Atop this mesa, the machinations of man are in sight; far, far away—down below. One would think this location is hardly teeming with life… Look again, it is all around you. The dry shrubs carpeting the desert floor are indeed alive. Never let the color this area fool you. The soil, yes it too, is alive. The trail I’m so joyously using has been carved with articulate consideration through the desert.
A trail in our fragile ecosystem gives us a glimpse into another world. It is quiet up here: devoid of mechanical oppression, other than the threshing of revolving wheels, and the panting cyclist eagerly controlling the two-wheeled machine up the mesa.
My lungs and legs burn, but it is hardly a burden when I see how far I’ve taken myself. The cities of Washington County are visible below: Ivins, Santa Clara, west St. George, and Bloomington, with its ocean-like valley stretching into the horizon of grayish-brown. I strongly advise other cyclists and hikers using this trail that they use it with caution. When you’re up here, you must respect yourself, the wildlife, and the BLM (for developing such a wonderful trail).
Stay on the trail and make it home safely with a camera full of images 🙂
-Dominik