Gnarly Routes Park City Tour
Gnarly Routes Park City, Utah Tour
Park City, Utah
Gnarly Routes Report:
Guides: Russell Bobbitt and Cole Kirkpatrick
Group: Sold out with five riders
Bikes: KTM 500 EXC-F, KTM 300 XC-W TPI, KTM 350 XCF-W, KTM 250 XC-W TPI
Gnarly Routes is officially back on the road and tours are back to operating for the first time since February. Our group of five arrived in Park City on Monday, August, 10th for an exciting week of riding in the Wasatch National Forest. Conditions were extremely dry and dusty but the views and riding were still excellent. The terrain featured a mix of narrow singletrack ridges, rocky sections, and finally some flowing trail through aspen groves.
We acclimated the group to the terrain on the first day with a loop that was nearly fifty miles in length. The riders were challenged but they all seemed to get more comfortable throughout the day. Our lunch spot was at the American Fork Canyon overlook and it provided an excellent backdrop for some group photos and to give the group a break from dodging roots and rocks. Once we finished the first day, we serviced the bikes and headed back into town to get cleaned up for dinner. We decided on 501 On Main for dinner after a few drinks at the No Name Saloon.
The second day would feature the most singletrack riding and would challenge the riders right from the start. We climbed straight up into the mountains on a silty piece of trail that every rider in the group made up without issue. From there, we rode more singletrack ridge trail before descending into American Fork Canyon and working our way up some very challenging switchbacks at the base of Mount Timpanogos. Our lunch spot on this day was off the side of the trail and then we rode some of the best flow trail that the trip offered through a huge aspen grove. To finish the second day, we tackled one of the more technical pieces of trail called East Ridge. This trail started with a massive downhill boulder field and then turned into a thin ridge-line trail that worked its way over massive roots, rocks, and steep silty chutes. Again, the group forged on and everyone managed to make it through without issue as we wrapped up the second epic day of riding. The dust was hard on the bikes but we kept the air filters clean and serviced each day to ensure that the bikes were running to their full potential. Dinner for the second night was at a Mexican food restaurant and after a long uphill walk back to the house, the group stayed up re-counting events from the epic day of riding.
The third and final day was shorter on mileage than the previous two days but it served up some big challenges to test our riders. The first jeep road that we attempted was very rocky and the group decision was to turn around after a couple of attempts through some bowling ball sized rocks. We ended up stopping at an old mine and catching out breathes and taking a few photos. From there, we continued on ridge trail and did a bonus portion with a couple of very steep switchbacks that nearly topped out at 10,000 feet. With all of our riders feeling accomplished and really settling into the terrain we continued our route with one of our guide favorites that consisted of a very long descent that popped out at American Fork road. This was our lunch spot and we found some shade next to a river to regroup and refuel our bodies. The group decision was to ride dirt road back to the trailer and call it a wrap on day three. The final dinner of the trip was at the High West Distillery where we had a private room. The group dynamic was awesome on this trip and it was so rewarding to see all of the guys push their boundaries in the terrain.
For Gnarly Routes, it was great to get back out and ride with our guests. The escape that riding offers is unlike anything else that you can find and we look forward to our two upcoming tours in Montrose, Colorado and Moab, Utah.