100 Miles Through The Maze

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10-12-2012, 07:53 AM
Trackhead

100 Miles Through The Maze

The Maze district of the Canyonlands is across the river and a little south from the White Rim. It's rougher and more remote than the White Rim, and sees far less traffic, and very little bike traffic. We were originally going to do it with car support, then opted to drag all our shit on BOB trailers and go for the sufferfest. This ride isn't a loop, it's a point to point.

This would be the theme of the first day. Fucking sand, sand, and more sand.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1822.jpg

Tom was the only one of five of us who went without a trailer. He brought two gallons of water for two days in 80+ temps over 100 miles. No way I could survive with that little water. It worked though, because he was working far less to get through the sand.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1824.jpg

By mile two we were already pushing our bikes through endless sand. Me, Alex, and Ryan had four gallons total. The BOB trailers literally felt like boat anchors in the sand. Ryan actually asked if his BOB wheel had locked up, because that's how damn hard it was to ride or push them through the sand.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1829.jpg

The first day was largely uphill, very gradually, from the start to the Flint Trail (30+ miles). As a bonus, we had a nice headwind.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1831.jpg

Hans Flat Ranger station.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1832.jpg

Stoy, psyched to be off the sand for 10 feet.
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Stoy overlooking the long descent into the Maze.http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1841.jpg

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1842.jpg

These switchbacks were similar to the Schafer on the White Rim, only much steeper and looser. No big deal with an unloaded bike, but with heavy BOB trailers and sand, they were kinda interesting.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1843.jpg

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10-12-2012, 07:57 AM
Trackhead

Off the switchbacks and more up/down riding on better surfaces. Spirits were finally lifted. Up to this point, it was pretty miserable.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1854.jpg

Nice riding along a shelf for quite a ways.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1855.jpg

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The sun setting over an aptly names "Sunset Pass".
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Five miles to camp, getting dark, more push-a-pig.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1901.jpg

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Finally made it to camp, and Stoy reveals he hauled in a six pack. Bravo!
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1910.jpg
10-12-2012, 08:06 AM
Trackhead

We got up pre-dawn the next day and rode sans-trailers into the Maze on fun slickrock. It felt good to not be riding with 50+ pounds of water and trailer.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1913.jpg

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Looking east into the Needles District.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1928.jpg

Picked up the Pigs and headed out towards Hite. The trailers were a little better today, with only one gallon in the trailer and a 100+ ounces on the back.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1935.jpg

35 more miles to go.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1940.jpg

Pretty "fast" riding today.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1944.jpg

The riding was easy, and the scenery was good all day.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1953.jpg

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Ryan's trailer broke in half. Turns out he just lost a bolt. Luckily he found it in the sand in the road. Had he not, Alex and I would have had the pleasure of packing it out on our trailers.
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The finally few miles to the truck were all downhill. So nice to just sit there, coasting and looking at Lake Powell.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1970.jpg

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1973.jpg

The riding isn't as good as the White Rim because of the sand and somewhat boring views on the first half of day one, but overall it was a great, if not exhausting, experience. We all had fun, but carrying that much water was a chore. It was nice being free of the support vehicle type rides though. It makes you more aware of risk and being in the middle of nowhere.
10-12-2012, 08:12 AM
smslavin

that's awesome. one of my favorite areas but i've never been down there with a bike, only the truck. thanks for the pics.
10-12-2012, 08:15 AM
Incompetent Boob

Nice work. Always wondered about doing a multi-day ride like that.
10-12-2012, 08:24 AM
Meadow Skipper

Respect! I've spent a week in the Maze in a vehicle and on foot and I thought about what a bitch a lot of it would be on a bike. Nice TR.
10-12-2012, 08:24 AM
smmokan

That's a ridiculous trip with some amazingly epic views. I've wanted to get into that part of Canyonlands... after seeing this, I'm not sure if I want to do it on a bike. :)
10-12-2012, 08:25 AM
NT

Nice adventure!
10-12-2012, 08:26 AM
kidwoo

Oh man.......flashbacks of an overloaded bob trailer on beat sandy roads......don't do that to me :D

Looks like a really fun trip. I miss just pedaling around looking at cool shit in the desert.
10-12-2012, 08:35 AM
Trackhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidwoo

Oh man.......flashbacks of an overloaded bob trailer on beat sandy roads......don't do that to me :D

I'm grateful to the peeps who loaned us the trailers, but I'll never attach one to my bike again. I'd rather go into renal failure from extreme dehydration............heinous.
10-12-2012, 08:46 AM
toast2266

cool. That's a pretty sweet looking trip.
10-12-2012, 10:27 AM
dfinn

have you ever considered a moto? this seems like the perfect trip for it. ;)
10-12-2012, 10:33 AM
crashtestdummy

About 10 years ago a group of my friends tried to do the trip you described. We were taking (2) 4 X 4 trucks with us. The Maze had a 100 year rainstorm a week or two before we got there. The roads were trashed. We spent more time repairing the roads than we did riding. We gave up on the bikes and hiked down to the bottom and the huge ghost pictograph panels. That made it all worth it.

