Thunder Mountain

In the freeze thaw mud and old snow. I drove back highways to Panguitch escorted by a county sheriff for a ways as I oogled @ the scenery. Again, resources stolen to put beef on consumers plates.

Stopped @ FS station and asked about Thunder mtn conditions. Long talker told me trail would be OK except for patches of snow in the shaded areas. The soil drains well. Long talker.

I drove to TH. Beautiful day: blue bird skies supplemented by goldens of rock formations, white snow, and green trees. Temp in low 40s. Geared up. I added an extra long underwear top just in case I might spend the night out. Should have added a dry pair of socks and maybe worn my over booties. I rode the 5 miles up Red Canyon on the paved bike path. Encountered old patches of snow w/ frozen bike tracks. Pavement under the snow. made the gravel road that lead 2 miles to the upper TH. Old vehicle tracks among old bike tracks. Freeze thaw mud on the road. Signal being sent that I ignored as I have some sweat equity invested.

Made the upper TH, the van was trail miles 7.8 miles away. The bikes who preceded me might have had a better ride in the fresh snow. For me I slid across their frozen tracks. Worse was the freeze thaw mud where there was no snow as i either pushed my bike up or slid it down. Beautiful day, great colors, outside burning calories getting fit all on the good side. The 7.5 miles and 763′ climbed to reach the upper TH. The 7.88 miles back took 1 hour 48 mins and climbed 972′. I was glad i started early for all the time the ride took.

I had more time to enjoy the scenery
Mind candy

I saw fresh bike and shoe prints most of the way down. They had ridden and pushed their bikes up then turned around. I wondered what was going on between their ears as they climbed into worsening conditions. They beat themselves enough and slide their bikes back down. At the TH I saw 2 camper rigs that I checked out. One rig had the 2 muddy bikes but clean riders. Ah, shower in the rig. I spoke w/ them: Europeans on vaca.

My bike was a mess. The pedals were so continually jammed w/ snow and mud, sometimes I couldn’t click in and rode them as flats. However, I couldn’t pedal uphill. What a mess. Down low the trail traversed under a ridge that sloughed off torrential either rain or snow melt that scared the hillside the trail traveled. I like the big 2.4 square profile Ardents for snow traction.

I drove back to the FS and told the info guy about my experience. he still didn’t get it.

Driving in to Panguitch in the AM I saw a campground that was opened and had showers. I paid $5.00 for comfort of mud removal. I stopped @ a service station and scored hot h20 to wash my bike off. 3 gallons, the most ever needed.

Camp spot was to be the local airport. I figured this small of town would not have a control tower which means no traffic and a quiet place. I drove out in the country to the airport. The road was blocked by a locked gate. Darn. No camping here. I drove a bit further into BLM land and found an ATV parking area.

Both my tuner and XM are crapping out. I ordered a new tuner and XM shipped to Hurricane due next week. I listen to XM all the awake time. Strange to have silence.

Tomorrow is Hurricane. License tabs at the USPS.

Brand M ride departing Moab

Below freezing  that left frost line on the windshield. Dilly dallied awhile waiting for temp to rise. Drove short distance towards Moab to Brand M TH just off the highway.

Brand M trails are purpose built for most part are challenging single track, even the Rockin A and Circle O on the slick rock following a painted line. Deadman’s is a handful. So great to ride mtn bike trails around Moab. All by myself for 13 miles in just under 2 hours. Ride really worked out my upper body. No spinning here.

tame part of Deadman's

I visited Moab first time back in 1992 and have visited many times since. This is the first visit that I did not ride SlickRock.

Yesterday I stopped @ Poison Spider shop and  ran into Beth from Ashville. She has a VW Westy to go w/ her downhill pro license.

All 4 of my tires are filled w/ N2 and dropped 10 lbs since last check. Stopped back in Moab to top off b4 heading out.

I have been watching the weather forecast for Thunder Mtn outside of Panguitch. Forecast is for snow on Friday and then on. I will be riding Thunder tomorrow before season ending blanket of snow. Thunder mtn trail travels thru hoodoos much like nearby Bryce Canyon NP. Fascinating place. Leave from there for Hurricane b4 snow on Friday. Quentin writes that conditions and weather is superb.

Drove west on I-70 till backroads rt 72, taking back roads to Panguitch. I overrode the GPS route to Panguitch to enjoy scenic travel. Counted vehicles seen on 1 hand. In the alpenglow I found a gravel road heading off the hwy.  Camped @ 8400′ I strive to find a sleep spot b4 dark. Shorter days curtail my evening driving. Temp was in 20s when i stopped. Snug as a bug inside my Sprinter w/ the catalytic infrared heater on high.

Pipe Dream

Pleasant night @ sand Flats. Bright moon shone on the La Sals to the east. Woke up just b4 sunrise and I looked out to see the sun backlighting the same La Sals.

Plan today is to drive to Chili Pepper to learn if Coyote (Christy) Shuttle was running up Porcupine Rim. Chatted w/ Sylvia while waiting. Christy showed up w/ no fares so no shuttle. Christy grew up in Spokane

Plan became ride Pipe Dream right above town along the face of the steep hill. Last spring I rode it out and rode the hwy back. I was mentally fatigued from the sidehill w/ exposure technical trail and didn’t trust myself to ride the trail back. Not my nemesis but one that gnawed @ my psyche. Today I rode out extremely aware of where I was. I made it to the turn around point. OK. Time to sack up and ride it back. The return was easier. The ride out gained 1057′, on the way back I used gravity as my engine. I rode it. Quite a trail. Not as technical as Butter Knife, what it lacked technical it made up for exposure and bench cut narrow single track. Tread was very tacky from Sunday’s rain.

Pipe Dream w/ La Sals behind

Well armored. Last spring I met the guy responsible for legally building the trail. He said the benefit of building a legal trail is he got to move rocks. The trail is well armored on almost paving blocks of sandstone placed in the tread.

Rode back to Chili pepper and shared my success w/ Sylvia.

Looking over Moab. Pipe dream is above town

Drove out to Lazy Lizard for a $3.00 shower. Goes down as one of the nastiest shower places I have encountered. The Lazy is apparent in the upkeep.

Back into town to City Market for groceries then drive back to Sand Canyon for $10. night. I caught more of the wonderful sunset. This one is from yesterday:

La Sals getting hammered

Got my hair and beard cut @ same place I did 2 years ago and the stylist remembered me. That time I watched her outside washing her window so i knew she had no waiting line. Today was a short wait. Just can’t grow my beard out long all over. I can grow a great neck warmer like the Niner guys but my chin hairs remain short.

Called Quentin @ Over the Edge in Hurricane to warn him of my arrival. New XM receiver will be sent there.

XM broadcast the Zags game against EWU. Tonight XM broadcasts the WSU game starting @ 10:00PM. I might fade in the second half.