Mountain Biking the Kokopelli Trail

Last week, I joined my friends Charley Mace, Bob Kauffman, Craig Connor, and Daniel Bedell for a classic mountain bike journey on the Kokopelli Trail.

me and Bob, with Daniel behind us, all taking on more narrow, stone-covered, loose singletrack — Me and Bob, with Daniel behind us, all taking on more narrow, stone-covered, loose singletrack.

Starting from Loma, CO, this 142-mile mountain bike route features difficult and spectacular riding, first along the Colorado River and then through the La Sal mountains, eventually landing in the mecca of desert adventure, Moab, UT.

charley and craig study a trail map by side of road with helmets on and view is from behind — Charley and Craig studying a trail map along the route… they never put me in charge of that.

a panoramic view of the desert with a mesa in background and mostly tan colors with one green tree on right side — A panoramic of the desert.

serious faces on the tandem bike — A close-up shot of me and Bob riding more singletrack.

craig riding high on a ridge, shot from below and a bit further away — Craig riding high on a ridge, shot from below and a bit further away.

After several long days of riding, we bailed at Fisher Mesa trailhead with some mechanical issues and a snowstorm blanketing our path. I’m sure I’ll return to close out the last section someday, but in the meantime, I’ll rest (and recover) easy knowing the trip was otherwise a complete success.

A campsite area lined in low trees and orange rock rising from the earth.

erik is in blue shirt and yellow helmet with bike leaning against rock and charley has a red shirt and is holding his hand up to block the sun — All of us taking a break under the hot sun, our bikes scattered about.

Tandem biking is a great way for a blind guy to get some wind in his hair (at least what I have left!), and it was a good test of my fitness to be on the bike again (our third day had 7,200 feet of climbing in 35 miles). With tired legs, a sore rear end, and a grateful heart, we part ways with the Kokopelli Trail.