October 28, 2009
Spent the past weekend in Moab, UT with my boy Jonny Lang (no, not the musician). I flew into Denver, CO where Jon lives. I landed after four hours. We ate dinner, I put my bike together out of the crate I flew it in, and we were off for the six hour drive to Moab two hours after I landed. We got to Moab at three am, checked in to the Best Western, and passed out. We were up bright and early to ride the next day.
It was a sick weekend. We got there Thurs. night so that we could ride all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This was my second trip to Moab and quite frankly, I think I could live there. The locals are doap, the riding is off the hook, and it seems like everyone in town either rides mountain bikes, motocross, or 4wd. Moab is in the desert, yet there is the Colorado River running through it. And there are tons of tress and green all over the place. This place just could be heaven.
We rode the Sovereign Trails on Friday, Poison Spider and the Portal trail on Saturday, and upper and lower Porcupine Rim on Sunday. Every trail was sick and I’m gonna have a hard time going back to my local trails with any sort of excitement. We railed the climbs and downhills on Sovereign, killed the slick rock on Poison Spider, rode 95% of the Portal trail (walked only where it was posted that riders had died), and literally blew up the Rim. Upper Porcupine Rim blew my mind. Sweet single track pointed straight down with gnarly shit to huck and rail the entire way. Enough of the BS….here’s the pics.
Photos From The Sovereign Trails
Some bike porn at the Sovereign trail head.
View from the first climb on Sovereign. Check out Jonny Lang hiking a bike. Weak.
Jonny Lang on the Santa Cruz Nomad on Sovereign
View from the top of Sovereign. Beautiful.
Taking a break on Sovereign trail.
Another view from the top of Sovereign. The green is copper ore.
Not such a bad shot for a Cannon Digital Elf, eh?
Photos From Poison Spider Trail
Cliffs of insanity on the way to the Poison Spider trail head.
On the way to Poison Spider
Fall in Moab. So colorful and amazing.
Cannon Digital Elf strikes again with a really nice shot.
Poison Spider trail marker
We came upon this overlook after a long climb on Poison Spider. Had to dismount.
Photos From The Portal Trail
At the trail head of Portal where it meets Poison Spider. You can see the town of Moab below.
We heeded this warning. You could ride these portions but 1 slip is 1,000 feet down.
See. Told ya we hiked that section.
This picture really puts it into perspective. Straight down, homey.
Photos From Upper & Lower Porcupine Rim Trail
The steeds roped up waiting for the shuttle to Porcupine Rim
Map of the entire Rim trail.
Took the shuttle to the very top. It was a 40 minute drive.
The view from upper Porcupine Rim. Almost tree top at this level.
Yours truly hitting a nice roller on the Rim.
A look out point on the Rim. Three steps forward is at least 1,000 feet down.
Came across a Trek factory shoot at the end of the lower Rim trail.
These were the bikes they were shooting. Nice annodized components.
Jonny Lang getting some air on the Ellsworth Moment at the end of the Rim.
Dammit man, i was there too on the Trek travel bus! Wish i woulda ran into ya. I think i saw you once, i remember your bike but never looked up at ur face. I was ridin a trek scratch. Porcupine rim was the funnest thing ive ever riden.
Kentucky Dave
WHAT!??? That’s insane! This world is so damn small. That would have blown me away to see you. That rim is sick, isn’t it? Nothing like that run.
You were with the Trek team? What’s the relationship there? They were on some sweet bikes, man.
The shop i work at is a long running Trek dealer and my boss hooked me up for my 40th birthday and got me (and my wife) in on the demo. We stayed at the Gonzo Inn. We probly rode right past eack other, i was kinda in awe of my surroundings (like everybody) with my head in my ass.
Well hell, happy birthday, Dave. That was an awesome gift. I do not blame you for riding by me at all. The scenery and the bike comes first man – especially in Moab. It feels like riding and being on Mars. Just breath taking. Like I said in the post, I think I could live there.
Awesome photos dude, I love Moab! And nice to ride with ya on Sunday! Very cool website as well and t-shirts! No need to worry about the silly business chat on Sunday, looks like you have an awesome plan! Chat with ya later and hope to ride again soon!
Laura –
Thanks so much for the kind words! It was great seeing you again and getting to ride with you. I really appreciate your support. I could tell you were pulling for me : )
Looking forward to seeing you on more group rides or on the trail soon!
mike
yo mike-o, glad to see youre back up and rollin’
HEY!!!!!!!!! Great to see you on here and thanks for the kind words. What is new? Been riding? Everyone good your way?
everyone’s good, yea still ridin although season’s coming to a close for me soon – time to trade the spokes for the sticks once the snow starts flyin. have a good t-day, headed to pgh might even take the bike