MTB Bikepacking Retreat Bears Ears

Join us May 15th - 17th, 2020
Available for 10 participants

BLUES TO BEARS BIKEPACKING | 3-DAYS, 2-NIGHTS | ROAM Industry

The Blues to Bears guided trip takes you to one of the more remote mountain ranges in the Southwest, the Abajos. This range is just south of the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. The peaks pop right up out of the desert providing you with some of the best possible views of the region. Roughly 1,000 years ago, this area supported a well-established community of Ancestral Puebloans. The riding is on dirt roads through both alpine and desert terrain. All the climbs are rewarded with awe-inspiring views and fun descents. This trip is not technical and is great for those with moderate fitness who are ready to try the dirt, if there is interest in a more technical trip dependent on the group we do have two options for concluding our final day.


Trail Time


RATING

Overall Rating: Introductory

Technical Difficulty: Easy/Intermediate

Physical Difficulty: Moderate

Altitude: 4,000 - 10,000 feet

What's included


What's Included
-3 day all-inclusive guided bike packing retreat
-Osprey hydration bladder to take home
- Osprey MTB day pack to demo
-All meals on trip covered (breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks)
-Sleeping kits (shelter,quilt,pad,pillow)
-Mess Kits (cup, plate,spork)
-Bike bags to store items
What's not included:
-Transportation to Roam Industry Outfitter
-Helmet, shoes, personal items
-Bike (demo rental available via Roam Industry)


Meet your guides!

Julie Cornelius | ASDT MTB Director

Julie lives in Moab, UT and loves mountain biking, nutrition, traveling and being outdoors. She combines her passions by guiding mountain biking and working as a nutrition coach. She loves anything that gets her outdoors but can mostly be found on her mountain bike- shredding local trails, bike packing through the desert or traveling overseas to explore new areas with her bike. In the time that she has been riding bikes, she has seen many women join the sport and the outdoor communities. She is extremely passionate about helping women get into mountain biking and the outdoors. Her favorite rides are taking self proclaimed beginner mountain bikers on a challenging ride and seeing them overcome their fears. She is excited to be a part of the ASDT community and looks forward to helping more women get on bike, into the outdoors, and to also share her passion for nutrition and health.


Natalie Randall  
Roam Industry Co-Owner

A degree in Exercise Physiology, with emphasis in sports medicine, Natalie provides a working knowledge of first aid treatment and prevention. A proven triathlete and marathon runner she has now set her sights on ski mountaineering racing and traditional climbing. The past few years have been spent in adaptive recreation, specifically neurological, coordinating multiple programs (handcycling, monoskiing, crosscountry skiing, yoga, swimming, etc) medically driven through the University of Utah Hospital. She has coordinated and assisted in community health screens/awareness fairs, Tour of Utah for Handcyclists, symposiums providing community awareness for adaptive recreation, and so forth. Currently, she is working for Monticello City as the Director of Parks, Recreation, and Trails, with additional responsibilities of Economic and Community Development. This coordinating and organization development background has been fine-tuned and learned through experience both well funded, and on minimal to no budgets. She speaks French and has coordinated trips within the region as well as internationally to Scotland, Ireland, Southeast Asia and Iceland.


  • FAQs
  • Refund Policy
  • Itinerary
  • Food

What should I bring?

After signing up, you will be sent a detailed welcome packet that will have everything you need to know for a great weekend! Packing lists, weather updates, what to expect, and things we should know about you prior to coming to Monticello.

Below is a great article that describes Bikebags & how to pack:

http://bikepacker.com/beginners-guide-to-bikepacking-bags/

How do I know what my riding level is?

Beginner has little to no mountain biking experience; the rider is not comfortable on blue level runs. Blues are steeper, require knowledge of braking, steering and bike handling. If a rider can’t pump, manual, brake without skidding, front wheel lift, corner quickly, or ride technical terrain, the rider is classified as a beginner.

Intermediate is a wide range, but you are comfortable on terrain where you have to maneuver the bike. If you’re able to get off the ground with the bike, consider yourself intermediate. This means getting your front wheel up, pumping, using manual, braking effectively, getting air, and controlling the bike.

Advanced is comfortable with everything listed above and likes to ride steep, loose, and gnarly trails.  

