In the southeastern desert of the state of Utah, there is a magical little town located in a valley surrounded by rock, river, mountains and red sand.  With a unique, multicultural, and brilliant community where community garden projects, music, art and film events, a local market, a university and many sports open to anyone who wants to participate are shared. 

In the last quarter of 2017, after going around the states of Colorado, Nevada and California on our minivan, "the BooBoo Mobile", looking for what to do and how to do with our life, Quincy brought me to Moab. We needed a place to live in community, find a job and save money. And at the end we were left living 7 years and learning many new things. 

Moab is a very special place. I am very happy and proud to have had all this time and to have made friends in my heart for life. 

Next, in my practice writing on our blog, I am going to tell you some of the things that made me very happy in this place on planet Earth. I hope you enjoy it and I would love to read your comment.

There we go…

Mountain Biking

I have been told that Moab is one of the mountain bike capitals of the world, with routes for all levels and tastes. This is true, people come from all over the world to ride around the most popular trails that begin at the top of the mountains and, jumping from canyon to canyon, descending along cliffs, between pine forests and a desert of stones and sand, and ending up in the Colorado River. Most famous are “The Whole Enchilada”, “The Mag Seven”, and “Navajo Rocks” among others.

At the top of Gold Bar about to get into The Portal biking trail.

There are many trail systems near the town that we love, Bar M, Klonzo and Klondike, they have quick and easy access, with spectacular views. There are flowy, rocky, shredy and smily trails, and all kind of bikers, it can be a racers or a spacers, and all get to enjoy the scenery.

The combination of lines, red earth, sand stones and cactus make these places very interesting. You can find paths that are very calm, that flow nice and you can ride a bike in a relaxed manner or you can search for adrenaline on some more technical ones where you pass between giant stones, drops of all sizes and curves that make you feel in your own “Roller Coaster.”

Road Biking

Road biking is another way to enjoy this beautiful desert and its views. There is a “bike path” system that begins in the town and can be reached to Grandstaff Canyon, currently it ends abruptly on the road but there are plans to extend it until the completion of The Whole Enchilada which it would be another mile or so. You can also reach to state road 313, approximately 10 kilometers outside the town to the north. It's not a long distance, but it's very nice and enough to cut off a day of work or simply walk out of the house and ride without having to drive.

8miles north of Moab, bike path on our way back.

Hikings

Many people come to hike the national parks, Arches and Canyonlands and some state parks with many miles of trails and roads with panoramic views of canyons, passages between giant rocks, petroglyphs of thousands of years old, a lot of history and the most popular are the arches. They can be found inside and outside the parks. A giant rocky structure formed by erosion in who know how many years making up wonderful stone bows.

Canyonering

An idea that we love in which we need practice and a lot of confidence. With a mix between walking and hanging you can reach very exclusive places thanks to a rope and a harness. Teamwork and good communication are key to this sport. We love it and we are going for more.

Descending from an arch hanging one on each side with the same rope. Very fun.

Kayaking

Someones like to float in the Colorado River. Boats, canoes, inflatable boats, or simply with a float tube. There is a very nice section where the water runs calmly and one can enjoy the view without worries. It is a spectacle, the river runs through open areas with views of mountains and enormous stone towers, until it enters the canyons with giant walls at the edge of the water.

A mile from down town, at the peatonal bridge.

There are more active sections where many of us go to have fun in white water. There are rapids that are active all year round, waves that form depending on the amount of water and many stones to play with the eddies that they form. Our favorite activity is white water kayaking. At the end of 2023 we started to take the wave of the river and today we love it and we want more.

Floating together gave us personal lessons regarding the power of the river and as a couple.

And some Winter activities…

Ice Skating

In these seven years we had some quite cold winters in which the water Ken's Lake reserve froze and we were able to practice ice skating and play hockey. There is a group of beautiful people who gather on the coldest mornings on the shores of the lake to play on the ice of lake surface.

Backcountry

La Sal Mountains.

Mount Tukuhnikivatz, "Tuk" in center, about 12,500 feet tall

The La Sal Mountains are home to many species of really beautiful plants and trees and wild animals. Spring evolves quickly, sage, prickly pear cactus, glow mallow, among others bloom everywhere, summer is the perfect time to camp among the pine trees near the lakes and creeks taking a break from the high temperatures of the town, which generally July and August does not drop below 35°C or 100°F, dry and sunny. Autumn is the favorite season of many, it is cool in the morning, warm in the afternoon and cools down again at night. The trees turn yellow and red until the first frosts arrive, bringing the snow season and one of my favorite activities, the Backcountry.

I love this mountains. Thanks Evan Clopper for the pic.

Thanks to some local friends I had the pleasure of sliding down one of these intimidating snow-filled ramps. Split boarding is one of my most fun ever. I have been practicing this sport for a few years, and I want to continue doing it in a safe and fun way.

MOAB

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