Trans Utah changes for '09

[DaveH]

Trans Utah is getting an upgrade.  Based on last years running, and the fact that nobody has completed the course yet, here’s where it’s headed:

- Route.  Marshal’s experience in particular up Kolob road was not at all what I had in mind when designing the route.  Kolob road is getting the ax.  Seeing how that was a critical piece of the jigsaw puzzle major changes are going to be required.  The issue is getting to the E side of  Zion - there are few good options off-road.  I’ve been doing some exploring in a completely new direction…it will be big, hard, and beautiful!

- Date.  The “start date” is in the same spirit as AZT300, CTR, GDR, TD:  it is merely a recommended time to start the course so that everyone can do a “group ITT” and benefit from some camaraderie on the trail.  Of course you can opt to do it at any time you see fit.  Last year’s start put riders into an early snowstorm, and this years date is right on top of the 24 hours of Moab.  This year’s start will be earlier - exact date is not locked down but Sep 26 has been suggested to take advantage of moon cycles and other calendar conflicts.  I’m open to suggestions, but leaning hard towards accepting the suggested Sep 26 date.

- Finish.  This year’s route will end in Boulder, UT.

- The changes to the route should make a mid-summer ride possible, even pleasant.  It will get high quick. 

I hope to have all the changes locked in by late June/early July as it will probably be the route of a 2-epic tour...

Any comments on the start date?

[Marshal]

Trans Utah is getting an upgrade.  Based on last years running, and the fact that nobody has completed the course yet, here’s where it’s headed:

- Route.  Marshal’s experience in particular up Kolob road was not at all what I had in mind when designing the route.  Kolob road is getting the ax.  Seeing how that was a critical piece of the jigsaw puzzle major changes are going to be required.  The issue is getting to the E side of  Zion - there are few good options off-road.  I’ve been doing some exploring in a completely new direction…it will be big, hard, and beautiful!

- Date.  The “start date” is in the same spirit as AZT300, CTR, GDR, TD:  it is merely a recommended time to start the course so that everyone can do a “group ITT” and benefit from some camaraderie on the trail.  Of course you can opt to do it at any time you see fit.  Last year’s start put riders into an early snowstorm, and this years date is right on top of the 24 hours of Moab.  This year’s start will be earlier - exact date is not locked down but Sep 26 has been suggested to take advantage of moon cycles and other calendar conflicts.  I’m open to suggestions, but leaning hard towards accepting the suggested Sep 26 date.

- Finish.  This year’s route will end in Boulder, UT.

- The changes to the route should make a mid-summer ride possible, even pleasant.  It will get high quick. 

I hope to have all the changes locked in by late June/early July as it will probably be the route of a 2-epic tour...

Any comments on the start date?

Well……Kolob was a bit of an ‘experience’, the shock of having to think about and deal with fast road traffic after a day out in the quiet desert left an impression.  However, if I had ridden that same section of road a bit earlier or a bit later and missed the south bound ‘construction traffic form hell’ it would have been just a simple road climb.

Anyway if you are going to change the route so be it, sounds interesting………..

Dates;  You can never satisfy everyone so just pick the one that works best in your opinion

Hope I will be able to get back this yr

[brink]

Hey Dave,

I was not able to find the *.gpx file on your blog. Any chance you would email it to me? I will be driving up and down hwy89 between AZ and Panquitch a couple of times in the next few months and that would be a good chance to get some course pre-riding/scouting in. My email is: rb101001atgmaildotcom

Thanks

-Rob

[DaveH]

Hi Rob,

You can access the route files as a registered member of the Trans Utah forum at http://2-epic.com/phpbb/index.php...but I see that it's been overrun with spam    Haven't been there in awhile.

I've added the '08 course file to my google maps at this link:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101595292604986408262.000467a0881124feeb52b&z=9

You should be able to download the GPX from there - let me know if that doesn't work.  The area of the course in the vicinity of HWY 89 is not likely to change for '09 so you're good to go in that area.

Dave

[Pivvay]

DH what's your current status on the date? You going to be recovered from the CTR or is this going to be a tour. Can't say I'm looking for more races right now but I'm not opposed to some awesome riding and camping. Logistics are always an issue but sometimes stuff just works out.

[DaveH]

Sept 26 +/- a few days.  I'll be finalizing quite a few course changes in the next 2-3 weeks, the goal being to make it a bit more doable (less hiking, more services).  Although by CTR standards it's already damn easy LOL.

As for myself, I can't honestly say I'll be interested in another multi-day self-supported effort this year.  I'll be there in some capacity though, tour mode for sure.  It's too late to initiate big changes this year, but I'm thinking of an entirely different, more sociable, less sleep deprived format for future years.  Long fall nights and low late season energy make this more appealing methinnks...

[tRoy]

Blair and I will will be there on Sept. 25th, and ready to ride by the next day (maybe sooner...). 
We will be in Team Touring Time Trial mode.  I am very ready to get out on the trail - have not done a multi day tour since the '08 AZT300.  Cheers, T

[Marshal]

Well, looks like my schedule will not fit with TU this year.  However, if it moves back a week I may make it. 

Still, I am very interested in seeing changes/new route, and who knows might try a ITT for all or part of the route.  Thinking of bringing a stove, full shelter and riding an easy relaxed tour pace for a few days to wrap up the year.

