Utah Cliffs - Day 1 - Panguitch Lake to Duck Creek CG

Utah  Cliffs  - Day 1 -  Panguitch Lake to Duck Creek CG
Sat  Sept 29th, 2018

Start 8000'
High pt  8600'
Lo pt.  6900' Hatch, UT  
End Elv.  8600
Climbing 2000?
Miles 36.7
Total time 5:00
Ride time 4:33

Start of the Utah segment of 2018 bikepacking. My first portion of the route will be the adventure biking associations Utah Cliffs Route, about 290 miles.
Glenda and I have been camping near Duck Creek Village on the Markagunt Plateau outside Cedar City. The route spends a good bit up here and day one was a shuttle to Panguitch Lake and then ride back to camp.
It was cool and windy at the lake, and the aspen trees up on the plateau are in full glory along the way, with many groves sprouting from lava flows.
A minor climb on FS road 070 after I leave the lake and pavement behind quickly mellows to a long mellow downhill to Hatch, UT. I did meet many ATVs and OHVs along the way, and many dispersed camps for them, and or hunters I guess.
I also raced along a pronghorn antelope for a hundred yards or so before he over took me on my downhill and crossed the road about 10 yards in front of me. A very cool race I don't mind losing.

Hatch is a very small town, yet with several resturants and cafés catering to tourist shuttling between Bryce and Zion National Parks. I did get a nice view of the Bryce escarpment on the way into Hatch, with its reds and pinks winking at me in the distance.

After topping off water, it is acouple miles down the busy Hwy 89 until I turn onto the fish hatchery road. It slowly climbs through pinon juniper forests along Mammoth Creek. The trees slowly changes to ponderosa as I climb the gentle grade. Patches of aspen alight like torches on the north facing slopes.
I pass the turn off to Mammoth Caves, a lava tube Glenda and I explored just earlier in our stay. I top out and reach the paved road. While taking a break, I see that one of my panniershas lost a screw, and decide to nurse it a bit and stick to paved road back to Duck Creek Village. Will need to address that before departing solo.
The paved road is rolling through meadows, ponderosas and groves of flaming aspens scattered through lava flows cresting in long lines and ridges.. Run cross a herd of sheep and the attendent shepherds and dogs on the outskirts of the herd.
A glorious fall day, with the sunny weather a lighting the aspens at near peak!