Left Yelm, Washington about 7:30 am, Saturday, June 2, 2018, headed for Canyonlands, Utah. The plan was to do the Shafer Trail, Potash Trail and Long Canyon Trail on Monday June 4 and the White Rim Trail Tuesday June 5. Ice had his new Himalayan and I, my 2006 Electra (Harris Scrambler). We loaded Ice's Himalayan on to my trailer and the Harris Scrambler in the bed of my Colorado pickup truck. We drove straight through, taking turns at the wheel. Arrived in Canyonlands, on Island in the Sky in Willow Flat camp ground, around 3:00 am, Sunday morning, June 3. After the sun came up, people began to vacate camp sites and we moved in. That Sunday we stopped by the Visitors Center and just relaxed. Monday morning, after breakfast, we were off, down about one thousand feet of elevation on switchbacks of the Shafer Trail to the Potash Trail and up the Long Canyon Trail, just over 50 miles. A big rock that had fallen over the Long Canyon trail created a tunnel that a jeep can drive under. Four wheelers had dug very large holes under that rock. I stalled out in one, but was able to restart and power my way out with a little clutching. Ice and his Himalayan did the same. After that all was good and right with the World. We arrived back at camp around noon. There my old riding buddy, Bob from Colorado was with a 350 KTM he rented for the White Rim Trail ride on Tuesday. Bob wanted to do a little riding to get acclimated with the bike he had never ridden before. Back down the Shafer Trail the three of us went, just to the bottom and back up to the camp site. Every thing was okay and Bob thought he would do just fine with the KTM. The next day at sunrise we were on our way to do the White Rim Trail. Halfway down Mineral Road to the White Rim, the Harris Scrambler broke it's clutch cable. Not a problem, I had a spare. We were on our way again. All went great until we started up Hardscrabble, Bob was in the lead and found one of those four wheeler holes they dug trying to get up that hill, he stalled out and had to restart, power and push his way out. I was next. I picked a different line, but the outcome was the same. Ice and the Himalayan was the last to attempt the hill. His fait was not as good, he and the Himalayan went down. I helped him right the bike and together we pushed and powered out and up the hill. Again all was well until we got to the back side of the Murphy Hogback. This is a very steep downhill with curves and huge four wheeler dig-out holes. Again Bob was first and I next. Down the trail we went, in and out of the holes and around the curves with no difficulty. Ice and the Himalayan were not as lucky. They went upside down in one of the deep holes, the bike above him and Ice in the bottom looking up at his brand new Himalayan. With a little effort Ice was able to right himself and the Himalayan. He helped it down to a spot he could restart the bike and ride it down the rest of the way. The remainder of the White Rim Trail was quit present with great views. Around Island In The Sky we went, and back to and up the Shafer Trail to our camp site at about 115 miles and 9 hours later. A great time with good friends. The next day Bob headed back home to Colorado. Ice and I went straight through again, back to Washington.
Some videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9oBiuuTKiM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2F3qWaDObEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXqMGu6c53Ehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWmL5iRs5lQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbi1TOeAO00https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ1bspzqUMohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbEkPIacl6ghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msdvzGbEEmkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NRPfpt14whttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u7FLLPxLaM Royal Enfield people are good people
Cheers,
Bill
Topic: Canyonlands, old school and new school (Read 5159 times)