~M. Harden

Valparaíso Cerro Abajo 2011 from Toño on Vimeo.

Valparaíso Cerro Abajo 2011 from La Parva on Vimeo.

Dragon Slayer Tri-zip design

I’ve had my Dragon Slayer pack for over 9 months now, and had a chance to take it on a week-long mountain bike trip from Colorado to Utah. I’ve also used it for a few hikes as well. I was looking for a pack in the 2000 c.i. range and that was hydration bladder compatible. I wanted something bomb-proof and that could be used on a variety of bike and hike missions. Think a jack of all trades day pack, extended range hydration pack, and military patrol ruck.  My search led me to the Mystery Ranch Dragon Slayer (DS) pack. It’s identical to the 3-day Assault pack, but with an additional 300 c.i. of storage.

Good waist belt and narrow profile make the pack comfortable.

Right out of the box I could see that the quality of the DS was top notch. Having served in the Marine Corps Infantry, I know the value of good gear. The pack has a unique method of opening, via the tri-zip. The design allows you to top load the pack or fillet the entire thing open to access everything. That made it easy for me to load and unload the pack with pulling everything out. Internally, each side of the pack had a long sleeve pocket and a zippered mesh pocket, ideal for organizing your goods. The back panel had MOLLIE attachment points, although my hydration bladder covered them when hung. The lid of the DS has two zipper pockets. The top has an organizer portion and the lower pocket is mesh. I’m very familiar with the MOLLIE system, so having them on the exterior of the pack was a must. In case you’re not familiar with MOLLIE, it’s a system of attachment points that easily allows you to add pouches and accessories to gear. Examples of this would be: camera bags, water bottle pouches, sheaths, etc. I also liked the fact that the belt also had MOLLIE points, which allowed me to put commonly used items (knife, flashlight) within reach. The sides of the pack each had a pocket, which worked well for a nalgene bottle or stuffing a rain jacket into. Behind those pockets are pass through pockets, but I’m not sure how to utilize those.

Internal zipper and open pockets, and MOLLIE attachment points.

Futura harness and live wing belt.

I was somewhat concerned that the fully loaded pack may be too bulky or hinder my movement on the bike. After following the frame adjustment instructions, I loaded up the pack and began using it on training rides. I upgraded to the live wing belt when I ordered my pack, as I knew it would be supporting the majority of the load. Good idea, because the belt was very comfortable. I was impressed at how comfortable the pack felt, and how well it stabilized the approximate 30-40 lb load. There was no side to side sway when hammering down a rough trail or climbing out of the saddle. I also found it did not creep up toward my helmet during steep descents, the pack stays put! The width of the pack was also very well suited for bike riding, as it did not hinder my arm or leg movement. I would have liked some type of strap management system for the shoulder straps. I had to tuck the loose tails in after tightening down the shoulder straps. Not a big deal, but a top tier pack like this should have them.

Lid pockets. Top has organization sleeves, bottom is mesh.

Overall I give the pack an excellent rating in craftsmanship, design, and function. The DS also looks cool, which in my opinion is important in a product. I would definitely recommend it to my riding and military buddies. The DS was an outstanding choice for my trip, as it held up to heavy daily usage, a couple bike crashes, and made hauling the gear comfortable. Moral of this review: You won’t be disappointed if  you get your hands on a Mystery Ranch pack. www.mysteryranch.com

Starting point at Molas Pass.

I just returned home from an amazing, yet taxing bike adventure through the Colorado and Utah wilderness. Three other riders and I completed the San Juan Huts (http://www.sanjuanhuts.com/) Durango to Moab mission. It was a 7 day, 220 mile journey through the incredibly varied terrain of Southwestern Colorado, and Southeastern Utah.

Preparing for the big ride.

