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