Utah & Colorado MTB Trip
Day 4 Jughandle Loop

This was the last day in Moab before our camping trip. Lorraine and Steve rode Gemini Bridges based on enthusiastic recommendations from Dave and I. Javi and Riccardo went white water rafting. Dave and I embarked on the epic Jug Handle Loop as described in Todd Campbell's book Above and Beyond Slickrock. This ride is named after a large arch overlooking HWY 279.

We drove out along the Colorado River along HWY 279. Along the way we stopped to look at some ancient Native American petroglyphs right along the road! We parked along a dirt road underneath this rides namesake arch.

We rode on pavement on HWY 279 about a mile to the Moab Salt plant. Here HWY 279 changes to the Potash Trail. The surface was the typical combination of loose sand and ledge we had seen on other Moab area rides. We had a short fast bumpy descent that rattled one of my water bottles right out of its cage.

The trail skirted some large fenced in ponds lined with plastic. According to Campbell's book, water is pumped deep underground to dissolve potash. The mineral solution is pumped back to the surface and deposited in these evaporation ponds.

We stopped to look at a huge balanced rock. This rock must have been 20 feet in diameter perched on a 3-foot diameter pedestal.

We rode past Pyramid Butte and Dead Horse Point. About 12 miles into the ride we found some nice overlooks above the Colorado River.  Continuing from the river we started climbing. Shortly before the entrance to Canyonlands National Park, Dave flatted. After fixing Dave's tire, we continued to the junction with Schafer Trail and The White Rim Trail.

We talked to a group of riders who just descended Schafer Trail as part of a four day White Rim trip. Standing at the bottom of Schafer trail, it was hard to believe we were about to ride our bicycles up the sheer 1000-foot cliff.

We're climbing what?

Dave rides high above the White Rim at the top of Shafer Trail.

It was one long hard hot bitch of a climb. At times we did not know where the trail went until we reached another switch back. This was one of the toughest climbs I've ever done on or off road. We maneuvered through several switchbacks. Sure enough we emerged at the top of the rim where we enjoyed magnificent views of the White Rim.

By the time we reached the end Schafer Trail at Island Road, I was almost out of water. We rode a mile to the Island in the Sky visitor's center. We purchased a gallon of water refilled our Camel backs and cooled off in the blissfully air conditioned building.

We rode back along Island Road to HWY 131. On HWY 131 we picked up the Long Canyon Trail. We descended Long Canyon passing through a narrow gap in the rocks called Pucker Pass. We found a large boulder broke off the cliff face and landed in the trail leaning against the cliff face. A sign announced "Fallen Rock" We rode under it. The last half of the descent was very fast. I thought the washboard road surface would rattle the fillings right out of my teeth.

We arrived back at the van. In the evening we prepared for our camping trip in Colorado.

Continue to Day 5

Introduction
Day 1 Porcupine Rim
Day 2 Slick Rock Trail, Gemini Bridges and Dead Horse Point S.P.
Day 3 Colorado National Monument
Day 4 Jughandle Loop
Day 5 Telluride Colorado to Last Dollar Pass
Day 6 Uncompaghre Plateau
Day 7 Uncompaghre Plateau
Day 8 Uncompaghre Plateau
Day 9 Gateway Colorado and John Brown Canyon
Day 10 Sand Flats Road to Moab
Day 11 Arches National Park