Mountain Bikes · Public discussion

Road Trip to Vernal

Jd · 2003-05-05T17:33:33+00:00

Some of you may have ridden with the crew up there and may know, mountain biking is alive, well and quite pure there. It all starts right here, Altitude Cycle ( http://www.altitudecycle.com ) in their cool new building. http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/042903004.jpg Troy Lupcho had a dream and he's now living it, running a bike shop, riding as much singletrack as he possibly can and doing both very well. He's always well stocked with good parts, which is a desirable thing for those of us who may need a new XT rear mech in where some may consider "the middle of nowhere". Altitude is a great place to get trail information as well, selling the Northeastern Utah Fat Tire Guide by local ATG and bike photographer Rich Etcherger. It's always a down to earth, warm, friendly and homey place, unencumbered by poor attitudes or anything less than the desire to make anyone feel they are a most welcome visitor. http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/042903006.jpg http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/042903007.jpg Then there are the trails. In the last six years or so, the amount of singletrack that has blossomed out of the desert near Vernal is nothing less than amazing. Trail work seems to be a constant there, with very few individuals creating a massive amount of trails that are of varying types and terrrain. Everything from slickrock to blazing fast desert twisties, to technical ledges, tight switchbacks and rock spines, Vernal has it if you venture forth. Vernal also has the special touch of creative trail markings, using the discarded products of the American Machine (garbage), as well as various sun bleached animal bones that remind one of the delicate balance between life and death in the desert. Even if you have already visited Vernal in their past fledgling days, some of the changes to existing routes have made them even better than they were in the past. The lower section of "Can You Moo?" is now void of doubletrack, with over two miles of new narrow, twisty and singlespeedable fun added in for extra flavor. With the constant changes being made to existing routes and new routes being pioneered, the amount of great riding has gone beyond just a "weekend" length visit. Yeah, it's a two and a half hour drive from Fruita, going over probably one of the most undesirable wintertime passes in Colorado, but the visits are well worth the time and effort. After waking up to a steady rain yesterday, some friends and I made the trip up to Vernal for a day of riding. We drove through a springtime early morning blizzard on Douglas Pass, but as we neared the Uintah Basin, the skies broke and the Sun came shining through. Our early morning ride was in the Red Fleet area under intermittent sprinkles and sunshine. The afternoon fix was in the Can You Moo complex under mostly sunny skies, on a narrow hardpack that was akin to Fruita five years ago. We arrived back in the Grand Valley late last night to more rain and most assuredly muddy, closed trails. Vernal is always an excellent diversion and escape from the trendy hordes that seem to permeate interstate highway friendly trail systems of Fruita. JD

Started by Jd · 5 May 2003 · Last activity 8 May 2003 · 8 posts · 752 views

← Back to Mountain Bikes

Thread navigation

Jump through the discussion

Go to the original post, the replies on this page, or the latest preserved contribution.

01 / Original postRoad Trip to VernalJd · 5 May 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–8Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #8The Ogre · 8 May 2003

Thread details

What we know about this thread

Original section: Mountain Bikes
Published: 5 May 2003
Last activity: 8 May 2003
Original author: Jd
Posts: 8
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 752
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Rear derailleurs

The navigation and discussion metadata provide context. Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Original post
Jd
Archived post

