Closer to 5:30, we departed. Traffic was light and good time was made to Flag for a quick food stop and gas fill. It was dark be the time we started hitting the rolling bumps on the road towards Page. Through Jacob's lake we must have seen 30 deer in various groups munching grasses in the darkness of to the side of the road. Down the other side, through Fredonia and then past Colorado City. After crossing the AZ/ UT border we only needed to find milepost "8" which marked the final right turn on to dirt.
After the next 3 miles or so of slow and cautious bump navigation, I set out on foot to find Andooke and the spot they had setup camp in. It was brisk but not to bad. Micki helped me negotiate the critical back-in and level with Andy coming out to calm the dogs and verify the ruckus was making enough sense. Soon enough the top was up, beds extended and Mousse tucked away. 1:30 or so our eyelids met each other with sleep soon to follow.
The Mousse alarm never fails to disappoint and with the first rays of sun escaping the guard of the horizon line she was up whimpering and wagging and pacing at the door. Crushed with only 4 or so hours of sleep, my dull eyes grasp the shape of tumbled slippers and we are out the door for the first explore of the trip. Overcoming the harshness of such an early morning are the cliffs of Zion shining brightly beyond the mesa. I forgot how impressive the place is visually and as the dog makes sure not to miss a single scent or track I begin to get amped up for today's planned ride. One of our favorites, the GEM Trail loop just outside of Hurricane.
Andooke had the dogs out and about as well and as breakfast was consumed the bikes were loaded onto the vehicles. It was around 10:00 and the day was heating up faster than our now accustomed Prescott usual. Would this warm day test our new found acclimation, or would our Phoenix roots allow the heat to be all but dismissed? Extra water was taken by all, just in case.
Flower:
Parking and unloading quickly we were ready to leave. Across the street and up the first "heart pumper" of a hill we were off. I had decided I would try and revive the all but dead "Sticki Chronicles" with this trip and that would demand some pics actually be taken. I rolled of ahead to get some shots of everyone when I stumbled across Brooke's worst nightmare.... a legless lizard.
Big-'un:
When Andy and Micki soon arrived we all had to make a quick decision as to what to do. The snake seemed harmless enough, casually sunning itself... but this was sure not to be Brooke's opinion as she continued to roll towards an encounter. I rolled my mega hooped 29'r towards the creature but it would not budge. Stubborn thing for sure, and time was evaporating. Micki and Andy decided to head up the road and I'd act like a shield for Brooke to roll by.
Off they went and up she came. Curios to as why I stopped, she kept rolling never the wiser. Just as she passed the snake started to move in the wrong direction, but averted course and returned whence he came. Brooke was gone, the snake was disgruntled and I clipped back in to my pedals to follow the group.
Summit of Love:
Micki Topping:
Regrouping at the summit, the snake situation was explained to Brooke. With a shudder she was glad to have just been allowed to happily pedal up the hill. It was getting hot and there was a ways to go so we rolled down a it more road and found the start of the Gould's Rim singletrack.
Sweeeeet:
Andy has a certain relationship with tubeless technology. A understanding that it is in many ways superior to the archaic tube and tire that others happen to steadfastly depend upon. In fact, comments may have even been made before this very ride as to how he hoped the tubeless riders would not have to wait for us silly tubed riders as we were trouble with endless inflation retention issues. This "argument" of course was all good fun and cheek until the fateful hiss of lost air was heard by all. The only question left was to who's faith had let them down first.
Micki and I found ways to amuse ourselves while Andy's bike was flipped quite unidentifiably onto it's seat and handlebars with a blown rear tire. A slit in the sidewall, at the bead... signified yet another goose egg in the tubeless column.
Andooke had been dealing with some troubling and sad health issues with one of their dogs for the past few weeks and despite their best intentions to also prepare for this trip quickly realized that neither had brought a spare tube. Micki had one, and being that I now roll on the vastly superior 29 inch format (yet another raging debate of course) the group was left with zero tubes and still 16 or so miles to go through a unforgiving and ever warming desert. Brave or stupid... Andy began the fix and Micki and I took some pics.
Corner Practice:
Purple Cacti Translescance:
Thistle:
Soon rolling again, the trail starts to skirt a deep canyon to the right. Dry at the bottom, the quick and darting sparrows did not seem to mind. The trail at this point is relatively flat with a few climbs to keep everyone honest. Occasional slick rock and boulder sections spice it up with tall grasses covering the reveal of many of the twists and turns until the last moment.
