Trans America Trail... Millenium Ride
By Sam Corerro
August 1999

A 5-day, 1200 mile off-pavement motorcycle ride. This was an adventure that began in Lake City, Colorado with overnights in Blanding, Green River and Monticello, Utah and Ouray, Colorado and back to Lake City, Colorado. Hello, my name is Sam Correro and I was the guide for six riders as we made our adventure through some of the most scenic sections of the United States. My group met in Lake City on Sunday evening August 22, 1999 and for the next 5 days we rode 11-hour days with some 240 miles each day on our dual-sport-dirt-worthy motorcycles. We did not have a support truck so we had to pack all of our gear, but this did not pose a problem.

Day one: Lake City, Colorado to Blanding, Utah

This was a 11-hour day on the bikes, with the first gas/food stop being 156 miles out. We rode Cinnamon Pass, California Gulch, Corkscrew, Ophir Pass, then got into some super jeeps trails as we approached the Utah State Line. This is a good time for me to mention the "bear chase". We had again gained high altitude, and I was out front running about 25-30 miles per hour (mud holes, some rocks). From the right corner of my vision, there seemed to be a dark object moving on a collision course with my motorcycle. I was right!! ...it was a Black Bear, and it was coming over to get a close look. It took about 2 seconds and the nose of the bear came in contact with my hot exhaust pipe. Needless-to-say , that sent the bear back into the woods (sorry, no photo). We got food and gas near Cortez, Colorado, then crossed the state line into Utah... this was a new world, we were in the high desert with rock formations, sand washes and no trees. The temperature changed from 34°F to 98°F. Our group got into Blanding before dark and after hot showers and a very good evening meal, we were ready for day two.

Day two: Blanding, Utah to Green River, Utah

This was a 12-hour day on the bikes, with one gas/food stop at Hite, Utah. This day's ride was indeed an adventure. We encountered just about every riding condition that you can think of. Overall it was a super ride day, but we did have some problems. On our approach to descend into Short Canyon we had a 15-mile section that was textbook perfect with canyons, over-looks, bluffs, single-tracks, rocks, sand, mud, ditches, rolling uphills and downhills. This section alone, was worth the two day drive to get there. When the group got to the Short Canyon downhill, some optioned to get off the bikes and "bulldog" down the hill. This was good because we were some 100 miles from any medical help. After food and gas we rode toward Flint Trail. Now our approach to and our ascent up Flint switchbacks is a website in itself. This uphill climb is steep, rocky, washed-out and many switchbacks. I do, as of now, have an option to bypass. My Oklahoma rider will always remember this section. All the group made in into Green River, but it was past sundown, and we were some "beat puppies". But again, after hot showers and a great meal, we were ready for day three.

Day three: Green River, Utah to Monticello, Utah

This was a 10-hour day on the bikes, with two gas/food stops. The first being in Moab, Utah and the second in La Sal, Utah. Today's ride was different from all the others. We had high desert riding, we had all the rock formations around Moab, we had the ascent on Onion Creek, also scenic plateaus, Kokopelli Trail, a very heavy rainstorm in the La Sal Mountains, but all of these are just a normal days ride in southeastern Utah area. I was sad because we had to cut a section that had been laid out by Dick Brass in August of '98, but we will get to that next time. I need to mention that we did the Gemini Bridges Overlook and the fun rock, downhill into Moab. The group could not stop very long because of the heat, about 98°F and there was no shade!! All and all this was a very fun day, and we got into Monticello before sundown. Our motel had a indoor pool and hot tub. This was nice after 3 days on the trail. Soon we were ready for day four.

Day four: Monticello, Utah to Ouray, Colorado

This was another 11-hour day on the bikes and again, it was different from all the others. Our second gas stop was Telluride, Colorado, but first there were the super jeep trails in Western Colorado and our lunch stop at Groundhog Lake. Once again we got back into the National Forest with trees and super jeep trails and the temperature was back in the sixties. We had a half-day's ride with just perfect Colorado two-tracks. The group was riding eastbound and the time had come to ascend Imogene Pass. Now this climb is mild, but it is fun. There were some bike riders playing on the trail. One guy had a sidecar on his ATK and the only way that he could climb was to peg the gas and go like crazy. We gave him the right-of-way. The Pass was fun and at the top we rode into rain and cold temps. This was another perfect photo stop, and soon we started down to Ouray. I love Ouray, Colorado. Our motel was great, the evening meal was super and soon we were ready for day five, our last day.

Day five: Ouray, Colorado to Lake City, Colorado

This was our short day, about 6-hours on the bike, but it was very scenic. We rode about 3 miles on the Million Dollar Highway (#550). Went up to Animas Fork(site) down to Silverton, Colorado for gas and the famous Chili Dog for lunch. Some of the guys did a little shopping. The rain set in as we started our approach to Engineer Pass. Once again this was the perfect photo stop. On our way down, we stopped at Rose Cabin, Capital City and there were several mines that were very interesting. As we rode into Lake City, we all knew that the ride was over. There was a mixture of happiness and sadness. It had been 5 wonderful days of riding a motorcycle in some of the most scenic sections of the United States, and with a super group of guys. Ride on Tim, ride on Dave, ride on Erv, ride on Jim C., ride on Jim F. and Robert, you ride also. We were all thinking about you.

 

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