(non-skiing) Mtn biking Moab/ Canyonlands NP

[schubwa]

While you guys were contemplating doing some dirt skiing, we went to Moab to do the White Rim Tour. We spent a day in the Arches NP doing the parking lot shuttle after flying in that morning to SLC. That is a great spot and we have to go back to do some hiking.
The next morning we left on the tour with Rim Tours, based in Moab. They guide you and carry all the camping stuff, making for a very relaxing three day trip. The riding is pretty good to boot. Lots of small climbs, patches of slickrock and killer scenery. We had heavy winds the first night that lasted into the next day. But then we rounded the corner and had a tail wind the duration of the ride.
We rented Santa Cruz Superlights from the company and had a blast as they were set up with wide tires and hydraulic brakes. I have a Superlight at home but there's no reason to shlepp bikes through the airport!

Views of the La Sals above Moab

Wall Street in Arches NP

I don't know what they had in mind...????

Courthouse Towers

Dropping in!

Sheree MacRitchie and Debbie Schubert

OG posing

Relaxing on some slickrock...with a view.

Campo Gooseberry

Navaho Sandstone

 

[Admin]

Nice!! Marc_C have been talking about doing the White Rim as an off-roading trip ever since I moved here, but we have yet to pull it off. :roll:

 

[Tony Crocker]

there's no reason to shlepp bikes through the airport

These days I hate to think what the airlines would charge to baggage check a bike. I've never been to any of the southern Utah parks. I probably would have done that tour this month had my August retirement lasted more than 4 weeks.

 

[schubwa]

We had so much fun with these guys (and the food was good) that we decided to can our 2009 Bicycle Tour of Colorado roady trip for the Grand Canyon's North Rim. It's on the Kaibab Plateau and has some wonderful single track. We're planning on the date in late July. Any of you guys want to go? Should be fun.

http://www.rimtours.com/tours/grand-canyon.html

 

[Admin]

North Rim in late July? Ugh!

 

[schubwa]

North Rim in late July? Ugh!

You would not be alone in thinking a July bike trip in Arizona to be hot. However, our guide told us the trails at the North Rim range from 7500 to 9000 feet in a pine and aspen forest. I remember camping on the Kaibab Plateau as a kid during the summer and it's mighty pleasant.
Probably a good chance of some afternoon monsoonal moisture is likely late in the month.

I'd certainly avoid the lowlands that month; interestingly some Phoenix locals I met last summer said June is the hottest month, at least in the lower altitude Sonoran deserts.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Schubwa is mostly correct on both counts. South Rim is ~6,500 but North Rim is over 8,000 and is closed nearly 6 months of the year.

Phoenix and southern Arizona do have July and August as rainiest months. But these are not big rain numbers at one inch per month. May and June are the driest months. Annual average is 7 inches. July is hottest (104F) with June and August being about the same (100F) despite the rain difference.

New Delhi has the monsoon weather pattern but with rain at sufficient volume to affect temperature. May is the hottest month (106F) and has almost no rain. July and August average 7 inches/month at a still obnoxious 95F.

Useful link for average weather in many cities: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/