Bartlett Overlook

Decided on Bartlett Overlook Trail for the last quick little adventure this morning.  Out 313 and up Dubinsky Well Rd to the turnoff just after 9 this morning.  Some big country...

Cruised along the sandy one lane road, across some slickrock and finally to the "ledge". I went left of the slab/stacked rocks and popped right up the ledge...

Took some overlook pictures...

Saw a tougher option to get up the ledge, so I backed down and went to the right...

Not quite...

Bottomed out on the frame rail, rock slider, gas tank, and driveshaft cv joint.  Oh well, went back up the original spot and out to the next overlook...

More sandy road and some small ledges and back via Dubinsky Well Rd.  As well as its namesake...

Good little morning run.

-Ryan

Slickrock and Snow

Thursday was a rainy cool washout and useful rest day.  Family and friends started arriving as well.

So Friday morning, I got up and decided to tackle the Slickrock Trail on my hardtail Siren.  Wonderful drive into town

Then onto the trail.  I went straight up the lollipop and skipped the practice loop.  I ended up meeting and riding with Fabian and Michelle from Switerland as they finished the practice loop.  Left/clockwise around the main loop and caught a couple of overlook spurs.  Great traction, steep climbs that took some positioning adjustments to figure out.  Great to check it off the list...

By pure chance, I pulled into Blue Pig BBQ at the same time as Kenny and his parents/brother/SIL.  Good food and company.  Back up the hill, got cleaned up and had time to kill; so let's go find some snow.  

Up Sand Flats Rd into the Manti-LaSal National Forest.  Vibrant Fall colors...

Up up and up.  Eventually headed towards Warner Campground and the Hazard Co Trailhead where we started out TWE ride on Tuesday.  Snow was in the brush at about 8000' and quite abit at 9000'.  Two tire tread lanes had been used up on the road, but the trailhead was mostly pristine.  A handful of deer tracks crossed the access road.  Snow was over the toe box of my boots, and white snow still under my foot prints, so probably 4-6" 24 hours later.  

Tuesday...

Friday...

(Tuesday pic was taking on ridge at top left)

Off to Bartlett Overlook this morning.  Then attend the wedding this afternoon.  

-Ryan

Taco Play

Wednesday in Moab was the day to play in the truck on the trails.  Fins & Things before lunch.  A couple of poser shots; Kenny got the action photos...

Lunch at Moab Diner, then out north to Seven Mile Rim.  Around Uranium Arch...

Then out towards the Monitor and Merrimac Buttes...

Took a look at Wipe Out Hill, past Determination Towers, and out Tushar Wash.  The Taco abides.  

-Ryan

The WHOLE Enchilada

Tuesday morning was the start of the big day.  Breakfast in town, then picked up our rental bikes at Moab Cyclery (140mm+ 275 Ellsworth and Scott), then loaded into the full shuttle van.  Then up to the Hazard trailhead.  Short quick climb to the high point in which I liked the TALAS fork.  Snapped a couple of pics...

And then hightailed it in front of most of the posers.  Railed the turns, launched a couple optional jumps, caught and passed a few, found that 27.5 isn't quite 29, loving the monster plush travel.  

Then onto the Kokopelli double track at high speed and launching the jumps.  Monster Air and High Speed.  

Then UPS/LPS.  Fun ledgy slick rock thru the scrub and out to the cliff edge.  Long travel started to lend to more confidence on most of the step ups and drops.  

Got a pinch flat on the front at one of the first rough double track sections.  Moderately quick change, then continue on.  Rough hammering thru the wide upper parts of Porcupine Rim.  Really seeing the use of 5.5" travel and "rental insurance".  

Finally hit single track again, then onto the exposure, EEEEEEK.  

Finally started to get comfortable and the trail wasn't right on the edge.  Then we finished.  Into and thru town.  What a ride and what a day.  

-Ryan