Is bike set up going to be reviewed?

You should already have your bike set up for you, however, if you have a question, we are happy to help!  

Are the coaches certified? 

Yes. Guides are PMBI (Professional Mountain Bike Instructor) certified and are certified in First Aid.

What if there is something I am not comfortable with riding? 

Participation for everything is voluntary. Riders are NOT required to do anything that makes them uncomfortable or is above their skill level. If the coach feels the rider isn't experienced to be on the trail, the coach has the right for the safety of the rider to send them home. Each rider will fill out a survey prior to arrival to assess experience.

Should I bring tools?

If you have a multi-tool, spare tubes, and tire irons, please bring them. Coaches will have tools also.

Should I use flat pedals or clip ins?

Flat pedals are preferred if you have them.  

RETREAT CANCELLATIONS

It is your responsibility to read and understand our cancellation policy before making a reservation.

Naturally, no one books with the intention of cancelling or postponing their retreat, but unexpected things do happen, so please purchase travel cancellation insurance once you have made your reservation.

GUEST CANCELLATION POLICY

If you cancel your trip, AndShesDopeToo does not offer refunds for any reason. A portion of your payment may be used as credit for another retreat to be taken the next calendar year.

Depending on when you cancel, cancellation penalties may apply.

Fees are determined by the following schedule:

  • If you cancel more than 90 days before your retreat start date, 100% of your payment may be applied to another Retreat.
  • If you cancel 89 – 60 days before your retreat start date, 75% of your payment may be applied to another Retreat. You will forfeit 25% of the price of your retreat.
  • If you cancel 59 – 30 days before your retreat start date, 50% of your payment may be applied to another Retreat. You will forfeit 50% of the price of your retreat.
  • If you cancel 30 days or less before your retreat start date, you will forfeit your entire payment.

Exceptions to our policy cannot be made for any reason. We do not offer credit for a guest arriving late or leaving early.

ASDT RETREAT CANCELLATION POLICY

If AndShesDopeToo must cancel a booked retreat date for any reason, you may transfer your full retreat payment to another retreat, or you may request a refund of your payment to us.

AndShesDopeToo is not responsible for your expenses incurred in preparation for any cancelled retreat, such as airline tickets, loss of work, and/or other costs associated with preparing for your trip.

Roam Industry Outfitters | TRIP ITINERARY

Day 1

From our shop in Monticello, we will shuttle 25 minutes to our starting point at Abajo Peak. The peak at 11,000 ft will provide us with a great starting point where we can overlook the path we will follow. We will start our ride descending through the Abajo’s with slight climbs, and via the Causeway enter into the Elk Ridge area. These views will include areas such as Chippean Rocks. Elk Ridge is a narrow tabletop plateau, cut sharply on either side by spectacular red rock canyons. From here one can see the peaks of five major mountain ranges, the colorful and strangely eroded canyons of the Dark Canyon Wilderness Area and the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. We’ll set up camp around Little Dry Mesa for the night. | 22 miles

Day 2

From camp we will bike past Round Mountain, Duck Lake (usually just a meadow by mid-summer) and the Gooseberry Ranger Station. We will set up camp by Duck Lake, and will be able to resupply our water at the Gooseberry Ranger Station. This is some of the best mule deer and elk habitat in the state. | 17 miles

Day 3

From Duck Lake we’ll bike through our high point of the day “The Big Notch.” To the west of us will be views of the Dark Canyon Wilderness Area to the west and to the east Cottonwood Wash. A grand display of the geologic complexities of this high plateau country.

A mellow road we’ll make a couple stops for overlooks of Arch and Texas Canyon. We’ll then continue along the main road until we peak out between the infamous Bears Ears buttes, after which the Bears Ears National Monument was named. Here we will overlook much of Cedar Mesa, over to Natural Bridges, and many of the remote canyons and vast country of southeast Utah. From this point we’ll head down a road that switchbacks down the cliff side toward 95 where we’ll meet the shuttle when we reach the asphalt. | 25.9 miles

Each meal is carefully selected to not only be lightweight, but packed with taste for this trip. We will ask if there are certain diet restrictions in the participant survey that we send out after you purchase your ticket.