Telluride to Moab Pictures

[Veronica]

This was a hard, hard ride. Until we got to Moab, most days were spent up above 8,500 feet. It was HOT, but it was a dry heat!

The first day out of Telluride we climbed to Last Dollar Pass at 10,600. Well, I made it to 10,400 and then climbed into the truck, right here.



Day 2 would have been fine, if I had worn shorts that fit. I am no longer large. I gave in to the saddle sore after 32 miles - just two shy of the campground. Rolling through the aspens was very cool though. The shorts promptly went into the garbage!



Day 3 was suppose to be a 54 mile day. I rode 28 miles to lunch, with the saddle sore. The last climb I HAD to stand on.



Day 4 was the easy day - 17 miles. I rode in the truck, in an attempt to heal. I hadn't "earned" the appetizer, but I ate some anyway.



Day 5 had the hardest climb of all - John Brown Canyon and I REALLY wanted to ride it - hence the day off. It was tough, with sustained sections of 13% and some sections of 20%. I made it to the top of the canyon, but my butt was done. Only one rider actually rode all the way to camp. But while waiting for the bikes to go on the truck, this guy decided the water in my Cool Wings was pretty nice.



Day 6 was an interesting day with a road descent and a tough road climb up La Sal Loop road. We then descended about 3,000 feet into Moab. We also got to see these.



I'm glad I wasn't around when dinosaurs ruled the world.

All in all, we had a great trip. I slept 11 hours when we got back to the hotel after pizza for dinner. It was a wicked hard ride. I have never climbed anything as difficult as John Brown Canyon and to follow it up with the La Sal Loop Road the very next day - ouch! Oh, I forgot to mention the headwind on the first half of the climb up La Sal. I worried I might get blown off the bike at times.

Our guides were the absolutely wonderful, the food was superb, the views were incredible.

We took 147 pictures over the 6 days and narrowed it down to 32. You can check out the others here.

Veronica

[Catrin]

Thanks for sharing, Veronica, sounds great! Sorry you had a problem with your shorts, what a time for that to come up Great picture of your hitchhiker.

[sarahkonamojo]

Shorts malfunction! The worst! Sounds like it added misery to the misery making it almost impossible. I bet you don't want to exchange that Tride to Moab shorts misery for actually fitting in those large shorts again. So you learn.
Looks like a beautiful ride. Who were the guides?
S

[sarahkonamojo]

Western Spirit. Answered my own question by looking at your photos. Beautiful photos.

[indysteel]

Wow; V! That looks like quite the ride and experience. Sorry about the saddle sore though. What bad timing. Western Spirit sure looks like a top notch outfit.

[Veronica]

Great trip!

I had no idea you did mountain biking too. Is that a hardtail or dual suspension? 26 or 29er?

Dual suspension - 26. It's a rental - their smalls are 26, everything else they currently rent is a 29er.

At home I normally ride a hardtail.

Veronica

[Sky King]

What a terrific experience, even with a sore butt