Bikepacking - American Fork Canyon

We pulled up to the Tibble Fork parking around sunrise on a beautiful late summer Saturday. Three novice bikepackers testing their setups. Our intended route: Tibble Fork to Forrest Lake to Ridge Trail to Dry Fork to Albion Basin to Mineral Basin to Mary Ellen Gulch and back to Tibble Fork. A route that could be done in a day, but we wanted to take our time to enjoy the scenery and we wanted to camp.

The day started out perfect. Comfortable temperatures and blue sky with white fluffy clouds.

The Ridge Trail has some popular sections and some rarely used sections. This was normally the later, but not today. We stopped here to rest and enjoy the view when we noticed some "hikers" coming through. One of them looked like death the other pretty happy and fresh. After a few more of these "hikers" - we realized it was a race, the Wasatch Front 100 mile endurance run, they were on their last 15 miles. The death looking ones were the racers, the happy and fresh looking ones were the pacers. Our nice quiet section wasn't going to be so quiet.

One reward for having to stop every 30 seconds to let a runner pass, was this aid station. We got there just a few minutes before the runner cutoff time for that point. They were getting ready to close up shop and offered to let us eat and drink as much as we wanted. The trail that starts just behind the cars in the picture is Dry Fork - one of the unknown parts of our route. We would soon find out there was a reason I couldn't find any information about riding this section of trail. The extra calories from the aid station were going to come in handy.

I never was able to take a picture that did justice for this section. One way to describe it. Even the two motorcycles who passed us, at one point got off their bikes and pushed up the hill (albeit power assisted in their case). It was steep. It was miserable slow work: push bike forward, apply brakes, walk up to near your handlebar, repeat. But the scenery was stunning so we didn't really complain. I take that back. I did complain about one thing. The stupid five pound tent strapped to my handlebar. A little background. I don't like tents. I pretty much only sleep in one as a last resort. They are stuffy. They are annoying to put up and take down. They block your view of the night sky. But. This was a test run and like them or not I realize sometimes they are necessary so I borrowed one for the trip.

My victory pose at the top of Dry Fork! Now for some fun! We dropped down into Albion Basin past all the confused hikers wondering what we were doing and where we had come from.

The downhill seemed all too brief and soon enough we were once again climbing. This time up the Germania Pass road. I was pretty blown from the Dry Fork workout.

Mineral Basin! Only one more climb left and we'd be in Mary Ellen Gulch, our final destination before dropping back down to Tibble Fork. But the clouds were getting rather dark and the temperature was dropping fast. The forecast had looked good, but afternoon thunderstorms certainly aren't uncommon. We made a call to drop down Mineral Basin to a stand of trees and kind of see what happened with the weather.

There was a good camping spot there and we were pretty tired. So we decided to set up camp and make the final climb over to Mary Ellen the next morning. Just as we got camp set, it started raining. Then down pouring. For three hours. Now I was actually pretty glad for that five pound tent.

The rain stopped and we emerged from our shelters. Again pictures don't do justice. There was a mist and a silence that was just amazing. It didn't last long. It started raining again and would do so off and on for the rest of the trip.

The next morning we decided against climbing over to Mary Ellen Gulch. With all the rain and mud, the steep climb would be very sketchy and maybe not even possible. And once on the other side we didn't know how bad the mud would be. The upper part of the Mineral Basin road is barely rideable because its so rocky, but that also meant it should handle the rain. We decided for the Mineral Basin road option. The first two miles or so were rough and with all the water it was kind of like riding down a small stream bed. We soon got to the main dirt road and it was smooth, fast riding from there.

Tired. Soaked. Happy.

It turned out overnight there had been multiple rock slides in AF canyon. By the time we were heading out they had cleared a path so that people could leave. All in all, things really couldn't have gone any better. Well, we could have made it to Mary Ellen Gulch...and not been caught in a huge rainstorm. But there were no injuries, no bike problems, and everyone had a good time.

Oh. And none of us want to take a bike up Dry Fork again. Ever.

Trip Totals: 30.54 miles, 7346 feet of climbing, 6202 min elevation, 10491 max elevation

Back In Control

My third Crusher in the Tushar is in the books and it was a good one! I find it funny how something I never would have considered doing 5 years ago now feels like an integral part of my life. I love this race!

I signed up for the first Crusher on a whim – I hated climbing but the uniqueness of the race caught my attention so when my friend told me to sign up, I did. Fear was my motivation for training that Spring. I wasn't a climber. I wasn't a distance rider. And as I watched the racer list grow it became pretty apparent this race was way out of my league. I trained harder than I ever had before, but to no avail. That first race was the most difficult thing I've ever done, but it taught me some things. I didn't realize it right at the time, but that experience in all its drawn out painful last place glory laid the ground work for a new approach to life. (Taking Back Control)

I signed up for the second Crusher on purpose. I wanted to continue this new approach of embracing pain and fatigue and maybe push it a little further. The opportunity to combine my Crusher ride with a fundraiser for Southern Sudan Humanitarian presented itself and I rode a ridiculously inappropriate bike for so much climbing. In some ways it was more difficult than the first year, in other ways it was easier i.e. I never actually WANTED to die the second year.

