I posted this on MTBR, but figured I would put it here for those who don't check the other site:
A couple friends and I had backcountry permits to ride the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands. We planned a 3-day trip will full water/food on our bikes. But a day before the trek, Washington DC went into a tizzy and our national parks suddenly closed.
We talked with some Moab folks and settled on riding on the other side of the Colorado River, in the Lockhart Basin. Similar views, terrain and riding surfaces (maybe more sand) as the White Rim, but very few people.
I really enjoyed the outing. I was on my Mukluk 3, which sailed through the sandy river washes and gullies. It was much tougher riding for my friends, who were on a Soma Analog and a Salsa El Mariachi.
I was impressed at how versatile the Mukluk was for riding on such varied surfaces -- hardpack, large rubble, sand, silt -- and how well it was suited for carrying provisions.
The weather was warm and windy. I slept under the stars, and my friends were in 1-man tents.
We brought all the water, food and gear we had planned to use on the White Rim, which proved to be much more than we needed on our Lockhart Basin ride.
For me, it was a good experiment in how much food and water I would need per day in a desert environment. (I estimated the water correctly but brought way too much food.)
The sights were beautiful and the riding enjoyable (on a fat bike!). It was a great experience.
