Showing posts with label Abajo Enduro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abajo Enduro. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Roam If You Want To


Roam Industries

265 North Main Street
Monticello, UT, 84535

Phone: (435) 590-2741


Website: http://www.roamutah.com/








“I hear a wind
Whistling air
Whispering
In my ear”

“Roam” by The B-52s

Surrounded by majestic Ponderosa Pine; sailing upon a one-track trail and the breeze whispers into ears a blessed silence.  Welcome to mountain biking in the Abajo Mountains with Roam Industries.  Opening its doors July 2018, owners Dustin and Natalie Randall, enjoy the great outdoors of San Juan County.  They wanted to bring mountain biking, hiking and winter sports to visitors, and locals, of this vast area. 

When it comes to mountain biking, Roam Industries became the organizers and hosts of the Abajo Enduro.  A yearly mountain biking fest which has grown to a 2-day, 3-State event, and has sold out the past two years.  What started out, as a handful of friends, to ride and have friendly competition, is now a full on event, maximum participation of 50 riders!  

“…dancing down those dirty and dusty trails
Take it hip to hip, rocket through the wilderness”

“Roam” by The B-52s

Mountain biking, as well as hiking and climbing, tours are offered during the spring to fall months.  Tours are initially 1-3 days of exploring various sections of San Juan County. Climbing is mainly in the Indian Creek Valley, or what is now part of the Bears Ears National Monument. 

Roam Industries offers the service of a mobile tiny home; sleeping 7 and room for supplies; it is camping with the comfort of home.  Currently the tiny home is up at Buckboard National Forest Campground.  Sports of shoe shoeing and cross country skiing are a major draw during the winter months.  Natalie Randall helped develop the trails that extend from the Dalton Springs and Buckboard campgrounds.  Through her grant writing, Monticello has been able to expand other trails as well for biking and walking.  A hut system, throughout San Juan County, is now in the works.

Do not think cross country skiing is your sport of choice?  Dustin Randall states, “It takes about one season to learn, and become proficient, on the skis.  After that though, you will love it!”














Another benefit of visiting Roam Industries is their self-serve snack bar and relaxed seating section.  Delicious scones of Lemon Rosemary, Pumpkin, Coconut, Ginger Apricot and more are the creations of home baker, Hannah Plemons.  Crisp around the edges, tender and fluffy inside, the fruity to savory concoctions are pleasing to the taste buds.  Along with coffees, teas, water, the scones are an indulgent start to the day’s event, or a relaxing finish.  Hannah’s scones are available Monday and Wednesday at 1pm, and they are gone in the blink of an eye!




While Roam Industries did have some success with a connection with Airbnb, it is mainly word of mouth that sustains this business.  Repeat customers and great reviews feed the trickle down effects to the City of Monticello.  Hotels, restaurants, and shops benefit from the influx of visitors, their families that come along, and the friends that decide to have their own Roam adventures.  What better way is there, for economic sustainability, and development, then to have local businesses holding hands, with each other, in camaraderie?

Current winter hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1pm-6pm.  Once spring’s warm fingers begin to caress the land, more adventurous opportunities will become available.  With the summer months, family reunions are always looking for activities; how about a group tour with Roam Industries? 

“Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to”

“Roam” by The B-52s

Mary Cokenour

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

2nd Annual Abajo Enduro; Race to the Food.

Andy Platt


On Saturday, August 1st, mountain bike enthusiasts took to Monticello’s local mountain range for the 2nd Annual Abajo Enduro Race (website: http://theraceexperts.com/endurorace/ ). Organized by Andy Platt (husband of San Juan Record’s Merri Allyson Platt), and with the aid of fifteen sponsors from both Grand and San Juan Counties, it was, once again, a huge success!!!









Using the Monticello Welcome Center as a staging area, racers were afforded a shuttle service to the 13.3 mile start of the Robertson Pasture Trailhead; ending at the Foy Lake area. Racers endured terrain of a hard packed, dirt trail twisting and turning throughout the majestic Manti-La Sal forest. With the recent rains the mountains had been gladly receiving, no biker was spared a mud free experience. A fall here and there? No major mishaps thankfully; and I bet a good excuse was “taking time to admire the beautiful, natural plant life along the trail”.




Foy Lake on a stormy day.


















The racers may have been exhausted, but the happiness on each rider’s face was beaming! On to the food tent they either continued to race, or at a leisurely speed. Peace Tree Juice CafĂ© (of Moab and Monticello) provided a well-deserved meal of five different wraps (Turkey, Club, Thai, Chicken Caesar and Veggie); plus five fruit packed smoothies (Strawberry Twist, Tango Mango, Pina Colada, Watermelon Burst and Berry Banana). The volunteer servers for this day were employees Kaitlin and Brandin; with help from their friend, Andrew….give these three a round of applauds.





Even Mountain Bikes Need a Rest.



Andrew, Brandin, Kaitlin

Brandin Serving up a Wrap

Here’s a description of each wrap to entice you to visit one of their establishments.

Club Wrap House - sliced roasted turkey, ham, bacon, avocado and spring mix with your choice of ranch or cilantro dressing on a whole wheat tortilla.
 
Turkey Wrap - Avocado, sprouts, tomato and red onion with your choice of ranch or cilantro lime dressing and spring mix on a whole wheat tortilla.

Thai Wrap Chicken, - rice noodles, tomato, cucumber, raw peanuts, chow main noodles, spring mix and Asian dressing on a whole wheat tortilla.

Chicken Caesar Wrap - Chicken, romaine, croutons, parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing on a spinach tortilla.

Veggie Wrap - Tomato, shredded carrots, cucumber, crisp lettuce, avocado on a spinach tortilla (Note: not listed on the menu, but ingredients from observation)

Chicken Caesar Wrap

Club Wrap

Thai Wrap

Turkey Wrap

Veggie Wrap

…and the Smoothies.

Strawberry Twist - Strawberry juice, pineapple sherbet, strawberries, banana.

Tango Mango - Peach mango juice, orange sherbet, peaches, banana, coconut.

Pina Colada - Pineapple juice, non-fat frozen yogurt, pineapple, coconut.

Watermelon Burst - Note: not listed on the menu, but full of watermelon goodness!

Berry Banana - Raspberry juice, non-fat frozen yogurt, raspberries, banana.

Perfect Lunch - Club Wrap and Pina Colada Smoothie

Smile, you're on Candid Camera!
Exhilarating mountain bike racing, great food, awards, and sharing the experience with family and friends; the Abajo Enduro Race has a long life ahead of it. Ride On!!!

Mary Cokenour