Hermosa Tours - Mountain Bike Vacations

Sedona Mountain Biking

2011-11-28T18:53:00.000-08:00

"Things are gonna change, I can feel it." Was Beck talking about Sedona? Probably not, but things ARE changing in Sedona and we like what we're seeing down in that thar red rock country.

Before "we" go any further let's change it to "I", Matt the Janitor-in-Chief of Hermosa Tours. I'm making this distinction because I'm excited about Sedona as a mountain biker first. I also want to be very careful as some of the things happening are certainly on the fringe of legal trail building and I don't want anyone (namely the Forest Service) to get the wrong idea that Hermosa Tours is condoning or participating - so let's call this a friendly PSA between me and you. :)

OK, so disclaimer noted. The Sedona mountain biking scene is going OFF! I've always considered Sedona an "OK" mountain biking destination, but slowly over the last 5 or so years I've heard whispers of an entire system of user-built trails taking shape. I like that term, "User-Built". I had a chance to talk to one of the famous builders while I was in Sedona and he used this term. Interesting twist! Anyway, there are probably more user-built mountain bike trails in Sedona than there are Forest Service system trails. The great part? They're really really well built and designed. The best part? It appears the Forest Service agrees and they have slowly been adopting many of these user-built trails.

This doesn't happen very often. More often we hear of trails being closed for Wilderness, closed to perceived user conflicts or closed to development or resource extraction. But not here - it seems the trail system is growing by leaps and bounds and what still hasn't been brought into the system isn't being patrolled by snipers with infrared goggles. Generally it's casual.

The other thing I noted about the Sedona mountain bike trail system is the connectivity. I think it's potentially a great model for how a trail system should be designed. You can ride for hours and hours, right out of and next to town, and barely touch pavement. It's JUST SO COOL!

So as a mountain biker let me say - make a plan to get to Sedona for a riding vacation this year. Patronize the local shops and they'll be more than happy to help you find the user-built system and the recently-adopted system trails. You'll be glad you made the effort!

Self-Guided Mountain Bike Tours

2011-08-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

We just might be on to something. This year Hermosa Tours launched our self-guided mountain bike tours and the turnout and response has been spectacular. It is our belief that the majority of serious mountain bikers are a "do-it-yourself" species, so why not create a product to match?

Kokopelli Trail: Self-Guided

142 miles of remote singletrack, doubletrack, jeep road and forest service road between Fruita and Moab. Hanging views of the Colorado River, steep sandstone canyons and the distant backdrop of the La Sal Mountains. Season: April, May, September, October

Colorado Trail: Self Guided

We'd challenge you to show us 75 miles of high alpine singletrack that compare to this segment of the Colorado Trail. Soaring peaks, shoulder-high wildflowers and roaring creeks punctuate the landscape. Make sure this is on your bucket list. Season: July, August, September.

Arizona Trail: Self-Guided (coming soon)

Every year the Arizona Trail gets more singletrack and more connected. We're putting the finishing touches on a 110-mile route in the southern part of Arizona for Spring 2012. We don't want to give away too much, but get ready for one of the newest landmark rides every mountain biker must do! Season: Late February, March, April, November

(Photo courtesy of Topofusion.com)

Hermosa Tours NW Sponsors Hood River Super-D

2011-06-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

Hermosa Tours NW is a proud sponsor of the the Oregon Super-D Series for the 2011 season. We're providing shuttle support for the races, held once a month through September across the region. Last weekend's 3rd Annual Hood River Super-D kicked off the series, and set the bar high! It was a super fun event, with well over 200 racers showing up to ride one of the steepest and fun Super-D courses in the country, serving up 3,000' of vertical drop in 7 miles, and 400' of climbing. Riders came from all over the West, and as far away as France.

Post Canyon Shuttle, in action!

The course was muddy due to heavy rain the last half of the week prior to the race, but partly cloudy skies and a good Gorge wind dried out the trails in no time, creating the dreamy conditions we locals wait for all year long. It was a perfect day of racing on Sunday afternoon.


Sweet and Tacky! Photo Credit, Ki Kopkau

See more photos from the race on Vital MTB.

Practice day shuttles. Photo by Mike Estes, taken from our shuttle van.

This year's expanded race venue included camping and a shuttle staging/parking area adjacent to the finish line. A special thanks to the property owner for offering such a convenience! It helped reduce traffic congestion along Post Canyon Drive, and made loading shuttle vans much easier. Plus, it was a really fun place to hang out in between shuttles.

