I’m really not sure how to write this post without making it a love letter to my dear friend Carson, so I’m going to tell you about this shining star of a human being. We met when were around 13-14 years old and we both had long 1970s hair, me looking like a young Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, and Carson looking like Mowgli of The Jungle Book. We had this bond where all we wanted to do was have the best time adventuring and just being curious kids. For his birthday one year, he called me and said all I want to do is go ride Jet Skis, and that’s exactly what we did. His dad rented two Jet Skis, and we spent the day at Saguaro Lake going as fast as we could, turning as fast as possible, and ejecting our bodies like a stone across the water.
Life around Carson is always an adventure, full of surprises, smiles, and the absolute best energy. As I write this post he is currently on a cross-country hike pursuing the CYTC, one of his many feats of cross-country hiking and cycling. It makes so much sense that this adventurous soul became a mountain bike guide for the company Escape Adventures. When we caught up about his job, he couldn’t stress how grateful he was to be able to ride his bike and see some of the most amazing places the West has to offer. After hearing this and feeling the FoMO, I was absolutely floored when he invited me on an upcoming tour.
After working out the specifics with the company I was all signed up and ready for the week to come. The ride I joined was a six-day ride in Moab, Utah called Trail of the Ancients. Escape Adventures is a one-stop shop with the way they run their tours. The cost of the trip covers all your food and beverage, the guides prepare every meal for you, and the truck carries all of your baggage, camping gear, water, snacks, and any other beverages you’d like to bring. As for bicycles, you’re encouraged to bring your own, but they also have options for rentals. I can not express how satisfied I was with the meal being handled, the dietary options and variety of meals that they prepared during the six days were just amazing. Besides setting up and tearing down my tent, I felt like the only thing I had to worry about was drinking enough water, riding my bike, and enjoying the beautiful landscapes.
After some last-minute repairs to my bike, I drove to Moab with my Trek Roscoe 8 hardtail strapped on the back. I camped out in the Sand Flats Rec Area which is only $15 to camp, with restrooms, and is only 10 minutes from downtown. Meeting up the next morning at Moab Cyclery was like the first day of school meeting the attendees, being reunited with my old friend Carson, and meeting the other amazing guides Matt + Roy. After packing up, going over everything, and sending our last emails, texts, and calls, we headed to Newspaper Rock to check out some petroglyphs and start our ride. The two days of the ride were so hard climbing up Horse Mountain. Coming from Phoenix, which has an elevation of 1200’, to Moab at 5000’, then climbing the mountain to 8200’, I had my ass handed to me. After the last climb on the second day, we descended into the valleys and it was smooth sailing through some sandy valleys of Canyonlands, into Needles, and along the Colorado River. Finishing up on the last day with a big climb up Hurrah Pass and rolling back into Moab Cyclery. Rolling into town, I had the biggest smile thinking about everything I’d seen and experienced. On the last stretch I was greeted with a phone blowing up because I reached service, so obviously, I face-timed Claire to tell her I was alive and that it was one of the most amazing trips.
We completed around 145 miles in six days through Canyonlands experiencing temperatures from 45-98 degrees. Everyone made it safely and we were greeted at Moab Cyclery with showers for us and our bikes. It was a bittersweet farewell looking at everyone with smiles and laughs as we all packed up and dispersed after a final meal. I can not wait to join another ride with Escape Adventures, the whole experience and hospitality were next to none. I feel so grateful that Carson invited me to “take your friend to work” for a week. It was too cool connecting with him again and being given the opportunity to create new laughs and memories together. I wish him the best on his last legs of the Appalachian Trail, and on to his completion of the CYTC.