There is a visual overload in that area. It's time to go back.
10-12-2012, 10:40 AM
Trackhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfinn

have you ever considered a moto? this seems like the perfect trip for it. ;)

Uh, yeah. I have a moto.....just sick of riding it and wrenching on it.
10-12-2012, 10:53 AM
PowerWhore7

Pretty cool man, looked like a lot of fun but I have to say...

$30,000 in bikes, prob another $10,000 in gear and you guys manage to bring a sixer of Bud? F- for that

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackhead

Finally made it to camp, and Stoy reveals he hauled in a six pack. Bravo!
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF1910.jpg

Awesome TR though!!!
10-12-2012, 11:29 AM
Trackhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerWhore7

Pretty cool man, looked like a lot of fun but I have to say...

$30,000 in bikes, prob another $10,000 in gear and you guys manage to bring a sixer of Bud? F- for that

Awesome TR though!!!

Everything taste better in the context of the situation.

And no way we had anywhere near that amount in gear money.
10-12-2012, 11:33 AM
PowerWhore7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackhead

Everything taste better in the context of the situation.

QFT!

I know fuck all about bikes but they looked fancy...how many miles per day?
10-12-2012, 12:05 PM
Trackhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerWhore7

QFT!

I know fuck all about bikes but they looked fancy...how many miles per day?

50..........
10-12-2012, 12:32 PM
TBS

Amazing TR Trackhead. Gorgeous photos. Went through there several years ago (supported, no trailers), and the photos don't give justice to how heinous the sand can be.

Thanks for sharing the trip.
10-12-2012, 03:29 PM
Rico in Flag

RAD.

I've been thinking a lot about bike packing lately. You may have lit a fire under my ass.
Could you guys have cached water ahead of time?

Thanks for the show.
10-12-2012, 04:15 PM
Trackhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricorides

RAD.

I've been thinking a lot about bike packing lately. You may have lit a fire under my ass.
Could you guys have cached water ahead of time?

Thanks for the show.

Yes, but caching water seems lame and contrived to me.
10-12-2012, 05:57 PM
zion zig zag

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackhead

Yes, but caching water seems lame and contrived to me.

If I was going to go through the trouble of caching water, I think I'd go ahead and cache food, sleeping bags, tent, stove, etc!:wink:
10-12-2012, 06:13 PM
JTrue

Looks like fun, at least most of it :). That sand must've been heinous with the bobs. Riding through it without anything attached is hard enough...
10-12-2012, 08:25 PM
Trackhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by zion zig zag

If I was going to go through the trouble of caching water, I think I'd go ahead and cache food, sleeping bags, tent, stove, etc!:wink:

Blow up dolls, whiskey, and a few sheep too.
10-12-2012, 08:37 PM
kidwoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackhead

I'm grateful to the peeps who loaned us the trailers, but I'll never attach one to my bike again. I'd rather go into renal failure from extreme dehydration............heinous.

shit, those things are rad as long as you're not pedaling through dunes

best way to carry shit across singletrack out there

I'm actually kind of bummed I sold mine. I'd buy a suspension one for sure next time though.
10-12-2012, 10:34 PM
jm2e

That's not what I want out of mountain biking.
I'm glad you enjoyed it though.
I supposed that sand riding might be where people like riding the fat bikes? Or are they too heavy and impractical for exactly the kind of trail they'd be good on?
10-13-2012, 02:38 PM
tele.savalas

Glad you could put the trailer to (good?) use. thanks for the TR!
10-13-2012, 02:52 PM
BFD

i thought you had a motorcycle for that
10-13-2012, 03:29 PM
Trackhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by tele.savalas

Glad you could put the trailer to (good?) use. thanks for the TR!

Huge thanks again for the BOB loan. I think the key for happiness with a BOB and 3.5 gallons of water is you just have to chill out and accept the slow pace that you travel at. Once you obtain that mindset, then all is well.
10-14-2012, 12:38 PM
Dantheman

When you post a TR my reaction is almost always either "OMG...DO WANT" or "OMFG...DO NOT WANT". This is definitely the latter :D
10-14-2012, 07:30 PM
Trackhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dantheman

When you post a TR my reaction is almost always either "OMG...DO WANT" or "OMFG...DO NOT WANT". This is definitely the latter :D

We have a new loop planned that will blow your mind. No need to carry excessive water or trailers, mainly because there will be three significant river crossings and 180 miles of desert in between. Maybe this spring, or next fall. Timing with water levels will determine that.
10-14-2012, 09:39 PM
kidwoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackhead

Huge thanks again for the BOB loan. I think the key for happiness with a BOB and 3.5 gallons of water is you just have to chill out and accept the slow pace that you travel at. Once you obtain that mindset, then all is well.

When I towed mine for three months I put a 20t granny gear on my cranks. Just sayin ;)
10-15-2012, 03:16 PM
beaterdit

Looks like a sweet mission and some sweet type 3 fun! Not really my cup of tea but I bet it wasn't too crowded.