Loading one of three vans providing shuttle support for the Dirty Fingers Post and Pint pre-race practice run.

Hermosa Tours NW Guides Jessica Robinson and myself were two of 41 (Yeah ladies!!) women to compete on Sunday. We both finished strong in separate combined Cat. 1/2 classes, and I have to say, we're doing a proper job of carrying on the Durango Hermosa Tours tradition of riding in costume for the race. The Hermosa Hotties represented, no doubt about it!

Pre-race Hotties. (We're looking for other sponsors...!)

Check out the race results here. The next race is scheduled for July 3 in Bend, Oregon, so start training! The word on the streets is that this course is more pedal-ly, but far less technical than Post, and for us lowlanders, is at 'altitude' at 5,500'ASL.

Next weekend, June 10-11, we'll also be providing shuttle support for the Dog River Enduro, part of the Northwest Cup race series (formerly the Fluidride Cup), sponsored by Dirty Fingers Bicycle Repair in Hood River, Mt. Hood Skibowl, Hurricane Racing, and others. We're stoked to be part of the local race scene to promote mountain biking in our community!

Lindsey Voreis ripping it to take third in the Women's Pro Class. Photo Credit Ki Kopkau.

The Hermosa Tours NW Post Canyon Shuttle runs every weekend from 10 am to 6:00 pm, and on-call on weekdays. A minimum of 4 riders or $60 sends the van. Save gas and time, and ride the shuttle to the top for just $15 per rider, or buy-2-get-1-free, same day use. We donate $2 from every shuttle rider, every run, to local trail advocacy efforts, including ongoing work in Post Canyon, and the movement to Save the Syncline in Bingen, Washington, where closures of some of our favorite trails are imminent.

To learn more about Hermosa Tours NW and the Post Canyon Shuttle, visit our website.

Ready to Roll!

Suite Shuttle Packages!

2011-04-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

Classic Post Canyon!

While patiently waiting for spring to show up here in the Pacific Northwest, we've been busy putting together some pretty amazing tour and shuttle packages based in Hood River. We're taking advantage of our proximity to the Post Canyon playground, and partnering with one of the most scenic (and affordable!) accommodations providers in the Gorge, the Vagabond Lodge, to offer weekend sleep n' shred packages this season.

Mike Estes, dedicated Post Canyon aficionado and trail builder, and skilled mountain biker, is the caretaker at the Vagabond Lodge. When not booking rooms and taking care of guests, Mike can be found building trails, stunts, pump tracks and other fun elements in Post Canyon, and competing in Downhill mountain bike races. We are excited to team up with Estes to put together some pretty amazing packages for riders who want to visit Post Canyon but don't want to bother with multiple vehicles to get their laps in on all the sweet terrain the place has to offer.

View from the Vagabond

Spending the night or weekend in the Gorge is the perfect way to explore Post and all of the other classic trails in the area. These Suite Shuttle packages make it affordable for all riders to visit Hood River, and ride till their heart's content. Here is a sampling of what some of our packages are going to look like for the 2011 season:

Six people, one room -- starting at $49 per night -- $58 for a suite.

Six people, two rooms -- starting at $61 per night -- $77 for two suites.

Six people, three rooms -- starting at $71 per night.

Prices are per person and include two shuttle rides to the top of Post Canyon, provided by Hermosa Tours.

Options for view and non-view room, larger rooms and suites are available and priced accordingly. Prices are approximate based on nominal options. You'll want to plan and make your reservation early because the Vagabond can fill up fast!

Shuttles!

Just when you thought a mountain biking weekend in Hood River couldn't get any better, you'll be psyched to know about the White Buffalo Wine Bar and Bistro. Because it's located just steps away from the Vagabond, you can stumble in from a long day of riding, cool off with a cold one or sample any number of Gorge and other wines from around the world, and fill up on delicious food-- all without having to drive anywhere!

Food, Drink, and Fun at the White Buffalo!

For more information, and to book, please contact the Vagabond Lodge. Learn more about Post Canyon on Mike's blog.

Let the sun shine and the shredding begin!

Mountain Bike Imagery

2011-03-11T12:17:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking lately about the effect mountain bike imagery has on the public image of the sport. Someone recently sparked this thought in reference to the movie "Life Cycles" and how much they enjoyed it. I thought it was pretty entertaining, but somehow the original overview I had heard before seeing it made it sound more like an ambiguous celebration of the bicycle. Instead, with some interesting time-lapsed cinematography aside, it was the standard full-face helmet, goggled, high-speed dash down trails. I think it was the title that sounded so enchanting; similar to "Seasons".