The crew met at Durango Mountain resort the day before the start of the ride. Jeff and Jake both flew in from the East coast, so bikes had to be re-assembled from transport. The final pack load inspections began. What to leave and what to take were tough decisions, since we’d be carrying our gear on our bikes and backs. A water purifier, rear derailleur, chain, and tires had to be spread loaded among us as well. The ride is a semi-self supported endeavor. We would be riding from one hut to another, which sleeps 8 people and contains food, water, a stove, and sleeping bags. We were responsible for all the normal ride gear, plus any extra clothing and personal items we may need. My set-up was a large Topeak saddle pack, a medium sized Jandd handle bar pack, and a Mystery Ranch 2,300 c.i.pack with hydration sleeve (reviews for this gear will be in another post). Traveling light was a good idea since the routes between huts would be anywhere from 24-35 miles, and 1,700-5,400 ft of climbing. I ran the map and compass portion of navigation, while Jeff was our GPS man. Five out of the seven days of riding offered alternate routes to the huts, giving us single track and foul weather options. I should mention that the guide packet gave the mileage and amount of climbing for each day, although for the standard route only. If we opted for the alternate routes, we had to guess on any extra distance or climbing difference. Choose wisely…

On Day 1 we were fired up and ready for some Colorado single track. We opted for the alternate route, which would start about 15 miles north at Molas Pass. A Hermosa Tours shuttle picked us up, and we were off. The trail head at Molas sits at ~10,500 ft. After a last check of our gear, we started on the fabled Colorado trail. A rolling start to the trail stoked our riding fire, until our first hill. Large packs, loaded bikes, and high elevation quickly dictated the pace we’d be taking. We weren’t at sea level anymore. We settled in, and rode a sick ribbon that flowed through meadows and forests. We were rewarded with sweeping views of high alpine lakes and valleys. Other riders slowly disappeared as we reached Rolling pass, which we all agreed was the highest elevation any of us had been at on bikes. The descent down into the valley was well deserved, and the trail was killer to boot. A flat tire, some creek crossings, and a bit of hike-a-bike later, brought us to the hut at about 6pm. We were all on the verge of bonking. I remember us four sitting in silence at the Bolam pass hut, eating a snickers, as we pondered the first day trek. I wondered if everyday was going to be like that. We found the hut stocked with an assortment of canned food, water, eggs, bread, bacon, and cheese. I came up with a Mexican dish for the hungry riders, which we devoured and washed down with some Modelos. Second dinner followed about 45 minutes later.

Day 1 to Rolling pass. Single track goodness!

A pit stop along the Colorado Trail.

Dropping in from Rolling pass

Resting the legs after a long day in the saddle.

On Day 2 we decided to rest our legs a bit, and take the standard route to the next hut. It would be mostly fire road, and allow us to cover the mileage quickly. An initial descent was a welcome start to the morning. We remained at elevation (~ 10,500 ft) as we rode through mountain meadows and passes, enroute to the Black Mesa hut. 3,300 ft of climbing took us up mtn switch backs, and past people picking wild blackberries. We arrived at the hut much earlier that day, with a bit of energy to spare. After gathering some fire wood and changing out of our riding garb, we attempted to wash some clothes in a creek. A mtn man in a Chevy Blazer stopped as he passed us. He wanted to know if we were panning for gold. I laughed and said just laundry, so he laughed and drove away. Our laundry operation was shut down a short time later by a perfectly timed rain shower. Clean chamois and jerseys were in short supply. After dinner, we cracked some beers out in back of the hut and enjoyed the last bit of sun. Day 2 had been an easier day.

Avoiding rain on the way to Bolam Pass hut.

View from Bolam Pass hut.

Jake bringing the Euro flavor.

Sun dried riding gear.

Deer, our only neighbors.

