We headed north of Moab to the Klondike Bluffs area. Started out on a newly developed trail called Jurassic, which is an easy and flat trail that runs along the base of some remarkably unvegetated cliffs that were deposited in the Jurassic Era. The tread was smooth, loose, and bounded in many places by chunks of rocks. Not super interesting if you're seeking challenging technical riding, but sort of fascinating from a colorful barren dirt perspective. It was also a great alternative to the soft, sandy Copper Ridge Road that crawls up the center of the valley, It was easy to imagine that we were riding on the surface of an alien world; or maybe the early days of our world (say, Jurasic Era), with dinosaurs possibly lurking around the next bend; or maybe even a post-apocalyptic earth, with brain-hungry zombies walking mindlessly down from the ridgeline. Other worldly, anyway.
Click here to see the Garmin log.
I found the easy trail enjoyable. I rode fast, which lent challenge to the curves because the surface was loose and provided little confidence in the way of traction. Quinn, on the other hand, found the lack of boulders, ledges, and drops, and the continual very gentle climb rather unexciting. He was nearly bored to tears.
But once we reached the top, he enjoyed this little bit of precariously perched downhill.
Our intent was to follow Jurassic up to Baby Steps, which would take us down into and then across the valley and up the other side to either Dino Flow or EKG, which in turn would deliver us back down the valley to the starting point. When we reached the junction with Dino Flow, at about mile 5, there was a nice smooth rocky area that compelled us to take a lengthy snack break. Since Quinn and I were in the mood for something challenging and dangerous, we cranked up the steep climb to EKG while the girls started down Dino Flow in search of the fast and flowing.
EKG heads sharply up and down from ridge to valley as it zig-zags back toward the Klondike Bluffs parking area to the south. The tread is smooth but broken rock, and is punctuated by crumbled rock, fissures, and boulders. A very fun trail, indeed, but it was slow-going on the uphills and we began to worry it was going to take us too long to get back and still allow time enough for an afternoon ride at the Moab Brand trails. So we short cut down Little Salty, a crazy fun 6% grade dropping to Dino Flow; the sort of trail that gives you the opportunity to make full use of all the suspension travel you brought with you.
The boy tackling some jumbles on his new Fulcrum wheelset.
Rest for the wicked.
When Quinn and I arrived at the truck, worrying that the girls were going to be bored, sitting at the truck waiting for us, we were surprised to find them absent! I knew immediately that there were only two explanations: a crash and injury or bicycle damage somewhere along the trail near the top of Dino Flow, or a wrong turn and lost riders. I felt a twinge of nervousness about the risks of our sport. Fortunately, it was neither Jurassic times nor post-apocalyptic, so I simply picked up my phone and helped them identify where they'd made the wrong turn and how they could go to get back most efficiently. Quinn and I packed up the bikes and had some post-ride beverages while we waited. At least they got to see the dinosaur footprints on the original Klondike Trail.
After a bit of debate about options, the girls dropped Quinn and me off at the Bar M trailhead, where we made just one more loop. They headed into Moab to look for lunch and a sweatshirt. Hoping for the full circuit of Rockin' A and Circle O was probably too much given that we'd just finished 10 miles at the Klondike area, and Quinn is only 10, but I was willing to give a try. Poor kid.
We hammered along through Lazy EZ, with Quinn leading at a fast pace, and then we climbed more slowly through Bar M's two-tracks. I detected a winnowing of strength. Rockin' A is challenging, requiring powerful moves and confidence to climb and descend boulders and short steep slickrock mounds. We were alone in the vast expanse of Rockin' A, when the rain began to fall. Slickrock, normally anything but slick, became slicker due to the sand the stuck to our tires. The temperature went from comfortable to cold, a little hail or sleet began to fall dusting the rocks with little balls of ice, and some too-close-for-comfort lightning smashed on the rocks to our south. The cold and rain and lack of traction on steep rock and scary electricity pretty much sapped whatever resolve Quinn had left, so when Rockin' A took us to the junction with Circle O, we cut out on the jeep road that connects to Bar M and then took another connector back to the parking lot. No point in pushing a good day into bad. There in the parking lot we lay on the gravel in the partial sun, seeking geothermal energy, while we awaited salvage by the girls in our Nissan adventure truck.
Click here to see this Garmin log.
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