2019 Kokopelli Epic Adventure

I was soooooooooooooooo interested in taking one of those leftover spots and then I remembered I'm going to be in Maui from May 9th thru the 18th. I'm completely distraught and devastated.

 

Yeah... I've seen how the "I'm just gonna cruise" thing works out with this group. I've ridden Cannell twice now, and can't tell you what the scenery up top looks like.

 

Go pull on an Ahi, a Mahi-Mahi, an Ono, an Ulua, or good old fashioned Blue Marlin while you're out on the Islands and you'll forget all about it.

 

Or a clean 6' wave with slight offshore breeze and nobody out...

 

Just got this in my email.
Maybe next year for me..funds are low due to my injuries and I won’t ask the hubby to pay

 

Nice of you, Sar, but remember the in sickness and health part of the contract. It's not too much to ask; he has your back. I'm thinking best off you skipped it this year and get all the healing you need without a big event hanging over it.

Cheers,

– Armchair guy with free advice worth every penny

 

You may be right..the healing shtuff is slooow this time around. Then I can save up a bit
Worth every penny

 

This hot sauce on a coworkers desk just caught my attention..

 

Eeeeesh! Go away rain!

 

Got most of my gear ready...

 

If it keeps on raining Moab might be that green....... in 100 years.

 

@Mikie and other veterans of this epic trip. With the ride about 2 months away (and with all the rain putting a big hamper on our training) I was wondering if you could share what we can expect for each day of riding with mileage and elevation. I unsuccessfully tried finding the Strava route. Also, any advice on what we can do for the next 8 weeks would be helpful. I'm not overly worried because I expect us to be stopping quite frequently to take photos, etc. so 50 miles at a leisurely pace is certainly different as compared to race pace. Thanks!!

 

Where is the Cornhole set?

 

One year I could barely get any training in and totally went just off years in the saddle, so I am not panicked in the least...
@mtnbikej and @Faust29 and probably @Voodoo Tom are going to laugh at this next statement, But I really do want to cruise this one this year...
Last time on Day 2 I put the hammer down into a heavy heavy headwind and Voodoo and I were at camp 2 first, and very early. Then we proceeded to sit around wishing we had cruised it and enjoyed the tech section more.

• Day 1 is the shortest but technical with a good series of HAB's. There are a couple of options with Epic views. Ends with a BRUTAL climb but only like a half mile to a mile up to Camp on a plateau.
• Day two is long roadie type mileage with a big climb after lunch, a mega chunk 4 wheel drive road drop to the Rose Garden drop of death, then a pretty good climb to Camp 2 at the end.
• Day 3 is a 17 mile climb up and over the La Sal mountains where we will then be shuttled to the top of Porcupine for an epic chunkfest of awesome views.

Some whoosies will take the new shuttle to avoid the 17 mile climb... seriously? Who would DO that?!?!?

I'll dig up my .gpx files and post them here when I get home. I think I have them built two ways. The whole Trip and broken down by day.
You can go to my STRAVA account and probably search for them and download them from me if you have the premium account.

Mikie

 

Thanks Mikie! I'd really like to cruise, soak in the scenery, take some awesome photos and simply enjoy not working for a few days. I'll ride with ya. We'll drink beer whenever we get to camp. Sounds perfect.

 

Plenty of scenery to soak up @Fijirob
You’re right about it not being a race. The pace will get spirited at times because of the excitement. Especially at the very beginning, but then everyone settles in to their own pace.
We regroup at strategic spots and photo ops, and at the daily halfway points where we stop for a quick lunch break and liquid refueling.
I’ll most likely be riding my Enduro so I won’t be setting any climbing PRs. My goal is to clean the tech sections

 

Hope you got some industrial size tent stakes for that bad boy

 

I'll borrow some from @erjzacher since he doesn't use them...

 

Oh... OUCH!
Is there any footage of @erjzacher chasing his wind blown tent across the Serengeti?

 

I know it is too early, but would you recommend softer shoes do to the HAB?
I mostly ride carbon sole shoes, but I have a pair that is more suitable for HAB.


I guess I can pack two pairs of shoes...

 

Yeah, I would go for the softer soled shoes. I like my Shimano shoes A LOT!
Every day has to a more or lesser degree of hiking on large rock.
On day two for example we do a bunch of dirt road, a small bit of road, then after lunch we shuttle to a drop in point that turns into a stair of rock we have to hike up. Then the Rose Garden is a bolder on top of bolder on rock ledge drop of close to a thousand feet. I would hate to have to hike down that in carbon shoes if I didn't clean it.

@Luis did you use carbon shoes the time you went?

 

I definitely did not wear carbon soles. I think they were a hard plastic soled Shimano shoes.
This time I have Vibram rubber sole Shimano ME5 that are comfy to walk in.

 

Is this the route?? I found it on MtbProject. Seems to be broken down into shorter segments.

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/221567

Also, have any of the repeat offenders ever taken paradox trail to FR071 to get to the top of the Whole Enchilada and gone down from there? Looks like it adds about 15 miles or so, but gets you on Burro Pass and Hazzard County before the porcupines. I guess it depends on how froggy ya feel after a 17 mile climb.

 

Hey Dana!
That's it on MTB Project. I have uploaded here on this post...
I have never done Paradox Trail. WOW! The Paradox Trail is 124 miles! Okay a new ride opportunity! I have also never done the Whole Enchilada which I really want to do! I imagine if we felt saucy on the last day we could do that and just let Alex know what we are doing.... Hmmmmmmm.....

Looks to add about 22 miles of climbing on top of the 17 miles on Koko, but you get to do the Whole Enchilada which is 34 miles that includes Porcupine.

GPX Viewer

 

.

I'll be there 16 thru 22. You'll have to fill me in on the good ride spots!
.

 

Okay, to do the Whole Enchilada via the Paradox Trail, we would turn off about a mile and a half from cresting the La Sal Summit, add another 22 miles of climb and miss the last food and water check point.
So for those that have done this ride with me, on the map below, the circled Parking Lot symbol is the summit of the La Sal's and is where the Dinosaur foot prints are. The other red circle is where the Paradox Trail starts.

 

I’m intrigued

 

I have the same dilemma, I ride Sidi Dominator MTB shoes. Looks like I better find an alternative shoe to ride....errr hike in. I'll take a look at the Shimano's and others that are out there. Thanks Sharone, never occurred to me to ask.

 

Strava put it at 20 miles / 3500' from Paradox to the start of WE at Burro Pass.

The first 10 miles don't look that bad.

https://www.strava.com/routes/17424690



Or........

It is only 6 miles / 1000' more than staying on regular course.

 

Very tempting.....