17 Attachment(s)
RR: Moab - White Rim & Whole Enchilada
I've had the White Rim on my list for years, but never seem to have my crap together for the necessary permits to camp inside Canyonlands NP. Then, a couple weeks ago, a buddy did the ride mostly in a day, but camped near Mineral Bottom...on BLM lands. Duh. Why didn't I think of that!! For some reason I thought the entire 100 mile loop was inside the park boundary. Nope. So, a last minute plan was hatched: Rent a truck so we can carpool, grab day-use passes for the White Rim, ride 80 miles, camp, then ride the final 20 back to the car.
We decided to extend the weekend another day and booked a Whole Enchilada shuttle on Monday morning. Burro Pass was open, the leaves had turned golden yellow too. Rad. We'd then drive back to Phoenix that afternoon. Seemed like a great plan.
Then Hertz called the day before the trip to inform me our pre-paid reservation could not be filled. What the?? Plan B: Stuff all our crap in my buddy's car and go. It all fit, so that worked out well. Then, in Flagstaff we noticed Nancy's carbon wheel had melted in the exhaust because the deflecting baffles were a tad off. Rut-roh.
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No bueno.
Calls made, and a wheel was secured in Moab. FFS. Can we just get to Moab??
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A short hike out to Delicate Arch upon arrival just before sunset.
Finally!! It's time to ride.
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Yeah, we get to ride down THAT!!
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Posing in front of Mussleman Arch.
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Big views all day long. It was getting warm though, hovering around 90º.
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Spires & slickrock.
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Looks like a good place to inhale some calories.
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Candlestick Tower on the left, tiny riders on the road. See them??
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Thank goodness!! Almost to the Green River. My warm water tasted like old hose water. Bleh.
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Climbing out of Mineral Bottom the next morning & getting cheered on by my buddy.
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The next day, up at 10,500' it was chilly and golden. Quite the contrast.
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The La Sal range on our way up to Burro Pass at 11,200'.
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Considering how dry its been, I was surprised to see flowing water here.
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All the gold.
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Oh yeah!!
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Love this section of Porcupine Rim as it drops to the Colorado River.
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Monument Valley on our way home.
Another great weekend getaway in the books. Moab always delivers.
For the full story and a truck load of pics, check out the blog entry:
Moab: A Tale of Two Rims
If you haven't been here, go.