Utah
- Five Days
By Sam Corerro
June 2001
Southeastern Utah, let's drop a few names here. Hite Marina, Blanding,
Monticello, LaSal, Moab, Thompson, Green River, Salina and Richfield,
Utah. Riding a Dual Sport bike here could only mean two things. First
would be riding in the high desert with the June heat in the mid-90's.
And of course the terrain being sand, rocks, dirt roads, jeep roads,
gravel roads, canyons, and more sand. Second would be the LaSal Mountain
Range. And that being the high muintain passes, forest roads, jeep
roads, snow, mud, and somewhat cooler temps. The Dual Sport rider
can ride from one extreme to the other in less than one hour.
The
Trans America Trail is an off-pavement dual sport ride from middle
Tennessee to the Oregon Pacific Coast. Some 4,500 miles of adventure
on a motorcycle. Now this ride is not a single track, but it is off-pavement
and the rider only has to get back on pavement for gas stops and an
overnight in a motel
In the first week of June 2001, I was guide for seven riders using
his my Utah section of the Trans America Trail. The UTAH FIVE DAYS
is a system of loops out of Green River, Utah. The group rode on an
average of 200 miles per day (some 10 to 11 hours per day). Motel
rooms where in order at the end on the day.
On
Sunday, the group did the White Rim Trail just northwest of Moab,
Utah. Now this trail alone is an all day ride but because of time,
the group did only a section of the trail. The start was Potash and
Potash Road to Shaffer Canyon. Then south to Musselman Arch. The Arch
is a spand of rock about 6 feet wide and about 60 yards long. Both
sides dropping off 300 feet. Seeing a motorcycle in a wheeler position
all away across this thing, will stop your heart. The group had lunch
here and exposed several rolls of film. Then to Shaffer Trail Road
and up the switchbacks of Shaffer Canyon Overlook, this was another
roll of film. The weather was picture perfect with a crystal clear
sky and temperture in the high 80's. They then rode to Long Canyon
and ascended Pucker Pass with all of its sand and rock ledges. Coming
back down was somewhat easier. By now it was late afternoon and back
to the truck then back to Green River for an overnight.
On
Monday the group rode from Green River to Richfield, Utah. A 175 mile
ride and 11 hours on the motorcycles. This day's ride had no water
stops, no gas stops and no food stops. Each rider had to prepare himself
and his bike to do this. Some were more prepared than others. The
first major canyon was Black Dragon Canyon, but something was different
on this day. During the night, a cold front had come through the area.
The sky was still crystal clear but now the temperture had dropped
some 20+ degrees, and it was cold.
Black
Dragon is pure joy to ride through. But first the group had to ride
Buckmaster Draw and 1.8 miles on Interstate 70 (not as bad as it sounds).
Ascending the western part of Black Dragon the ride opens up into
valleys and meadows, the group opens the throttle through Jackass
Flat, Rattlesnake Bench, Cottonwood Draw and Sugarbush Bench and then
under Interstate 70 back on it's south side and 4 miles of Paige Flat.
All of this in preparation for the descent into Eagle Canyon.
But first there was Swazey's Cabin (more about this later) at the
rim of Eagle Canyon and a 1.2 mile twisting downhill into the sandwash
which is the bottom on the Canyon. This section is several miles long
and goes under the twin bridges of Interstate 70 about 300 feet above.
Now what goes down, must come up. The group had to climb out of Eagle
Canyon. Only I knew what was ahead. About 1 mile north of the overhead
bridge was a jeep road off to the right that climbed out of the Canyon.
The first 50 yards of climbing was deep sand, then the mixture of
rock ledges, sand, uphill, sand. EVERYONE got up to the rim for a
much needed lunch break.
Quick
and easy was the key for today's lunch: Trail Mix, Fruit Cocktail,
Vienna Sausage and a lots of water.
The
riders are now in the San Rafael Swell and their thoughts are now
focused on Devil Canyon and Cat Canyon, the two Mothers of all SAND.
It's early afternoon and the temperture is now warmer. Some of the
riders are first and second gear, dabbing both feet. Some of the riders
are third and forth gear skimming across the top. After some 8 miles
of this, a hard pack single track road appears on the right and the
group comes up for air and water. "What in the Hell was that
?", asked one of the riders. I answered, "This is Utah,
welcome to the San Rafael Swell ".
Now
the throttles can be opened as the group is Westbound to Salina. But
all to soon everyone comes to a stop. Several riders have just gone
on reserve. This is not good, but ladyluck comes to the rescue. Two
men in a white pick up truck come out of nowhere with 5 gallons of
gas. This group of motorcycle riders where in the middle of nowhere.
The odds of this happening again are astronomical... getting gas in
this manner is not cheap; but none of the riders were counting pennies.
Gas at any cost.
A
section of the original Trans America Trail has been closed and a
temporary section using the frontage road of Interstate 70 was used
on this trip. Now the frontage road is not all bad. It is non-pavement
with 2 tunnels and a switch-back. Only in Utah! The group got into
Richfield, Utah just before dark and once again a shower, a good meal
and clean motel room worked wonders. They were ready for the next
days ride.
