Monday, September 12, 2016

Day Seven: Monday, September 12, 2016 - La Sal Hut to Moab

Total Mileage - 37.1 miles
Starting Elevation - 8055'
Ending Elevation - 4560'
Elevation Change - 2,659'

https://www.strava.com/activities/712076971

Once again, we got off on an early start with a start time at 7:50 AM. The first part of the ride consisted of a slight ascent on fire road, and then a steep descent on chip seal and asphalt. There's a long straight descent on Castle Valley Road which will probably give you the highest speed of the whole trip with a speeds of over 40 mph.

Mad Max, Fury Moab

After a lefthand turn, there was a 2000 foot winding ascent to the entrance to Kokopelli Trail FSR 4634. With the La Sal mountains behind me, I started the descent on singletrack. My Seven Sola hardtail had done a great job on all the previous days of  the trip, but with all the stutter bumps and drop offs on the Porcupine Rim Trail, today was the day I wished I had a full suspension bike. I don't think it would have been that bad if I was fresh, and I wasn't carrying the extra weight from my large seatbag and backpack, but the shock through the rear end of the bike was quite wearing. There was also so much bouncing on the trail, my seatpack straps loosened up enough so the bottom of the seatpack would hit my tire on big bumps. That was the first time I had to tighten my seatpack because of that reason.

Taking a Break

Despite the physical hardship of the Porcupine Rim Trail, I still appreciated the distinct feel and beauty of the Utah slickrock.


Blue Skies and Red Rocks
My major concern toward the end was that I was running out of water. Although I had two full water bottles and one liter of water in my hydration bladder, by the time I reached the tunnel at the end of the trail, I was out of water. The low humidity and heat of the Lower Porcupine Rim quickly draws the moisture out of your body. We were fortunate that the temperature only hit the mid 80s at the end of the ride. A camper was also nice enough to provide some cool water to us. It was disappointing not to see a potable water source at the end of the Porcupine Rim Trail at Granstaff Campground. If you are out of drinking water, the next place to get it on your way to Moab is Lions Park which is a little over three miles away. Sean gave me his bottle full of cool water, and I popped two Hammer Mango electrolyte tablets on our final 6 miles to Moab. The road ride was smooth, and it was pleasant to have a separate bike trail most of the way into town. We arrived at the Canyonlands Copy Center in Moab at 4PM and retrieved our bike shipping cases. With a closing time of 6PM, we had ample time to disassemble our bikes, pack them, and ship them back.

We greatly appreciated the convenience and savings of using Bikeflights.com. For all three of our bikes we did the following:

1. Shipped the bikes to Ship It Copy It in Telluride. They held the bike cases for $15 each until we arrived.
2. Assembled the bikes at Ship It Copy It and shipped the empty cases to Canyonlands Copy Center in Moab. They held the empty cases for $5 each until we arrived.
3. Rode the bikes from Telluride to Moab, disassembled the bikes at Canyonlands Copy Center Moab, and shipped the bikes back home.

We pre-printed the shipping labels for all three legs of shipping, and everything went smoothly.


Bike Trail separate from main road


Time to ship the bikes back home
Random notes:

Industrial strength sunblock in the huts was helpful for covering large areas of exposed skin like my legs. I used my own sunblock for my head region. For my arms, I used OR sunsleeves.

Gore-Tex Windstopper vest was great for keeping my core warm when it was a little bit cool, but it was also easy to unzip when things got warmer. The vest was invaluable on long fast descents where I get chilled by the wind. I bought an OR Helium II jacket for the trip in case it rained, but I only used it briefly the first two days when it was colder.

Lake MX175 Mountain Shoes held up well for both cycling and hiking. I appreciated the BOA closure system for its simplicity. In order to provide added support, I replaced the stock insoles with SOLE Thin Sport insoles.

I've had XTR V-brakes on my Seven Sola for almost twenty years, and they've worked well, but I wanted some more power and modulation for a long seven day trip. I installed Shimano Deore XT M8000 hydraulic disc brakes for my front wheel, and the upgrade was definitely worth it. I would have also installed them on my back wheel, but my frame doesn't have the rear disc brake mounts. A day after the last day of riding, I was wondering why my right hand was more swollen than my left hand, and I figured out it was because the front brake with its hydraulic disc technology was so much easier to actuate than the mechanical cable of the rear v-brake. According to mountain bike pioneer Charlie Kelly:

"But if I appreciate one thing more any other with modern mountain bikes, it’s the brakes. I could live without suspension, but man disc brakes … If nothing else got invented in the last 30 years, that would have made me very happy right there. The big thing, back in the day was, “Man these things are hard to stop,” and you almost have to have done it [back then] to appreciate how great these new brakes are. Because man, stopping was almost not an option."

Lone Peak Kick Back II top tube bag and Expedition Seat Bag did a great job storing gear. The Kick Back II was very convenient for gels and other food. It's also a convenient place to stow the Olympus TG-4 I used for most of my pictures. The Expedition Seat Bag was built well, but I had some issues with the seat rail straps slowly loosening over rough stuff.

Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 XL glasses with Transitions lenses did a great job in the full sun and under tree cover.

There was a wide variety of IPAs and lagers in the huts. Three of us could have really used a stout at the end of the day.

Sean had an iOS GPS/Topo app that imported the GPX file provided for the trip. It was great for referencing waypoints and to cross-check directions with the printed map and directions.

If there was Internet access in the composting toilets, I could have stayed in them a long time. As it was, they were a pleasant place to sit down after a long day of riding. The smell of wood chips were a refreshing contrast versus the typical outhouse.

My Sprint service was useless except at the very end and beginning of the trip. Sean's Verizon service was available at a few points of the trip.

We could not have asked for better weather. The roads and trails were dry but not too dusty. It wasn't too cold or hot. The only precipitation I felt was a few drops in the parking lot of the Moab Brewery.

The altitude was greatly affecting my resting heart rate. Usually, my resting heart rate is in the 30s or 40s bpm. It was about 30 bpm higher while I was at eight thousand feet. It was very nice to come back to sea level and feel truly rested after a night's sleep.

Photo Gallery for those who want to see more pictures.

Thanks to San Juan Huts for a great adventure!

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Day Six: Sunday, September 11, 2016 - Gateway Hut to La Sal Hut

Total Mileage - 20.7 miles
Starting Elevation - 4,560'
Ending Elevation - 8,055'
Elevation Change - 4,736'

https://www.strava.com/activities/712076899

We left the hut at 7:30AM since we had a long four thousand foot climb on the John Brown Trail to the next hut. I felt good on the initial part of the climb since it started at four thousand feet. I took off my glasses since it was overcast, and so I could easily wipe the sweat away from my eyes. I also took off my gloves and propped them on my bar ends to help my hands and body stay cool on the climb. There were quite a few sections I was in my lowest gear, but there were enough breaks during the climb so that I could rest and recover. The fire road was also relatively smooth, so I could just devote myself to grinding uphill.

At the Colorado and Utah border

After the steepest part of the climb, there were a series of rolling hills at eight thousand feet which slowly sapped my energy. Fortunately, there were some fast downhill sections which ate up the miles to help complete the route today.
Beerception
The Ultimate Throne



Chipping In

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Day Five: Saturday, September 10, 2016 - Graham Ranch Hut to Gateway Hut

Total Mileage - 26.6 miles
Starting Elevation - 8,300'
Ending Elevation - 4,560'
Elevation Change - 1,741'

https://www.strava.com/activities/712076877

We encountered cows on our way out of the ranch, and we had to yell at them to get out of the way. After the cows, there was a steep hike and bike out of the valley. On a technical single track downhill, I came upon Mark, and I went over the handlebars when I had to suddenly stop to prevent myself from hitting him. The front tube suffered a pinch flat, but that was the only issue with the bike. A small cut on my right forearm was the extent of my injuries. After the crash, I took it easy on the rest of the technical steep descents since I was a little shaken up, and there was no rush.
Descent into Gateway

We then rode nice flow single track in high desert terrain. We had to take a steep and long fire road to  get on 141 to Gateway. There were a lot of squealing brakes on the way down, but everyone made it safely. At the end of the steep section of fire road, there were sandy wash areas where your tires had a tendency to drift. I unclipped my shoes a few times to use my legs as outriggers in order to maintain my balance.

It was a few miles of downhill road riding into Gateway, and it was so nice to have a bison burger and seasoned fries from the diner parked beside the general store. I was told that the founder of he Discovery Channel, John Hendricks, owns the diner, the general store and the Gateway Canyons Resort.

The Palisade Formation
Dolores River
An older hut
We said goodbye to Mike and Stuart since they signed up for the five day instead of the seven day trip, and we headed to the next hut close to the Dolores River. It was sad seeing Mike and Stuart go since our personalities and abilities meshed very well.

We had wonderful views of the desert formations surrounding Gateway at the Gateway hut. Sean and I cooled off a bit and washed some items in the Dolores River. Mosquitoes were coming out in full force during dusk. It became quite windy during the night, but the night sky full of stars was wonderful without any light pollution.




Friday, September 9, 2016

Day Four: Friday, September 9, 2016 - Columbine Hut to Graham Ranch Hut

Total Mileage - 36.6 miles
Starting Elevation - 9,205'
Ending Elevation - 8,300'
Elevation Change - 1,863'

https://www.strava.com/activities/712076819

All our bikes have been holding up well. The only problem yesterday was a bolt on one of Stuart's panniers broke off due to all the bouncing on the Parallel Trail. Mark and Stuart did a quick fix with zip ties on the trail, and later on, Stuart just replaced the broken bolt with a bolt holding one of his water bottle cages. I've been very happy with the Seven Sola, particularly its shifting when I need to downshift.

