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White Rim in a Day

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drmurrow

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I know there are a handful of other White Rim posts, but I wanted to share a new one. I headed to Utah with 4 buddies a few weeks back and completed my second White Rim in a Day (WRIAD). Although the trail does not provide any technical challenges or flowing singletrack, it is a still an adventure that most mountain bikers can relish. Feel free to check out my lengthy blog write up and video over here:

White Rim in a Day | Rodeo Adventure Labs, LLC

I figured this was fitting post considering the dreary conditions here in Denver today.
 
#2 ·
drmurrow said:
I know there are a handful of other White Rim posts, but I wanted to share a new one. I headed to Utah with 4 buddies a few weeks back and completed my second White Rim in a Day (WRIAD). Although the trail does not provide any technical challenges or flowing singletrack, it is a still an adventure that most mountain bikers can relish...
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I loves me some WRIAD. Haven't done it since fall of 2012, but a posse from here may do it next month.

It isn't singletrack and it isn't too challenging, but a friend who was with us in 2012 rode a rigid gravel-style bike and he suffered. You do hammer across some choppy slickrock pretty often.

There are some punchy tech climbs and short rubbly descents too that take a little skill. But yeah, it's mostly a long dirt road ride.

But where you are is so magical. And once you're out there, your only graceful option is to keep going. No water sources, no shortcuts back to the car. It's a pretty damn good ride.
 
#3 ·
Fantastic write up and great pictures, especially while sitting at work, looking out the window on this indeed dreary day in Denver. Thank you for sharing!
 
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#7 ·
There really is only one word to describe that adventure / write up / photo session.

"Sweet!

Added to the bucket list, thanks for sharing.
 
#8 ·
Kudos to you for doing that ride in a day. I've done it twice and each time we've gone clockwise and stayed at Potato Bottom. Those 75 miles are enough to make you go to bed early and sleep really, really well. The final 25 miles the next day were always much slower than the first 75. That final dirt road once you're on top of the mesa is brutal.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Bagwhan said:
excellent write up, thanks for sharing. seems like you guys cut things rather close, no?
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We did cut it a bit close. However, I knew the route well and we paced ourselves accordingly. We stopped many times to take photos and enjoy the experience. We did almost run out of water / food but that was within the last 10 miles. It wouldn't have been that big of deal. We packed warm clothes and lights in case we got caught out there after sunset.

To be honest, a group of 5 riders is a bit much. A smaller group of 2 or 3 is a better number to try to tackle this in a day.

Good times nonetheless!
 
#11 ·
drmurrow said:
We did cut it a bit close. However, I knew the route well and we paced ourselves accordingly. We stopped many times to take photos and enjoy the experience. We did almost run out of water / food but that was within the last 10 miles. It wouldn't have been that big of deal. We packed warm clothes and lights in case we got caught out there after sunset.

To be honest, a group of 5 riders is a bit much. A smaller group of 2 or 3 is a better number to try to tackle this in a day.

Good times nonetheless!
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Thanks for the answer. Hope it didn't come across as criticism, was just curious about your thoughts. Just seemed like with short days and cold nights and almost nobody else out there, even a mechanical could have made things really unpleasant. And I was curious whether those thoughts had occurred to you, whether I had misinterpreted things in your TR, etc.

But nothing bad happened so it's a moot point, and you guys are way stronger than I! I hope to do the White Rim at some point, but probably supported over 3-4 days or something like that. No way could I ever do it in a day.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Bagwhan said:
Thanks for the answer. Hope it didn't come across as criticism, was just curious about your thoughts. Just seemed like with short days and cold nights and almost nobody else out there, even a mechanical could have made things really unpleasant. And I was curious whether those thoughts had occurred to you, whether I had misinterpreted things in your TR, etc.

But nothing bad happened so it's a moot point, and you guys are way stronger than I! I hope to do the White Rim at some point, but probably supported over 3-4 days or something like that. No way could I ever do it in a day.
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No worries at all. I did think about the option of something very bad happening. worst case scenario, myself or one of the stronger riders would have ridden ahead to my truck and then doubled back and picked up the broken bike or rider :) Having a good light packed with me was an imperative part of the plan.

We decided to do the ride early March because although the days are shorter, the weather is much more pleasant. Like I mentioned in my write-up, had it been 20 degrees hotter we would have had to carry much more water and it would have been far more unpleasant.

I hope you get to experience White Rim on a multi-day trip at some point.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Ntmboy said:
Glad to hear you all had a good day. I'm the guy who stopped to chat first thing in the morning. Nice write up and pics! My favorite time of the year there - cool temps and minimal traffic.
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Awesome! Thanks for dropping a note. We were all talking about how chipper you were for that early in the morning. We started about 30 minutes after you stopped to say hi. You must have been keeping a pretty good since we never saw you again. I like your idea of parking at the bottom of the Mineral Bottom Switchbacks.
 
#16 ·
Awesome trip report! Have done Schaffer in a Jeep and have long wanted to do a trip on White Rim (via bike). Will be going to Moab in June with my parents, brother and his family for some more traditional national park viewing but will be taking mine and my bros Mtn bikes to get a few quick rides in!
 
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#17 ·
pearl-drum-man said:
Awesome trip report! Have done Schaffer in a Jeep and have long wanted to do a trip on White Rim (via bike). Will be going to Moab in June with my parents, brother and his family for some more traditional national park viewing but will be taking mine and my bros Mtn bikes to get a few quick rides in!
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June in Moab is frickin' hot! Make sure to put Gatorade in your water pack and try to ride at sunrise. I nearly died out there in June one year being stupid and riding in the middle of the day without enough food/water.

Sent from my iPad (so I blame autocorrect for the spellin' errs)
 
#18 ·
rogerfromco said:
June in Moab is frickin' hot! Make sure to put Gatorade in your water pack and try to ride at sunrise. I nearly died out there in June one year being stupid and riding in the middle of the day without enough food/water.

Sent from my iPad (so I blame autocorrect for the spellin' errs)
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Yeah will do. Won't be doing anything too crazy or extensive. Had to wait for my bro's kids to get out of school, hence the early June timeframe. Last time I was in Moab was in August, fortunately it was hot but not as hot as it could have been.
 
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#19 ·
All good things must come to an end, apparently. NPS is proposing that one day use of White Rim be a permitted activity, with a limit of 50 bicycles per day. This means gauging the weather and road conditions and choosing your day will be a thing of the past. You'll have to scramble for a permit on a specific day, and go with what you can get. Oh, and pay extra $$$$$.

NPS proposes permit system for White Rim and Elephant Hill - Moab Sun News: News
 
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