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TRIPTITLE: ZION,BRYCE,ANDGRANDCANYONMOUNTAINBIKINGDATERANGE: August6-12,2018 #OFDAYS: 7 #OFNIGHTS: 6 #OFPARTICIPANTS: 10min/40maxLEVEL: EASY/MODERATE

StartLocation: WASATCHACADEMY

EndLocation: WASATCHACADEMY

OVERVIEWTheSouthwestU.S.istheplacetobeforyournextmountainbikingadventure.Onthisone-of-a-kindtrip,weridethebesttrailsandexploretheuniquebeautyofZion,Bryce,andGrandCanyonNorthRim.OurfirstridestakeustotheworldfamousZionNationalPark,andridetheHurricaneRimJEMtrailandGooseberryMesa.EnjoybreathtakingviewsoftheparkandVirginRiverwhileridingthisclassicsingle-track.Continuingnorth,justoutsideBryceCanyonNationalPark,ThunderMountaincombinestechnicalridingwithamazingviews.WethenreachGrandCanyonNorthRim,onlyopentovisitorsforhalfoftheyear.TheviewsarebreathtakingwhileridingtheRainbowRimTrailwhereitweavesinandoutofforestsalongsidetherimofthecanyon.Theselandsareruggedandprimitive,appealingtothoselookingforanadventure.Remoteness,limitedtravelcorridors,andlowvisitationhaveallhelpedtopreservethisrareopportunityformountainbikingenthusiasts.*NOTEONRIDINGSTYLE/ABILITY–Thistripisamixofsingleanddoubletrackandwithmoderatetechnicalskillsrequired.Whiletherearesomesustainedclimbs,theridesareallbestcharacterizedasrollingaswedonottackleanysignificantmountains.Participantsmustberidersofintermediatefitnessandaveragebikehandlingskillstobecomfortable.

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DAY1–ZIONNATIONALPARKANDTHEVIRGINRIVERNARROWS• DepartWasatchAcademyat7:00amanddrivetomeetyourguidesinSpringdale,UT–4hours• Guideswillsetupatastylunchinariversideparkjustontheoutskirtsoftown• EnterZionNationalParkandridetheshuttleouttotheEmeraldPoolstrailheadforashort2milehiketoLowerandMiddleEmeraldPools.Marvelattheredcanyonwallsrisingupaboveyou.Learnabouttheforcesofnaturethatcarvedthisuniquecanyon.• Afterwardswe’llfindagreatswimmingspotintheVirginRivertocoolofffromthewarmsummerday.• Setupcampintheparkandenjoyaheartydinner.Activity:Hiking3-5milesCamping:WatchmanCampgroundVehicleTransfer:4hoursMealsProvided:Lunch&DinnerDAY2–J.E.M.TRAIL• Afterbreakfastwe’llheadoutonourfirstmountainbikeofthetrip.TheJEMTrailprovidesagreatfirstridewithopendesert,expansizeviews,andeasyclimbsfollowedbyfastandflowydescents.• GuidesprovidetricksandtipsonmountainbikingtechniquesandteachabouttheuniquegeologythatmakesupZionNationalParkActivity:Biking16-20milesCamping:WatchmanCampgroundVehicleTransfer:NoneMealsProvided:Breakfast,Lunch,&DinnerDAY3–GOOSEBERRYMESA• Gooseberryofferssomemorevariedridinginthelowdesertwithamixofsandstoneslickrockandfirm-packeddirtamongpinionpinesandjunipers.• Thesandstonesurfaceispockmarkedwithweathereddips,creatingfunswoopsandjumpsaswellastheoccasionalsmallpoolwherewecansplashourfacesandcatchabreath• Afterourride,wetransfer2hourstocampjustoutsideofBryceCanyonNationalParkActivity:Bikingupto16milesCamping:BryceCanyonPinesCampgroundVehicleTransfer:2hoursMealsProvided:Breakfast,Lunch,&DinnerDAY4–THUNDERMOUNTAIN• Todaywe’llcyclethetheThunderMountailTrailinDixieNationalForesttoastoneamphitheaterofhoodoosthatrivalsBryceCanyon.Carvepackedpackedlimestoneturns,descendtightswitchbacks,andcutacrossopenridgesonourdescent• LaterthisafternoonwewillvisitBryceCanyonNationalParkandhiketheNavajoLoopTrailforspectacularviewsoftheBrycehoodoos.Guideswillunfoldthegeologicforcesthatmaketheserockformationssouniqueandrare

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• Campforasecondnightunderthestarsandlearnabouttheconstellationsofournightsky.Activity:Biking10-20milesandHiking1.3milesCamping:BryceCanyonPinesCampgroundVehicleTransfer:NoneMealsProvided:Breakfast,Lunch,&DinnerDAY5–GRANDCANYONNORTHRIM• Afteraheartybreakfasttofuelusfortheday’sadventureswewillpackupcampandtransfertotheGrandCanyonNorthRim–3hours• TheRainbowRimistheonlysectionoftrailalongtherimoftheentireGrandCanyonwherebikesareallowed.We’llridethefirstsectionofittoday,learningaboutGrandCanyongeologyandnaturalhistoryalongtheway• CampinginKaibabNationalForestgetsusawayfromthecrowdsoftheNationalParkforamoreremoteandpeacefulcampActivity:Bikingupto18milesCamping:KaibabNationalForestVehicleTransfer:3hoursMealsProvided:Breakfast,Lunch,&DinnerDAY6–RAINBOWRIMTRAIL• TodayisallabouttheGrandCanyonandtheotherhalfofRainbowRimtrail.Agorgeous,moderateout-and-backtrailcutsinandoutoftheforesttoparallelspectacularGrandCanyonviews.Eachofthetrail'sfiveoverlooksofferadistinctviewandperspectiveoftheGrandCanyon'sfeatures,includingthePowellPlateau,SteamboatMountain,TapeatsAmphitheaterandGreatThumbMesas.• Spendafinalnightcampingtogetherandenjoyacelebratorydinnerwhileswappingstoriesoffavoritemountainbikerides.Activity:Biking18-36milesCamping:KaibabNationalForestVehicleTransfer:NoneMealsProvided:Breakfast,Lunch,&DinnerDAY7–RETURNTOWASATCHACADEMY• Thismorningwepackupcampafterafinalbreakfastandsaygoodbyetoourguides• DrivebacktoWasatchAcademy–5.5hoursActivity:NoneCamping:NoneVehicleTransfer:5.5hoursMealsProvided:Breakfast

USSOUTHWESTINCLUSIONS:

• AllCampingnight1throughnight6• Meals–AllmealsstartinglunchDay1tobreakfastDay7• ProfessionalWildernessFirstRespondercertifiedguidesforthedurationofthetrip(ratioof1guideper6

participants)• MountainBikeRental(helmetincluded)• Allsnacksandbottledwaterforthedurationofthetrip• Allcommercialpermitsandparkentryfees• Groupcampingequipmenttoinclude:tents,sleepingbags,sleepingpads,fullcampkitchen,messkit

PRICESTBDTojointhewaitinglist,pleasecontactChrisNesteratchris.nester@wasatchacademy.org