White Rim

The thunderstorm came over the butte and was on us in minutes. It was proceeded by a brown cloud then winds of 60 mph blowing sand. The six of us had scurried about putting things away and reinforcing the tents. Now there was nothing left to do but hunker down. The winds got worse with down drafts gusting to 80 mph. Each one knocked my tent flat. The nylon would come down and hit me in the face but it would spring back up . There were already a couple of cups of red dirt in the tent. Others were not so lucky. Tony's large dome tent went down and stayed down with shattered poles. He hid out in my truck. The only tent that withstood the onslaught was John's Kelty Tourer, three pole tent. There was only a little rain and it was over in an hour.

We left for the White Rim 100 mile mountain bike ride on Sunday 10/3/10. Tony and I drove separately from Santa Fe, through Cortez, arriving in Moab and the Red Stone Inn by 4 PM. The others, Rich (from Santa Fe) and Dennis (Tony's brother in law), John and Dave from Colorado. There was a huge repacking event as we sorted six people's gear into two trucks then a monumental dinner at the Moab Brewery.

Monday morning we were on the way to Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, driving 80 mph trying to keep up with Tony with tarps flapping in the back and my bicycle holding everything down. At the park visitor center we activated our permit and got a briefing (trail closed at mile 66 due to a large washout) before heading down the Shafer trail. After a two thousand foot descent our first stop was at the Gooseneck trail overlook of the Colorado River. There the two trucks and four bicycles regrouped. On to the Musselman Arch at 8 miles. We traded drivers. I rode my bicycle 11 miles to the Gooseberry campsite (3PM).

There we met Ranger Sharon Olsen. She was very professional when she got out of her 4 x 4 with her gun and taser to check our permit. The thunderstorm was over by 5 and we resumed cooking. Tony was making shrimp fajitas. Ranger Olsen joined us for dinner and the astronomy lesson. With a laser pointer I pointer out the Summer Triangle, Big and Little Dipper, Cassiopeia and Pegasus. With Tony's 10 power binoculars we saw the moons of Jupiter and the Andromeda Galaxy.

It was 11 AM when we got away on the second day. I rode to White Crack and on to Murphy (15 miles). I drove the new (to me) Toyota Tundra up a 30 degree slick rock incline. No problem in compound low at 2,000 rpm and 2 mph it walked right up. After another great dinner we figured our gasoline problem. Both trucks were at half tank plus a gallon. Figures told us that in 4 wheel for the last two days we had been making 7.5 mpg. We could go no further. Ranger Sharon got on the radio and changed our permit from Potato to a second night at Murphy's.

Wednesday saw us away early. Everybody was riding. The weather forecast called for 70% chance of T Storms with a Tornado alert. After a big descent our first stop was at the huge cliff of Soda Springs Basin. Lunch at 1PM was at the Wilhite trail junction (12 miles). Sadly we started back. This was the furthest we would go (57 miles). We picked up the pace as a storm bore down on us. It caught us out in the open. There was nothing to do but keep riding and pray as the 3/4 inch hail bounced off the helmets and mile long lightning bolts went horizontal over our heads. I had to shift down a couple of gears when riding upstream as water a foot deep ran down the road.

Why do we go to wild places? It seems that God talks in whispers best heard in quiet places. Risking death reassures you that there is purpose in being alive.

On day 4 (Now what day is this? It's a sign of a great trip when you can't remember what day it is.) I drove all 45 miles out. It took 7 hours. Dennis rode all the way including up Shafer. John and Dave rode up Shafer too.

The group worked well together. Two great trucks helped. The food was good. Six people riding for four days and no one even got a scratch. No injuries.

Day 5, drive home get some souvenirs. My dog was glad to see me. Awesome trip.

Stephen Hazen