Ride Director: John McCoy
Ride Co-Director: Marty Fink
Ride Driver: Warner Griswold
Report by: Marita Moberg
Ride Leader: John McCoy, Co-leader Marty Fink, Driver: Warner Griswold
If you have not been to Southern Utah, it is one of the most beautiful and amazing places in the United
States.
Day one sets the tone for our ride with 7 hardy (foolish) souls setting out in 30 degree snow and rain
riding 58 miles from Cedar City to Zion National Park. We have a layover day in Zion to explore the
rock formations and hike Angels Landing and see the Narrows. The colors of the canyons and
landscape in Zion are spectacular.
On the day we leave for Bryce, we wake up to uncertain/ unsafe weather, our thoughtful, always
planning ahead leader John has come up with alternative plan to get us safely to Bryce Canyon
National Park. We stay in great little cabins in the park, just a few minutes from the canyon rim
overlooks. Here we have another layover day and hike among the hoodoos and the red and white
formations in the park.
Day seven we set out for Escalante National Park on route to Capitol Reef National Park. We spend the
night in Boulder where we have our dinner at the famous Hell's Backbone.
The next day we start out with some sun that quickly turns to snow, hail and rain (in the 30's) and we
start to pick up; the riders as the roads are now too dangerous, but all arrive safely and eventually the
luggage truck even arrives after being stuck on the mountain pass!!
Another layover day in Capitol Reef lets us explore the park and recover. Located in the heart of red
rock country, Capitol Reef is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges in the
Waterpocket Fold, (a wrinkle in the earth) extending almost 100 miles.
Day 10 we ride over our last (of many) mountain passes, it is a beautiful ride with long sweeping
climbs and open visas and we end up at the Rock and R ranch. Here we are treated to a horse pulled
wagon with a history lesson, line dance lessons and a country band.
Our last day we ride to Cedar City, a little sad that the ride is over.
Total distance 463 miles and 24,766 feet of climbing.
While weather is not normally addressed in the Tripper Report, I cannot not talk about this ride without
talking about the challenge and “adventure “ that was caused by the unusually cold snow, hail and rain
that we rode in. Average temperatures were 30 degrees lower than normal. John did an outstanding
job of arranging shuttles when it just wasn't safe to ride.
Despite all the challenging weather, the rock formations, canyons, rivers and hoodoos were awe
inspiring every day. If you like geology, splended vistas and colors in various layers of rock this is the
ride to go on.
Bicycle Adventure Club
PO BOX 23998 San Diego, CA 92193
Telephone (858) 715-9510 office@bicycleadventureclub.org