schunkb
Observer
We decided to take a meandering road trip over Thanksgiving last year to do some mountain biking before the snow got too good everywhere to justify pedaling instead of skiing.
Beat it out of the front range and set up camp in Fruita for the night. Daytime temps were great, and after a good ride, a hot dinner was most welcome before turning in.
Annika decided that camping in temperatures less than 15 degrees is overrated.
We packed up and after breakfast made our way west. Instead of turning off to head to our usual stomping grounds around Moab, we continued across the swell and turned south. We stopped off at the Cache Valley dairy/factory outlet in Beaver and loaded up on cheese curds (the jalapeño cheddar curds were amazing). Continuing south, we drove through Hurricane and made the turn-off for Gooseberry Mesa. Neither of us have ever been, so we were pretty excited to see what was in store. The weather was great, and significantly warmer than what we left behind in Fruita, but the geography left me with some doubts, until we made our turn to head up the mesa. A desert oasis of juniper and sandstone in the middle of rangeland awaited us.
There weren't many people out, especially for a holiday week, and we got a pristine camping spot right on the edge of the mesa.
Annika surveying her new domain
The mountain biking was phenomenal. Miles of slickrock, and as technical as you wanted to make it, but still doable for the mere mortals among us as well.
Just a short sample of a fun little drainage. Stuff like this was ALL OVER the place. Total playground.
[video]https://youtu.be/7uYfcyePvc4[/video]
After a good ride, settling in beside the fire for a beverage or two before making dinner.
Annika wondering where her breakfast burrito is the next morning. (not sure why this won't upload in the proper orientation)
Beat it out of the front range and set up camp in Fruita for the night. Daytime temps were great, and after a good ride, a hot dinner was most welcome before turning in.
Annika decided that camping in temperatures less than 15 degrees is overrated.
We packed up and after breakfast made our way west. Instead of turning off to head to our usual stomping grounds around Moab, we continued across the swell and turned south. We stopped off at the Cache Valley dairy/factory outlet in Beaver and loaded up on cheese curds (the jalapeño cheddar curds were amazing). Continuing south, we drove through Hurricane and made the turn-off for Gooseberry Mesa. Neither of us have ever been, so we were pretty excited to see what was in store. The weather was great, and significantly warmer than what we left behind in Fruita, but the geography left me with some doubts, until we made our turn to head up the mesa. A desert oasis of juniper and sandstone in the middle of rangeland awaited us.
There weren't many people out, especially for a holiday week, and we got a pristine camping spot right on the edge of the mesa.
Annika surveying her new domain
The mountain biking was phenomenal. Miles of slickrock, and as technical as you wanted to make it, but still doable for the mere mortals among us as well.
Just a short sample of a fun little drainage. Stuff like this was ALL OVER the place. Total playground.
[video]https://youtu.be/7uYfcyePvc4[/video]
After a good ride, settling in beside the fire for a beverage or two before making dinner.
Annika wondering where her breakfast burrito is the next morning. (not sure why this won't upload in the proper orientation)
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