XR650R Dual Sport Project & Travels

White Rim Trail - 2004
Part 2 - Lathrop Canyon

Lathrop Canyon Trail is a short descent down to the Colorado River.  The bottom is a good place to catch shade and have a snack.  Near the top I met two men climbing out in a Jeep, who were doing the trail in my direction.  I expected to pass them quickly after Lathrop, but I was delayed by trouble.  First, I discovered that my floppies had bounced out of an unzipped compartment.  I doubled back and found them, not wanting to loose my images.  Shortly after that, my luggage rack came loose and I had to stop and fix it.  Another Jeeper passed me during that episode.  With my helmet and jacket off, tools unrolled in plain sight, and me under my bike working, he waved politely and kept on going!  Some people don't have a clue.

The turnoff into Lathrop Canyon (left) and on the Canyon floor just below the switchbacks..  At this point I had ridden about 20 miles, counting the Shafer Trail.		Typical Canyon road scenes.  The sand starts about half way down but is shallow most of the way.
At the Colorado River.  There are picnic tables and shade at the bottom.	Sand on the way out.  The deepest part lasts about 30 yards, and there's a sandy embankment to climb further up.  I almost lost it on that but recovered with throttle.	This ledge must be climbed, but its not too abrupt.	Another going out scene.
Approach to the first switchback.  The final climb is steeper and rockier but shouldn't stop anyone.	Back at the White Rim Trail to resume my journey.	Several miles beyond Lathrop I discovered my luggage rack was loose.  Two screws holding the platform were gone, but I fixed it with zip ties.  They held for the rest of the trip.	Two bolts holding the rack to the subframe had also loosened.  I had to stop periodically to tighten them for the rest of the trip.