Hang on, keep this thread in here one more weekend, we're going back
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So...we headed to Moab for a weekend of exploration on the mountain bikes, with an eye out for good routes for next weekend. I had the pleasure of really getting a chance to dial my new suspension fork, and Katie got to ride some of the hardest, most technical MTB terrain in the world.
We only had time for two routes, but had a great time on both--She learned some new technique, and I got back in shape
. Saturday was the tech/vert Amasa Back 4WD route, Sunday was the easy Monitor/Merrimac loop.
Amasa Back is now the most fun I've had on a mountain bike...the only thing I can think of that would be similar would be a combination of the tech at Laurel Highlands and the vert at Tsali. Ledges, drops, steep slickrock, narrow ramps on knife-edge rocks, boulders everywhere, small patches of sand, all of it laid over a rolling vertical line that reaches from about the level of Kane Creek to the top of the mesa. It's also a 4WD route (lockers, full skids, sliders, very large tires, winch, excellent access angles, quarter panel protection, low cg, excellent articulation, etc) but the difficulty of the route looks like bikes will outpace vehicles here. We had a great time playing on the ledges...depending on speed, location, following obstacles, and height, they could be dropped, jumped or just ridden down. Some of the largest could only be dropped by a very skilled rider (not I), or on a long-travel full suspension frame. Several times I got the full 110mm of compression from the new fork. The bumps on the route, and the abuse I was putting the bike through, loosened the quick-release retaining bolt on my rear magura caliper brake enough that the q/r cam was halfway backed off by the end of the day, and one of Katie's stem clamp bolts was very loose. It's worth checking everything at the top of the climb, and then again afterward.
The Monitor/Merrimac loop is an easy cruiser that leads up to a slickrock expanse full of ledges, jumps, bowls, kickers, rollers, and tight technical lines, for miles in every direction. The actual loop is very clearly marked in white dashed lines and cairns, and leads past the old stagecoach stop as well as the dinosaur bones (mostly vandalised now), around a very interesting horseshoe-shaped butted. A sandy wash spur leads up to Monitor and Merrimac, and provides access to Determination Towers. This is the area near Gemini Bridges, where we'll be headed next weekend with the truck if anyone wants to join us.
-Sean
