White Rim Trail 2012

[eemsreno]

Before I get back to the report tonight I want to thank all of you for your nice comments, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story. Nice to hear from you again Chadx.

When we got up in the morning we got out the new topo map and studied it to find a loop route up to the Dewey Bridge. The trail map is marked with easy, moderate, difficulty, and double difficult symbols on the map. We seen there was a difficult section in our route and was anxious to see what it looked like.

It wasn't long before things didn't start adding up right in our minds about the road we were on.
The good thing about intercoms is when you are lost you don't have to stop all the time to discuss your strategy and next plan, you can just talk about it as you ride along. We ended up being lost for most of the day and did a lot of strategy, planning, and communicating on the intercoms. While we were lost we went through an old mining district and had fun seeing what they left behind.
Once when we stopped for some water and snacks we got out the topo map and couldn't make any sense of where we were at on the map. Then Matt asked me what these little Y marks were on the topo map about 10" down on the map from where we thought we were. I told him that was the symbol for a mine on the map (MINE, we're down here). Well we sure had some back tracking to do but it was sure fun and scenic.

The only reason Matt's feet are down in these pictures is over the intercom I tell him when I need a Picture.

Then we came across this [Awesome Huh ]

 

[eemsreno]

When we finally got on the right trail [road] We came to this.[The D.D.] [when I got home I looked closer at the map and it said D.D. for here]
This picture doesn't do this trail justice. IT'S A WALL!!
We couldn't get our Tenere's up this without a helicopter.

So it was back track again. Oh well it was fun, just no through route today.
Back on the highway we headed for Colorado. hammered down to just north of Leadville to camp for the night.

 

[MikeBear]

did you walk up that "wall" to see what was next?
i would have killed myself way before that "wall".
and where is helicopter, when you need one!!!

 

[eemsreno]

In the morning our bikes said 32 DEG as we headed for Leadville and Mosquito Pass.

Leadville mining district

Going up Mosquito

Matt cresting the summit. With Leadville far below.

Two Super Teneres on top of Mosquito Pass.

Down on the east side this is what the sign said. That's for them fake Adventure Bikes.

No camping adventure would be complete without a night under the stars, so no tent here on the last night.

Thank You so much for reading. May God Bless You. Steve
I'm hoping Matt will join us on this forum and tell us how he liked the trip.

 

[~TABASCO~]

OUTSTANDING ! ::008::

 

[protondecay123]

To camp on the White Rim Trail first you have to stop by the visitor center in Canyon Lands National Park and get a permit and camp site reserved. When we got there they only had 2 sites left and 1 of then was half way around the 102 mile trail so we got that one. I think that there is only about 20 sites on the whole trail and you have to camp in a designated site so it might be a good idea to reserve a site. It is also a good idea to take plenty of water, probably more than a gallon. I have read that it is 140 mile loop from Moab back to Moab, but that must be the shortest route ever made. We ended up having 220 miles from Moab back to Moab.

Thanks for sharing. What a wonderful ride!! What did you do for fuel?

 

[eemsreno]

Hi James, Have you taken your trip yet?
These bikes can go way over 220 miles on a tank.
A couple times out in the middle of no where Nebraska I would see E flashing for 10 to 20 miles and Matt would go right past an exit for fuel, the first time he did that I thought " Gutsy, Crazy, I like it, hay we are on a mission here , no need to make unnecesssary stops ."
We were on our way home and filled up in Fairplay, Colorado, Matt ask me to lead,, I took off and just hammered out a pace that would get you thrown in jail,, some digit stuff , 266 miles without even slowing down, We finally stopped at Julesburg at the Nebraska border,, 5.5 gal. needed And I cram all the fuel I can get in that bike to ride with Matt,, he might not stop when you think you need fuel.

When we got home my dash said 2,727 miles with a total trip average of 47.9

 

[eemsreno]

Eemsreno that was awesome ::008:: I hope you tell us more I've been intrigued with Moab for some time just haven't been. The pics of the landscape are so different from what I'm used to. I'm looking forward to riding Moab. I plan on going to the Big Colorado meet then go to Moab hopefully some others will see this and join me. I'm thinking base camp and take day rides, I would be better off without any luggage. I can see why you pack the way you do. Thanks for the inspiration

True Grip, If I ever take Michelle with me I think we will base camp up on top of the WRT and I can ride her in from both ends on day trips.
I am still learning to pack, My Son is a pro at packing light and he helps me out.

 

[eemsreno]

did you walk up that "wall" to see what was next?
i would have killed myself way before that "wall".
and where is helicopter, when you need one!!!

MikeBear, Did you say WALK? I can't go anywhere without my wheels under me.
Matt ask if I wanted to hike up and see what was over the top, I wasn't curious enough to do that.

 

[Tippo]

I live about 4 hours (via slab) from Moab and have ridden the White Rim at least 20 times on a mountain bike (never on a moto). I consider July to be far too hot for anything other than a river trip or a ride in an air conditioned Jeep. The best times to ride in the Moab area are mid April to mid May and mid September to mid October. Fall has the edge for less wind and more stable weather. Camping permits for Canyonlands Nat. Park should be obtained well in advance of arrival on-line at the Canyonlands N. P web site. The best site for a one stop trip on the White Rim is Murphy's Hogback site A. White Crack is also great but it involves a lot of sand on the approach road. If you are coming to Colorado for the gathering in June '13 I suggest you stay in the high country. Do Moab at another time.

