Explorer 1
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Old guy still having fun!
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Post by Explorer 1 on Mar 2, 2018 11:18:40 GMT -8
I've put a couple of movies together on some of the snow travel we experienced this past week exploring the route of the Koko III mountain bike trip this next Oct.
More pictures and movies later,
Thanks,
Fred
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Explorer 1
4 Wheel Friend
Old guy still having fun!
Posts: 3,072
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Post by Explorer 1 on Mar 2, 2018 12:59:56 GMT -8
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Explorer 1
4 Wheel Friend
Old guy still having fun!
Posts: 3,072
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Post by Explorer 1 on Mar 2, 2018 13:16:53 GMT -8
We drove into the night to make Green River Utah and a cheep hotel for the night. The next morning we were off to Starbucks, Moab, a final fuel fill up, and breakfast at the official beginning of the Koko III trail, the Kane Creek McDonalds. From there we traveled down the Colorado River on a few miles of pavement. For what Mark calls "Extra Credit" we took a side trip out to "Chicken Corners" where in route the passenger side comes a bit too close to the cliff for some riders.  From the parking area it's just a short walk to "Chicken Corners" where one gets to stretch any fear of heights. Mark said a close up would show his knuckles are white.  This whole area is one "wonder" and "awe" view after another.   We returned to the Lockhart Basin sign where creative individuals have decorated it with chickens and head up the canyon to climb the most difficult section of the whole trip.  I have climbed this section 2 or 3 times before and it appears to continue to deteriorate (meaning in our circle, improve) each time.  We ended up leaving a few pieces of plastic in this canyon before we passed what is called the "gate keeper". More later, Thanks, Fred Explorer 1 |
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Explorer 1
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Post by Explorer 1 on Mar 2, 2018 15:16:34 GMT -8
Here is some footage and carnage of passing through the Gatekeeper on the Lockhart Canyon trail, which was our next challenge on the Koko III scouting trip.
Thanks,
Fred
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Explorer 1
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Old guy still having fun!
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Post by Explorer 1 on Mar 2, 2018 18:19:30 GMT -8
After the gatekeeper Mark rode his MTB until lunch time. During lunch he filmed a plug for the other MTB's wanting to go on the trip.
Thanks,
Fred
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Post by JMRobins1 on Mar 2, 2018 19:33:58 GMT -8
That looks like an awesome trip. The carnage looks like it'll be an easy fix for the JK, but I feel bad for Murrie. That looks like a hard hit. It'll sure make a good story though!
Is the same route planned for the actual trip?
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Explorer 1
4 Wheel Friend
Old guy still having fun!
Posts: 3,072
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Post by Explorer 1 on Mar 2, 2018 19:38:06 GMT -8
That looks like an awesome trip. The carnage looks like it'll be an easy fix for the JK, but I feel bad for Murrie. That looks like a hard hit. It'll sure make a good story though! Is the same route planned for the actual trip? Yep, the MTB will follow the exact same path. You'll see in future posts that we hit too deep snow on both side of the Elk Mountains at about 7,800 feet, but I have driven these trails before in the SMB so I know most vehicles will have no problem in Oct. Good to hear from you, Cody came by this Thursday and gave me a bit of an update on you. I'm still recovering from the cold of this trip. it was never warmer than 37 degrees and there was a wind most of the time, good think the actual trip will be in Oct. Thanks, Fred |
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Explorer 1
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Post by Explorer 1 on Mar 3, 2018 13:11:20 GMT -8
Our first "on trail" campsite was on the last section of the "Difficult" rated Lockhart Canyon trail. We set camp on a bluff next to the trail with truly outstanding views all around. We could see the Colorado river canyon, the Maze District and vermilion cliffs behind us. All this trip we experienced usual February temps. which meant that it was COLD! Many afternoons were in the 20's and a warm fire was always welcomed.     Thanks, Fred Explorer 1 |
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Explorer 1
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Post by Explorer 1 on Mar 4, 2018 14:54:08 GMT -8
Next morning we finished what was left of the "difficult" section of the Lockhart Basin trail which consisted of a wash out of the trail. We wanted to see how the bike rack with bike in place would handle the section and as you can see it was fine. The rest of the trail in the Basin was easy to moderate and we covered ground quickly. Then came the small section of pavement over to the Beef Basin/Elk Ridge trail. A long wide canyon was followed for miles before we start climbing and with the climbing came more and more snow. Up around 7,800 ft the snow was too deep to continue and Murrie got stuck on one of the turns. You already saw the recovery on the earlier video in this Thread. It was kind of a good think that he got stuck and we turned around. I for one wasn't looking forward to camping in the snow. So around we went around and proceeded back down the trail back to pavement. In route Mark went ahead and bikes about 15 miles mostly downhill. We then drove the lonely road around the south rim of the Elk mountains to Hite where the road crosses the Colorado just before the beginning of lake Powell. This is where the Koko III bike trip will end their trek this coming October. From here we drove the trail in reverse order up to the edge of the Dark Canyon Wilderness for our camp spot for the night.    We had great views of the snow covered Henry Mountains:  Despoite our lower elevation it was another cold night and I found teh comfort of my RTT and sleeping bag earl that night. Thanks, Fred Explorer 1 |
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Post by Freeman4x on Mar 5, 2018 9:47:33 GMT -8
I've put a couple of movies together on some of the snow travel we experienced this past week exploring the route of the Koko III mountain bike trip this next Oct. More pictures and movies later, Thanks, Fred Explorer 1 |
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Post by Freeman4x on Mar 5, 2018 9:49:02 GMT -8
Great videos. You can hear either Mark or Fred grunting in the beginning.
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Explorer 1
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Old guy still having fun!
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Post by Explorer 1 on Mar 5, 2018 10:04:51 GMT -8
Great videos. You can hear either Mark or Fred grunting in the beginning. That would be Mark! Fred Explorer 1 |
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Post by kokoman on Mar 5, 2018 16:17:02 GMT -8
And screaming, too!
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Explorer 1
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Old guy still having fun!
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Post by Explorer 1 on Mar 5, 2018 19:18:51 GMT -8
After charging up the other side of the mountains (from the future planned finishing point) we again succomb to snow too deep to continue and had to turn around. We checked out the "closed for the season" facilities at Hite and started the journey home. Since this years MTB trip is 1/2 of the 400 mile Hayduke trail and we had a day or two extra time I decided we would travel out and show Mark some of the territory and trails he will be traveling in 2019.( The Koko IV) We drove north to the nearest "town" Hanksville (I being generous when I say Town"). After mixing with the locals, and as Mark said we got to know their "sleeping habits" we bought some firewood from a local guy named Gene. Off to the Notom trail and then south toward the Burr Trail. Just before the Burr trail turn off we made an exploratory turn into an unnamed dirt road and found a very nice campsite on the opposite side of the snow covered Henry Mountains. It was another rather cool night but we had a raging campfire and Murrie cooked up some rather large steaks for our enjoyment.     This was our last night out on the trail and I thought appropriate to take a picture of each of our sleep quarters:     The next morning we climbed up the very steep Burr trail road, After Mark rode up ( as in car passenger) this trail he thought it might be an idea to offer the bikers $100.00 for the first one to the top. Something he learned from one of his favorite movies, Iron Will. After 4 nights on the trail and so many hours driving we decided to break code and stay in a cheep motel in Mesquite for the final night, Hot water hitting the back of my head and back never felt so good. All in all it was a good trip and now we're ready to start the planning for the real Koko III Oct 10-20th are the current dates! Thanks, Fred Explorer 1 |
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