Thanks for the thoughts. I'm thinking of running around 25-28. I think the highway pressure is like 37. So it won't be plush, but it'll be a lot plusher than 37.
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Thanks for the thoughts. I'm thinking of running around 25-28. I think the highway pressure is like 37. So it won't be plush, but it'll be a lot plusher than 37.
The only significant sand was between Hardscrabble and Labyrinth, where it is always deep. The road is in excellent condition and we didn't air down and had no trouble whatsoever in a Tundra.
I've never aired down. :shrug:
Mini TR with answers to my own questions:
6 people with 1 vehicle - that's about the limit. Would have been tight (but maybe just possible) to fit in a 7th. But 6 was really the practical limit. Opted to meet at a BLM spot on the outskirts just to make it easy for everyone to congregate without cell service.
Kuat trailer hitch worked fine. Road was in great shape - not as sandy as some years past. Hardscrabble was worse than Murphy's for 4x4 but my lovely wife's off road rig handled both without breaking a sweat. I aired down from 40 psi to 30 psi and I could immediate tell the difference. Good idea. When you only have one vehicle the margin for error is smaller which was something I hadn't considered - always had more than one support vehicle in the past. Also had 4 newbies out of 6 and I turned into outfitter/tour guide which was also kinda different with less room for error.
Some small issues - broken chain but I had a spare (which was fun to fix in the wind), pretty gusty here and there, etc. Last night out we had 60+ mph gusts which trashed the large, high profile tent I had even though it's a quite nice one, forcing my aforementioned lovely wife and I to drop the tent and sleep in the front seats of the vehicle. The two other tents, both extremely light 2 person backpacking tents, made it through fine. Gooseberry and Airport are pretty damn exposed to wind. I know better than to take a high profile tent into the desert when high winds are predicted so I feel dumb, but it was just a blip in an otherwise perfect trip.
Saw a stock Mazda CX-5 and a Mercedes Unimog based thing (maybe a Rise) both at Mussleman Arch, which was fucking hilarious in juxtaposition.
The last day was overcast and we saw a single guy and a separate team of two absolutely cranking, obviously shooting for 1 day PRs. The single guy was flying. We gave him a pickle chip handup which he greatly enjoyed as he grabbed it on full gas. Schafer, as always, is a helluva sight at the end of 3 days and a super satisfying climb at the end. I guarantee that I was much slower up it than the 1 day PR guys, but still feels good at the top.
Great trip. Went as well as you could possibly hope for it to go.
Just got back. More of a driving trip than a biking trip, 8 people in 3 cars with only 2 nights on the rim. It was a blast. I did learn that 50 miles is too much to drive in a day, oof.
Anyone know how dry the lower parts of the loop are? Hoping to ride it in a day in two weeks if the weather is okay and I can convince myself that ski touring instead of riding my bicycle has been a great training decision 🙃
A 2 week weather prediction in March? JFC.Quote:
Originally Posted by Toddball
I mean dry right now, not dry in two weeks.Quote:
Originally Posted by MakersTeleMark
I usually ride in the first week of April. Last year had to delay for one mud section. Call the ranger desk at island in the sky. They are knowledgeable and friendly has been my experience,
Anyone been this Fall? Leave in a week, just wondering what kind of shape the road is in right now.
I was just down in Moab, but not on White Rim, and it's been hot and dry (surprise!) , lots of sand and dust on everything. They received a lot of damage from the monsoons this summer, but that was lot of hot days ago..Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
Put in at mineral bottom three weeks ago. There were some washout but everything was repaired to driveable.
Nice, we're headed out next Thursday and starting down Shafer Friday morning, coming out SundayQuote:
Originally Posted by Danno
Pro cyclist Russ Finsterwald just tried an FKT attempt on the White Rim yesterday. His notes said "the sand on Hardscrabble was fucked"
Maybe take a look here:Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/m...e-rim.1760779/
Sounds like conditions are less than stellar.
Good to know re Hardscrabble, we're going up the sandy side, which is better IMO then going down it. Driving down it a few years ago when it was bad was sketch AF, the car felt like it was surfing.Quote:
Originally Posted by alpinevibes
I think we'll pass each other, we go down Mineral Bottom Thu the 10th and come out Shafer on Sunday. If you see a white Sequoia with an old rocketbox and single tray on top, one up rack on the back, ask for change (though it is possible I won't be driving).
It always cracks me up when someone passes me running on hard scrabble. I just don't have that sort of dedication to a time. Some of you have a whole other level of fitness than me.
Right on right on! We've got 11 adults and three kids; a white and a blue/gray Tacoma. My twins are 5 and are hoping to spin as many flatish miles as they can and we're bringing tow straps for them. I won't be able to ride the whole thing with kid management, but I'm hoping to at least knock out the Murphy, Hardscrabble and Mineral Bottom climbsQuote:
Originally Posted by Danno
Yeah, I never do the climbs or descents because I'm always driving my truck (I dig the 4wd sections and also not crazy about having someone else drive my rig on them).
