RR: Moab - White Rim & Whole Enchilada

[schillingsworth]

I've had the White Rim on my list for years, but never seem to have my crap together for the necessary permits to camp inside Canyonlands NP. Then, a couple weeks ago, a buddy did the ride mostly in a day, but camped near Mineral Bottom...on BLM lands. Duh. Why didn't I think of that!! For some reason I thought the entire 100 mile loop was inside the park boundary. Nope. So, a last minute plan was hatched: Rent a truck so we can carpool, grab day-use passes for the White Rim, ride 80 miles, camp, then ride the final 20 back to the car.

We decided to extend the weekend another day and booked a Whole Enchilada shuttle on Monday morning. Burro Pass was open, the leaves had turned golden yellow too. Rad. We'd then drive back to Phoenix that afternoon. Seemed like a great plan.

Then Hertz called the day before the trip to inform me our pre-paid reservation could not be filled. What the?? Plan B: Stuff all our crap in my buddy's car and go. It all fit, so that worked out well. Then, in Flagstaff we noticed Nancy's carbon wheel had melted in the exhaust because the deflecting baffles were a tad off. Rut-roh.


No bueno.

Calls made, and a wheel was secured in Moab. FFS. Can we just get to Moab??


A short hike out to Delicate Arch upon arrival just before sunset.

Finally!! It's time to ride.

Yeah, we get to ride down THAT!!


Posing in front of Mussleman Arch.


Big views all day long. It was getting warm though, hovering around 90º.


Spires & slickrock.


Looks like a good place to inhale some calories.


Candlestick Tower on the left, tiny riders on the road. See them??


Thank goodness!! Almost to the Green River. My warm water tasted like old hose water. Bleh.


Climbing out of Mineral Bottom the next morning & getting cheered on by my buddy.


The next day, up at 10,500' it was chilly and golden. Quite the contrast.


The La Sal range on our way up to Burro Pass at 11,200'.


Considering how dry its been, I was surprised to see flowing water here.


All the gold.


Oh yeah!!


Love this section of Porcupine Rim as it drops to the Colorado River.


Monument Valley on our way home.

Another great weekend getaway in the books. Moab always delivers.

For the full story and a truck load of pics, check out the blog entry:

Moab: A Tale of Two Rims

If you haven't been here, go.

[simple]

Nice

[HellgateBasement]

Great photos. Looks like you guys were traveling pretty light. I've done the WE a few times but never the WRT - definitely on the list. What was your strategy for water? Treated river water?

[bennymac]

Great pics thanks for posting with story

[MakersTeleMark]

Man, I miss enchaladafest.

Jail sucked though, and also that 9 year relationship.

[Full Trucker]

Right on, way to find that little loophole there! White Rim had been on my list for a lot of years, finally got my shit together enough in late 2018 to put together a 3-day permit to get it done in April 2019. Not the most awesome trail (I mean... it's a fucking road for cry eye) but it's a helluvan adventure.

[Name Redacted]

Headed that way soon, looking to do both of those rides. WR will be done on a moto single day though.

[alpinevibes]

Nice nice, heading to ride the white rim again in two weeks, but bringing our twin 1y/o. A good intro to glamping for them


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[schillingsworth]

Great photos. Looks like you guys were traveling pretty light. I've done the WE a few times but never the WRT - definitely on the list. What was your strategy for water? Treated river water?

We all carried a lot, I had 5L + 2 bottles + 32oz Gatorade + 12oz Root Beer + Flask of tequila. We filtered water from the Green River via Potato Bottom C campground late on day 1, then again the next morning before climbing out from Mineral Bottom. Worked well enough in spite of the 90º temps. (We're from the Phoenix area so 90 felt kinda cool-ish except for the lack of shade.)

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Who do people recommend for WE shuttles? Assuming no snow you can go all the way to the top in Mid/Late October?

[alpinevibes]

Who do people recommend for WE shuttles? Assuming no snow you can go all the way to the top in Mid/Late October?

We’ve always done Coyote Shuttle and have ridden in late Oct, with lots of mud on Burro, in the past


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[schillingsworth]

Who do people recommend for WE shuttles? Assuming no snow you can go all the way to the top in Mid/Late October?

I've use Coyote shuttles twice and the Whole Enchilada shuttle this trip, both were excellent. TWE shuttle's meeting point is about 2 miles closer to the end of the ride if that matters. Burro Pass was covered in moon dust on this trip.

[grskier]

coyote for the funk
poison spider for the posh

[406]

"Then, in Flagstaff we noticed Nancy's carbon wheel had melted in the exhaust because the deflecting baffles were a tad off. Rut-roh."

Really, no catalytic converter I take it?

[Canada1]

I looped this yesterday. It is in the best condition I?ve seen. Go get it before the ATV?s Soften all the sand