Life on Mars: Part 4 - Porcupine Rim

Tuesday we woke up at 6am. My legs had recovered mostly from the Ride on Amasa Back. We picked up our gear, cleaned up the Condo, tossed our stuff in the back of Craig's Van and headed out for Breakfast at the diner in Moab.

After we were done, we drove to the meeting point where we would be picked up by the shuttle company. An hour of driving later, we would starting off on what has so far been the best ride of the trip. The 25 mile long point to point ride that includes the Kokopelli trail, into UPS, LPS and down through Porcupine Rim is rated as the best trail in the U.S. by several MTB magazines.

The top of the hill was cold. We were at the base of the La Sal mtns looking up at the snow clouds above.

The first part was Kokopelli, fast double track. But not like the double track on the Shore, this stuff was actually fun. And Fast. Too fast to stop and take many pics.


UPS and LPS were a mixed bag of up and down, single and double track.
Some of it went way to close to the ledge for my liking. Didn't bother Ian, tho.
This was another fun part of the day. A mini storm was rolling through Moab on this day. The whole 25 miles we were being chased down the hill by inclement weather. We'd get a few drops and move on out of it. Towards the end there was thunder, lightning and hale. The hale lasted just long enough for us to get our shells back on. Then it stopped again.


Finally we tagged up with Porcupine Rim, the largest stretch of the ride.

Mixed double and single track at first, and then just single. Best of all, no more mixed bag. Just flowy down. 15 miles of it.

Ian and I often talked about finding a Gear Jammer type trail that would just go on and on. Dude, I think I found it.


Awesome Steve handles a tricky little rocky wall.
We got back to the ledge area of the trail for the ride out. By this point we had completed most our decent.
Craig handles a rock face like a pro. Hard to wipe out on this super tacky slick rock.


Ina and Craig near the bottom.
We hit the end, which was a funny duct going under the highway. When done, the rain set in for real. We peddled for the Van in rain and blustering wind. I had no complaints.

It was one of the best ride days I had ever had. Like a whole day at Whistler with no chair lifts.

No peddle up left me with some extra mojo. I wanted to go again. But not to worry. Susan had a few idea's on how I could spend my extra energy......