My trip through Utah first took me over the great high Uinta mountains (the longest mountain range in the USA stretching from east to west). I then followed route 191 through the northern part of the state, passing over another 2 high passes until I hit the hot semi-desert. I followed the route 191 down to Moab. From Moab I cycled down to Monument valley (Arizona).
Date
Distance
Altitude gain
Place
25.08.05
129 km
1525 m
Randolph - Butterfly lake
26.08.05
147 km
1335 m
Butterfly lake - Starvation Reservoir
27.08.05
161 km
1415 m
Starvation Reservoir - Woodside
28.08.05
135 km
0565 m
Woodside - Moab
29.08.05
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Arches National Park - day of hiking
30.08.05
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Rest day
31.08.05
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Canyonlands National Park
01.09.05
131 km
1695 m
Moab - Blanding
02.09.05
122 km
1190 m
Blanding - Monument Valley
Before reaching the hot semi-desert I crossed over the scenic Uinta mountain range. The road leading up to Bald Mountain pass (about 3200m) was a constant 70km uphill from Evanston (Wyoming). Walter and I camped near the top, having our usual barbecue and looking at the many stars and milky-way above us! It is just so peacefull out in the mountains until one hears the crows making a noise at 5:30 am!
right: Dad (Walter) coming up the third pass (2750m). The vegetation changed abruptly. Cycling down the south side, we came out into the semi-desert. The temperature also changed from hot to extremely hot!
My dad adapted well to the way I travel and participated in my 'primitive' accommodation methods (camping next to railway lines, in the forest and next to the roads). It was also the place where I saw the first cactus...and also the first time I got pricked by a cactus thorn....(pissing outside in sandals when it is dark needs a bit more caution!!)
The last day of cycling down to Moab was really really hot, extremely hot!!The problem was that on my last 100km stretch to Moab I could only rest twice. Once under a highway bridge and once I took a turnoff to the Moab airport building to give my body a rest from the midday heat. Yes, on a 100km stretch I found only 2 shady places for a rest, other than that it was just desert bushes. Cycling at a fast pace was the best I could do, it would give me a bit of a breeze. If I stopped it was terribly hot! I have learnt my lesson for Arizona...I will now start cycling 1 hour before dawn and stop at 1pm and do what the Mexicans do....siesta!!!
On the 29.08.05, dad and I decided to do some hiking in the Arches National Park. After driving past wonderful scenery such as the 'Courthouse towers' we did an early morning hike to some wonderful arches such as the Landscape arch before returning to our cabin (there was no way that I was going to pitch the tent in 40 degrees) for a afternoon 'siesta'.
In the late afternoon we (dad and I) did our last hike for the day up to Utah's national symbol...the spectacular 'Delicate Arch' before returning to Moab for a huge plate of BBQ smoked ribs and beer. On the 2.5 km way back to the car we were both thinking about one thing!!! A cold beer which would be running down our dry throat as soon as we get to Moab!! It has been great that dad came over to visit.
On the 31.08.05 we got up at the crack of dawn and made it just in time to see the sunrise in canyonlands National Park. We observed the sunrise through a arch (Mesa arch)! A fantastic site on the 'Island of the sky' where the Green river and Colorado river meet.
I left Moab well before dawn on the 01. September and headed for Monument Valley which I reached after 2 days. The going was tough between Moab and Blanding - head wind, many hills and extremely hot! Monument Valley in the distance is also where Arizona begins.
UTAH
Before reaching the hot semi-desert I crossed over the scenic Uinta mountain range. The road leading up to Bald Mountain pass (about 3200m) was a constant 70km uphill from Evanston (Wyoming). Walter and I camped near the top, having our usual barbecue and looking at the many stars and milky-way above us! It is just so peacefull out in the mountains until one hears the crows making a noise at 5:30 am!
right: Dad (Walter) coming up the third pass (2750m). The vegetation changed abruptly. Cycling down the south side, we came out into the semi-desert. The temperature also changed from hot to extremely hot!
My dad adapted well to the way I travel and participated in my 'primitive' accommodation methods (camping next to railway lines, in the forest and next to the roads). It was also the place where I saw the first cactus...and also the first time I got pricked by a cactus thorn....(pissing outside in sandals when it is dark needs a bit more caution!!)
The last day of cycling down to Moab was really really hot, extremely hot!!The problem was that on my last 100km stretch to Moab I could only rest twice. Once under a highway bridge and once I took a turnoff to the Moab airport building to give my body a rest from the midday heat. Yes, on a 100km stretch I found only 2 shady places for a rest, other than that it was just desert bushes. Cycling at a fast pace was the best I could do, it would give me a bit of a breeze. If I stopped it was terribly hot! I have learnt my lesson for Arizona...I will now start cycling 1 hour before dawn and stop at 1pm and do what the Mexicans do....siesta!!!
On the 29.08.05, dad and I decided to do some hiking in the Arches National Park. After driving past wonderful scenery such as the 'Courthouse towers' we did an early morning hike to some wonderful arches such as the Landscape arch before returning to our cabin (there was no way that I was going to pitch the tent in 40 degrees) for a afternoon 'siesta'.
In the late afternoon we (dad and I) did our last hike for the day up to Utah's national symbol...the spectacular 'Delicate Arch' before returning to Moab for a huge plate of BBQ smoked ribs and beer. On the 2.5 km way back to the car we were both thinking about one thing!!! A cold beer which would be running down our dry throat as soon as we get to Moab!! It has been great that dad came over to visit.
On the 31.08.05 we got up at the crack of dawn and made it just in time to see the sunrise in canyonlands National Park. We observed the sunrise through a arch (Mesa arch)! A fantastic site on the 'Island of the sky' where the Green river and Colorado river meet. 
I left Moab well before dawn on the 01. September and headed for Monument Valley which I reached after 2 days. The going was tough between Moab and Blanding - head wind, many hills and extremely hot! Monument Valley in the distance is also where Arizona begins.