Now before anyone rushes to defend "gravity", "downhill" or "freeride" just know I fundamentally have no problem with this side of mountain biking. I myself own a Santa Cruz Bullit, albeit ancient. My point is the overload of this sort of imagery as "mountain biking" to the rest of the world and its potential effect on public perception. It sells soda, SUVs, energy drinks and countless other "extreme"-slanted products, but does it injure our sport as a whole? I lost count years ago how many times the anti-mountain bike factions (Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, etc etc) have referenced "40-lb bikes screaming past them at 30mph", blah blah blah...

This got me thinking - is the problem the LACK of imagery for the other disciplines within mountain biking? Why can't we make the quintessential mountain bike movie about our harmony with the backcountry and wilderness? Is there a way to show the bicycle as the perfect mode of transportation for exploring our great expanses of nature? I'm no Spielberg, but is it possible to make a mountain bike film in the spirit of books like "Desert Solitaire" or "Walden"...or movies like "Jeremiah Johnson", "Seven Years in Tibet" or "Touching the Void"? Does the documentary "Tour Divide" start down this road a little despite being about a race?

Would love to hear your thoughts....

Wheels to Wine -- A New Tour

2011-02-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

Domaine Poullion Winery

With more than 40 wineries in 40 miles, singletrack in every cardinal direction, and a web of scenic road routes, the Columbia Gorge is a veritable mecca for both wine and bike lovers.

We're happy to announce that we've rolled these two passions into one unforgettable day tour that allows connoisseurs to explore the best of both addictions, in one of the most scenic settings imaginable.

Based in and around Hood River, Oregon, Hermosa Tours' new Wheels to Wine Tour include a morning of mountain or road biking, followed by an afternoon at a Gorge winery.

Memaloose Winery

We'll start off by sampling some of the finest handcrafted wines in the region, learning about the wines from knowledgeable tasting room staff and winery owners. A fresh, gourmet lunch on the lawn will feature local ingredients and wine pairings, with plenty of time to take in the view and lounge in the sun.

Sunset at Maryhill Winery

A tour of the winery and vineyard caps off this perfect Gorge day. No visit to a winery would be complete without the chance to purchase wine to take home. Most of the wineries we'll visit are boutique and family-run and don't sell outside of the region, so you'll want to stock up on your favorite vintages.

The Wheels to Wine tour includes all transportation, bikes and gear if needed, wine tasting, lunch with wine pairings and dessert, and a private tour of the winery. The Wheels to Wine tours will last about five to six hours, and are suitable for all skill levels of riders.

For more information and to book, email us or call 877.282.BIKE (2453).

Post Canyon Playground

2011-01-15T17:15:00.000-08:00

If you're a mountain biker, you've likely heard of Post Canyon, that little playground located just outside of Hood River, Oregon. If not, here's a taste:

Post Canyon Playground from Hermosa Tours on Vimeo.

Although it's mostly famous for having some of the best freeriding on the West Coast, Post Canyon has something for everyone. With more than 3,000 vertical feet of descent (or ascent, if you want) from top to bottom, and 50 square miles of trails and fireroads, there is a ride for every style. There is also no shortage of wood in Post Canyon, with freeride stunts rivaling BC's North Shore that will challenge even the most daring rider. Feeling timid? Warm up on Family Man's low-to-the-ground bridges and ladders, small pump track, and intermediate jump line, Middle School.

Popular trails in Post include 2 Chair 2, Gran Prix, Chorus X, and the iconic XC line Seven Streams, which climbs up to Family Man from the parking area on Post Canyon Drive. New favorites include Three Blind Mice, the new 8-Track, and Bad Motor Scooter.

Post Canyon has designated bike-only trails, and many miles of moto trails, some of which are shared with mountain bikers. The signage has improved dramatically in Post in recent years, thanks to hard-working local trail stewards (Gorge Freeride Association, and others), and an official map was released last June. All trails in Post are located on Hood River County Forestry land; the County has played an instrumental role in local efforts to develop and maintain the trail network.

Hood River locals love their backyard trails, but Post Canyon attracts riders from all over the country. Post is rideable spring, summer, and fall, and is busy on the weekends when downhillers and freeriders show up in droves to hone their skillls, shuttling to the top. This equates to a lot of traffic on the county roads, and the route to the top can be confusing for newcomers and first timers to navigate.

