This ride requires street licensed vehicles
Included as part of this week's long adventure loop:
Valley of the Gods, Moki Dugway, Muley Point, Bears Ears National Monument, Natural Bridges, Abajo Mountains, Needles, Lockhart Basin, La Sal Mountains, Moab, Kokopelli's Trail, Old Spanish Trail, San Rafael Swell, The Wedge Overlook, Castle Valley, Capitol Reef NP, Dixie National Forest, Burr Trail, Henry Mountains, Canyonlands Maze. WOW and so much more!
About the Gecko
This spectacular red rock adventure is designed for side by sides, motorcycles and Jeeps. It does require street licensed vehicles. The route is mostly dirt roads forming a big loop around southeast Utah. There are several route choice options that offer up both hard routes and easy bail out routes which can be mostly paved.
These routes are often very remote and support is often non existent. Don't go alone and be prepared to take care of yourself. We do not recommend this adventure in the summer as it can be very hot; spring or fall is best.
Carry lots of water always!
Riders should have a range of 140 mile between gas stops.
In spring and fall be prepared for quick weather changes and carry extra gear in case you have to spend the night on the trail.
This ride is split into a 7 day plan with motel suggestions and gas stops.
This Gecko adventure is one of my favorite rides in all of Utah and frankly, in all of North America. Like the Grand Canyon, but with more powerful colors, it shows us of a world that few of us get to experience: somewhere between red rock beauty and harsh deserts. On top of that, there is just plain good riding--fast dirt roads, open sand washes, rocky obstacles, mountain passes, even a bit of forests. And for most of us there is wildlife that we never get to see. Geckos, yes. Snakes, yes. I have even seen buffalo on this route. Go prepared and have a ride of a lifetime.
Ride Signup info:
The cost to join this 7 day ride is $895 for a single rider. This covers your lodging for the 7 nights during the ride and the cost of the support truck and driver. Hotel rooms are double occupancy. This also covers your ride packets which include custom Garmin GPS maps on a micro SD card and printed ride maps and descriptions.
The cost to join this 7 day ride is $1,395 for a Rider and Passenger. This covers your lodging for the 7 nights during the ride and the cost of the support truck and driver. You will receive a double hotel room, meaning it will have two beds. This also covers your ride packets which include custom Garmin GPS maps on a micro SD card and printed ride maps and descriptions.
Now taking signups: You can now reserve your spot on this ride by leaving a $200 Deposit for a single rider or a $300 deposit for a rider and passenger. (Ride limit is 18)
SORRY RIDE FULL, but you can add your name to the waiting list and if someone cancels I will contact you.
After your signup riders will receive an email from me with further ride information and instructions.
Note: Riders must make full payment by August 28th, 2021
Riders will receive ride packets in the mail one week before the ride.
Refund Policy
Do not sign up for this ride unless you are serious about coming. I take your signup very seriously and start planning for you the minute you sign up. If you need to cancel up to one month prior to the ride start date I will give you a full refund but I will keep $100 to cover the planning work. Sorry but I make non refundable commitments myself so it gets hard for me. "I hate this world of non refundable deals myself." If you need to cancel within one month of the ride I cannot give a refund unless I can find a replacement rider. In the case of finding a replacement rider, I will gladly give you the full refund minus the $100 to cover the planning work. In the event of ride cancellation, you will be given a full refund.
Questions about this ride contact:
Young Jedi Jeffrey: Jeffrode@gmail.com
View the ride on the Satellite Maps
OK since many of you like to study more detail about the ride, below are the ride maps.
I put these ride maps on the web page because I know a few of you love looking at the ride detail and dreaming about the ride. At first glance these maps do not look so impressive, but they are way cool. If you start zooming in, you can see the ride in incredible detail. I have spent a ton of hours sorting through the details of the ride for each day, so for those of you that enjoy this sort of thing, well enjoy!
Legend:
The Blue lines are MAIN UTBAT Routes
The Red lines are Hard Alternate Routes
The Green lines are Easy Alternate Routes
Black lines are Out and Backs to Gas and Towns
Who's going on this ride?
Joey L & Passenger
Marana, AZ
Yamaha YXZ
Tim & Joy B Anaheim, CA
RZR Super Duper
Jeffrey & Belen Escondido, CA
Yamaha YXZ Blue
Charles & Diane C Corona, CA
Razor 1000 2 seater
Joe J
Syracuse, UT
Roberto C
Menlo Park, CA
Toyota Tacoma
Ed B & Jim W
Fort Wayne, IN
Toyota Tacoma
Bernie & Chad G Fullerton, CA
Steve S Huntington Beach, CA
Scott A & Passenger
Tehachapi, CA
Greg & Pam M Chino Valley, AZ
Homemade Jeep Concoction Ford Ranger
Kenny & Bob Y
Oak Hills, CA
How does the ride navigation work?
This is a self-led GPS ride; all riding is on your own. You are responsible for your own riding. You will be given a GPS map file and instructions on how to use your Garmin GPS unit. People will hook up in small groups of less than 6 riders and tend to ride together. You are not encouraged to ride alone. You are responsible for your own riding and yourself.
(see my ride Navigation Video)
Are you right for this ride?
When something goes wrong on a ride, would your riding friends say that you are more likely to need help or more likely to give help? You should be in the more likely to offer help camp. This ride is filled with riders that are more likely to give help, so most of the time the riders never need help. Additionally there is all the normal stuff, come prepared to maintain your bike, fix your bike on the trail, repair flat tires, deal with bad weather and rain and make a joke or two.
How do I make the GPS stuff so easy?
I develop very high quality ride maps custom for our ride. They come from much of what I and others have ridden. I take the best from all my rides and make new ones.
(See my Custom Ride Maps Video)
Note from me, gpsKevin
My goal for this ride is simple: great riding. So you can count on great routes and places to ride.
But in addition, the ride is about discovering new places, meeting new friends, seeing new parts of the world.
Thanks
gpsKevin
FAQ's
Q:What will the weather be like this time of year?
A: In September, the weather is most often nice, could be a little hot in the lower deserts and it can be cold in the morning and in the mountains. But sometimes there can be rain. Wet and muddy routes can force us to change our routes. Come prepared with extra gear for cold and wet.
Q: Would this be a good ride for new riders?
A: No, this ride is for intermediate and experienced riders only. The riding has easy route choices and tough route options. Each evening we will study the following day's choices. You will find lots of supportive people at the ride.
Q: What are motel room arrangements?
A: Rooms are double occupancy, meaning each rider shares a two queen bed room with another rider.
Q: What bikes are right for this ride?
A: Adventure bikes and Dual Sport bikes can all work well by choosing the easy or hard route options.
Q; What do I do if I don't have a Garmin GPS?
A: Buy one, you need it, we will show you how to use it. You can get a great one for under $200 bucks. ( See gpsKevin's gps recommendations)
Q: Is the riding really on my own?
A: Yes, but almost everyone hooks up and rides with a friend or a new friend.
Q: What gas mileage range should I have for this ride?
A: I recommend a range of 200 miles that is enough even when normal obstacles are encountered.
