WWR Day 37 - "Dan unloaded" -Pine Lake CG to Powell Pt, and back again
WWR Day 37 - "Dan unloaded" -Pine Lake CG to Powell Pt, and back again
Sat Sept 14, 2019
Distance 22.4
Start elevation 8150
End elevation 8150
High point probably 10325
Low point about 8150
Climbing about 2600 (unloaded)
Ride time 3:37
Total time about 4:20
Days bike camping: 26
Contiguous days riding : 8
Well, I took a day off route riding to tackle Powell Point, the high southern tip of the Table Top Plateau. Only 11 miles up, and a mere 2200'+ climb, but today I will be "Dan Unloaded". I had this on my route for last falls' tour, at least until Gaia decided on an early Utah winter the first week of Oct. and shut me down.
So no breaking camp, slept in until the sun forced me out of the tent.
Beautiful blue sky fall day, I don't even have to put on my down jacket on this morning, no ice in my water bottles.
"Dan Unloaded" implies no panniers, no front roll, no clothes bag on rear rack. Probably 30# less weight.
I also ditch a couple of water bottles, and a few items out of my front pouch. Still a heavy bike, but seems nimble for me today.
SideNote
"Dan Loaded Up" is with all of that gear.
"Dan-ny fully loaded", well, we don't talk about him any more .......
I get a leisurely start at 11AM, and start up the road. It is a maintained gravel road upto the campground, but no further. Still it is pretty good shape as the local earth is mostly gravel from the cliffs above. The grade picks up a bit about a mile in, and then turns into a real mountain road for 1.5 miles to the plateau is reached. It is rocky with baseball size rocks and I climb 550 ' in 1.25 miles. I don't think that "Dan Loaded Up", would have been able to climb this section, if attempted, there would have been plenty of the internal debates and whining for sure. So perhaps Gaia was watching out for fools like me with visions of doing this last fall.
I reach the plateau saddle about half way there, but now it it plateau rolling terrain out to the point. No park lands here, all forested. The road follows a cliff edge on and off after a few miles, with glimpses is Esclante Canyon to the the East as I crank along. The road it heavily rooted with spells of loose rocks and mudholes to avoid. I get to the parking sreas after 5 miles of plateau cranking. There is a 3/4mile trail to the point. What the heck, let's try riding it, at least if there is no exposure. First section is a purposefully wander around trail to prevent erosion, and is easy going. Then the climb begins. The combo of my plus tires and my tireless legs allow me to clean some pretty steep sections and I reach the point. A bit hazey but the scope of the view is amazing.
After lunch and dwelling on the point on a absolutely beautiful autumnal day, I start the descent. Hard to believe I road up some of this trail to parking lot. The rolling out isgsstrr than the approach, and feels like real mountain biking now. Still, I do take care as I still have stuff on the bike. The steep section of road is a funded ent, but I miss a rest shock. Once past that it is high-speed downhill to the campground.
It is early so I do some bike clothes washing, as well as cleanup myself a bit, things dry quickly on the warm and dry day.
I hike out to the lake itself to catch the sunset on the vibrant cliffs at lands end of the plateau above the campground.
All in all, a great day
Life is good
Sat Sept 14, 2019
Distance 22.4
Start elevation 8150
End elevation 8150
High point probably 10325
Low point about 8150
Climbing about 2600 (unloaded)
Ride time 3:37
Total time about 4:20
Days bike camping: 26
Contiguous days riding : 8
Well, I took a day off route riding to tackle Powell Point, the high southern tip of the Table Top Plateau. Only 11 miles up, and a mere 2200'+ climb, but today I will be "Dan Unloaded". I had this on my route for last falls' tour, at least until Gaia decided on an early Utah winter the first week of Oct. and shut me down.
So no breaking camp, slept in until the sun forced me out of the tent.
Beautiful blue sky fall day, I don't even have to put on my down jacket on this morning, no ice in my water bottles.
"Dan Unloaded" implies no panniers, no front roll, no clothes bag on rear rack. Probably 30# less weight.
I also ditch a couple of water bottles, and a few items out of my front pouch. Still a heavy bike, but seems nimble for me today.
SideNote
"Dan Loaded Up" is with all of that gear.
"Dan-ny fully loaded", well, we don't talk about him any more .......
I get a leisurely start at 11AM, and start up the road. It is a maintained gravel road upto the campground, but no further. Still it is pretty good shape as the local earth is mostly gravel from the cliffs above. The grade picks up a bit about a mile in, and then turns into a real mountain road for 1.5 miles to the plateau is reached. It is rocky with baseball size rocks and I climb 550 ' in 1.25 miles. I don't think that "Dan Loaded Up", would have been able to climb this section, if attempted, there would have been plenty of the internal debates and whining for sure. So perhaps Gaia was watching out for fools like me with visions of doing this last fall.
I reach the plateau saddle about half way there, but now it it plateau rolling terrain out to the point. No park lands here, all forested. The road follows a cliff edge on and off after a few miles, with glimpses is Esclante Canyon to the the East as I crank along. The road it heavily rooted with spells of loose rocks and mudholes to avoid. I get to the parking sreas after 5 miles of plateau cranking. There is a 3/4mile trail to the point. What the heck, let's try riding it, at least if there is no exposure. First section is a purposefully wander around trail to prevent erosion, and is easy going. Then the climb begins. The combo of my plus tires and my tireless legs allow me to clean some pretty steep sections and I reach the point. A bit hazey but the scope of the view is amazing.
After lunch and dwelling on the point on a absolutely beautiful autumnal day, I start the descent. Hard to believe I road up some of this trail to parking lot. The rolling out isgsstrr than the approach, and feels like real mountain biking now. Still, I do take care as I still have stuff on the bike. The steep section of road is a funded ent, but I miss a rest shock. Once past that it is high-speed downhill to the campground.
It is early so I do some bike clothes washing, as well as cleanup myself a bit, things dry quickly on the warm and dry day.
I hike out to the lake itself to catch the sunset on the vibrant cliffs at lands end of the plateau above the campground.
All in all, a great day
Life is good
No pictures!
ReplyDeletePatience.
DeleteWell, don't always have a good nuf connectivity to upload photos. Working on that now, but the wifi here at Ruby sucks and lte is only half strength
Looks like a great little excursion you had there.
ReplyDeleteYeah, felt like a real Mtn bike day, fine fall weather to boot. Pity the Aspen's weren't a changing more
DeleteBeautiful , looks like a great day!, Nice pics as usual, Mr. Unloaded!
ReplyDelete