Hermosa Tours is psyched to be offering the first ever shuttle service all the way to the top. Stay in touch for more information about pricing and other details. We'll help keep your costs down by offering a punchcard - Buy 9, get the 10th shuttle FREE!

Post Canyon alone is reason enough to visit the Gorge; factor in all of the other amazing trails, fun town, and beautiful scenery, and you'd be crazy not to come and check it out!

Contact Ryan to learn more about Hermosa Tours' Western Headquarters, located in Hood River, and start planning your trip to the Columbia Gorge today! Feel free to call 855-MTB-POST with questions about shuttles in Post Canyon.

Video by Allison at Extremeline Productions, featuring riders Allison and Dave Diller.

Syncline Synergy

2011-01-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

Here in the Northwest, we've been jonesing to get out on the trail. Cold spells, rain, snow, and more rain made most of our trails impassable for the past six weeks or so. Great snow up high has also made the lure of the snowboard hard to resist, but to be honest, nothing can compare to sweet singletrack explored on two wheels.

The window we've been waiting for opened yesterday, with temperatures in the low 20s (cold for the temperate Columbia Gorge), it was finally dry enough to make the pilgrimage east to the Syncline riding mecca. Located just above the Columbia River, this trail network provides the spectacular scenery of the Gorge, and the opportunity to explore a very unique landscape. It is by far one of our most cherished riding areas close to Hood River.

Yesterday, the Syncline trails offered a little bit of everything to our group of intrepid riders: snow at the top, dry and squeaky enough to provide good traction, glassy patches of ice slippery enough to warrant a portage, frozen dirt sounding a crunching cacophony as tires rolled across the surface, and wet, heavy mud in the sun-warmed lower reaches, caking components and splatter painting clothing and gear. Freezing extremities, no matter. It was a glorious day on the trail.

The Syncline's iconic Columbia Gorge geology features long cliff bands of basalt breaking up expanses of rolling grassy fields, peppered with boulders and rocky ledges, dotted with oak groves. Trails weave in and out of damp drainages, climb to sweeping vista points, teeter on exposed cliff edges. We ride here in the fall, when shadows cast by lone oak trees tiptoe over golden, cured tall grasses. In the winter, the Syncline is a respite from gloomy, dark days in Hood River, just far enough east to escape the clutches of stubborn inversion layers. In the spring, the synergy of the Syncline is intoxicating, a combination of knowing longer days lie ahead and warm patches of wildflowers blanketing the velvety green hillside, inviting you to get off your bike and roll around in their fragrant bed.

Midstream winter, it's hard to imagine those long, sunny days. But we're ok with crunching ice, frozen fingers, and snowy traverses; for now, they're all we've got, and we'll gladly take them.

In the meantime, here's a video of an awesome early fall Syncline adventure, courtesy of our friend Allison at Extremeline Productions.

Syncline Mountain Bike Adventure from Hermosa Tours on Vimeo.

From Hood River, we welcome 2011, and the prospect of new adventures and lots of time in the saddle. Here's to a New Year, filled with friends, bikes, new places, and love for the familiar ones.

A year in the making...

2010-12-06T09:00:00.001-08:00

As we've mentioned before, we've been working on adding more "mellow" trips to our tour catalog. Basically trips that a reasonably fit beginner can sign up for...great for couples, families or even advanced groups who just want a more relaxing mountain bike tour. You know - sleep late and stay up late. :)

Well over a year ago we started to plot a route that would take us through some of the most remote country the lower 48 states has to offer in south/central Utah. We got shut out from scouting for numerous reasons - time constraints, weather, etc. But now the result: The Swell to Capitol Reef National Park. "The Swell" is the San Rafael Swell, an amazing geologic feature starting just outside Green River, UT. From there the route follows the Swell north, takes a hard left southwest at the Wedge Overlook (photo below), skirts the Sid's Mountain Wilderness Study Area (WSA), carves through the Devil's Canyon WSA, makes a long southerly traverse on Cathedral Valley Rd and then enters the not-often-traveled northern end of Capitol Reef National Park.

So, how to talk about this trip without tooting one's own horn? We just returned from putting on the final touches and all we can say is - IT IS AMAZING. Take a look at the photos we captured below. Can you believe that photographically-speaking it was less than ideal shooting conditions? There is A LOT of stuff we didn't shoot because we didn't want the gray, overcast skies to cast a poor light (pun intended) on this truly special landscape.