5 May 2003, 17:33 UTC #1

Some of you may have ridden with the crew up there and may know, mountain biking is alive, well and
quite pure there.
It all starts right here, Altitude Cycle ( altitudecycle.comaltitudecycle.com ) in their cool
new building.
gallery.consumerreview.com042903004.jpg
Troy Lupcho had a dream and he's now living it, running a bike shop, riding as much singletrack as
he possibly can and doing both very well. He's always well stocked with good parts, which is a
desirable thing for those of us who may need a new XT rear mech in where some may consider "the
middle of nowhere". Altitude is a great place to get trail information as well, selling the
Northeastern Utah Fat Tire Guide by local ATG and bike photographer Rich Etcherger. It's always a
down to earth, warm, friendly and homey place, unencumbered by poor attitudes or anything less than
the desire to make anyone feel they are a most welcome visitor.
gallery.consumerreview.com042903006.jpg
gallery.consumerreview.com042903007.jpg
Then there are the trails. In the last six years or so, the amount of singletrack that has blossomed
out of the desert near Vernal is nothing less than amazing. Trail work seems to be a constant there,
with very few individuals creating a massive amount of trails that are of varying types and
terrrain. Everything from slickrock to blazing fast desert twisties, to technical ledges, tight
switchbacks and rock spines, Vernal has it if you venture forth. Vernal also has the special touch
of creative trail markings, using the discarded products of the American Machine (garbage), as well
as various sun bleached animal bones that remind one of the delicate balance between life and death
in the desert.
Even if you have already visited Vernal in their past fledgling days, some of the changes to
existing routes have made them even better than they were in the past. The lower section of "Can You
Moo?" is now void of doubletrack, with over two miles of new narrow, twisty and singlespeedable fun
added in for extra flavor. With the constant changes being made to existing routes and new routes
being pioneered, the amount of great riding has gone beyond just a "weekend" length visit.
Yeah, it's a two and a half hour drive from Fruita, going over probably one of the most undesirable
wintertime passes in Colorado, but the visits are well worth the time and effort. After waking up to
a steady rain yesterday, some friends and I made the trip up to Vernal for a day of riding. We drove
through a springtime early morning blizzard on Douglas Pass, but as we neared the Uintah Basin, the
skies broke and the Sun came shining through. Our early morning ride was in the Red Fleet area under
intermittent sprinkles and sunshine. The afternoon fix was in the Can You Moo complex under mostly
sunny skies, on a narrow hardpack that was akin to Fruita five years ago. We arrived back in the
Grand Valley late last night to more rain and most assuredly muddy, closed trails. Vernal is always
an excellent diversion and escape from the trendy hordes that seem to permeate interstate highway
friendly trail systems of Fruita.
JD

Report
Tj
Archived post

5 May 2003, 20:00 UTC #2

"JD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Some of you may have ridden with the crew up there and may know, mountain biking is alive, well
and quite pure there.
It all starts right here, Altitude Cycle ( altitudecycle.comaltitudecycle.com ) in their cool new
building.
gallery.consumerreview.com042903004.jpg
Troy Lupcho had a dream and he's now living it, running a bike shop, riding as much singletrack as
he possibly can and doing both very well. He's always well stocked with good parts, which is a
desirable thing for those of us who may need a new XT rear mech in where some may consider "the
middle of nowhere". Altitude is a great place to get trail information as well, selling the
Northeastern Utah Fat Tire Guide by local ATG and bike photographer Rich Etcherger. It's always a
down to earth, warm, friendly and homey place, unencumbered by poor attitudes or anything less
than the desire to make anyone feel they are a most welcome visitor.
gallery.consumerreview.com042903006.jpg
gallery.consumerreview.com042903007.jpg
Then there are the trails. In the last six years or so, the amount of singletrack that has
blossomed out of the desert near Vernal is nothing less than amazing. Trail work seems to be a
constant there, with very few individuals creating a massive amount of trails that are of varying
types and terrrain. Everything from slickrock to blazing fast desert twisties, to technical
ledges, tight switchbacks and rock spines, Vernal has it if you venture forth. Vernal also has the
special touch of creative trail markings, using the discarded products of the American Machine
(garbage), as well as various sun bleached animal bones that remind one of the delicate balance
between life and death in the desert.
Even if you have already visited Vernal in their past fledgling days, some of the changes to
existing routes have made them even better than they were in the past. The lower section of "Can
You Moo?" is now void of doubletrack, with over two miles of new narrow, twisty and
singlespeedable fun added in for extra flavor. With the constant changes being made to existing
routes and new routes being pioneered, the amount of great riding has gone beyond just a "weekend"
length visit.
Yeah, it's a two and a half hour drive from Fruita, going over probably one of the most
undesirable wintertime passes in Colorado, but the visits are well worth the time and effort.
After waking up to a steady rain yesterday, some friends and I made the trip up to Vernal for a
day of riding. We drove through a springtime early morning blizzard on Douglas Pass, but as we
neared the Uintah Basin, the skies broke and the Sun came shining through. Our early morning ride
was in the Red Fleet area under intermittent sprinkles and sunshine. The afternoon fix was in the
Can You Moo complex under mostly sunny skies, on a narrow hardpack that was akin to Fruita five
years ago. We arrived back in the Grand Valley late last night to more rain and most assuredly
muddy, closed trails. Vernal is always an excellent diversion and escape from the trendy hordes
that seem to permeate interstate highway friendly trail systems of Fruita.
JD
I was up in Rangely yesterday checking out the opportunities there. Have you ever stoped at the
petroglyph sites along the highway. There is one that has a trail heading east out of the parking
lot. I think it is the first stop area coming from Rangely on the left. I did find some places that
I am going to check out in the next couple of weeks.
TJ