On
Tuesday the group rode from Richfield back to Green River. This days
ride being sort of a back-track of Monday's ride. I rerouted the group
on more out-back trails and a little less frontage road. But Cat Canyon
and Dragon Canyon gave way to a 8 mile section of pavement. This was
for the better.
Remember
the mention of Swazey's Cabin, well it's back now. It is just a one
room log cabin in the middle of the San Rafael Swell. There hasn't
been any life there in the past 80 years, there is nothing there now
and there will be nothing there in the next 80 years. Well the night
before the arrival of the group on Tuesday I made arrangements for
the arrival of Hooter Girls bringing cold adult beverages. The group
got there on time and waited and waited and waited...
Needless
to say group moral was at its lowest point. But they did find the
strength to gear up, start their motorcycles and ride in to Geen River.
Once again, a hot shower, or should I say "cold shower",
a good Dinner and a nice motel room and everyone was ready for the
next days ride.
Of
course the Hooter Girls and the cold adult beverages were just a simple
case of too much SUN and SAND, but the group did spend an hour or
two at Swazey's. It's beautiful there, and quiet, and it's easy to
connect with nature. I hope a paved road never ever gets to the Cabin.
In fact, I hope a gravel road never ever gets there.
On Wednesday the group rode from Green River to Monticello, Utah.
It was 210 miles and some 11 hours on the bike. The first order of
the day was Book Cliffs which are northeast of Green River. The Trail
was eastbound and about 5 miles north of I-70. At the junction of
Thompson Canyon Road they came south into Thompson for gas and water,
then back North to the Trail and continue on Eastbound.
Now
the next section was The Kokopelli Trail. Three words for this Trail...
fun, fun, fun. Put this on your list of things to do in southeastern
Utah. It does require a full knobby. Kokopelli Trail is the "back
door" of the Arches National Park. And soon descends (if traveling
South) to the banks of the Colorado River at the Dewey Bridge. Then
up Onion Creek Road, which crosses the Onion Creek about 20+ times.
Then out into the Manti-La Sal National Forest and back down to the
town of La Sal, Utah for gas-food-water. It's now late afternoon and
the group must bypass a section of single track and opt for gravel
roads into Monticello.
Talking
about being at the wrong place and the wrong time. One of the riders
was on a YZ400, not exactly street legal. He had just come off of
a dirt road and onto the highway and quess who was there waiting.
Blue lights were everwhere. But I must say, this lawman was a real
gentleman. He gave us a warning but did not issue a ticket. We were
less than 2 miles from the motel. But all's well that ends well.
Thank
you very much to the officer of Monticello's Sheriff Dept. The group
was dusty, tired and hungry when they pulled in to the motel. They
had to do some bike maintenance under the lights but after Pizza-Beer-Shower,
everyone was ready for the next days ride.
On
Thursday the group rode from Monticello to Green River, Utah. Like
the other preceding 4 days, this was an all day event. After they
got through the 40+ miles of gravel roads into the town of La Sal
and topped off with gas, the next section was back into the La Sal
Mointain Range. The temperture was somewhat cooler with the higher
altitude.
As
the group came within a few miles of Geyser Pass, snow was more prominent
on the roadside and in the forest itself. Melting snow was also making
the jeep road very muddy and wet. They stopped at the summit of Geyser
Pass for a snowball fight and then started down the western slope
toward the hot dry desert on the Eastern side of Moab.
Next
they were westbound on Sand Flat Road and oh what a contrast. Just
30 minutes earlier the group was riding in snow. Now they are riding
in 90+ tempertures and the blistering sun of the desert. Slick Rock
Bike Trail was soon to appear. This is another must see for the Utah
vistor. A white line of paint is the only way that the rider can stay
on the Trail, and Oh what a trail. This is not for the faint of heart,
and it is not for the loaded Dual Sport Motorcycle. Slick Rock Trail
is an option side trip for the rider to do. Once into Moab the group
stopped at Arrowhead
Motor Sports and a visit with Fred Hink.
Fred
is a good contact to know if the bike rider should have a problem
or should need any replacment parts. Lunch was the next order of the
day, and the group ate at the The Branding Iron. Talking about a BIG
hamburger and it was good!
Leaving
Moab from the north side,crossing the Colorado River and then turning
west and uphill. Climbing up with the trail being a mixture of sand,
small rock ledges, solid rock and more sand. The climb up to Gemini
Bridges was fun. Soon they were back in the open high Desert just
east of Green River and the throttles were open again. All too soon
the town of Green River came into view. The Utah Five Day Ride was
soon to end. Each rider made it in ok and everyone was glad in his
own way to complete the three loops. There was a final meal that night
and the next morning we began the trip back home.
—
The
group had logged some 1000+ miles in 5 days on the motorcycle. Most
of the ride, some 90%, was all off pavement. And several of the days,
the gas, food and water stops were over a half days ride out from
the motel. But this was part of the adventure. The group did have
some lows, but I belive that the highs overshadowed.
If
you have any questions or comments, please contact
Sam Correro.
—
Sam Correro
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