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Fall 2007 - North/South San Rafael Swell Ride
When: September 28 Friday (Southern Swell) and the Primary Ride (Northern Swell) September 29 Saturday Status: The roster is Full for this ride. Check this line for additional updates; Status: Camp Location Change - Disregard instructions for the "Primary Base Camp". This
Fall, all attendees will be camping near or around the I-70 Location. Participation: You must RSVP with one of the ride leaders for one or both days in order to reserve your spot. The number of participants will be limited. Preference is first given to current members of the UTMA. Riders from out of state or other Utah Ride organization members in good standing with current club memberships will be requested to join the UTMA, make a donation to the UTMA, and/or donate to one of several Land Advocacy Support Groups. Riders from out of country will be given special dis compensation. The ride hosts will provide information and suggestions about your donation options.
Ride Preparation:
You must provision yourself with the fuel necessary for either day of participation.
Please pack cameras, tools, lunch and water as there are no available services in these areas, period.
Cell phone services in the south portion of the swell are non-existent and they are
scattered at best in the northern portion of the swell, they can't and shouldn't
be relied upon. Cell service is partially obtainable around the Alternate and Primary Base Camps.
All motorcycles participating in this ride must be well maintained. Unreliable motorcycles spoil the
trip for others that come prepared. Right or wrong, we reserve the right to insist that bikes in
disrepair do not participate. Knobby off road tires are a must. Dual-sport tires are next to
useless on this terrain.
This isn't fast, but it is aggressive riding. As such, this is not the place or the ride to bring along
a beginner or novice and tell him or her that they "can do it", so please be considerate of other
ride participants prior to your RSVP in signing up yourself or others in your party. Review the skill level
listed above, please consult with one of the ride leaders if you have questions.
Friday Ride Information:
The departure time from both camping locations must be prompt.
From the Primary Base Camp please be staged and ready for the ride meeting as early as 8:00 am, departure
to I-70 will be no later than 8:30 am.
If you are camped at the Alternate Camp Site off I-70 (big rig preference) you must be ready
to ride between 8:45 and 9:15 am. You may, if desired, ride into the Primary Base Camp site
(add 1/2 hour) as a warm ride and attend the pre-ride meeting.
Todays ride in the Southern portion of the San Rafael Swell (south of I-70) is know as the
"Temple Mountain" or the "Dick Brass Colored Trail System". Our venture will include Green,
Blue, Orange and Waterfall Trails which are just a portion of the entire trail system.
A long day with up to (1) 108 miles of combined trails and roads possible if departing from the Primary Base Camp
and (2) 92 miles of combined trails and roads possible if departing and stagging at the
Alternate Camp location off I-70.
Saturday Ride Information:
Specific Area; Utah USGS map reference "The Blocks",
attached map shows this ride in "blue". This ride will
consist of a 63 mile loop and will take 5 to 6 hours to finish. We will leave
the Primary Base Camp (see attached map) at 9:30 am SHARP! If you are
camped at the Alternate Base Camp at I-70 (see yellow segment on map) you'll need to leave at
8:30 to ride to the Primary Base Camp to attend the 9:00 am mandatory pre-ride meeting. That
ride segment is shown in purple. That trail section is 8 miles, has only one section where
the trail leaves the wash, but is easy to follow to the Primary Base Camp.
Our journey will begin by heading south into Cane Wash. We'll head up through a short steep
section leaving Cane Wash and emerge on the northwest plateau of the Head of Sinbad, just north
and visible to I-70. We will then cross under I-70 and head towards Swazey's Cabin.
From this 100+ year old frontier cabin we will descend into Eagle Canyon and pass back
under the I-70 freeway spans which are 300 feet above the canyon floor.
We will then travel through the Eva Conover and Secret Mesa areas and head north descending
into the South Fork of Coal Wash. After reaching the South/North Fork Coal Wash junction kiosk, we
will head south into the North Fork of Coal Wash riding towards the Devils Race Track.
About one mile before the Devils Race Track cutoff we will break for a late
lunch underneath several 100+ year old cottonwood trees. The Devils Race Track has one trials
like section which is fun and challenging. Once through the Race Track we will visit some pictographs
and descend back into Cane Wash and head back to camp.
Sunday: Maintenance routines may be scheduled - help appreciated.
Directions to Primary Base Camp: (Distance and time
to base camp from Green River,Click Here)
From Interstate 70 get off exit #131 and head north
13.29 miles on Buckhorn Wash Road. If extreme
weather/flash flooding is in progress during Thursday look for
an Alternate Camp Site sign about .6 tenths of a mile from Exit #131
(ride will base from here if necessary). Otherwise, continue
north and look for the "UTMA SF RIDE" sign and turn onto
the Cane Wash Cut Off road (labeled on attached map). You will head
south west for approximately 5.5 miles and this section of road is
not maintained. (The map below shows this entire section from I-70 to
camp in (Note: Buckhorn Wash road
can be accessed from the north via Price off Hwy 10. If you enter from
the north, the Cane Wash Cut Off road is approximately 6 miles south of
the BLM San Rafael Campground.)
Camping:
Camping at the Primary Base Camp is primitive and everyone must take out what they
bring in. Bring all food, water, shelter, fuel and equipment needed for your stay.
This camping area is an extremely pristine and fragile area, please use
a "leave no trace etiquette" while camping.
Important Information about this Ride and Requirements for Conditional Use:
This area is perhaps one of Utah's most scenic and previously controversial riding areas.
It will remain open ONLY if you are willing and able to comply with the use requirements posted
in the San Rafael Swell by the BLM and 7+ other Intermountain West Ride Organizations.
Saturday's Conditional Ride Use:
The majority of the Northern San Rafael Swell ride is within a Wilderness Study Area and the
trails in the area are assigned for use under a "Conditional Use Only" basis. Meaning
these trails are subject to CLOSURE if strict adherence to riding on the trail is not
maintained. Because this area is monitored this means exercising special riding considerations
which includes while riding in wide washes, stay and ride on existing tracks or in the middle
of the wash areas. Please stay off wash edges and berms, avoid vegetation, TREAD
LIGHTY is the key word !!! UTMA Riding Etiquette:
Ride Map: Ride Summary from October 2003(Click Here) Ride Pictures from Various Visits(Click Here) UTMA |
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