Report
Jd
Archived post

6 May 2003, 06:30 UTC #3

"TJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
I was up in Rangely yesterday checking out the opportunities there. Have you ever stoped at the
petroglyph sites along the highway. There is one that has a trail heading east out of the parking
lot. I think it is the first stop area coming from Rangely on the left. I did find some places
that I am going to check out in the next couple of weeks.
Didja pick up the sandblaster?
I did a full scope of all of the arch sites a few years ago up there, including the infamous Carrot
Men. That one you think has a trail dead ends really quickly at a cool sun calendar. I've walked
all of them.
There is some fantastic slickrock North of Rangely if you really look for it.
JD

Report
Tj
Archived post

7 May 2003, 17:00 UTC #4

"JD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
"TJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I was up in Rangely yesterday checking out the opportunities there.

Have
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
you ever stoped at the petroglyph sites along the highway. There is one that has a trail heading
east out of the parking lot. I think it is the first stop area coming from Rangely on the left.
I did find some places that I am going to check out in the next couple of weeks.
Didja pick up the sandblaster?
I did a full scope of all of the arch sites a few years ago up there, including the infamous
Carrot Men. That one you think has a trail dead ends really quickly at a cool sun calendar. I've
walked all of them.
There is some fantastic slickrock North of Rangely if you really look for it.
JD
I have the sandblaster. You need 30 grit silica sand. Whitewater Building Materials in GJ as it. I
think they are located on ninth near the tracks.
TJ

Report
The Ogre
Archived post

8 May 2003, 00:00 UTC #5

[email hidden] (JD) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Some of you may have ridden with the crew up there and may know, mountain biking is alive, well
and quite pure there.
Thanks for the info JD, I've been considering a trip in that area this summer/ fall and I wanted to
avoid a lot of the really infested "hot spots". Perhaps this will be a good place to explore for a
week or at least a couple of days before moving on to Fruita.
-- The Ogre ogrehut.comogrehut.com

Report
P E T E F A G E
Archived post

8 May 2003, 19:00 UTC #6

(The Ogre) said:
I've been considering a trip in that area this summer/ fall and I wanted to avoid a lot of the
really infested "hot spots".
Where are the really infested "hot spots" in that area?

Report
Jd
Archived post

8 May 2003, 19:00 UTC #7

[email hidden] (The Ogre) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
[email hidden] (JD) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Some of you may have ridden with the crew up there and may know, mountain biking is alive, well
and quite pure there.
Thanks for the info JD, I've been considering a trip in that area this summer/ fall and I wanted
to avoid a lot of the really infested "hot spots". Perhaps this will be a good place to explore
for a week or at least a couple of days before moving on to Fruita.
-- The Ogre ogrehut.comogrehut.com
It's a tad out of the way and that's what gives it the raw charm available there.
JD

Report
The Ogre
Archived post

8 May 2003, 22:00 UTC #8

P e t e F a g e r l i n <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
(The Ogre) said:
I've been considering a trip in that area this summer/ fall and I wanted to avoid a lot of the
really infested "hot spots".
Where are the really infested "hot spots" in that area?
I guess the confusion is with my use of the word 'area'. I was refering to Moab which I have heard
gets a lot of traffic.
-- The Ogre

Report

Active in the last 60 minutes

Active in this thread

0 users · 0 guests ·0 bots ·0 total

No signed-in users are active right now.

No known search crawlers active right now.

Jump through the discussion

What we know about this thread

Continue through CyclingForums

Active in this thread