Journey through the San Rafael Reef (we got the van stuck in here):

View of the west side of the reef from the Jackass Benches:

The Buckhorn Wall:

The Wedge Overlook:

Also the Wedge, but the "Little Grand Canyon" overlook:

Peeking into Sid's Mountain WSA:

Some snow in Devil's Canyon WSA:

The southerly traverse on Cathedral Valley Rd:

Shades of Capitol Reef NP start to appear on the road south:

The last open desert before Capitol Reef NP:

I could have taken 50 different pictures in this area:

The road punches out of the rock and out into some BIG open country:

The northern entrance to Capitol Reef National Park. At this point we hadn't seen another car or human for 2 days:

Overlooking Capitol Reef NP's Cathedral Valley:

Overlook onto CRNP's "Southern Desert":

Second overlook onto the Southern Desert. No picture can take the place of standing here:

The more "known" area of Capitol Reef National Park starts to come into view with hints of the Waterpocket Fold:

The Bentonite Hills with the Henry Mountains in the distance:

So there it is....just a taste. The website will be up soon with dates posted for Spring and Fall 2011. Make your plans to experience this wonderful area!

'Tis better to give than to receive...

2010-11-22T10:03:00.001-08:00

Today the raffle Grand Prize was announced for the recent Iceman Cometh mountain bike race in Michigan. The prize? $5000 worth of credit with Hermosa Tours to select any domestic mountain bike tour! Now the reason I share this news is the notable reaction from our winner.

His response:

Matt,

Can you explain exactly what I have won? Obviously with all the scams going around and "sounds to good to be true" stuff, I'm having a little trouble accepting that this is legit.

I'm reading that I won a trip worth $5,000 to any of Hermosa Tours destinations. Can this amount be used for more than 1 rider? How about airfare?

I'll be completely bummed if this is a "fly yourself out here, listen to 2 days of condo share sales pitches and end up with a some sort of coupon for free drinks and the loco Mexican restaurant".

I have hope this is the real deal. Assure me please.

Thanks,
Travis.

Hahahaha! How great is that? No Travis, it's true and you are STOKED! Congratulations!

Ohhh what a jaded world we live in..... :)

South Park Crest

2010-10-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes this is the best way to show what a tour is all about....

South Park Crest - 2010 from Hermosa Tours on Vimeo.

The Highline Loop - now this is a mountain bike ride

2010-07-11T10:32:00.001-07:00

It's actually a nod to "the rest" of the riding in Durango that I've never done the Highline Loop. Generally, the rides which make up our Durango High Country tour are so good, the season so short, we have to "make hay while the sun is shining" and rep those beautiful routes as often as possible.

Well, we finally took a day off from the standard routes and made our attempt at the Highline Loop. Myself, Lisa, KP and Dr. Siggins packed a lot of food, water and raingear and set off. The Highline Loop can start from any of a few points I suppose, but we started from Kennebec Pass after dropping off a Hermosa Tours shuttle. Our route: short section of the Colorado Trail, turn and climb on Sharkstooth Trail, descend Sharkstooth to Upper Bear Creek/Highline, start a massive grind up Grindstone Trail, rejoin the Colorado Trail and traverse over the daunting Indian Trail Ridge and finally back to Kennebec Pass. Phew!

Without further delay, the photos....

Lisa and KP climbing the scree and talus to what I call Fall Gulch Pass....

Dr. Siggins and KP on the pass checking our whereabouts....

Sharkstooth Peak in the distance....

Lisa and Ryan spend some time trailside jiggering some cleat shims....

Lisa and Siggins blazing down Upper Bear Creek...

A rest on Grindstone Trail...

Dr. Siggins continues the slog up Grindstone Trail...

Finally we rejoin the Colorado Trail. I downed a ridiculous amount of these Honey Stinger chews....

Home stretch high atop Indian Trail Ridge....

One of my favorite perspectives on Indian Trail Ridge....

Taylor Lake far below and we're pretty much done....

I can safely say this was the burliest 17-19 mile I have EVER completed. Remote, gorgeous, challenging....everything I ask from a true mountain bike ride...

Yeti Tribe Gathering - Scouting Mission

2010-06-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

The guys from Yeti Cycles were in town yesterday, scouting some trail routes for their Yeti Tribe Gathering, taking place in Durango August 13-15. I think it's safe to say the "Tribe" is in for some excellent riding! I don't want to ruin the surprise for the Gathering, but here are a few pix from ur scouting ride....

The Columbines are poppin'-a-plenty at around 9,000-10,000 feet right now!!!

Thanks, Yeti Cycles. Cya in August!

Durango High Country, I declare thee OPEN!!!