My main goal for the Crusher this year was break my streak of dead last finishes. My secondary goal, but not a huge priority, was to make it across the finish line in less than 8 hours. I started eating better and lost 20lbs. I worked on building endurance. I sold all but one bike and all my extra parts and gear in order to build up one nice lightweight bike. I was not going to be last again. My plan was to warm up slowly and then camp out in my sustainable effort zone. My hope being that my increased endurance and light bike would give me the overall position and time I was ultimately hoping for. It worked! Better than I thought. The popular saying is it never gets easier you just get faster – I was going faster AND it was easier. I felt good. I was passing people on the climbs. I was comfortably leading a small group into the headwind on Hwy 89. I didn't have to walk any sections of the brutal climbs in the last 20 miles. I still have a big energy drop when I get over 9,000 ft elevation and I still need to sort out some GI issues, but all in all the race went really well. The only part I truly struggled with was the last one mile climb to the finish. That climb sucks.

I'm not sure where I finished, the official results aren't posted yet. I know I wasn't last and I know I crossed the finish line in under 8 hours so I'm ecstatic! Something else happened as I continued to pass people along the last 20 miles, arguably the most difficult part of the race. I realized I was passing people along the most difficult part of the race! This may not be too big a deal to most people, but this is not something that happens to me. I struggle and get through difficult race sections, but I don't pass people. Especially on climbs. Granted we were all still back of the pack variety, don't get me wrong I'm not saying I'm suddenly in contention to win anything here. But I was legitimately competing with them and in some cases beating them handily.

Sub par health has been a damning fear of mine.

Yesterday that fear vanished.  

Bikepacking - Temple Mountain

Bikepacking - I'm just getting my toes in the water, but I'm loving the experience.

There's something about the desert of central and southern Utah that calls to me. It's the scenery, the solitude, the vast open night sky and general feeling of fascination with the place. Last Fall I mapped out a 40ish mile route in the San Rafael Swell and made plans that fell through because of bad weather. I made plans again this Spring which also fell through because of bad weather. A window of opportunity presented itself in late May and I decided to jump on it. The weather in northern Utah was going to be bad, but the weather in the Swell was supposed to be perfect - mid 70's, clear sky, slight breeze. I quickly packed late Thursday night in anticipation of leaving right after work on Friday. Work, being as it is this time of year, threw a wrench in my plans and I wasn't able to leave Friday after all. I almost gave up on the idea - it just didn't seem meant to be. I awoke to a cold rainy Saturday morning; the desert crowding out all other thoughts. I checked the weather forecast and it looked to be colder with a chance of rain for Saturday night...but only 20 percent. I added a warmer sleeping bag and waterproof jacket to my gear, then set out for the trailhead.

I wasn't exactly sure how easy or difficult the route would be, nor how scenic or bland it would be - The Swell offers both. I mapped out an intended course with a couple optional additions/subtractions depending on time and conditions. I gave one copy to a friend and left another on the dash of my car with notes about what I was doing and when I expected to be back.

The road was well graded and easy peddling, but I rode slowly and stopped frequently. No need to rush through such beauty. Blue sky with fluffy white clouds. A light refreshing breeze. Mild temperatures. Beautiful scenery everywhere. Life was feeling pretty good.

The graded road ended and the OHV trail began. The peddling became more difficult - soft ground, rocks, steps, etc. I had to start focusing a bit more on what was in front of me and less on soaking up the surroundings. 

Then came the gentle but steady climb up a soft gravel wash. I was happy to have my super fat tires. Overkill and extra weight for a graded road. Perfect for a gravel wash.

The scenery was fading and so was the daylight. It was getting time to start looking for a place to camp. The gentle breeze was turning into a steady, less then gentle, wind and the white fluffy clouds were being replaced by darker ones. There were decent rain storms a couple hours north and the wind and clouds had me thinking I might meet that 20 percent chance of rain. I was still riding up the gravel wash. Better keep peddling. 

About 6 miles later the route turned out of the wash and started heading up. I was no longer concerned about setting up camp in a flash flood zone, but the wind was steady now and there was no shelter to be found. I had plenty of gear to keep me warm, but spending the night exposed to the wind didn't sound all that fun. Especially if it started raining too. Better keep peddling. 

There was a general increase of greenery, but still no shelter from the wind. The idea of NOT camping entered my mind for the first time. 'Maybe I'll find a good place to camp yet, but maybe I'll just ride through and not stop until back at my car'.

There were a few small trees/large bushes but they didn't offer any real wind block. I stopped at the intersection with another well graded road, my final leg was 20 miles along this road. I was getting a bit grumpy and discouraged by the bland scenery and declining weather. I noticed some movement to my right and turned to look. I don't know what I was really expecting to see, but it certainly wasn't a herd of wild horses! I counted 15. All staring at me! My mood changed instantly. A herd of wild horses! I'd never seen that before. Bland scenery and bad weather what? Everything was beautiful and good and amazing again. Mostly.

I started down the graded road peddling faster now. I didn't really like the looks of the weather. The idea of not camping won even though it was supposed to be a bikepacking trip, which inherently means camping. Time to crank out 20 miles and get back to my car. I was parked at a campground, I could camp there.

I spent the rest of the ride in my endurance zone: pedal, drink, eat, sing (usually just in my mind...sometimes aloud if no ones around and I'm really bored). Around 10pm I rolled up to my car. Happy and feeling really well. The wind was still blowing and the sky was now totally full of clouds - no stars to be seen. Falling asleep under a sky of clouds just doesn't have the same draw as a sky of stars. I packed up and drove home.

Not exactly how I'd envisioned things going. Better in some ways, more lame in others i.e. not actually camping. But it was a great experience and has me excited for more trips!