Chile Pepper News

The shops and shuttles are starting to fill up with Mt Bikers and Roadies looking for good trail conditions, good weather and good times. It’s no secret that riding Moab in the fall is one of the best times to do it. The cooler temps with a little moisture and YOU the Mt Biker that’s been fine tuning your mind and body all summer are the perfect combos for riding the desert this fall.

There are plenty of cycling events and new trails to be had this fall as well. Fall is a great time to do the 100 mile White rim trail, 1 day for the masochist or 3 to 4 for the rest of us. What about new trails? Upper Porcupine Single track (UPS) is legal and open. UPS allows riding any section of the Burro Down trail system, 7000 ft of decent in 33 miles. Dead horse St Park’s Intrepid trail, fast and scenic. The Bar M loops, close to town and lots of options. The Amasa Back trail has also been extended, the new section called Rock Stacker has been legalized and opened, adding about 4 miles of trail.

As for cycling events for Fall, we have some of the best in the U.S.. The Moab Ho-Down Mt Bike festival, brought to you by Chile Pepper Bike Shop, has group rides, Super D race, DH racing, dirt jump comp, film premier and costume party. Look it up at www.moabhodown.com.

For the skinny tire folks there’s the Moab Century Tour, www.skinnytireevents.com. And you can’t forget the the 24 hours of Moab which will be holding the national championships. Granny Gear Prod

So if your looking to put a great end on your mt bike season gather your friends, count your change and start driving.

Fall Season Has Started!

Hell’s Canyon may be the gnarliest legal trail in the National Forest Service without man made features (let me know if you know one more gnarly). This trail laid dormant for a long time to every one but horseback riders until Max and friends at the Forest Service helped us clear the downed trees.

The canyon sits in the Pack Creek area on the South side of the La Sal Mts. The trail starts out fast and flowy at 9500 ft in high aspen groves and evergreens then continues down to scrub oak with nothing too crazy, just good La Sal Mt. biking. BUT… Just as you thought you had the trail dialed, you come out of the trees with a great view of Moab Valley and enter into scrub oak where the gates of Hell open up. This is where the trail starts to parallel the top of Hell’s Canyon and becomes steep, loose, rocky… super technical. Mommy!

Even though the upper section is good for most levels of riders the lower section is for expert riders or for aggressive hikers. You should be proficient at navigating in the forest and take map, compass, food and water. So if you are interested in the gnarliest trail in all of the NFS come into the shop and say I want to go to Hell.

Yours truly: Dark Lord

HAZARD to town is in prime condition right now!

We also have news that Shumans Trail is good to go as well. Ryon and Tracy are up there today clearing the winter debris with their chain saws and shovels!