2010-06-26T10:12:00.001-07:00

With each new mountain bike season here around Durango, the final high country ride to become free of snow is the Molas Pass to Cascade Creek section of Colorado Trail and Engineer Mountain Trail. Yesterday we got out there and found all this warm, sunny weather has opened this route for the season....the Durango High Country is open!!!

A few flowers juuuust starting to poke their heads out. This section of the Colorado Trail is famous for some brilliant wildflower displays...we're maybe 2 weeks our from a big bloom.

Lisa cruising some sweet singletrack at about 11,500'.

Ryan and Val pretty much kicked butt yesterday. Slowly their flatlander lungs have started to acclimate to our lack of oxygen. :)

Done climbing Val!!!

Mountain bike tours are in full swing!

2010-06-12T17:51:00.001-07:00

The warm weather has arrived in Durango and we've been busy running some really fun mountain bike day tours recently. A few days ago we had a group of international tourists on a one month, cross country trek stopping at various points along the way. We were lucky enough to be one of those stops!

Numerous countries were represented: UK, Australia, South Korea and Norway to name a few!

While most of this particular mountain bike adventure was on dirt road, but some of the group rallied and sampled some beginner Durango singletrack....

On Friday, we hosted some students from Navajo Preparatory who were taking their ACTs the next day and wanted a "decompression" activity. Mountain biking in Durango is a perfect choice in our opinion!

After some serious shredding, we had a nice lunch waiting for everyone at Animas Overlook. Man these kids could eat! Two loaves of bread disappeared in like 3 minutes!!! :)

Good luck on your test, gang!

Jones>Pinkerton>Dutch Goodness

2010-06-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

Got in our first Jones Creek to Pinkerton-Flagstaf to Dutch Creek to Hermosa Creek ride yesterday. I sometimes forget how great this ride is....and even better when it was this dry and before the free-grazing cattle have poo-poo'd the trail. Gorgeous!!!

The Hermosa Creek Milestone

2010-05-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

Each year I think about and notice a handful of milestones marking seasonal change. Some that come to mind: the scrub oak blooming between mid to late May (happening now!!), just the opposite in early November, those little white flowers blooming in the Gulch or when the snow sticks to Engineer Mountain marking winter is here to stay.

But one that always strikes me is the first time I ride Hermosa Creek Trail in spring. Hermosa Creek represents the gateway to the backcountry to me. Dry Fork/Junction Creek, The Gulch, Phil's World, Overend Mountain Park and Animas Mountain are all great....but Hermosa Creek is the first trail to open where I feel I'm "getting away". The pine smell is stronger, the views are bigger and the roaring creek sounds primal.

So here's to mountain bike "season" officially opening to me...

Constructing a Mountain Bike Tour

2010-05-05T15:53:00.001-07:00

Cedar Mesa - Constructing a Mountain Bike Tour

Over the past year or so I've been researching new areas/destinations for mountain bike tours that follow the model of the White Rim and The Maze in Canyonlands and even the Kokopelli Trail from Fruita to Moab - a beautiful tour on mellower terrain appropriate for fit beginners and intermediate riders....and even advanced riders wanting a relaxed tour with some amazing scenery.

Dating back a year ago, Hermosa Tours supported a single day event in Valley of the Gods in SE Utah in the Cedar Mesa region. I was struck immediately - how had this area not been discovered for a wonderful mountain bike tour?? Well, as beautiful as Valley of the Gods is, it represented 17 miles...not quite eough for 5 days of riding. :)

So began the 12-month recon for linking together 4 more days of tour goodness. It really ramped up last fall when Lisa Lieb (HT guide) and I spent 4 or 5 days driving the area and riding a bit despite rapidly descending temps! This time was worth while - collecting a great section of road here, a view point there and overall a great sense of the lay of the land.

At the end of that trip we had the makings of a nice trip, but we were left with a gap between the Tables of the Sun area and Cedar Mesa/Valley of the Gods. There seemed to be a little "ditch" in the way of connecting this tour - Grand Gulch. Hmmmm....

How about a mid-tour hike into one of the most special places on earth?? That'll do just fine! It was set (in my mind)...the Cedar Mesa tour. The only thing left to do was go ride and hike the route to get it all dialed for great tour....camp sites, areas of interest, etc. We're recently back from this trip and here is the report and some photos....

Day one we bit off A LOT of recon - after a 10-mile road traverse, we dropped into Valley of the Gods via the "Moki Dugway":

Truth be told the picture above is from 2009. The cloud cover during this trip didn't make for nice photography, so I didn't spend much time fooling about taking shots.

