Podcast 53.14: Utah Bike Tour (overview)

Critical Transit

This final Utah bike tour journal was recorded after the tour ended. I went over the experience and consider some lessons learned. Let me know what you think.

This spring I rode my bicycle across southern Utah to view the spectacular remote desert landscape and explore seven national parks: Colorado NM, Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Capitol Reef NP, Grand Staircase-Escalante NM, Bryce Canyon NP and Zion NP. My friend Ross and I left April 30 from Breckenridge, Colorado, and took 3 weeks to ride nearly 1,000 miles / 600 km to Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah — taking in the sights and spending some quality time on the road and in camp, plus a few “rest days” in Moab, Utah.

Arches NP

... before I mailed away my hiking backpack; it's in that blue bag.

White River National Forest

Near the 8,000-foot (2.4 km) summit on Forest Road 330E between Silt & Collbran, CO.

Arches NP

Not just any old hike.

Canyonlands NP

Looking out at the Shafer Trail road.

Comb Wash BLM campsite

near Blanding, Utah

Bear's Ears National Monument

Fuck you Trump, we beat you!

Colorado River, meet bicycles!
Bike breakdown #2

Something's wrong with this picture ...

Ross ascending the Burr Trail

... the first (and comparatively easy) set of switchbacks.

Back on pavement!

Burr Trail in the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument

Bryce Canyon National Park

The spires are called hoodoos, and they're everywhere. Back at 9,000 feet (3km) elevation.

Zion National Park
Zion Canyon

The ride was mostly fantastic — amazing scenic landscapes and no traffic — but came with some challenges: very long and strenuous climbs over mountain passes, temperatures ranging from below freezing to 95F/35C, isolation from people and civilization, long distances between bike shops, the steep dirt/gravel Burr Trail, and long stretches without access to food (and no real supermarkets) or water (I carried over 2 gallons and still had to ask car tourists for water a few times).

Don't forget to listen to all of the journal episodes posted right here, see the route below, and share your thoughts.

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ROUTE: Colorado, Part 1 | Colorado, Part 2 | Utah