 May 16-20, 2014Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced Intermediate/Advanced: Our Moab camp participants should be comfortable with the following:
Price: $2,395
For those of you that want the opportunity to ride with Alison Dunlap, World Champion and 2-time Olympian, and already have a strong mountain bike background, come join us in Moab for a five day intermediate/advanced skills camp. This adventure is for riders that are comfortable on technically challenging advanced singletrack, but haven’t ridden in Moab; or maybe you’ve already been to our Novice Moab Skills Camp and want to come back for the more advanced rides. In our Moab Skills Camp we’ll spend the first half-day fine tuning our skills by reviewing the basics and then learning the more advanced riding techniques needed for Moab. We’ll spend the rest of our time on some of the big epic rides, practicing and becoming proficient on the technical sections, working on “enduro” style descending, and becoming more adept with our climbing. It’s a challenging camp both mentally and physically, but when you head home you’ll have an arsenal of new skills and techniques that will make you a faster, stronger, and safer rider. Skills covered in the Intermediate/Advanced Moab camp:
Our Moab camp participants should be comfortable with the following:
Friday May 16th:Your Alison Dunlap Adventure Camp begins at the Rim Village condos, where we'll convene for registration and a reception between 4-6 p.m. After checking into your room, we'll enjoy appetizers, followed by a buffet dinner prepared by Rim Tour’s chefs (otherwise known as guides). Alison will provide an orientation of your trip's events and an informal introduction of the participants and staff, as well as answer any questions about our upcoming activities. Look forward to spending some time with Alison individually as she'll want to know your riding background and what you expect out of the camp. After a relaxing evening we'll head off to bed to prepare for our early start the next day. Saturday May 17th:We'll begin our day with a skills clinic in Moab's City Park, where we'll review the core concepts and basic fundamentals of mountain biking. We’ll practice track stands, wheelies, cornering, switchbacks, and riding up and down ledges among other skills. You get to test your balance and coordination on the bike with several types of obstacles and drills on the soft grass -- where spills won't hurt. This may sound like a walk in the park, but you'll be surprised by the difficulty of such challenges. It’s all about practice! After a few hours of mental gymnastics, our Rim Tours' guides will prepare a delicious lunch under one of many large shade trees in City Park. After loading up the van, we’ll venture up the road to the famous Slick Rock Trail. Here we’ll split into groups and begin our first real trail ride. Even though it is a challenging trail, our goal for the afternoon is to review the skills we covered in the morning session. If you feel a bit rusty, today is the day to work out the kinks. We’ll stop and talk about the technical sections, demonstrate, and practice as much as you want so that you begin to feel comfortable with the Moab style of riding. We will be doing an out and back on the big loop so plan on being on your bike all afternoon. There is nothing else in the world like the Slick Rock Trail. You will be challenged and pushed out of your comfort zone while riding up and down the beautiful sandstone domes known as petrified dunes. The trail is almost entirely on rock. Don’t be fooled by the name Slick Rock, the traction is incredible. The views are spectacular today and you’ll want to be sure to bring your camera. Ride time: 2.5hrs We'll return to the condos mid-afternoon, in time for massages, swimming and some free time. After a yummy dinner, Rim Tours will give the all important talk on bike maintenance and what to do if something breaks on your bike and you’re in the middle of nowhere. Pay attention to this one! Sunday May 18th:After another yummy breakfast, we’ll load up in the van and drive north out of town to another longtime classic; Blue Buffalo. The ride starts on a gravel road that climbs out of the valley. Good chance to get those legs warmed up. Then we start the real climbing on a large Navajo slickrock slab beneath a towering wall of Entrada sandstone. The terrain is similar to what we’ve already seen, so today’s ride will give you another chance to work the ledges and short slickrock ups and downs that Moab is famous for. We’ll stop for pictures and lunch at the beautiful Uranium Arch, just off the Seven Mile Rim. We’ve also got some fun descents today that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. At the end of our day we will hike up to the Blue Buffalo petroglyph panel our ride is named after. Located not far from a Fremont village site in Cottonwood Canyon, the Blue Buffalo panel was created by the Fremont Indians as much as 1000 years ago. The many symbols and designs make for gorgeous pictures. After a short hike back to our bikes it is a quick descent to the van for a well-deserved relaxing ride home. Ride time: 4-5 hours Once we’re back to our condos you know the drill: time to get a massage. After your massage, you can check out downtown Moab. It's about 5 miles from the condos, and Main Street is a fun place to cruise around. Moab was founded by the Mormons in 1855, but before that date Native Americans, including the Sabuagana