More on the adventures of BGR and it sounds off the hook. 25 miles into Paria Canyon? Holy balls.
From: BGR
Subject: Leaving EscalanteArrived in Escalante this morning after spending the night in the Dixie Forest about 15 miles west. I’m charging my batteries and writing this from Escalante Outfitters (escalanteoutfitters.com). Its the best gear shop I’ve been too. All the bitchen camping gear you could need, without all the crap. But what really sets it apart is the connected coffee shop/cafe, with free computer use, and the fact that they are also the state liqueur store. That’s right, shoved in the corner along the outdoor gear is all the package liqueur you could need. Now that’s one stop shopping.
Took a day and a half riding the AZ trail to the grand canyon. Spent the day with a friend on the south rim checking out an archeology site and resting. Started hiking the next day around 6:00 pm. Arrived at the bottom in around 3 hours and spent a couple of hours down there. Even thought the sun was down, it seemed way hot so we left for the North rim around 11:00 pm. We ended up sleeping from about 3:00am-5:00am at the water fountain at Cottonwood Campground. Had a wonderful morning hiking, then arrived at the north rim around 9:30 am.
Spent two nights camping on the rim. The view was great, but the trail was more popular than I expected and we were camped about 10 feet of the trail so we saw a lot of people hiking.
Left Saturday morning and rode single track almost the whole way to Jacobs lake, around 55 miles away. Ran into Pete Shindagger on the road by Jacob lake. Was good to see a friend, and I was abale to send some of my warmer gear I wouldn’t need with him to drop of in Moab.
Had breakfast at Jacobs lake and got some ramen to go. I had planed to just ride to edge of the national forest and wait for it to get cooler, but a storm was building all day and the sun was hiding so i rode on. Finished the AZ trail around 1:00pm. The last 5+ miles was just great downhill the whole time and it really ended on a high note. Now I was what seemed to be the middle of nowhere. Rode a paved backroad 11 mile to highway 89. I found water at a campground on 89 witch saved me going into the town of Big Water. Filled up over 3 gallons of water and headed off towards Cottonwood Canyon a few miles down the road. Road 8+miles down the gravel rode to Cottonwood Canyon. It was around 4 or 5 o’clock by then, and I was looking to camp. The road flowed down the canyon along a small stream, after a few miles the main road turned away from the steam and a small turn of went back towards it. I took the small road which dumped me right into the stream bed. I followed a minor path down the stream as the red rock walls rose on each side. I camped that night in a high spot next to the towering walls of the canyon.
When I awoke and looked at the map I decided to continue up the canyon to where the road crossed the canyon less than a couple miles. Two miles later no road, five miles no road, I looked at the map again, yeah it crosses the canyon for sure, I continued. No road, the compass says I’m going west-northwest, I should be going north. I stopped for a while to think about what to do. I was pretty sure that I was not in cottonwood canyon, I should turn back, but I hate backtracking and I’m already ten miles in, so I continue. The Canyon is amazing, the walls are in a constant change of form and color and the stream gets deeper and wider. I could ride most of the time along the stream in the moist sand, but the twists and turns made you cross the steam hundreds of times. The best riding was to just ride down the steam, but i resisted unless forced to. Storms were building overhead and I began to worry about the chance of a flash flood. Since I still wasn’t sure where I was, I decided to hurry along just in case. The Canyon came to many forks and I stayed to the right/east and followed the water. After 25+ miles of riding the water stopped, the canyon walls lowered, the stream widened and a rock careen signaled me out of the main wash to a smaller one going east. This soon turned into a dirt road, leading me shortly to a paved road. Judging buy where I came out I now believe I was in Paria Canyon. Which would explain why it was so amazing. I followed the pavement into Carbondale though Henryville and now to Escalante.
Going to change my route a little from here and try to add more dirt miles. Going to ride over the Henry Mountains on Bull ranch road, and hopefully summit Mt Ellen 11′530. Wish I could share some photos, but it seems I’ve lost the usb cord. No real towns till Moab so that will be the next time i can e-mail.
Happy Trails
Randy
Unreal.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Damn…Reading that was almost as good as being out riding. Trapped, I am, chained to my desk in bankrupt HQ, identifying recoverable assets for possible litigation. I hate this job, and thus is one of many reasons I decided not to pursue law school. If only having fun and riding my bike paid the bills.
Hey Gnome, you and BGR go ride some killa trails and tell me abooot it puleez. I live vicariously thru you
August 5th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
randy is harder than me.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
…might wanna change that name to “big awesome randy” cuz that is exactly what i think a’ that cat after reading his “tour manuals“…great stuff…no frickin’ doubt…
August 5th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Damn that is some awesome country BGR. I’m glad to hear your not lost and thirsty. Enjoy the rest and post photo’s asap.
Cheers bro,
August 6th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Great space, great riding. Keep us posted.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:13 am
sweet mother of fuck. randy kills it!
August 8th, 2008 at 3:40 am
I AM SO GLAD TO FINALLY KNOW WHAT U R UP TO. I AM THRILLED FOR U SOUNDS LIKE U R DOING WHAT YOU WANT. JUST BE SAFE AND WRITE OR CALL WHEN U HAVE TIME. SO I KNOW U R OK. IT WAS NICE TO HEAR ABOUT THIS SITE AND SEE HOW MANY FRIENDS AND “FANS” U HAVE KEEPING TABS ON YOUR RIDINGS. HAVE FUN AND REMEMBER HOW MUCH I LOVE U. SEND ME SOME PICS. LOVE YOU BECKY
August 11th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Glad to know you are O.K. You have been in my thoughts,miss hearing from you.