Porcupine Rim
As a group, we go through phases. Sometimes we go wheeling and we're still on the trail when the sun has long since set. Other times, we're back in town for dinner at a reasonable hour. The day before, most of the group decided that they wanted a more relaxed day in Moab so they wanted to skip wheeling. Mike didn't do the first day of wheeling with us, and Monica always wants to get out on a trail, so the trip up and back down Porcupine Rim ended up being a run with just two of us.
We didn't even leave very early. We hung out in town and then got to the trail at a little after 11AM. We had to stop at Baby Lions Back on the way, of course, and Mike went down it a couple times just to test things out on slickrock. We were looking forward to a relaxing day without much of a scheduled plan.
We had a good time on the first set of loose rocks on slickrock, even though it tips you out to the canyon a bit here and there. That was nothing, of course, because we soon found ourselves on the Diagonal Ledges. We did Top Of The World the day before, and we were used to needing a spot before attempting obstacles. We planned it out and then tried it, only to find that it was pretty mellow once you got on it. We didn't have any problems.
We followed the canyon, seeing people on bicycles here and there. It was definitely scenic. When we got to the Chunky Ledges were ready for some more fun. Again, we got out to plan our attack very carefully and then when we were in it we didn't think it was a big deal. We agreed that if we had done Porcupine Rim before Top Of The World we might be feeling differently about the obstacles. These obstacles were smaller, but they could really tip you out over the cliff that was right next to the trail. They were intimidating, but the right line made them fairly easy.
We noted the optional exit on our way by it, and then we were working our way away from Negro Bill Canyon and closer to the Porcupine Rim. The trail was fairly easy until the Big Ledge. Monica did the ledge, though it wasn't easy. Mike took the bypass.
The trail turned, and then we had Sideways left. It's not next to a cliff, so there was more room for error. Still, it was fairly straightforward even though we got out to plan our route. Mike was worried he'd bottom out, but he didn't even get close. We joked that maybe we forgot how to judge an obstacle after our crazy day before.
We got to the first overlook and it was lunch time, so we broke out chairs, tables and food. We had the overlook to ourselves for a bit, but then it was packed with people and bicycles for most of the time we were there. We stayed for a long and leisurely lunch, chatting with people and enjoying watching them work the rocks. We could have stayed out there for the rest of the day in our comfy patch of shade. Monica took the time to take her Jeep top all the way down for only the second time ever. It was nice having extra time for a change.
We talked about going out to the second obstacle but then changed our minds. The big scenery was right in front of us, so we didn't need to see it again a bit farther down the rim. Besides, there were a lot of bicycles doing the Whole Enchilada trail. We eventually got back in our Jeeps and headed back out with Mike in the lead.
We passed by the optional exit, choosing to do the trail on the way out, too. We stopped to check out the obstacles next to the cliff before doing them, but in the end we didn't have any scares on the way down, either. We were just relaxed and confident.
It didn't take long to get done with the trail, and we had plenty of daylight left. It was nice to have a relaxing day on a single trail for a change of pace. We headed back into Moab.
Reports from Other Days: 2
Use the arrows or dots to flip through the previews of the other reports for Porcupine Rim. Click one of them to read more and see all of the photos from that day.
