Saturday, October 14 - Slickrock Trail

We woke to a forcast of rain and views of the mountians we had passed through the night before. We started the day with breakfast at the "Log Palace" come Texaco gas station across the street from our hotel (the only Holiday Inn in Price Utah Scott). The food was normal western breakfast fare. Chris B ordered ham steak and eggs, and was presented with two giant slices of ham that could have fed the entire table. Now Chris is not that large, but he made a valiant attempt to consume the entire pig.

Well fed, we loaded up the van and began the drive to Moab. Not long out of Price we hit light rain which turned harder the nearer we got to Green River, the only town between Price and Moab. Shortly after passing through Green River, we turned south on Hwy 191 to Moab. At the same time that landscape began to change from rolling shale badlands to dramatic sandstone outcrops, the rain slacked off and we began see mountain bikers at traiheads along the highway. Our thoughts turned to a day of riding in this gorgeous country. By the time we arrived in Moab, the rain was back and the town was filled with a combination of mountain bikers, dirt motorcyclists, and jeep drivers, an odd mix to be sure.

We proceeded directly to our hotel in the hope that we might be able to check in, or at least drop off our bags before picking up our rental bikes. We were informed that check-in time was 3:30 pm, and we could not have our rooms before then, nor could we leave our bags at the hotel. So, with the van still loaded and the rain alternating between drizzel and downpore, we set off for the Chille Pepper bike shop. When we arrived, the shop was full of people renting and returning bikes some of whom had been out riding in the rain and were soaked and cold (the temperature was in the low 50s). After milling about for a while, talking to the folks in the shop, and checking the weather report on Weather.com, we decieded to walk around town a little before picking up our bikes. 

We visited several bike shops located along Moab's main street while we discussed what we should do. Some of us were ready to ride regardless of the weather while others were more circumspect. While eating lunch at a wrap and smoothie place called Peace .. something, we decided to go for it and ride. The plan was to pick up our bikes, change into our riding clothes at the bike shop, and ride over to the famous Slickrock Trial located just east of town. The riding is described as advanced, which provokes some apprehension in our group of mixed level riders. However, Slickrock is one of the few trails you can get to without driving, and it promised to be less sloppy than some of the other less technical trails becasue it is entirely restricted to exposed sandstone with no muddy areas.

It took about an hour to get everyone ready to ride and we set off into a light rain with high spirits. It is about a three mile ride on paved roads from the bike shop to the Slickrock trailhead. The first part took us back through town, and then we turned east and UP. To get to the Slickrock trailhead you have to ascend the cliffs that define the east side of the valley in which Moab is nestled. The road is steep and we were quite warm by the time we crested the summit despite a steady cold rain. 

Jeff on the Slickrock Trail

The riding was incredible, challenging, scary, fun, and wet. The rain grew heavier while we road the trail producing small streams and pools were once had been dry sandstone washes and basins. The trail, marked by white painted dashes, dips, dives and climbs over sandstone slopes and small ledges. It starts off with a short run through loose sand, up a short steep sandstone bump and then traverses across moderate sandstone slopes to the head of the two loops that make up the Slickrock Trail. We chose to ride the "practice loop" first which is shorter, but no easier than the main loop. It took some of us a while to get our balance and gear selection right for these conditions of fast, hair-raising followed immediately by steep climbs (often with a sharp turn in betweeen), but we all attacked the trail with equal vigor. After completing the practice loop, Ed and Chris P. headed back to the trailhead while the rest of the group road some of the main loop before heading back. It was a great first day of riding despite the rain, and we were all happily in one piece when we made it back to the bike shop. We decided to leave our bikes there for the night because our hotel does not allow us to bring the bikes into the rooms. Sorry that I have no pictures to post because it was pretty wet while we were riding, and I was more concerned about staying alive than taking pictures. I will try to take pictures tomorrow.