Good to know. We were maybe gonna dirt bike it next week. That doesn't sounds as fun as other options.Quote:
Originally Posted by NuMexJoe
I don't know why anyone would try a FKT right now. The heat, sand, dust, and traffic aren't going to be in your favor....Quote:
Originally Posted by alpinevibes
Couple buddies are heading out this afternoon for WRIAD this weekend. I warned them. :D
Yeah, I don't think he had the beta ahead of time. Reading his comments he sounded pretty bummed to run into the sand and delays.Quote:
Originally Posted by sfotex
For us, I guess I'll be trying to round up a couple sets of sand ladders and two tow straps, just in case, for the Tacomas.
And.... someone in my group bailed 36 hours before we leave. I hate organizing shit like this.
Morans.Quote:
Originally Posted by skaredshtles
I'm heading Friday for the first time.
I'm with a big group who have done it many times.
Horsetheif to Candlestick to Shafer to Visitor center.
Is this doable with the impending rain forecasted on Friday? Someone else is making the call, but just curious what inclement weather does to this route.
I've done it many times, but never in serious rain. Light rain isn't too bad, and sometimes it can help the sand set up. Lots of rain could be a significant problem, cause there are some clay sections that could get sticky and cake up. In heavy rain I think you'll put some serious wear on your bikes. In any weather bring lots of lube. In rain bring a way to clean the chains. And extra chains. And more lube. And brake pads. For sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dee Hubbs
Downpours and lots of runoff can make some parts unpassable by vehicle.
The group pulled the plug this morning. The new forecast is for rain Friday and Saturday, with lows around 40. We have a few kids on the trip and the parents don't want to put them through the agony of cold and wet riding followed by trying to warm up at a camping site.Quote:
Originally Posted by EWG
We will try to pull permits for next spring.
Quick follow up: Our trip was pretty great Fri-Sun and the sand wasn't as bad as we'd expected. I think motos had some reallly bad spots, but almost all the sand we encountered (going clockwise) was rideable. But 86-90F during the day was pretty shitty for mid-Oct riding and I got a little overheated mid-day Friday.
I crossed paths with Danno about 35mi in on Friday and said hi - FKNA! I cleaned both Murphy and Hardscrabble for the first time and had a pretty nice ride overall. The start of Murphy's final climb is in better shape than years past. Hardscrabble was about the same and Mineral bottom was fine. A few inches of moon dust on the corners, but otherwise no big deal. My boys rode about 15mi total, including the descent off Murphy for 6mi and through a bunch of sand leaving Labrynth yesterday morning. Proud dad!
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Great meeting you, mang! Glad you had a good run.
Our trip was fun but kind of a mess, one person bailed 36 hours before the trip, my GF bailed the day we were leaving because her dad died (she didn't need me for support, but she had to go deal with stuff), then 2 more people had their truck die just a few miles from the start. So we ended up being just 5 people with 2 rigs. Super dry and dusty, and hot! But good times overall.
Murphys was in great shape, Hardscrabble was more challenging but actually not as sandy as in some years (the Labyrinth side of the road from Hardscrabble was crazy sandy).
Got a little northern lights action the first night!
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Things got dirty
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The drought has led to alot more sand (moondust). Plan on it taking about an extra hour. With the construction on Schaffers you needed to be through the switch backs before 7:30 or afrter 3:30. That led to the place being deserted. I saw one other dude on a lauf gravel bike. Mad props to him. I was getting bogged down with 2.4's. I can't immagine slogging through that fluff with gravel tires.
How did everyone do in the feeding frenzy that is the permit process on Sunday? We got shut out last year and didn't go for the first time in many years. This year we were fortunate and got our preferred itinerary, even got Murphy A! It is too bad that the whole thing is over in 15 seconds. Forty years ago, you could show up at the Ranger station all packed and ready and pick your sites off a grease board hanging on the wall. Nowadays, not so much. Anyone else book a trip?
Yup. Two different fall weekends with two different groups. As you say, it moves damn quick these days.
2 night trips so no Murphy’s for us.
Yeah the permit sellouts are annoying. If you can be flexible you can sometimes score them last minute as people cancel. Thats how I was able to do WR a couple years back.
Last fall I got a permit for Rae Lakes loop, one of the harder Sierra permits to get. A single one came open when they were completely booked up. When I got to the trailhead to grab permit and start my hike the trailhead was mostly empty. Ranger said tons of people dont show up after Labor Day.
Saw a few groups doing some supported trips around in the Swell last week. If ya can't get a permit for WR that could be a cool backup option. In fact I think it'd probably be cooler. Less rules and BS.
Just did WRIAD yesterday. Seems like the best of everything. Easy to get a permit for the day (got one the day before). Rode it Counter clockwise. We would choose to get pavement section and Shafer out of the way early if doing it again. The people were annoying on those sections, otherwise it was a fantastic ride with very few people out there!Attachment 512061
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