb over Soldier Summit followed by steep descent to Price area. Van covered 25 miles for each gallon of expensive diesel it burned.

Tomorrow is a ride here then tricky descent to town then on to N Klondike N of Moab. Be there for several days before needing resupply in Moab. Rain is forecast Thurs. Could be cold and wet there. Freeze thaw mud need not arise.