Munn Mania

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Canyonlands- The White Rim Trail Day 2, 50 miles

I am ready for day 2, or the longest day. We had requested campsites that were 30ish miles apart, but it is first come first serve and we weren't first back in January so we had a few different options. The option we took was for a long second day. We had also planned for the Shelby to ride the whole trail but brought the boys' bikes so they could ride some of it and when they got tired they could jump in the suburban and join mom. The boys had so much fun the first day riding, they made the decision they wanted to ride the entire trail. This meant a 48ish mile second day and a slower pace for Shelby.

Lubing the chains for the second day of riding. The air was so dry here it literally sucked all moisture from your skin.

The pit toilet

Ezra liked to scare me by climbing on rocks near huge drop offs.

Jacob may have been a little tired.

Scaring me again. He assured me that it was steps and not slanted going directly down to his death.

Cool area where there is definitely a waterfall during monsoon season.

Still riding

I spy some Big Horn Sheep.

Some of the wildlife we hoped we would see. Jacob was super excited because he spotted them first and he seems to always miss these kinds of things. I need a bigger zoom on my camera. And yes their horns were BIG.

Yes I got out of the sub sometimes.

The boys said these looked like Easter Island heads. They were all over. Sometimes looking like families.

Lunch on the trail. We knew it would take the whole day to make it to camp so sandwiches and chips on the trail it was!

And then the climb up Murphy's Hogback. I hung back and watched the suffering as even papa hiked up and up. This was at about the halfway point. Thank goodness after this it was downhill and flat.

Ezra really wanted to get in with me but didn't. He was the little engine that could. The boys were both amazing!

Me climbing up Hogback, white, sweaty knuckles and heart pumping (probably not as much as the men though) and then down. Again 4 low was my friend and I have new love for my suburban.

Cliffhanging.

The Green River

The sun was going away as clouds came in and the day got late and there were still miles to cover.

Shelby and I both had named these two big rocks up on the mesa the kissing rocks.

We did make it to camp after a full day (7/8 hours) of biking and driving. Camp was right on the Green River and the next day was only a 8 mile day. The boys are my heroes. Anyone who has done something like a 50 mile bike ride through the desert on the dirt with crazy climbs and headwinds knows that it is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. These boys conquered, life lessons were learned. We told them when they have something difficult to do all we will have to say is... "White Rim"... and they will know that they can do hard things.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Canyonlands- The White Rim Trail Day 1, part two

There were many stops for refills of water and snacks. The weather was perfect, warm but not too warm.We even did a seat swap for Ezra. Here he is trying a different seat. I guess my Speedshe (a seat made for women) wasn't cutting it for my little man.

The famous Mussleman's Arch.

It was little breezey and when you are 300 feet above the ground, even the bravest are a bit shaky.

I decided to check it out. This week I was going to conquer my fear of heights!

So I walked across it... Very carefully.

The boys wanted to do it again. Jacob saying "What?"

The boys snacking enjoying the view. This place is not called Canyonlands for nothing. There were literally canyons inside canyons inside canyons. So many layers to everything.

Ancient Indian carvings. Looks like they saw the future was in biking.

When we finally made it to camp, Ezra thought we should all go read on the rocks overlooking the canyon. Great idea!! We were going to sleep under the stars to avoid having to set up and tear down tents but the wind made us change our minds. It is no fun setting up tents in the wind but it would have been worse to fight the wind for our blankets.

We just brought our two small tents on this trip since we would be traveling to a new sight each day. Thanks to the Galyans we have a slightly larger small tent for Shelby and I. I guess I forgot to mention the White Rim Trail is a 100 mile loop around Canyonlands National Park in the back country near Moab, UT. You have to make reservations and get a permit to be on the trail and camp. The rules are crazy strict about staying on trails. There is no water and only Pit toilets about every 5-10 miles at the campsites. They told us if you have to pee between toilets to pee on the road because it is the most impacted. OK for the boys, not too great for me. Sorry, no pictures to go with that ;)

The sun setting on our first day.

Canyonlands- The White Rim Trail Day 1, part one

For our early Spring Break this year we ventured to a new place. We tried this trip a few years ago but Keri went and had a beautiful little girl that we got to go visit instead and the exit trail had been washed away during rain storms making it impassable. This year we met success. I'm going to try and wade through the hundreds of pictures taken and chronicle this amazing week.
Words and photos will not do justice to the amazing scenery, mental and physical anguish and victory of a 50 mile bike ride on day 2 (not so much for Shelby), and irreplaceable memories made during the week. But here is my attempt.

We first took some pictures overlooking the canyons we were going to be entering just by the visitor's center.

We could see the trail we would be on shortly. The men were all going to bike to our campsite about 16 miles while I drove the sub with all our supplies. This road is for high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicles only. The Saturday before Shelby and I went out into the foothills so I could practice my skills. I am terrified of heights and so lots of prayers were said. If I had a choice between falling off the cliff or scraping the mountain, let's just say I'm not that concerned with the look of my suburban, a few dents or scrapes would just add character.

The beast is all ready to go!

Shelby making sure the bikes are tuned up and ready to hit the trail.

Happy Kid!

All ready to go and off they go. Lots of the picture are through the windshield with this view. It was fun for me to see them ride together and I would have been more comfortable on a bike than maneuvering the beast through some of the sections of the trail but it was so worth it to watch and be ready with water and snacks.

The trail we would be heading to at the bottom of one canyon and the trail we were on to the right near the top of the mesa.

A view of The La Sal mountains- at 12,000 feet they still had snow.

This is Shafer trail. The sign at the Visitor's Center said this trail was wet and slick, but passable. Let's just say that made me just a little bit nervous and when I got to the hairpin turns I was even more nervous. Thank goodness it was not slick and not as steep as it looked once you made it around the turns and I will just say that I love 4 low.

The bikes coming down Shafer.

And we made it out alive. I didn't fall off a cliff although that wouldn't be the only cliff hanging for me during the week. Doesn't that look fun! Look at the trail stretching out in front and the beautiful mesas.

More to come!