Adventure Rider is full of good Moab ride reports.

Jeff

 

[eemsreno]

I live about 4 hours (via slab) from Moab and have ridden the White Rim at least 20 times on a mountain bike (never on a moto). I consider July to be far too hot for anything other than a river trip or a ride in an air conditioned Jeep. The best times to ride in the Moab area are mid April to mid May and mid September to mid October. Fall has the edge for less wind and more stable weather. Camping permits for Canyonlands Nat. Park should be obtained well in advance of arrival on-line at the Canyonlands N. P web site. The best site for a one stop trip on the White Rim is Murphy's Hogback site A. White Crack is also great but it involves a lot of sand on the approach road. If you are coming to Colorado for the gathering in June '13 I suggest you stay in the high country. Do Moab at another time.

Adventure Rider is full of good Moab ride reports.

Jeff

We got Murphy's C a geart site!!! right at the edge of the Hogback.

 

[True Grip]

I live about 4 hours (via slab) from Moab and have ridden the White Rim at least 20 times on a mountain bike (never on a moto). I consider July to be far too hot for anything other than a river trip or a ride in an air conditioned Jeep. The best times to ride in the Moab area are mid April to mid May and mid September to mid October. Fall has the edge for less wind and more stable weather. Camping permits for Canyonlands Nat. Park should be obtained well in advance of arrival on-line at the Canyonlands N. P web site. The best site for a one stop trip on the White Rim is Murphy's Hogback site A. White Crack is also great but it involves a lot of sand on the approach road. If you are coming to Colorado for the gathering in June '13 I suggest you stay in the high country. Do Moab at another time.

Adventure Rider is full of good Moab ride reports.

Jeff

Thanks for the advice Jeff one of these days I hope to retire from work and will not try to cram every place i want to visit into two weeks.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

::012:: ::012:: ::012:: ::012:: ::012:: ::012:: Fantastic report and photos. I love that area of the country, looks like a awesome place to ride. Thanks for taking the time to upload. I understand what a commitment that can be with a slow connection. Much appreciated. ::012:: ::012::

 

[eemsreno]

I’m back in prison, I mean at work, Iowa Thanks some day I’ll have to take a more relaxed vacation so I can stop and meet folks . Steve

 

[roy]

eemsreno I am so impressed with your trip in the area I planned a two week trip to Moab next May/June. I am going to go tackle some of those areas you rode on my DR650 and maybe a few on the Tenere. I will have my wife with me so not sure how much I can feasibly/safely do two up on the Tenere. She has a DR200 but her riding abilities are not that good and I wouldn't want her going over a cliff somewhere on it. Our two days there this past august was simply not enough time. I am planning on parking my Toy Hauler in Moab for 8 solid days that should give us plenty of play time in the area. Sucks it takes me 3 days to get there and 3 days home but that's the price of living to far east.

If you have any route info you care to share I certainly am listening. I have a nice detailed map of the area I picked up in Moab in august and I have begun to study it.

 

[eemsreno]

Bummer! I also just read about your triple diggit speeds through 285 into Denver. You're lucky I cant work right now or I would have taken you too jail and confiscated your bike to my garage. My other ride has lights.

;D

That was east of Denver out on the flats were it's legal. ::025::

 

[eemsreno]

eemsreno I am so impressed with your trip in the area I planned a two week trip to Moab next May/June. I am going to go tackle some of those areas you rode on my DR650 and maybe a few on the Tenere. I will have my wife with me so not sure how much I can feasibly/safely do two up on the Tenere. She has a DR200 but her riding abilities are not that good and I wouldn't want her going over a cliff somewhere on it. Our two days there this past august was simply not enough time. I am planning on parking my Toy Hauler in Moab for 8 solid days that should give us plenty of play time in the area. Sucks it takes me 3 days to get there and 3 days home but that's the price of living to far east.

If you have any route info you care to share I certainly am listening. I have a nice detailed map of the area I picked up in Moab in august and I have begun to study it.

Roy, that is what makes writing a R.R. worth it. For one to like it enough to want to do it.
I am no Moab trail expert, I can't help much on where to ride.

 

[roy]

Roy, that is what makes writing a R.R. worth it. For one to like it enough to want to do it.
I am no Moab trail expert, I can't help much on where to ride.

Hey that's okay just thought you would probably know a little more than I do at this point. We spent our time there in Arches so I did no exploring outside that. In fact we hiked in Arches and no riding except in and out. I have been studying google maps and in comparison to the map I have now I think I may have the area close to memorized. ) If not I got 8 months to get it right. Really looking forward to it I love Utah. I tried to relocate there in our Salt LAke City office but works slow there so I don't want to go there as of now and risk a lay-off.

 

[Siseneg]

I used to go twice or three times a year on my KLR, but moved away from it. I had several favorite trails that were at my level. There are a few 4x4 trail books out there for the Moab area.
My favorites were:
Hurrah Pass on to Chicken Corners.
Fins n Things
Top of the World (really tough).

Here's a link ... http://www.4x4now.com/mu4wd.htm

 

[JTWY]

Awesome stories and pictures , thanks for sharing them. ::008::

JT