Interest in a 2007 White Rim trip?

[Wanderlusty]

Well, I would at this point only say stay outside the park on one of the nights if we ran into issues gaining reservations.

Based on all you guys have said, at least 2 nights within the park seems best, but if we run into a problem getting campsites, I would say that staying outside the park for one of the nights may be a good fallback plan.

As it is, lets just cross our fingers and hope we can get at least 2 nights in the park.

Who is going to take the lead on making reservations once we decide a date?

Anyone ready to throw a date out there yet?

 

[devinsixtyseven]

I figured two or three nights if primarily by bicycle. I'm not in to BTB 6-7 hour days...that sounds like too much time in pain and not enough time relaxing. I've done plenty of 5-6 hour days on MTB, but it's draining at the end, and I wouldn't want to push it...not worth it.

I guess I also figured if I drove the trail, I'd be stopping for two or three nights anyway, just to enjoy it.

Didn't know about the switchbacks at Mineral, I was referring to the Schaffer section like you.

 

[Wanderlusty]

Just ballpark me here, but what time of day would we expect to get started on the trail, no matter what form of transport we used?

Considering I will be coming by way of Denver and may meet up with the Denver-ites to caravan in to Moab, what time would that get us into Moab and would we expect to get started on the trail then, or what would be the plan?

 

[Wanderlusty]

I'm totally into a leisurely pace. It's about stopping, seeing and drinking for me. Two night, three nights, whatever is good with me. Since Sean started this thread, I think he should more or less make the call as what the plan is. I personally think a 3 night trip is fun, but 2 nights isn't all that much significantly harder to ride.

I am cool with that. Speaking of leisurely....I want to wake up early in the morning and watch the sunrise. And I want to be settled in time to kick back and watch the sun set.

Throw in some :steak: :friday: :camping: and it sounds like the makings for a great trip. Whether by :safari-rig: or *:roost: it will be awesome.

*not a mountain bike but will have to suffice in this instance.

 

[Wanderlusty]

So should the drive from Denver be considered something to do prior to the day we start on the WRT? It sounds that way, unless you leave Denver somewhere in the neighborhood of 4am if I have figured the mileage correctly...ouch....

That may change my plans if that is the case, as far as when/where we meet up. I would be tempted to push on to at least Grand Junction, which would be a haul from AR, but doable based on previous experience.

Thoughts?

 

[devinsixtyseven]

me set the plan? naw...i'd rather get a good idea of what people's sightseeing pace is, regardless of vehicle, then see if we can all work it out somehow.

i was actually thinking that if i have vehicle support, i can probably go easily as fast on the MTB as a vehicle can do on a bad backcountry doubletrack, uphills excluded . one way or another, i figure vehicles would more or less always have spotters outside the vehicle, and bikers would have a cheering squad for the uphills :rockon:.

for my part, i'd think relaxing mornings for the sunrise, a good meal, and a slow start followed by no more than six hours riding. from experience, you'll probably want no more than that driving. i think dave's trip report is a good reference, thanks for posting that.

just a guess, but i suspect we'd get about 30 miles per day--dave's writeup shows that's pretty close--and i'd guess that's four to six hours of movement with a lot of stops for photos, snacks, and then like the fat man says, make camp early and relax with friends, food and sunset.

i'm all about a sightseeing trip, not out to prove i can ride or drive white rim...i know i can do both, but i want to see the place, not conquer it by muscular or combustive force. i like the hike and side trip suggestions.

it's about 5.5 hours, denver to moab, at a "reasonable" pace. we've often done it faster, but in appropriate vehicles...not fully-laden trucks. traffic out here pretty much says you leave the previous evening, if you can, overnight somewhere cheap & easy--like a rooftop tent, or just grab a bed/room/cabin at the lizard in moab--as you'll arrive after dark. the trip starts the following day, as early as everyone gets up. whichever day we'd start, i'd be leaving denver the previous evening after work.

 

[Wanderlusty]

Just that someone needs to decide on dates so that the permit issue can be settled.

And apply for the permits too...

You guys seem more familiar with the process, so I will trust you. As for dates, anything late August to any time in September works well for me. The temps in September sound a little nicer, but even August seems fine.

I'll be leaving from work the night before and driving out. Takes me about 6 hours driving, too.

I think I will just have to see as time gets closer what my exact plans are. I was thinking of coming via Denver, do WRT and then the San Juans, but may do it in reverse, or may still come through Denver but on a different timetable than I originally planned.

I guess none of that matters much to the plans here, as long as we are all the same place on day one of the trail ride.

Question: I know that they are around in the Moab area, but specific to WRT, are there some petroglyphs that we will be able to check out? I would really enjoy that.

 

[OverlandZJ]

John B…are you wanting to hook up with others on your trip out? Late October is a bit later in the year than I was thinking, but I guess it could be considered.

QUOTE]


David, i'd love to meet some of you guys, but please dont schedule your trip around my schedule. My group prefers the later cooler temps.

Looks like this trip is shaping up nicely.

 

[Wanderlusty]

David, i'd love to meet some of you guys, but please dont schedule your trip around my schedule. My group prefers the later cooler temps.

Looks like this trip is shaping up nicely.

Understandable. It does appear that we will probably be out there earlier than you at this point.

It would have been cool to have folks from as far away as we all are come together.

Hey, maybe we could geocache something there for you to find when you get out there...a little way to say hello perhaps?

 

[devinsixtyseven]

Right now i'm totally open. Later is better only because I can save up more vacation .

 

[Wanderlusty]

OK, how does the weekend of September 14th work for everyone? I will submit the permit request for that doing 3 nights and we can go from there if that works.

That works fine for me.

 

[devinsixtyseven]

Sounds like a plan.

 

[Wanderlusty]

In addition to the permit fee for the campsites, will we need the Nat. Park Pass or park entry fee as well?

I am trying to figure out what other NP's I may try to hit this year, to decide whether to pick up a NPP or no....

 

[Wanderlusty]

I imagine a Pass is in order. It has always served us well in the past. The increase to $80 this year had me thinking, but when you add it up...

Possible NP's this trip that have been discussed:
Canyonlands - Definite
Arches - Maybe...have been twice but always worth another go.
Mesa Verde - High Probability, missed it last time
Chaco Canyon - On our list, but would be at trips end, so may be a squeeze to accomodate.

There is also a somewhat more remote possibility of hitting some of the other Utah parks we have missed (Bryce, Reef, etc) as when we left Zion the last couple times, we have headed 15 to 70 and bypassed them.

Of course if we miss them again....all the better reason to plan ANOTHER trip!

Also, I am REALLY hoping to make a fast trip out a month later for the ExPo Trophy, assuming it is about the same time of year as it was last year (Mid Oct) and may have another list of parks to hit.

 

[devinsixtyseven]

The geocache idea is a cool one, actually...wonder if we could work that out somehow.

*edit* It still looks like it's the three of us. If it gets down to the wire and people are still interested, and I'm biking as I hope to, I'd give out my vehicle spot (provided that person is willing to carry a bit of gear for me) or just let somebody drive my truck, if I know 'em fairly well . There's a buddy of mine who's interested in that very thing at the moment, but he hasn't signed on yet. Is that ok with you guys?