Not that it will matter for this trip since UPS/LPS are both still covered in snow, but they are both illegal trails. I mention it because there were Forest Service rangers out last year at the start of UPS issuing tickets to those who rode it. It's a tough line to draw, since most people don't even know the trails are illegal. I know of at least one shuttle company in town that tells people about them, and I know many of the shops tell their customers about them as well. It's such a bummer that they are illegal too, because DAMN are they fun!

 

Well, I'm all for Moab as well. As far as dates go, I'll leave that up to everyone else. As long as I have a little notice, I should be good to get the time off work.

Yeah, as far as bikes go, I'm always either staring at Jeep stuff or bike stuff. I'm a certified Bike/Jeep geek. (Just ask my wife ) I was curious what type of bike you rode, as I know a few rides in Moab that would absolutely floor you, but they are geared toward longer travel, full suspension rigs. Usually 6" of squish or more. Most are very technical, and all about slow speed line choosing. One of the trails is 5 miles long and takes a group of good riders 4 hours to ride. Fun stuff.

 

The bike shop that shuttled us never said a word but charged me $25.00 per person,They seemed to be on the up and up.Never the less, We rode it and it was a good time.Trail closures on hiking/biking trails like that are lame.

 

They are lame unless there is a good environmental reason for it. if the area has been abused, they need to close it for a while or permanatly so as not to destroy the environment.

 

These particular ones are a tough call. They were put in illegally, and cross both Forest Service and BLM lands. Because they are trails that make sense, one of the land use orgs has looked the other way, while the other has gotten pretty militant.
Even though they were "poached in" trails, they were done so with a conscience, so they are environmentally sound and don't suffer from bad erosion issues. Problem is that they are illegal, but this isn't widely known. The people at fault aren't the ones like cousin eddy, who ride the trails when they stumble on them, it's the shops and shuttle companies that promote them, and the locals that ride them and do their best to make the trails obvious for everyone.
The BLM and Forest Service have agreed to work with the Moab locals on building new trails, but because it's a long process, too many locals (and others) just go off half cocked and build shit anyway. Time and time again the BLM and FS have made it clear that they will NOT legalize user created trails, so I'm not sure what the trail creators expect.
Had the builders gone about the process in the correct way, the trails may still exist, but may actually be legal. There is a need for these trails, as they are the middle links in a downhill ride that starts at 11,500 feet and ends at 4,000 feet. 7,000 vertical feet of decent on mostly single track is un-heard of in the bike world. If only it had been approached in a legal fashion.

 

what trails are we talking about here? I dont think i have ever really heard of them.

 

They are two trails that drop out of the LaSals and join onto Porcupine Rim. Very fun Single Track, but for now, illegal.

 

I sure am glad that we had the chance to ride that when we did,even though I had my 48 pound Foes.I wish that I had brought a freeride bike.

 

A Foes in Flagstaff? Did you buy it at AZ Bikes?

Yeah, anyone who didn't get a chance to ride them before they were declared illegal certainly missed out.

 

I would also like to see a run in the middle of the state. Outside of Arizona is a bit too far for a weekend run for me, especially on the North side(I live in Tucson)

Shadowpro-jk, I would love to go in a couple weeks but I will be in Big Bear, CA skiing.