Some of these are out of order, but here is a classic shot giving some perspective to Cedar Mesa. we were actually CLIMBING the road the tour would go DOWN...ugh! The rock you see is the "edge" of Cedar Mesa itself as we climb up from Comb Ridge, pictured next to the right of the rider.

I laugh when I see this picture of Howard (who runs our Arkansas Tours) riding with Comb Ridge to his right. We were feeling quite high on life at this point, thinking we had maybe and hour and a half to go. Hahaha! 3 hours later we reached the car....BEAT. Unbelievable views, including the title shot at the beginning of this post above.

Day two we hiked down into Grand Gulch. What a different world and what serendipity that this will be part of the tour. What once was a "problem" in the route is now arguably the highlight...

The "keyhole", which actually meant we had missed our turn into Grand Gulch from Collins Canyon. Well, that's what recon is for and what it takes to dial a tour in properly...

That wrong turn did lead us to an interesting side hike, the "Family" rock art from the ancient Anasazi...

Day three was our circumnavigation of Red Canyon....and of course we were doing it backwords...aka the "hard way"!!! Don't ask. Just be glad we learned the hard way and you get the fun, "right" way. :)

Howard peeking into an old, abandoned mine....

Like most photos, these shots really don't give you the full understanding of the beauty and scale of these side canyon views. I was pretty awe struck. I wish I'd had more time to just sit and soak it in.

Endless views open up around this part of the route. Here's Howard cruisin' for a glamour shot...

Some Paintbrush at our campsite....

After I get done scoping a whole tour route/experience I always ask myself, "am I comfortable charging money for this and would I want to come on this tour?" I can say unequivocally - YES. :) Check it out....first dates start this fall: http://www.hermosatours.net/cedar_mesa.html

Hermosa Radio - Episode #1 Podcast

2010-04-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

Episode #1 Podcast of Hermosa Radio is now available for listening! Our first guest is Mary Monroe of Trails 2000 (trails200o.org). Mary updates us on the various goings on of trails around the Durango area.

Download Hermosa Tours - Episode 1

Thanks...

Matt

Osprey Packs - 2010 Sales Meeting - Moab

2010-04-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we hosted the gang from Osprey Packs for their annual sales meeting - this time for a little mountain biking in Moab. Everyone had on their new Raptor series packs - a pretty amazing entry into the hydraulic pack market for Osprey.

As per usual in Moab; a Polaris side-by-side dumping it on a section of Pritchett Canyon...

Here we are on day one riding Behind the Rocks. This group hung tough all day....pretty damn burly for a "corporate group"!!!

The highlight of day one - Stephen Barnes cracking his bike on a ledge drop. He was right behind me when it happened when I heard the "CRRRRRACK!". Oh man.....that sounded bad!

Little group photo on Porcupine Rim on day two...

Good times and an adventurous, tough group!

Mountain Bike Tourism - NE Washington

2010-03-30T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hermosa Tours was approached by a government working group made up of various land managers in NE Washington to help strategize a coherent recreation tourism vision for the region. NE Washington is often referred to as the "forgotten corner" of the state. In particular we were asked to comment on mountain bike tourism and how they might attract more of it. Hermosa Tours operates a 5-day tour in NE Washington, our Kettle Crest Tour. 5 quality days of riding is hard to find in any destination, but it definitely exists in the Kettle Mountains and Colville National Forest. Here's a quick trail video I shot last summer on "Stickpin Trail":

Kettle Crest Tour - Stickpin from Matt McFee on Vimeo.

This is just a taste of the riding there! Anyway, we discussed many things, but I offered up a handful of suggestions:

- Do NOT allow the area to become Wilderness. This area has been highly sought after as a Wilderness area for many years now. If it goes Wilderness, mountain biking is done there. Alternate designations such as National Scenic Area could protect the region just as well without banning legitimate, historical recreation.

- Smart trail connections, rehab existing/neglected trails and conduct trail maintenance with mountain bikers in mind. In particular, I'm interested in a few trail connections that would really open up the trail network and create some terrific loops.

- The need for a conveniently-located bike shop. The small 'burgs around the Kettle Mountains are without a bike shop. We actually pack in extra spare parts for tours as we are 2 hours from the closest shop.

- Publicity in the form of grass roots message boards and industry publications. I tried to step out of my Hermosa Tours' shoes for a minute and try to remember - how did I discover new destinations when I road-tripped as a regular mountain biker? Internet "ride reports" with great pictures or destination pieces in MTB publications.

