Post by Peter Bakwin on Nov 4, 2011 14:06:02 GMT -5
Charles Corfield, 25h50m (east to west), Oct. 8-9, 2011.
The Paradox Trail is 105 mile long route stretching from near Nucla, Colorado, to the flank of the La Sal Mountains near Moab, Utah. Along with the Kokopelli Trail and the Tabeguache Trail, it rounds out the big three trails established by the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA). Together, these trails form the "Grand Loop", a grueling 360 mile backcountry system.
The Paradox Trail was established in 1995. It consists mostly of jeep roads, with some 2WD roads, cattle tracks and trails as well, and just 2 miles of pavement. The route is sparsely marked with carsonite posts, and can be difficult to follow. Existing maps don't accurately show all the old roads. Corfield carefully studied available information, including aerial imagery, to come up with a detailed GPS track, which he followed during the run. We hope to post a corrected version of this track here soon.
Charles Corfield ran the Paradox from east to west on October 8-9, 2011. Peter Bakwin started the trail with Corfield, but was unable to complete the route, stopping at about the half-way mark. Greg Poettgen also ran with the pair for the first 30 miles, then switched to crewing. Earlene Antonelli, of Nucla, CO, also supported the group for the first half of the run. Conditions we very good, with temperatures well below freezing at night, and into the 50s in the daytime. There was some mud along the route due to a heavy storm 2 days prior, but it was not a big issue. Mud could be a show-stopper for running or crewing on this route, which passes through layers of shale.
Corfield's gpx file for the route is here.
The Paradox Trail is 105 mile long route stretching from near Nucla, Colorado, to the flank of the La Sal Mountains near Moab, Utah. Along with the Kokopelli Trail and the Tabeguache Trail, it rounds out the big three trails established by the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA). Together, these trails form the "Grand Loop", a grueling 360 mile backcountry system.
The Paradox Trail was established in 1995. It consists mostly of jeep roads, with some 2WD roads, cattle tracks and trails as well, and just 2 miles of pavement. The route is sparsely marked with carsonite posts, and can be difficult to follow. Existing maps don't accurately show all the old roads. Corfield carefully studied available information, including aerial imagery, to come up with a detailed GPS track, which he followed during the run. We hope to post a corrected version of this track here soon.
Charles Corfield ran the Paradox from east to west on October 8-9, 2011. Peter Bakwin started the trail with Corfield, but was unable to complete the route, stopping at about the half-way mark. Greg Poettgen also ran with the pair for the first 30 miles, then switched to crewing. Earlene Antonelli, of Nucla, CO, also supported the group for the first half of the run. Conditions we very good, with temperatures well below freezing at night, and into the 50s in the daytime. There was some mud along the route due to a heavy storm 2 days prior, but it was not a big issue. Mud could be a show-stopper for running or crewing on this route, which passes through layers of shale.
Corfield's gpx file for the route is here.