Day 3 started in high elevation, woodsy mountains. After a warming bacon and eggs breakfast by Nate and Jeff, we suited up and hit the road. Extra layers were needed for the start of our ride, as the San Juan Mtns were prepping for fall. There was no alternate route that day, so navigating was fairly easy. We were stoked on the 5,200 ft of descending waiting for us. After a couple short climbs, we arrived at our 2.2 mile descent that would take us into the Uncompahgre National Forest. A rocky double track twisted and flowed down to a lush Aspen forest below. A camouflaged faced hunter on a quad was the only person we saw on our way down. The downhill brought us to sunny skies, warm winds, and rolling hills. We ate lunch, and then made our way to Miramontes reservoir for a head dunk in the water. After the needed break, we pedaled away from the reservoir toward our final climb of the day, over Sandy’s Fort Pass. By this point we had dropped to ~7,500 ft and the the landscape had turned to a mix of plains and scrub brush. Jeff and Jake were out front, as usual, while I was Matt in the middle. Nate was a tough “tail end charlie.” A group of free range cattle were on the road, and there was little room to get past. I saw a few calves, and knew mom would be pissed if I rode a wheelie past her little ones. She was giving me the stink eye. I dropped a couple gears, in case I had to sprint, and then gave a good rodeo yell. Hell yeah, it worked like a charm. After catching up with Jeff and Jake at the next break spot, we waited a minute for Nate and asked him about his cow experience. No problems to report. We crested the pass, and saw the Lasal Mtns far off in the distance. The descent was a beautiful 5 mile fire road past back country ranches and killer vistas. We had arrived at Dry creek hut. Nate was a few minutes back, and came in with a hair ball skid. He asked us if we saw the bear! Nope. A bear had had been sitting in the middle of the road, when he came upon it at 25 MPH. Nate locked up the rear wheel, throwing a roost of gravel. Mr black bear hauled ass into the bushes. Good work Nate! The Dry Creek hut looked out over a expansive valley, with huge plateaus directly across from us. The views, sunset, and solitude were amazing.

Descending into Uncompahgre Forest

The crew taking a break at Miramontes.

Nate and his bear scaring roost.

The view from Dry Creek hut

Day 4 was a long day for us. 35 miles with 1,700 ft of climbing wasn’t too bad, but the constant head wind sapped us. The ground was wet in a few spots when we left the hut, as a classic Colorado thunderstorm pounded us overnight. Once we started on the route, we saw that the trail was good and the mud was minimal. We rode down into the valley we were overlooking the day before. The trail was red and earthy, as we past ancient homesteads and crusty BLM signs. The undulating route finally spit us out onto a well used fire road. A short big ring spin brought us to the tiny town of Basin, CO and the Bar S store. We hitched up our steads outside and went in for a look. After days of canned food and clif bars, a cold juice and a grilled cheese sando was too good to pass up. We chatted with the friendly ladies running the store, and then saddled up for the remainder of the ride. The fire road we took out of town was straight as an arrow for about 5 miles, under expansive skies. The wind was keeping our pace slow, as we pedaled into more remote country. Nate’s knee was giving him some trouble, so we took some weight out of his pack to help. Jeff went ahead to the hut, so that he could return to grab Nate’s pack. Jake and I rode wind blocker for Nate in the meantime. As we came within  a few miles of the Wedding Bell hut, it seemed like we were in the middle of nowhere. The terrain looked very similar to Moab, with small vegetation and rocky hillsides. Jeff reappeared, and said the hut was a short downhill from there. We descended a fun, rocky double track to the hut. I couldn’t believe a hut could be put out there. The insane views of the Dolores river canyon were awesome. We explored the area, and found remnants of a old mining operation (radium or uranium). What a desolate work site it would have been. Some beers and food ushered us into a chill evening.

Getting some real food in Basin.

The road from Basin, CO.

Wedding Bell hut on the Dolores Canyon rim.

Interior of Wedding Bell hut.

