The calendar says it’s late December, but winter really hasn’t started yet. With nary a snowflake in the sky or on the ground in Utah, powder-starved skiers need something to do. We might as well wax our skis and party with friends while waiting. Talking Mountain Yurts has the right idea with their Winter Kickoff…
Tag: La Sal Mountains
Backcountry skiing at the Geyser Pass Yurt
Utah has a brand new yurt system, and it’s in one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in the country – the La Sals of Moab. Just this winter, Talking Mountain Yurts opened their doors to backcountry and nordic skiers (and summer mountain bikers) with two yurts, the Gold Basin Yurt and the Geyser Pass…
5 favorite backcountry ski routes in the La Sal Mountains
The La Sal Mountains of Moab, Utah are an unsung gem of backcountry skiing in the state. Moab is of course famous for its national parks and world-class mountain biking, but winter should not slow outdoorsy types down as the La Sals are an amazing place to ski, as long as you’re willing to work…
Boards and Bikes: Backcountry skiing Haystack Mountain in Moab
Moab is the world’s mountain biking mecca, so it’s no surprise that we draw stares from people when rolling down Main Street with skis on the rack. Well, spring is the season to both mountain bike and ski in red rock country, so the full suspensions are on the rack as well. On this trip,…
Coon Hat ski touring on Mount Tukuhnikivatz and Mount Mellenthin
Adam was all kinds of excited. It was 3am. We were at a truck stop in Salina, Utah. The Yurt-on-Wheels was loaded up with our ski gear and we were en-route to the La Sal Mountains for some backcountry skiing on Mount Tukuhnikivatz and Mount Mellenthin. But the source of Adam’s excitement wasn’t about the…
Mountain bikers skunked in new La Sal Mountains plan
A new United States Forest Service proposal to regulate non-motorized recreation in the La Sal Mountains near Moab is creating a stir among the outdoor community, pitting mountain bikers against hikers and equestrians. The proposed new rules will make certain trails off-limits to cyclists and also prohibit commercial shuttle buses to La Sal Pass. According…
Slickrock to snow: ski touring the La Sal Mountains
For years, Moab has been a place for mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing trips taken from spring through the fall. Skiing has never entered into the equation, even though each time I laid eyes on the La Sal Mountains on the horizon beyond town I promised aloud that I would someday backcountry ski those…
Mountain biking the Whole Enchilada
The Whole Enchilada. The name describes the ride well as it encompasses a whole smothered tortilla filled with Moab-area trails like Burro Pass, Hazard County, Kokopelli and Porcupine Rim. It’s also the Whole Enchilada in terms of the style of riding as the trail system begins in the high alpine of the La Sal Mountains…
A look at the Whole Enchilada Enduro mountain bike race
Enduro mountain bike racing, the format of combined cross-country and downhill, has been gaining in popularity as of late, and the biggest, baddest ride in Moab is about to play host to one of these test-of-fitness events. The Whole Enchilada Enduro mountain bike race will test competitor’s technical bike-handling skills and heart rates in a…
Video: Mountain Biking the Whole Enchilada
Of all the mountain bike rides in Utah, no trails can promise to have a little bit of everything quite like the Whole Enchilada in Moab. The name itself describes the ride, as it’s a trail that truly does have it all: from forested mountain singletrack, to doubletrack in sagebrush flats, to slickrock in red…