Good Stuff:
Brooke Summits:
It's amazing how much variety of plant life can be found in such a arid climate but as the trail meandered along each looped corner and bumped contour brought yet another shape or color to frame the route. Passing an old corral the dirt has been pressed hard from being ridden wet. Knobbies growl as the bike is leaned back and forth. Pumping to use the forces of gravity as an ally, we wound our way back around the bluff to our left.
Micki carving along:
Orange Andy:
Soon after we crossed back over the road and started to descend. The technically challenging switchbacks we had dealt with on previous visits had been sanitized. Still interesting enough,m but far from the challenge we had warned Andy to be prepared for. Once at the sandy wash at the bottom we did a final regroup before we really got to light it up.
Jagged beauty:
The next few miles are just out and out ripper. The objective for me was to keep my singlespeeds momentum as high as possible, trying desperately not to scrub any speed through the corners or into dips knowing my gear wouldn't be tall enough to allow for any real assistance. The trail is buffed out with little rocks to give trouble. It's the type of singletrack just inset enough in the earth to provide a cupped line allowing each and every corner to be thoroughly leaned into. The only catch is to not miss the left turn which takes you back along the Virgin Rim.
Light Micki giving Andy chase:
Moments later... Andy's rear tire released it's air volume once more. No tubes left, about 8 miles from the end and the relentless sun was beginning to take it's tole. The trail foods and patch kits were out, each serving their predetermined purposes. It was a quick fix and soon we were back at it. Downhills never come free and one that good asks for payment almost right away. A craggy challenging rise immediately let us all know we were going to be in for a grind out.
The trail is now far more technical with libraries of stone books tossed about. Each edge demanding attention and denying any type of flow or traction to those who try and take in the view instead of the correct line. The valley began to steepen to our right and eventually fall almost completely away to the Virgin River raging far below. It's muddy brown current revealed by the white caps swirling among the rocks.
Zion's Face Starts in the Background:
The goal now was to just keep moving. It was to hot to stop and water, as well as patience, was beginning to run low. We all were having our threshold of temperature tested, but Micki was starting to falter. Her fair skin doesn't do well under intense sun and with signs of overheating I began to get very nervous. After all, she has the first aid training, not I. As prepared as I felt I was before we left in getting everyone's bike's back in working order, I had very little knowledge when it came to getting people back in working order.
Every rise became a challenge in keeping exertion low yet still progressing as quickly as possible. Knowing the trail from previous rides we were aware of the monster climb at the end. I kept myself distracted with the views and Micki seemed to be coming back around with a few cooling tricks she had learned before. The final hill was now within sight and despite the grown of Andy's first understanding of what lie ahead, we were in pretty decent shape.
Virgin Teasing with the Roar of Cool Water Far below:
This would be my first attempt at the finally on a SS so I was both excited and crushed as the grade got steeper and looser. Much to my surprise, my tire was sticking to the dusty ground... taking away any excuse I had to stop pedaling. Eventually I was defeated by a misplaced front wheel or perhaps grabbing rock. Either way, I had to push and looking back noticed Andy and Micki had met similar fates. Soon the final summit was reached and with a final regroup we began to descend back to the parking lot.
Almost there... :
Happily Done:
We all zipped down the final section and packed quickly. Brook and Andy moved like lightning. Making every effort to reach the confines of air conditioned protection inside their new Honda and head back to camp to check on the girls. Micki and I headed into town for a burrito I had been watering for since leaving Prescott. Only stopping at Over the Edge Sports for a couple extra tubes, a map and some trail advice.
Back at camp, Taylor and Brandon had arrived. It was a little cooler on Gooseberry Mesa but far from chill. To make things worse, some sort of biting gnats from hell were swarming anything that was fool enough to sit still. Happy go lucky Mouse was still able to wag her tale hello despite the onslaught. We quickly moved into the trailer and waited for the temps to drop.
I readied the Slayer and headed out with Taylor and Brandon later to do a "short" loop. Taylor was on her new pink Pivot Mach 5, so I decided to play tour guide with a quick and simple loop around Gooseberry. The challenge was greater than anticipated as my memory had faded out all the chunks, twists and drops. We eventually lost the sun and were forced to slowly crawl back via the primary central service road.
A late dinner ended the day but the cool air had lost the irritating bugs. Andooke were tucked away in their new trailer, or "Andoondo" with Taylor and Brandon in tent just barely tucked into what little trees exist on the mesa. Tomorrow the plan had been made to explore a majority of the Gooseberry loops. Tech heavy for sure, but I was confident we would all be able to solve the puzzles of slickrock despite the cross country rust that had been accumulating as of late.
The Stats:
Trail: GEM
Riders: Micki, Andy, Brooke and myself
Distance: 20 miles
Elevation: 3850 foot gain
Ride Time: just under 4 hours or so
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