Utes, had long occupied the valley and used the nearby crossing of the Colorado River. The town underwent a boom in the 1950’s, and thanks to the discovery of Uranium in the late 1980’s the town became known worldwide for its mountain biking. Did you know there are more bike shops per capita in Moab than any other city? After a delicious dinner of grilled salmon, pesto pasta, and chocolate fondue, Alison will talk about racing, training, nutrition, hydration, and anything else you want to know about cycling (don’t worry, you’ll have burned plenty of calories to enjoy the fondue). She will talk about her career as an elite cyclist with stories from the Olympics and World Championships. It’s an exciting opportunity to learn the inside scoop on the crazy life of an athlete. Hanging with Alison will give you an opportunity to find the personality in racing, a personal connection, and most likely, some inspiration. Monday May 19th:After finishing our blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, yogurt and fruit we’ll load up the van and shuttle up to the Mag 7 ride. This is a newer ride that has actually been in existence for many years as a loose assortment of “bandit” trails. In the last few years everything has been linked together and legalized, making for 14+ miles of “kick in the pants” singletrack! There are 9-10 trail segments that can be linked together in different ways making this a ride you can “explore” multiple times. It is mostly singletrack with challenging technical sections that we will stop and practice. There are also lots of fun, fast, twisty sections that will have you grinning from ear to ear. We start up near Island in the Sky at the Gemini Bridges road at over 7,000ft in elevation and start descending almost immediately. There are a few short steep climbs thrown in to keep us honest, but we will spend most of the morning trending downhill. Depending on the motivation of the group we may climb part way up the Gold Bar Rim. There are spectacular views with many “lunch spots” that will take your breath away. We won’t go all the way up to the top of Gold Bar Rim, but instead will descend back down to the Gemini Bridges Road that meanders through the washes and canyons between Gold Bar and Little Canyon Rim. There is a short steep climb out of this valley before the big descent back to the main highway and our awaiting shuttle. The length of this ride will depend on the ability and motivation of the group. Plan to be out all day on your bike. Ride time: 5-6 hours Once we’re back to our condos you know the drill: time to get a massage. After your massage, you can check out downtown Moab. It's about 5 miles from the condos, and Main Street is a fun place to cruise around. Moab was founded by the Mormons in 1855, but before that date Native Americans, including the Sabuagana Utes, had long occupied the valley and used the nearby crossing of the Colorado River. The town underwent a boom in the 1950’s, and thanks to the discovery of Uranium in the late 1980’s the town became known worldwide for its mountain biking. Did you know there are more bike shops per capita in Moab than any other city? Tonight will be our final night together, and we'll celebrate with an in-condo dress-up, white linen dinner party. Get ready to swap pictures, review video footage, and share funny stories from our week of riding. But there’s still more to come! Tuesday May 20th:Today is the day you’ve been waiting for and the day that will remind you why you love to ride a mountain bike. We’ll get an early start because we have an hour long shuttle up into the La Sal Mountains. After getting dropped off close to Warner Lake, you’ll start up a short but physically challenging climb. Even though your legs won’t be happy after sitting in the van for an hour, the views of the aspen covered La Sal Mountains are beautiful and will help take your mind off the pain. We are doing the bottom two-thirds of the most famous ride in Moab; The Whole Enchilada. The high mountain passes in the La Sals are still snowed in keeping us from the traditional start at 10,000ft. But don’t worry. You’ll get more than enough today. Our first trail is called Hazard County and this downhill will throw a lot at you in a short amount of time. It is all singletrack with lots of tight turns, small jumps, tricky rock gardens, cattle guards, and lush aspen groves. You’ll cross the La Sal Mtn Loop Rd and then start down the Kokopelli Trail. Time to let it fly! This is a fast doubletrack trail with fun whoop-de-doos and sweeping turns. Then you’ll take a right into the Upper Porcupine Singletrack. This newer trail follows the Porcupine Rim, giving you spectacular views of Castle Valley. There is some exposure here and a few sections that are best done on foot. Eventually we join up with the regular Porcupine Rim ride, jumping onto one of the best and most technical descents you’ll ever do. The ride finishes with a heart stopping descent on 4 miles of narrow, exposed singletrack overlooking the Colorado River. The entire day has been described as “complete sensory overload” and takes even the most experienced rider 5-6 hours. Chances are this will be the most incredible ride of your entire life. Ride time: 6+ hours We’ll finish up with a light lunch back at the condos, showers, and a group photo. You may enjoy staying another night on your own and then enjoy a leisurely mountain bike ride Sunday morning before traveling home. Whatever your plans