Snowflake goes to Moab.

Please note: If you are expecting tons of rad nasty trail pictures and helmet camera footage, you are in the wrong location. If you want a long winded post about a couple guys having good clean fun on spring break, you're in the right place.

Here recently I took a mini vacation to Moab Utah with a group of guys out of Lubbock Texas. All of them good guys, but for the most part inexperienced on bikes and one guy didn't even have a bike, so I let him ride one of mine.

Saturday, they drive from Lubbock to Gallup, spend the night on Property De Snowflake Sr.

Sunday, before we roll out, KTM bro reveals KTM isn't running very well well, bike won't start, ok dirty carb, we put it in the shop, thinking since its steel framed and we can see the carb it will be easy, well you have to pull the subframe off to get to it anyway, and we get that done, pull the carb, I removed the float to clean more thoroughly, after cleaning is done I leave to use the restroom and the rest of the fellas went ahead and put the bowl back on, so we slap the rest of the bike back together, and it now runs, but it dumps fuel out the overflows like crazy, we'll deal with it in Moab, so we drive up there, and all while we were driving and most of the night I was trying to figure out what could be wrong, eventually float issue clicked and I went to sleep, I woke up the following morning, unloaded it off his bike carrier and had it torn apart by our camper before everyone was up, the float had been put in backwards and one of the ends had broken off and jammed in the bowl. Phone calls were made, some dude had a carb off an 08 CRF450R off and offered to sell us the float if we thought it could work, I figured they were both FCR's so it would probably work, float was bought, it worked, KTM got ridden in Moab, good times were had.

KTM is put back together, we get a late start but we make our way out to Gemini Bridges, an easy trail that won't much up new riders. (KTM and dude on WR are still learning, other Kawi bro is golden) Blah blah, its basically a scenic ride for me, but on the return trip we made a journey down into bull canyon run, well on the way out, we notice that my borrowed WR and the quad in the group aren't with us, so with Dustin (kawi) and Blake (KTM) waiting at the branch off, I take off to see if I can't find them, and I ride past where we turn around, and still see nobody, and the trail is gradually getting harder and more technical and its like theres no way Taylor (riding my wr) made it through all this, at this point, I can see Dustin up above me on another trail and meet up with him, somehow Wanda and the Quad had made a wrong turn god knows where and had rejoined at the junction so we ride back up there, and everyone kinda decides to ride at their own pace back to the truck, I let everyone take off first, and figure I might as well have some fun and open it up a little since its all fast trail, pass the WR, catch and pass KTM, Dustin (other kawi) is way out front, so as we come down off the plateau and enter the rolling canyon before you climb out again, I lay the throttle wide open, and this was really fun for me, letting the rear end drift its way around corners and catching air under the front tire on elevation changes, Pass Dustin 5th gear tapped, and arrive at the trucks and wait.
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Yours truly enjoying the view

Day 2 is time for cages, Blakes parents rented a jeep. We returned to Gemini Bridges so that their girlfriends could take in the view then headed for some more technical wheeling at Sand Flats recreation area, home of Fins'N Things and Hells Revenge (among others) started fins n'things but turned back since rent-a-jeep had to be returned at a certain time. After pointing them in the right direction, Dustin really wanted to do Hells Revenge (as did I) we discussed it for a few moments, time of day, what not, and for the first time in my life (only time) I said fuck it, you only live once and headed out to start the trail.


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And on the final day we attempted Steel Bender on bikes, I honestly remember it being a lot easier than it was, but extremely rocky terrain made it difficult for Taylor on my WR to traverse, he dumped it lots, and finally ate some nasty shit in a sand section before we turned around, I ended up riding both my bikes up every obstacle up to his crash, rode one back, then hitched a ride on the quad to ride the other one back, its a bummer because that would have been a fun ride.

Anyway, thats all.
 
I have only been there once on a real offroad bike, but my son and I took three days with a guide who treated us to a couple of KTM 300's. that was 1999. two years before a friend of mine bought KLR's and rode over from denver on our way out to calif. We timed it for the jeep jamboree, and once there found lots of people willing to haul us around in their 4wd's. Very FRIENDLY!! (They didnt want bikes out there really, but it was a great two day party in rigs that could carry ice chests). The next time on the KTM's was heaven. My son didnt miss swamp riding and the narrow slimy trails at all.

If anyone organizes a DBA ride I will make it a priority, and maybe if we can get Vmax down from the Dakotas we can get a reunion of sorts.
 
And on the final day we attempted Steel Bender on bikes, I honestly remember it being a lot easier than it was, but extremely rocky terrain made it difficult for Taylor on my WR to traverse, he dumped it lots, and finally ate some nasty shit in a sand section before we turned around, I ended up riding both my bikes up every obstacle up to his crash, rode one back, then hitched a ride on the quad to ride the other one back, its a bummer because that would have been a fun ride.

Anyway, thats all.


Sounds like you hung in and "hung" the last hound yourself. Mechanic and course sweep all rolled into one :ride:
 
Sounds like you hung in and "hung" the last hound yourself. Mechanic and course sweep all rolled into one :ride:
I have always thought that the guy who has the most experience owes it to those with less experience to help make sure everyone gets through.
 
WOW, at what 23 you are that guy? Seems almost unfair, but I would let you take that crown anytime. Hell, I always think twice about taking ones that can't get home on their own!! Good on YOU!!! (as I was bent on saying with the hung hound analogy.)
 
WOW, at what 23 you are that guy? Seems almost unfair, but I would let you take that crown anytime. Hell, I always think twice about taking ones that can't get home on their own!! Good on YOU!!! (as I was bent on saying with the hung hound analogy.)
I'm far from the best of riders, but to me helping new guys learn the basics is pretty rewarding, and if I lend them a bike and they show up a few months later with one of their own than I'm pretty pumped.
Blake (KTM) is going to attempt the next race of my series since its closer to texas than it is me actually, that makes me happy :)
 
And on the final day we attempted Steel Bender on bikes, I honestly remember it being a lot easier than it was, but extremely rocky terrain made it difficult for Taylor on my WR to traverse, he dumped it lots, and finally ate some nasty shit in a sand section before we turned around, I ended up riding both my bikes up every obstacle up to his crash, rode one back, then hitched a ride on the quad to ride the other one back, its a bummer because that would have been a fun ride.

Anyway, thats all.

Sounds like a great ride, doesn't always have to go as planned to be successful. I'd like to try out that terrain someday.....I've always been a mudder more than anything, im not as good at boulders and loose rocks, but it sounds fun regardless.
 
On my bucket list. Never rode any of Utah. I better start making plans because I can just picture a lot of nice areas eventually being closed down to OHV.

Thanks for sharing. Good pics and good read. You sound like a great guy for anyone to ride with.
 
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