[dkirk]

Hey Dave,
I'm still coming down to do this. I just need to know soon so I can schedule the time off. As discussion from last year anytime other than the first weekend in Oct. works for me. Really looking forward to some awesome scenery!
Dave

[DaveH]

Trans Utah start time for 2009:  September 26, 4AM

The early start will get us hopefully across the warmest desert sections before noon.

[tRoy]

Hey Marshall congratulations upon finishing CTR!  Congratulations to all the CTR riders!!!
If you start the TU route a week later than the organized 26th start time, then perhaps Blair and I can meet you at the finish and catch a ride back to my truck at the start?  Blair and I could shuttle your truck back to the finish or where ever... something to think about...
cheers, T

[DaveH]

Rules, schedule, GPX, waypoints, and a new waypoint description page are up at http://2-epic.com/?page_id=518

Scott has set up the trackleaders page too:  http://trackleaders.com/transutah  Let myself or Scott know ASAP if you'll need a SPOT unit, or if you have your own and would like to use it you'll need to contact Scott with some info.

Don't be scared, it's much more doable than the profile would make it seem  

T - 9 days and counting!  

[tRoy]

Link minus the dot at the end.  
http://trackleaders.com/transutah

Also here is my Cell Phone Tracker.  I will update this map with some text - so click the balloon for some text.  
http://www.juniper-solutions.com/epicrider/gps/TUR.php?w=875&h=600&zoom=9

[Chad B]

Good luck racers!

[alpenzorro]

not sure if this is the proper place to discuss the transutah route, but the website pointed me here, so lets go... :-)

i will probably ride the route at least partially as part of a bigger trip, coming from azt and moving on to ctr. are there any ideas yet on how to connect boulder, az and moab? i am thinking maybe about some funny backroads from Hite into Canyonlands, a short hikeabike down to Spanish Bottom, wait for a passing raft and stick out your thumb to cross the Colorado and hikeabike out east through "the needles" (4miles).

white rim trail sounds spectacular too, but i dont really see a chance to cross the green river to connect properly from the westside.

generally speaking... how is it with entering national parks on the "backside" via dirtroads? is that legal? and what if an area requires a "backcountry permit"? is this also necessary on dirt roads then? and could one get such a permit instantly via phone as poor cyclist who just wants to go across and cannot pointlessly ride all the way around before?

[DaveH]

TU, Boulder town to Moab.  Tasty.

The more interesting route would head through Capitol Reef, the Henry's, and eventually cross the Green, probably at Queen Anne Bottom.  From there you can tie into the west side of the White rim, take a direct route to Moab or use some varying routes such as the first half of the rim ride route.

Crossing the Green and/or Colorado is certainly a crux.  If you head south toward bridge crossings you'll be in generally less remote territory.  The route I mention above is out there.

[DaveC]

i am thinking maybe about some funny backroads from Hite into Canyonlands, a short hikeabike down to Spanish Bottom, wait for a passing raft and stick out your thumb to cross the Colorado and hikeabike out east through "the needles" (4miles).

white rim trail sounds spectacular too, but i dont really see a chance to cross the green river to connect properly from the westside.

generally speaking... how is it with entering national parks on the "backside" via dirtroads? is that legal? and what if an area requires a "backcountry permit"? is this also necessary on dirt roads then? and could one get such a permit instantly via phone as poor cyclist who just wants to go across and cannot pointlessly ride all the way around before?

You do not need a permit to pass through a national park.  You do need one if you stop to camp in the park.  You might be able to get one at the Hans Flat Ranger station, though I'm not sure how consistently it is staffed. 

Hiking down to and up out of Spanish Bottom would be an adventure.  Doable, but not an easy hike a bike.

The fording the river at Queen Anne's approach is even more adventurous.  I've been brainstorming ideas on how to make that as controlled as possible. 

Crossing the bridge at Hite and riding dirt roads around Dark Canyon and Gypsum Canyon to get into Needles the back way would be a very scenic and enjoyable ride.  Lockhart Basin from Needles to Moab is a great ride too, it's like a baby White Rim.

[alpenzorro]

I think I've read a story from a hiker crossing the Green at Queen Annes (38.3879, -110.0314 ?). It didnt really sound like pleasure, even though he had a packraft. Apparently the possible access from West doesnt line up with the easy access from East. Plus mountainbike, minus packraft => big trouble :-).

Crossing at Spanish Bottom will require a boat, right? How much rafting traffic is on the Colorado (around beginning of june)? Would it even be possible to hitch a ride across within a few hours? Or is this just a silly dream because nobody rafts there or because the commercial ops cannot stop for a little fun along the way?

I cannot find a possible connection from Hite through Dark and Gypsum Canyon to Needles. Out west it's only deep gorges and then some wilderness area gets in the way. The first possibility to get back north seems to be east of this wilderness using a dirtroad called "Elk Ridge".

[DaveC]

Elk Ridge is where you'd have to go.   Very nice country.

Lots of folks raft down by Spanish Bottom on their way towards Cataract Canyon.  I have no idea if June is rafting season or not, so that'd be a crap shoot.

[alpenzorro]

ok, so it will either be the long way around via elk ridge or some funny river crossing mess, depending on how adventurous i feel at that time . if it's water, i'll probably go for spanish bottom instead of queen anne the colorado might have more traffic than the green river for catching a ride across.

thanks for the help!