MOUNT
CARMEL XP
MOUNT CARMEL JUNCTION,
UTAH
55-50-50
MAY 2nd-4th, 2009
JOIN US FOR A GREAT RIDE IN BEAUTIFUL SOUTHERN UTAH AND THE
SCENIC CANYON COUNTRY EAST OF ZION NATIONAL PARK. YOU AND YOUR HORSE
WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE THROUGH THE MOST SPECTACULAR
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
BASE CAMP: THE CAMP IS LOCATED 11 MILES EAST OF
ZION NATIONAL PARK, AND JUST SOUTH OF MOUNT CARMEL
JUNCTION. THIS IS WHERE UTAH STATE 9 DEAD ENDS INTO US
HWY 89. ABOUT 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF THAT JUNCTION, TOWARDS KANAB,
HWY 89 CROSSES THE E. FORK OF THE VIRGIN RIVER. THE CAMP IS IN
THE LARGE FLAT AREA EAST OF THE HIGHWAY AND SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY.
THIS SITE HAS VERY EASY ACCESS FOR THE MEGA RIGS THAT ARE NOW
SO POPULAR. IN ADDITION IT WILL BE ADJACENT TO THE RIVER AND WILL
HAVE A BETER STAGING AREA FOR THE START AND FINISH LINE. YOU
WILL LIKE IT. HERE IS A MAP OF CAMP AND A LARGER MAP SO
YOU CAN TELL WHICH WAY TO GO TO GET HERE. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON DIRECTIONS.
ALL OF THE RIDES WILL LOOP BACK INTO THIS BASE CAMP. THE
ELEVATION AT THE CAMP IS 5200 FEET AND THE AVERAGE DAYTIME
TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE IN THE MID 70’S. RAIN SHOWERS ARE A
POSSIBILITY. THE EVENINGS ARE COOL, SO BRING WARM CLOTHES AND HORSE
BLANKETS. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF WATER ON THE TRAIL AND AT THE
CAMPSITE. THERE IS A WIDE VARIETY OF SALES AND SERVICE
ESTABLISHMENTS INCLUDING MOTELS AND RESTAURANTS, WITHIN WALKING
DISTANCE. THE NEARBY THUNDERBIRD GOLF COURSE IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
FREE SHOWERS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE XP SHOWER TRAILER. THOSE OF YOU
WITH EXTRA TIME MAY WANT TO TAKE A SHORT SIDE TRIP TO SEE BRYCE AND
ZION NATIONAL PARKS, OR THE NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON.
TRAIL: THE WELL MARKED COURSE FOLLOWS SINGLE TRACK CATTLE
AND HORSE TRAILS, TWO TRACK JEEP ROADS AND A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF
GRADED ROAD. THEY TRAVERSE A VARIETY OF GRASSY MEADOWS, PINION AND
JUNIPER FORESTS. THE VIEWS ALONG THE TRAIL ARE BREATHTAKING. MOST OF
THE TRAILS ARE SANDY OR CLAY WITH JUST ENOUGH ROCKS TO MAKE IT
INTERESTING. THE COURSE IS RELATIVELY EASY WITH GENTLE CLIMBS AND
GOOD FOOTING. THE TRAIL CHANGES MADE IN 2005 HAVE MADE FOR A BETTER
RIDE AND WE EXPECT TO MAKE SOME FURTHER CHANGES ON THE THIRD DAY
THAT WILL USE SOME NEW TRAIL AND MAKE THE LAST DAY A LITTLE
EASIER.
AWARDS: INDIVIDUAL AWARDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE FASTEST
TIME AND BEST CONDITION OF EACH RIDE. AN OVERALL AWARD WILL BE GIVEN
TO THE HORSE AND RIDER FINISHING IN THE FASTEST TIME FOR ALL THREE
DAYS. AN OVERALL BEST CONDITION AWARD FOR THE HORSE THAT COMPLETES
ALL THREE DAYS IN THE BEST CONDITION. COMPLETION AWARDS WILL BE
GIVEN TO ALL SUCCESSFUL HORSE AND RIDER TEAMS. HORSE AND RIDER TEAMS
THAT COMPLETE ALL 2006 XP RIDES WILL RECEIVE THE SPECIAL EMBROIDERED
XP JACKET AND BLANKET.
ENTER THIS RIDE
There are two ways to come
from CA and Southern NV.
Turn off at MP 16 on Interstate 15 and head east towards Zion
National Park. When you come into Hurricane, Utah turn R at the sign
towards the Grand Canyon.
I think it is the third light in Hurricane. Follow the signs
towards Fredonia, Az and the Grand Canyon. Option 1 occurs just past
Colorado City, which is on the UT AZ border. You can make a left turn on
the dirt road that goes to the Cane Beds. If you stay on this road it
will turn to pavement when you come over the Utah State line. Continue on the pavement,
past Coral Pink Sand Dunes and it will dead end at a T. Turn L at the T on US Hwy
89 and go to the bottom
of the hill. The camp
is at the bottom of the hill on the right side of the
road.
Option
2 would be to continue on the paved highway through Colorado City
and go to Fredonia, AZ.
Turn L at the stop sign in Fredonia and go north to Kanab.
Continue North on Hwy 89 to the ride site at Mt. Carmel. There is a map on the web
site. The dirt road is about 6-8 miles as I recall and is really
nice some of the time and really washboard at others. You can go slow and save gas
or go fast and stay on the highway and probably get there within 15
minutes of the same time.
You can drive like I do and save time and gas by driving
65-70 on the dirt road and save a lot of time. Hope this helps, See you soon,
Dave | 