Day five had some great terrain in store for us. 33 miles, 2,800 ft of climbing, and 3,800 ft of descent. We started out contouring the canyon that the hut sat on, which took us on a gradual descent into Bull canyon. The switchback climb out was a tough one, so we recharged by eating lunch and enjoying the views from the top. The crew was looking forward to the descent into Paradox valley and to the Bedrock store, where ice cream and cold drinks awaited. We reached the overlook out onto the valley, and it seemed like  a miniature model. We could see the river, farms, and shadows from clouds move across the valley floor. Amazing. The route took us out onto Davis Mesa, and toward the infamous “Ketch ‘em up trail”, which drops 1,000 ft in a mile and claims mandatory hike-a-bike gnar. The faint double track along the mesa turned into a more pronounce single track at the edge of the valley wall. We were ready to drop! I flipped the propedal switch on my Remedy, and lowered my seat as much as I could with the saddle pack on. The trail started out twisty and flowy, which we all ate up. Then we got to the meat and potatoes of Ketch ‘em up. I came around a corner behind Nate and Jake, and saw them off to one side of the trail looking down, not a good sign. The trail quickly dropped away into a steep rocky chute. I had momentum and saw a good line, so I kept going. Thank you 6″ of travel front and rear! I cleaned the first tech section, and thought this might be really cool. I lead the way down, as the crew tried their hand at some sections. A couple turns later revealed DH worthy rock gardens, drops, and chutes. Unless you’re Steve Peat on a V-10, your ass is walking this stuff! The trail mellowed out a bit down below, and we all jumped on for some techy goodness. Nate rocked the helmet cam, while Jake provided the talent. They both went down during the descent. Ketch ‘em up claims two more. With just a couple scraps and bruises we made it to the Bedrock store. Cold root beers, chips, chocolate doughnuts, and philly sandos did us good. Nate had some ice for his knee, which I took the remainder for beers at the hut. 8 miles later, and we reached Paradox hut. I threw the ice and some beers in a pot to chill. The hut sat near a back woods B&B. They offered riders: rooms, food, showers, and shuttles for a fee. We contacted Heather and set up a shuttle for Nate the following morning. He’d meet us half way into the ride, to save his knee. We asked Heather about food and ice. She said she’d delivery it to the hut for $10/head. Done! We feasted on lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and warm cinnamon rolls for dinner. We all agreed it was the best $10 meal we ever had. The ice supplied us with cold beers all night.

The crew along the Dolores canyon.

Nate overlooking Paradox Valley

Running the gauntlet down Ketch 'em up.

Our pit stop at the Bedrock store.

Day 6 was going to be a big day, although only 24 miles long to Geyser Pass hut high in the Lasal Mtns. 5,300 ft of climbing ensured a full day of riding. Jeff, Jake, and I set off early, to be beat the heat. Nate waited at the hut for his 9:30 am shuttle to Buckeye reservoir. The three of us riding began on a semi-flat fire road that soon pitched up into steep switch backs. Within an hour we gained 1,600 ft. Our legs and asses were feeling that. A little reprieve at the top, and then it was rolling and more short climbs to Buckeye. The dry, rocky scenery gave way to the Manti-Lasal forest. Cooler temps, evergreens, and aspens greeted us on the Colorado-Utah border. We ate lunch, and figured Nate had continued on ahead of us. We continued on into the forest, passing Redds’ Cattle Ranch. A hunter told us Nate was an hour in front of us, cool. The three of us were starting to feel the ~4,000 ft of climbing we had already done by that point. We found a small lake, and stopped for a head dunk and snack break. The route was now going to change a bit. The hut had been moved recently, so we had to pay close attention to the directions, as we had no GPS coordinates for the new hut location. We pedaled and pushed up a rocky mtn road, until we finally knew we had missed a turn. Jeff, Jake, and I decided we need to turn around and descend back ton our last known turn. We rode about a mile and saw a super faint double track leading off into some aspens. We had been so tired earlier, that we missed the small rock pile and red tape. A short stretch up the trail, and we came upon Geyser Pass hut nestled in a grove of aspen trees. This was by far the most picturesque hut setting. Nate said he had not beat us there by very long. We were beat. After changing clothes and grabbing a beer, I decided to whip up some classic post-ride fare,  chicken burritos. Jeff cooked some rice to go with the savory meal. After dinner we walked out to the sunny meadow just past the hut, and listened to coyotes, cows, and elk call out to each other. The scene on the eastern slope of the Lasals had a calming effect, and we all enjoyed the perfect evening. We finished off the flasks of Maker’s and Hennessy around the wood burning stove, and talked about the final day of epic trails ahead of us.

*An interesting note: Nate learned from Heather that she shuttles people about once a week during the riding season. Reasons ranged from bike mechanicals, injuries, and exhaustion. We wondered what the failure rate was for the trip after hearing that. Also, the Ketch ‘em up trail is used to get cattle up to grazing meadows during certain seasons. That’s amazing, considering the steepness and rockiness of the trail.

The first big climb out of Paradox valley.

