MacDuncan 131 Posted July 6, 2015 Well, what to do...... when I experience that feeling of the local deserts simply being too hot to ride and the endearing routes from Idyllwild to Pancake rock aren't really feeding the explorer soul........ probably best to find some mountains to wander....... like so many of you at SDAR do when you can. So, I packed up the intermediate cc generic suzukis together in a cargo trailer along with a truck bed tent and a cooler of beer, and a special co-pilot, and headed out looking for campsites I haven't stayed in before and routes that I haven't ridden before... along with a couple of buds in another truck who seemed to have the same idea. Riverside resort near Hatch Utah - thumbs up, simple and a great central location to wander all of the trails west of Bryce Canyon AND all of the trails East and near to Brian Head and Cedar Breaks. Incredible loops that offer 100+ mile loops for multidays in a row, cool weather too! Not far from San Diego! Trophy Hunter - your old DR250 is going places you should be! Wish you were here! The hills over my shoulder are the hills west of Bryce, accessible through Hatch that offers great routes/loops along lakes and streams. The 2-up ride to Rainbow Point on tarmac through the rain matched the name as the rain stopped upon our arrival, but the Rainbow remained Next was the Piute trail (#1) which was fantastic! But more incredible is that the Piute trail has many off-shoots that are significantly more challenging with log crossings and stream crossings... and although not true single track, the ATV dual tracks offer challenging opportunities when you need to decide which one of the side by side single tracks would be best given rocks, toppled trees, mud, and off-camber 8 inch wide tracks next to 100 foot drops... and be careful dodging deer and cattle... and close the cattle gates behind you.... Thanks to some old GPS Kevin tracks that lead us into riding scenarios that put is at the limit of ability.... all ending in very rewarding and enthusiastic high fives for surviving, and offered great reflections later that night around the campfire after a couple brews and a couple of rums... (I think the hills got steeper upon reflection too - haha) And of course there are the step rocky climbs that put you on top of the world regularly, even when the motos are searching for air as much as you are This is above the section of Hiway 70 about 15 miles after it departs from hiway 15... yep, the same 15 in San Diego ! You know, pics just don't really offer the spirit of 30 to 50 mph roads for hours on end above timber line...this is above Koosharem, one of our 145 mile loops. Well, Utah was spectacular, so I thought I would try some of the Backcountry Discovery route in Colorado, first stop, Sylvan Lake to do a piece of the Buena Vista to Gypsum route: Then maybe some steamboat to Wyoming, Aspen to Crested Butte to Crystal to Telluride.... Well fellow riders, the wandering is going well, and will continue, so hope to see you out on the trail soon. Cheers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikeslut 1 Posted July 6, 2015 Utah has some of the best riding anywhere...thanks for posting Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wierdrider 187 Posted July 6, 2015 Sounds awesome, keep on riding! What a perfect place to enjoy the Fourth of July. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHunter 15 Posted July 6, 2015 IMG_2271.JPG Trophy Hunter - your old DR250 is going places you should be! Wish you were here! Glad the bike - and my shirt - are seein' the sights with Pat on board. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dress4Less 162 Posted July 6, 2015 Looks great! Thanks for sharing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirt dame 559 Posted July 6, 2015 Hope to ride that area soon! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danrider 5 Posted July 10, 2015 Nice trip, I am going to Utah soon, what size was your friend XL Honda, I am currently restoring a 84 350 XL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oracle 195 Posted July 10, 2015 Sweet. Carry on the journey! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacDuncan 131 Posted July 15, 2015 Well, back at home, ..... sometimes home is the resort I have been longing for... for lounging... but the great adventures were the valued memories.... that can never be replaced! My riding buddies went another direction as I headed to Steamboat after our ride on the BDR Colorado near Sylvan lake... with very fond memories of Hatch Utah and surrounding area and the Big Rock Candy resort and the miles and miles of the Piute Trail. cheers to my buds- they go one way, me another.... Steamboat Springs is fantastic! water, water, water.... rivers, rain, waterfalls, and greenery everywhere! Great Mountain biking, hiking, rodeos, kayaking, 4th of july fireworks, parades (BDR runs through it top of the gondola lunch and.... you can float on tubes with beers in hand for miles on the river before arriving downtown - so dang nice! I read the BDR report on the route from Steamboat to Wyoming and decided that I would try it 2 up on my Vstrom (no skid plate and street tire) knowing that if it got funky, I could alter the route - on vacation - no agenda..... So, all was good as we headed out... dodging some thunder clouds... Wandering through hard pan dirt for miles along incredible ranches was a delight, especially with almost no washboard... frankly, of the hundreds and hundreds of miles I rode on this trip, there was surprisingly little washboard - great by me After many incredible ranches we hit some asphalt, so I got to run up the mph and fly through the high country and float through the curves until Hiway 129 abruptly turned to dirt and forest just past Steamboat Lake. The ride through the back-country went well except for a couple of very mucky sloppy clay gooo spots that required me to "cartoon" run with the bike underneath me as every other foot hit the turf at about 4 foot intervals just to keep the bike upright..... not too fun then... but the hardpan returned and all was good. When we finally hit the official end of the North BDR Colorado, which is actually in Wyoming, we found ourselves on a beautiful 2 lane. Time to head back... but a look over our shoulder caused the hmmmm?, as I didn't really want to navigate the new rain that was at our heels and those sections of GOO clay and trenches 2 up again. No problem, and thank goodness I was not on the DRZ, which I had considered, so we simply rode west to Baggs, and then south to Craig at a speed that should not be "posted" here through the open prairies. Another successful ride! That rain stayed for a couple days so I rode a different bike for a couple days: The pic has downtown Steamboat over my left shoulder: Next was Aspen - After a good hike behind Maroon Bells and Crater Lake that leads to Crested Butte: And having to play in the net for the Aspen Soccer Team... oh, wait, that was thirty years ago - haha I finally chose a bike and headed out to explore, years ago the locals used to ride Lanedo, so I headed that direction while looking for tracks shared with me by "Merlo", and to wander the area that the locals now call the "Triangle" ... I think. Regardless, it was beautiful: Next, a ride over to Aspen from Snowmass to go straight up the face of Aspen Mountain and out the ridge in a southerly direction to find Taylor Pass: Now this was spectacular - It was a solo ride, but my Delorme was sending 10 minute pings to my co-pilot back at the Condo... It was a treat to later know that she also celebrated my arrival to Taylor Lake when the "blue dot" was seen at the lake on her cell phone map, and it was also a treat that I was greeted in the Parking lot of the condo at the exact moment of my return/arrival time by her estimating my rate of speed on my return as shown by the blue dot pings... with a cold beer in the ready of course - ahhh so dang nice! 4 hour ride above timber line, hard rain, volleyball rock climbs, scary loose descents, wondering where the heck I really am.... to end with: Helmet off, swig of cold brew in the first 5 seconds - ahh, life should be so good. Well, I had actually hoped to get to Crested Butte, but upon arrival to Taylor Lake, the Lightning seemed to be only a arm length away, and it began to rain very hard.... so I scooted back into the woodlands and down to Ashcroft to head back to Snowmass. . Another day.... I will do more of the BDR south of Leadville and Buena Vista and spend some time in Crested Butte. Until then, Head up and tires down and enjoy that I am easy to please simply as a "Happy Wanderer". Cheers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wierdrider 187 Posted July 15, 2015 Nice job! I'm envious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