Are we having fun yet?
I'm writing this on the next day since I was so tired after yesterday's ride. The ride today spent much of its time along the Divide Road with scenic views of the La Sal Mountains in the distance. It was nice riding alone at times at my own pace so that I could quietly relax and appreciate the moment. Near the end of the ride was a great single track through aspen groves and a small areas of sandstone. At one part I turned left to take the easier route versus the steep drop option on the right and my front tire washed out. I landed in a prickly bush, and it ripped the side of my Stanford Voler shorts leaving a large hole. I decided to throw away the shorts since I still have my Specialized shorts, and I wanted to save on some weight and space. The Stanford Voler shorts were also over fifteen years old, and it was time to retire them.
Love the Aspens

The hut we're staying at tonight has a building close by with three hot showers! It was very nice to really wash off today. We met Tam, the owner of the land we were staying on, and it was nice of him to give us advice on the rest of the trip, particularly the long downhill the next day and the long uphill the day after. He had a very enthusiastic and beautiful cattle dog named Zip. The night was very cold, and I ended up putting on all my extra clothes halfway through the night.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Day Three: Thursday, September 8, 2016 - Spring Creek Hut to Columbine Hut

Total Mileage - 40.2 miles
Starting Elevation - 9,200'
Ending Elevation - 9,205'
Elevation Change - 2,632'

https://www.strava.com/activities/712076787

Nose is dry and full of dried snot from the dry air. Lips are a little dry too. Fortunately, the air isn't too cold. I haven't had any use for the knee warmers or toe covers that I've brought. I forgot I have an external battery charger with a solar cell. The solar cell may have been able to pick up some extra power on the long rides in the open. Since I'm only charging my Garmin 235 watch and Xiaomi Yi action camera, I don't need that much power every day.

The weather has been perfect so far with mild temperatures and no precipitation. I climb well versus the other people in the group when the road is smooth, but rutted roads give full suspension bikes the advantage.

Stuffing my backpack with my clothes and covering it with my Hind Drylete long sleeve top makes for an adequate pillow. Rode some technical single track today, and once again was rewarded with great views and perfect weather. Sean filtered a bottle of water for me at Columbine Springs, but when I rode back to the entrance of the park I saw two hunters, Jan and Paul, handing out bottled water to the rest of the group. They had just bagged a male elk with a compound bow and brought it back to their camp. We appreciated their generosity with the bottled water they gave to us.

A short while later, Mark and Stuart took the Parallel Trail single track option while Mark, Sean, and I rode to the next hut via fire road.

Things I would like to see in the huts: stout and yogurt.

I've ridden the Specialized shorts for three days in a row now, and they've held up really well. The only thing I've been doing is adding a bit of Chamois Butt'r at the beginning of the day, and turning them inside out for some UV disinfection at the end of the day. I wonder if I should ride all seven days in them... Maybe I should use the Stanford Voler shorts tomorrow and give the Specialized shorts a rest

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Day Two: Wednesday, September 7, 2016 - Last Dollar Hut to Spring Creek Hut

Total Mileage - 28.4
Starting Elevation - 10,980'
Ending Elevation - 9,200'
Elevation Change - 2,068'

https://www.strava.com/activities/712076722

Three Men and a Hill
Everyone had problems sleeping last night except for me and Mike. Mike's taking the anti-altitude sickness drug Diamox that's helping him out, and he gave some to Sean. I've had some soreness in my right lower back for the past two days, but I think I just need to stretch it out and put less weight in my backpack.

Today's ride was mostly rolling fireroads with a long descent at the beginning. I was happy we made it to the hut before 3PM so that we could enjoy some rest during the daylight.

Trust me, I know where we're going.
I am the Gatekeeper

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Day One: Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - Telluride to Last Dollar Hut

Total Mileage - 24.1 miles
Starting Elevation - 8,750'
Ending Elevation - 10,980'
Elevation Change - 4,092'

https://www.strava.com/activities/712076687

Telluride Airport in the distance
I will be referring to Sean Seley's Strava details mileage and elevation change details for the San Juan Hut Trip. I also had a Garmin 235 with me, but I kept turning it off by accident on the first few days. Sean went the same route as me the entire trip, so whatever he rode/walked, I went the same way although I was slower most of the time.

Heading to brunch in downtown Telluride
First time lift ride for the Seven Sola
After dropping off the rental car at Telluride Airport and assembling our bikes at Ship It Copy It in Telluride, we took the Telluride gondola lift to start our trip. We took the Prospector Trail which was a fun and flowy singletrack. I stopped for a mountain biker who was heading toward me on the trail, and she was accompanied by two dogs. The interesting thing was that one of the dogs was a dachsund who kept pace very well even with its short legs.





After the singletrack, we had a long climb to the first hut on Last Dollar Road. Mark was the first one up to the hut. The 9,000 to 11,000 foot climb didn't seem to affect him that badly, but Sean and I started walking our bikes at two miles per hour toward the end. There was just no energy left in me to keep pedaling. Sean sat down a few times since he was bonking hard due to the altitude. We both made it to the hut right before dark though.
Is this the first time I've been ahead of Sean on a climb?





When we made it to the hut, we saw we only had two additional hut mates, Stuart and Mike, so between Mark, Sean, and I, we could spread out well for a hut for eight people. It was so quiet and dark that night. I woke up a few times, but I was fine. I'm happy the rest of the riding should be much easier.