I was very pleased to get this phone call and to be able to lend some ideas. Opportunities like this are far and few between and I hope my continued involvement has an impact on shaping mountain biking policy in that area. Whether with Hermosa Tours or not, I encourage you to plan a trip to the area. It's very much a hidden gem.

Tour group on the Kettle Crest last summer....

Mountain Biking & Wilderness

2010-03-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

Recently there has been a very lively (and quite useful) debate on mtbr.com regarding the ban on mountain bikes in Wilderness areas:

The Wilderness Debate

Putting the "Wilderness Act" in perspective

I put myself, not necessarily Hermosa Tours, squarely on the pro-mountain bike side of the debate. I make that distinction to separate any ideas of financial gain from my personal desire to ride my mountain bike in our beautiful Wilderness areas. One particular post I found important was the "by the Act of 1964" definition of Wilderness:

DEFINITION OF WILDERNESS

(c) A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.

I think it raises an important point - do mountain bikes fundamentally alter the properties of Wilderness? I don't think so. Given the numerous studies/statements finding mountain biking to be on par with HIKING from an impact standpoint, I think a great wool has been pulled over our eyes.

There has always been a question of the "spirit" of the Act as well. A quote from Frank Church (the namesake of the large Wilderness area in Idaho) popped up that I thought profound:

"As the floor manager of the 1964 Wilderness Act, I recall quite clearly what we were tying to accomplish by setting up the National Wilderness Preservation System. It was never the intent of Congress that wilderness be managed in so "pure" a fashion as to needlessly restrict customary public use and enjoyment. Quite the contrary, Congress fully intended that wilderness should be managed to allow its use by a wide spectrum of Americans."

"I believe, and many citizens agree with me, that the agencies are applying provisions of the Wilderness Act too strictly and thus misconstruing the intent of Congress as to how these areas should be managed."

Some interesting resources on the subject:

Bicycling & Wilderness

Mountain Biking in Wilderness

New Hermosa Shwag!

2009-02-18T09:55:00.001-08:00

Coming to a tour near you...

Shonny V's Base Camp - Presented by Kona Brewing Company!

2009-01-22T14:04:00.000-08:00

Hermosa Tours announces the 2009 dates for Shonny V's Base Camp...in sunny Southern California!!

New for 2009 - Presented by Kona Brewing Company!!

By mid-March most of us are chomping at the bit to get out there and start getting ready for our cycling season….especially you racers that want to get a leg up on the competition. What better way to get in those base miles than on the world class singletrack in the warm Coastal Mountains of Southern California under sunny skies? Oh one more thing – you’ll be accompanied by 3-time NORBA National Series Champion and 2008 XTERRA Worlds podium finisher, Shonny Vanlandingham!!

Welcome to Shonny V’s Base Camp. Shonny has designed an amazing tour to get you ready for your upcoming season. They’ll be plenty of opportunities for you to hone your skills under Shonny’s expert instruction and she’ll be happy to talk nutrition and fitness along the way, but the underlying theme here will be FUN!

General Tour Details

• 4 Riding Days, 4 Nights Lodging
• Coastal Mountain Singletrack in Southern California
• This camp is for intermediate to advanced riders with good base fitness and solid singletrack skills who wish to jumpstart their season.
• Base Camp: Several nice lodging options in Pasadena and Orange County

• And of course, plenty of great Kona Brewing Co. beer and shwag!

• Cost: $1450

March 18th - 22nd!!

Hermosa Tours - Durango mention in BIKE magazine...

2008-12-02T12:29:00.000-08:00

Hermosa Tours received a brief mention in BIKE Magazine in their latest December issue. While it was only a mention of our shuttle service in the Durango area, Durango is our headquarters and home of perhaps our best tour, the Durango High Country Tour. Needless to say, we were proud to be mentioned in one of our favorite mags.

Hermosa Tours mention in Bicycling

2008-11-10T08:56:00.000-08:00

Hermosa Tours' Southern California Singletrack Tour was chosen one of Bicycling Magazine's Top 15 favorite destinations. You can check it out in the December issue, but here's a sneak peek (note the price has been updated to $1850 on our site):

Warm desert riding in Southwest Utah is just what the doctor ordered...

2008-10-31T10:19:00.000-07:00

A few more from the Giant Sequoia Tour...

2008-10-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

Photos from our Giant Sequoia Tour

2008-10-13T12:35:00.001-07:00

The Hermosa Tours Blog!

2008-10-13T12:33:00.000-07:00