Entering Manti-Lasal forest

The view from Geyser pass hut.

Matt making some killer chicken burritos for the crew.

Day 7 was our final riding day of the trip, and on the menu was a whopping 7,400 ft of descending into Moab, UT. We planned on taking the Alternate route, which was the maximum single track for the day. A short climb up to the top of the pass, and we hit the Moonlight Meadows trail head. The twisty trail flowed through expansive meadows, where cattle openly grazed, and tight tree groves. We had to shoo the cattle from some portions of the trail, only to watch them run down the single track and into the trees. The trail turned into the Clark lake trail, and became a bit steeper with some tech sections thrown in. We all agreed that we definitely earned that days downhill. From the green, forested slopes of the Lasal Mtns, we could see down into the red, rocky, barren landscape of Moab. After a short hike-a-bike, we came to signs for Hazard County trail. The good stuff was getting close! A couple turns down a fire road, and we arrived at the Hazard’s trail head. We could see a trail climbing up a hill nearby. Jeff asked if we had to climb it, but I couldn’t remember from the last time I had been there. Yep, we had to climb it. After all the riding we had done, a small climb to an epic downhill was devastating to us. I could hear grumblings behind me as we began to pedal up. I knew they’d be stoked once they saw the view from the top, and began the buffed trail. We dropped in, and the smiles began. Berms, roller, and flowy single track delivered! The trail spit us out onto Kokopelli’s trail, which was a fast double track with an assortment of natural jumps. UPS (upper poison spider) came up quick, and served up the classic Moab rocks, steeps, and gnar. We ate lunch on the rim of the valley, over looking the Colorado river below. We saddled up, when a couple groms stopped to say hi. They asked if we had come from Burro Pass. Jeff squashed that, and told him we had come from Durango. They groms were impressed and thought our packs looked big for a day mission. We took turns leading the way down UPS and the techy pitches. Jeff was getting a little beat-up on his 29′er hardtail, especially with the weight of his handlebar bag. He opted for Sandy Flats, while Jeff, Nate, and  I continued to LPS (lower poison spider) and then to Porcupine rim. LPS was more of the same rocky goodness, keeping us on our game during the descent. We took a couple short breaks in the shade, and realized we had forgotten to fill up on water from an earlier creek. Awesome trail distracted us. Nate was almost out, but had some Gatorade in his water bottle. Jeff and I still had water flowing, plus half a bottle of Gatorade each. We decided to pick up the pace onto Porcupine rim. The upper portion was a super rocky double track that almost zero clean lines. We were getting bounced all over, and the heat was getting to us. By the time we reached the lower portion of the trail (the best part), we were getting close to bonksville. I gave up my Gatorade to Nate and Jeff, and then kept on dropping. My water dried up a few minutes later. The trail hugged the rim of the canyon, keeping the Colorado river in sight to our right. We knew cold beers and tasty eats were waiting for us at the Brewery. Auto pilot set in, as I pointed my rig down gnarly chutes and off camber rock gardens. At some points, I thought “I can’t believe I just made that.” The trail finally released us onto the road by the river. We were hot and dusted. I suggested to call Jeff to come grab us in the truck. Haha, no cell reception. We quickly jumped into a pace line, and started for town. By the time we reached the main road into town, our pace line had blown up, and it was every man for himself. A few minutes later, maybe longer, and we reached our motel. Jeff was in the shade drinking a cold Gatorade. We could barley talk as we crashed onto the shady grass. We did a quick clean up and change in the room, and headed for the brewery. $2 pints and $5 burgers set us straight. It was good to be back in civilization. We recovered quickly, and thought how funny it was that we hadn’t really been around any other people for the week. Jeff and Jake had to catch a shuttle back to Durango after the meal. And like that we were done with our epic. We lucked out with weather, mechanicals, and injuries. Our ride couldn’t have been better. This was a true mtn bike adventure, that unplugged us from the buzz of everyday life. We all needed it.

Matt coming up to Moonlight Meadows.

Jeff savoring Moonlight Meadows trail.

Getting ready to drop in on Hazard's.

Matt dropping one of the steeps on UPS trail.

The crew parts ways at the Moab brewery.