Utahtrail

[ombra]

Hi, my name's Mauro and i'm from Venice, Italy. I discovered this beautiful website. I travelled in a lot of countries with my mtb and i was looking for some ideas or trails to visit Utah, spending about 10-14 days. I found the Transutah trail and i'd like to connect it with Torrey town, for visiting Cathedral valley by mtb. So, i have a question, about transutah trail mountain: May, should be a good period? Thinking about overnight there, i don't know nothing about snow or temperature.
Could you help me? Do you have any other suggestion for me?
Thanks a lot
Mauro

[Eugenemtbing]

In general, I think May and October are the best times to bike/camp in Utah.  I'm not from there but have visited and ridden there (southern Utah).  May and October are typically warm but not too hot.  More chance of rain in October, but maybe people from there can offer more detail.

[KeneticSam]

Anything above 8000 feet is going to still be buried in snow in May.

[mathieu]

I'm glad that a local expert tuned in on this issue.
I am not contemplating the Utahtrail, but a south-to-north traverse on dirt roads at end of May/early June, starting roughly at the northern end of the Arizona Trail and entering Idaho from the Curlew Valley.
KeneticSam, could you be more specific on your statement? Does it equally apply to the Markagunt Plateau in the SW, as to the Wasatch Plateau between Salina and Spanish Fork (i.e. the Skyline Drive) and to the SW side of the Uinta Range (between Hanna and Kamas)?

[KeneticSam]

Glad to help out.
A couple things to keep in mind:  snowpack varies greatly year to year, and there's a big difference between May 1 and June 1, a lot of melting happens then.  Snowpack has been really low this year until the past two weeks,  should be a below average year.  Check snowpack here:  http://wernersoftware.com/weatherpages/utah_snotel.php

Here's what I think for an average year on June 1:
-under 7000' should be dry everywhere
-7-8k' would be mostly ride-able, may hit some snowdrifts/mud that you'll have to hike thru
-8-9k' miserable slog thru snow and mud
>9k' bring snow shoes

There's no way you can bike Wasatch Plateau Skyline June 1. July 1 would be iffy, but probably OK.
Same with Soapstone & Cedar Breaks, but they're a bit lower and should be dry July 1.

I would advise starting July 15, or find alternative routes that stick to lower elevations.  All the paved roads will be open by June 1, so you could bypass the high elevation trails if they're still snowed in.

[mathieu]

KeneticSam, thanks for the quick reply! I will relocate my route further to the east. Somewhere I have to get to the Salt Lake area, so I trust the paved Wolf Creek pass (9500 ft) will bring me there.

[KeneticSam]

Yes, UT-35 would be fine.  UT-40 then down thru Provo Canyon might be better, then ride the train from Provo to Ogden, skipping the city.  Or bypass Salt Lake Valley and come out by Logan would be good too.  I can give route advice in northern UT if you need it.

BTW, here's my notional route to connect AZT to GDT:  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4044441
Haven't ridden much of yet, but hope to start tackling sections this year.

[mathieu]

BTW, here's my notional route to connect AZT to GDT:  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4044441

Awesome route! Up to UT-35, my provisional route was almost identical, except detours for services to Escalante, Salina and Spanish Fork. I am now planning to go east from Boulder, along Capitol Reef NP and through San Rafael Swell to Nine Mile Canyon. Should be scenic too!

Mauro, sorry to highjack your topic. Now that a lot of Utahtrail is off in May, what are your plans?

[joeuser]

I connected the AZT to the CDT as well, but went through Utah into Colorado. If you want to go to Escalante on your trip, think about crossing the Smokey Mountain Plateau north of Lake Powell. It's a fantastic ride and it drops you right into Escalante.


Climbing into the smokey mountains.
More pictures here: http://www.alpenzorro.de/rockymountix/ (scroll down to Day 17).

Here are the daily gps tracks from end of AZT to Escalante, including a resupply in Page that is not really needed. The turnoff to Smokey Mountains at a place called "Big Water" on US 89 had a very tiny cafe and a minimalistic shop.

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?url=http://www.alpenzorro.de/rockymountix/data/rmx_10-05-18_Buckskin.gpx
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?url=http://www.alpenzorro.de/rockymountix/data/rmx_10-05-19_LakePowell.gpx
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?url=http://www.alpenzorro.de/rockymountix/data/rmx_10-05-20_SmokyMountains.gpx
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?url=http://www.alpenzorro.de/rockymountix/data/rmx_10-05-21_Escalante.gpx

It's two days and one night from Bigwater/HW89 to Escalante. I did actually find plenty water in the Smokeys in May (a jeep guy, one water tank, a little dribbling creek where I camped, a real river down Collet Canyon). I wouldnt count on it though. If you're tough enough, you could probably do it in one very long day. There's a lot to see along the way though (short detours), like some famous dinosaur footprint area and very pretty hoodoos in a place called "devils playground" or some such.

[mathieu]

Joeuser, thanks for your suggestions and GPS files. Since my first objective from the AZ/UT border is Bryce NP, I will probably follow the Cottonwood Canyon Rd to Cannonville. Should be scenic too.

From Alpenzorro's route I liked the idea to go from Bryce over Escalante Canyon Rd/Main Canyon to Escalante. I hope that the pass (9300 ft) is snow-free by end of May. It was apparently in May-2010.
Amazing route by Alpenzorro!

[Mike McElveen]

Mathieu, are thinking about tying in to the new ACA Idaho off-road route from Utah?

[joeuser]

The connection between Bryce and Escalante is quite OKish. Not as pretty as the Smokey Mountains, but you get major scenery in Bryce NP anyway. And you'll also have a chance to ride the Thunder Mountain trail. A bit of a detour west but totally worth it. It's basically like a mini bryce canyon without bicycle ban.
 

[mathieu]

Mathieu, are thinking about tying in to the new ACA Idaho off-road route from Utah?

Mike, I outlined my route on Crazy Guy.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=13840&v=3A

I might have a try on Thunder Mountain if I can drop my load at the CG, but I am not as nimble as Alpenzorro!

[joeuser]

Thunder Mountain is easily doable on a hard tail, it's a very smooth and enjoyable ride.

[KeneticSam]

Update on snow:  I've ridden the local dirt road up the mountain the last two weeks.  The snow line was at 6900' last week and 7200' yesterday, so maybe 300 feet of melt a week is a good rule of thumb.  I don't know if snow melt rate is linear?  It has been warm and dry in Salt Lake.  So by May 20, you might be good up to 8400'?

[mathieu]

I don't know if snow melt rate is linear?  It has been warm and dry in Salt Lake.  So by May 20, you might be good up to 8400'?

Thanks for the info. I hope it's non-linear, as around May 20 I want to crest the 9300 ft dirt pass between Bryce and Escalante, suggested by joeuser.

[KeneticSam]

You should be fine.  Southern Utah hasn't had much snow this year.  The Clayton Springs SNOTEL site is showing 16 inches; should be dry real soon.  I also saw a report from this weekend that Thunder Mtn is dry.

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/Utah/utah.html