are, we hope you leave Moab with a tool box full of new skills, a camera full of pictures, and a smile on your face! AccommodationsThe luxurious Rim Village condos in Spanish Valley look out on the spectacular views of the Moab Rim to the west and the La Sal Mountains across the valley. They are uniquely and beautifully furnished, supremely comfortable, and stocked with everything you'll need to enjoy your stay in the beautiful red rock desert. Each luxury condo has three bedrooms and two baths with a single level floor plan, vaulted ceilings, gas log fireplace, private patio, gas barbecue, seasonal swimming pool and hot tub, washer and dryer, two car garage and off-street parking. CuisineMeals will be prepared by Rim Tours' professional backcountry chefs from dinner the first night to lunch on the final day. You'll be treated to exquisite meals such as Dutch oven baked spinach walnut lasagna, crisp mixed greens salads and fresh baked brownies. All of the meals are prepared from scratch and with the finest ingredients. We can accommodate any dietary restriction. MassageEvery day your riding aches and pains will be eased by a professional massage therapist. Each massage is 45 minutes and will be tailored to your specific needs. Poolside massages are even an option if the weather cooperates! Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat kind of food will we eat? What if I can’t keep up with the group? What if the weather turns bad? What if I have a food allergy? What if I have to cancel at the last minute? What kind of bike should I bring? What kind of food will we eat?You won't be disappointed with the culinary skills of the Rim Tours staff. They prepare delicious energy packed meals with lots of variety to satisfy all tastes. We can accommodate any special diet including vegetarian and low-fat diets. We do not provide alcoholic beverages, but please feel free to bring your own. We have plenty of cooler space. What if I can’t keep up with the group?All of our rides are designed to accommodate each individual rider. There is always a guide in front and a guide bringing up the rear of our group. Because we stop often to work on technical sections it is easy for the slower riders to stay connected and not feel left behind. What if the weather turns bad?The weather in Moab is unpredictable and there is a chance that we may have to deal with rain or even snow. Our goal is to ride every day and unless the weather is absolutely horrible, plan on riding in the snow or rain. You’ll be amazed at how beautiful the desert becomes after a hard rain. The safety of the group is our number one priority and if the conditions are too dangerous we will come up with alternative activities. What if I have a food allergy?In your registration packet from Rim Tours you will have a personal information sheet to fill out. Please note any food allergies you may have. Our guides do an amazing job of accommodating everyone’s dietary restrictions. No need to worry, your dining experience will be delicious! What if I have to cancel at the last minute?Unfortunately we do not offer any refunds for cancellations less than 30 days before your trip. We recommend trip insurance to protect you in case something unforeseen should cause you to have to cancel your adventure. http://www.csatravelprotection.com/. What about tipping?The most common question that nobody likes to ask. Tipping is not required, but is customary to express your thanks and is gratefully appreciated by your guides from Rim Tours. Your guides work as a team and share all of their gratuities. A tip of 10 to 20 percent of the price of your trip given to either one of your guides is a great way to say thanks for a job well done. What time does the camp end?The camp ends Sunday afternoon. There isn’t a designated ending time because it is hard to know when we’ll get back from the Whole Enchilada. Being the last day of the camp it's fun to stop and take pictures and enjoy the scenery one last time. If you have a flight home we recommend leaving on Monday morning. It’s a lot less hassle and you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the afternoon with Alison and your fellow campers. What kind of bike should I bring?The terrain in Moab is technical and rough. We highly recommend a full suspension mountain bike with 2.2 - 2.4 sized tires with aggressive treads. Make sure your bike has a tune-up and is in tip top shape before you come. There’s nothing worse than having your bike break in the middle of a five hour ride. If your bike has disc brakes we recommend bringing a second set of brake pads. Do I need pads?Pads are a great confidence booster and offer lots of protection. If you have your own, bring them. If you don’t, we have knee/shin guards and elbow pads you can borrow. When you reserve your adventure, you will receive a packing list in your confirmation package. We have developed this list to ensure your comfort, regardless of the weather during the camp. We recommend the layering system, including a wicking or long underwear layer, an insulating layer, and a weather barrier for wind and rain. Mountain Bike:
Cycling clothes
Gear
Personal
Optional
Mountain Bike:
Strong Intermediate/Advanced: Our Moab camp participants should be comfortable with the following:
    “Thank you again for such a great clinic, you are a gifted teacher. My friend Sherrie and I are both so happy to have taken the class. We are both excited to try new techniques!" Karen, 2012
|
|
