Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Whole Enchilada - Moab, Utah

 The Whole Enchilada has become Moab Legend. A 27.5 mile long Bike trail that descends 7,000 feet from Burro Pass in the Manti-Lasals, to the Colorado river via Porcupine Rim. The trail changes from High Alpine riding. . .fast quick turns. . .wide open fired road. . .desert technical single track. . .ending with he Porcupine Trail then Single track.

27.5 Bone Jarring, amazing, technical, scenic Miles.


At 4 A.M. Saturday Morning we loaded up the four bikes.

Arriving at 10,000 feet it was 30 degrees at 9 in the Morning and windy.


The ride up is more of a ride/walk. It isn't overly steep, but at around 11,00 feet it is rough. My Brother-in-law, Corey "The Animal" Boren left Pennsylvania at sea level, flew here and within 12 hours was at 11,000 feet. Not highly recommended or healthy. But adventurous!! Thus the nickname "the animal" I spent most of the day trying to keep up.


I had to ride the last few feet, not miles, to the top.


Looking back at the climb.

The Ride down burro is loose, steep and beautiful with various stream crossings. It is hard to believe this is 40 minutes from Moab.






The Aspens were Phenomenal. The trail was perfect because the mountains had received a light amount to rain recently.

This is looking back at Burro pass. Gavin is climbing the single track from Burro up to the Hazzard trail. Which is filled with Quick single track with various man-made gap jumps and bermed turns. One note, this was Gavin's "sasquatch's" third mountain bike ride in many years and the first on a full-suspension and he rocked it. He hit a few trees, ate some dirt, danced with his bike and had problems changing his tire, but for his third time. . .amazing.


The Colors were amazing and the Light was perfect.


This is a picture of the Rim on which you descend. Th trail winds out to and away from this rim for the next 10 miles or so.


"the Animal", Guthrie and Gavin "Sasquatch" standing on the rim overlooking some cool valley.




"The Animal" Riding along the rim, looking back at the Manti-lasals where we started.


Gage

Guthrie


Gavin "Sasquatch"


"The animal" is pointing to the peak by the side of the pass where we started, 3 hours before.


Gavin "Sasquatch"

Guthrie

The overall first time feeling of the ride;

"The animal" this is the most amazing ride I have ever done" - "This is like a sampler ride"

Gavin "Sasquatch" "I liked some parts." - "I can't believe I spent 50 dollars to ride this" (He rented a bike) - "I can't believe people actually ride that. . ."

It was Mine and Guthrie's fifth time, it was amazing but not as eye opening.


After we finished the Whole Enchilada we hit subway for lunch (a tradition). Visited various bike stores, eyeing the new bikes, parts and clothing. Then headed out for ten more miles on the Moab Brand trails



It took us 3 hours and ten minutes of riding to ride the whole enchilada. But a total time of 5 hours because of Lunch and waiting one hour to fix a difficult flat. (It was Gavin's first time using presta tubes and pumps.) Another hour and a half riding ten miles on the Moab Brand trails.
A total of 37.5 miles of riding . We arrived home at 10:30 P.M., not too bad for one day but also not our most mileage.


We love these trips, the scenery is absolutely amazing and the adventure factor is off the charts. Only Biking could you see this much mileage in this amount of time via man-powered travel.

What an amazing state in which we live. People come from the world over to ride these trail and yet within three miles we can be partaking in the single track bliss. If you bike, you need to ride this trail - but be ready for a very difficult, but incredible ride. Miles and miles of rough technical riding. If you don't bike - you are missing out!


For another good explanation, detailed biking and driving directions check out Utah Mountain Biking.com Click on trails - select by region - Moab - Whole Enchilada is at the very bottom.





2 comments:

Janae Moss said...

What beautiful scenery. I would risk my life for that ;)

Gage said...

You Would LOVE IT!!!!

blogger templates | Make Money Online