| Every mountain biker worth his or her salt will want to | | | | supposed to have the "least possible impact" on their |
| try the Slick Rock Trail, located in Moab, Utah - one of | | | | environment...but that's just the way things are. Be |
| the most challenging mountain biking trails in the world. | | | | responsible for your own personal "footprint", even if |
| Every sport has its "ultimate" challenge. Golf has the | | | | you can't control what other people do. |
| Augusta National - host of the Masters tournament, | | | | Moab biking trails consist of what's called "Slick Rock." |
| Tennis has the grass courts of Wimbledon, car racing | | | | I'll get to that in a little bit. For now, here's the list of |
| has the Daytona International Speedway, home of the | | | | good practices. |
| Daytona 500. | | | | 1) Ride only on open roads and trails |
| Mountain Biking has the Slickrock Bike Trail in Moab, | | | | 2) Learn to recognize and preserve cryptobiotic soil |
| Utah. | | | | crusts. Okay - that's going to be tough. Wait until you |
| The Slickrock Bike Trail is a 9.6 mile trail which most | | | | get to Moab and then have someone point them out |
| experts consider to be "the ultimate mountain biking | | | | to you. |
| experience." There's plenty of "easy and scenic" bike | | | | 3) Avoid skidding your tires |
| trails as well, but for the ultimate ride, Slickrock is it. | | | | 4) When it's wet, avoid clay- like surfaces. Stay on the |
| Moab is located in eastern Utah, about 230 miles east | | | | rocky, slickrock or sandy areas |
| of Salt Lake City, or 350 miles west of Denver, | | | | 5) Don't ride along the sides of streams |
| Colorado. The origin of the name of Moab for this | | | | 6) Don't pollute the water resources |
| once small town (incorporated in 1902) are unclear, but | | | | Mountain Bike Trails |
| now the name is iconic for great mountain biking. | | | | 1) Over 100,000 people a year ride on the Slick Rock |
| Moab isn't a big city - only about 5,000 people live | | | | Trail - so named because its a trail of "naked" |
| there, but they get plenty of tourist traffic - so much | | | | sandstone - stone that can hold onto your bike's tires |
| so that you'll find over thirty hotels and motels, ten bed | | | | at "gravity defying angles." The trail is rated a "Class 4" |
| and breakfasts, two resorts, 26 guest houses, and | | | | - 4 being the hardest class. |
| fifteen privately owned campgrounds. There are also | | | | The trail is twelve miles long, and if you weren't |
| over a dozen public campgrounds in the national parks | | | | concentrating on the ground in front of you you'd see |
| nearby. | | | | that it crosses an elevated platform of sandstone |
| Tourists don't just come for the mountain biking, of | | | | surrounded by cliffs – cut by the Colorado River |
| course. There's off-road jeep trails, hiking, camping, and | | | | over millions of years. You'll be able to view canyons, |
| motorcycling...there's even the Mill Canyon Dinosaur | | | | see Arches National Park across the river, and the La |
| Trail, on which you can walk and see traces of | | | | Sal Mountains on the eastern skyline. |
| dinosaur bones of a variety of species. | | | | The trail is a 12-mile long loop (if you don't take any |
| The first thing any visitor to Moab should do is visit their | | | | side trips) and will take at least four hours. Make sure |
| Visitor's Center, which will have brochures for every | | | | you bring a lot of extra water with you. You can bike |
| activity under the sun, trail maps and more. If you're | | | | on the trail from mid-February through November, but |
| new to Moab you do not want to go anywhere | | | | of course is most popular through spring and fall. |
| without a selection of trailmaps, and you should never | | | | The trail is in the Sand Flats Recreation Area, and |
| go anywhere without letting someone know where | | | | there is a small fee enter. The fee pays for the |
| you're going and when you plan to be back. Better still, | | | | maintenance of the entire area. |
| always hike or bike with a buddy who can help you | | | | 2) The Porcupine Rim Trail, also located in the Sand |
| out in case of trouble. | | | | Flats Recreation Area, is also rated a Category 4. This |
| If you're a beginner, there are plenty of tour operators | | | | is a one way trail and takes about half-a-day to ride. |
| - mountain biking, white river rafting, skydiving - who | | | | However, if your family is full of both skilled mountain |
| can take you to the right places and ensure you have | | | | bikers and beginners, don't despair. There's plenty of |
| a good time. | | | | other easy mountain biking trails in this beautiful area.- |
| As you ride along on your bike you may see others | | | | such as the Bar M Loop. |
| littering or misbehaving, and wonder why you are | | | | |