Editor’s Note: I am grateful to Dave Fields for sharing the words and pictures from this epic adventure, and let me just say how glad I was to not have been part of it.

With my wife and kids in Michigan, I had a free Sunday and wanted to try Darth Nater’s Hanna, Utah ride. Our group of five became two by the time we left Center Street in Heber, on  Sunday, August 1, at 3:15 PM. Rich Morehouse aboard his 2005 KLR that had been in storage for four years, and me riding a 2006 KLR.

Armed with scribbled directions that Darth gave me over the phone, we were ready.

Scribbled directions from Darth. Now was that a left at the big fallen tree, or a right?

The ride east out of Heber was beautiful and we soon reached an overlook that was a good place to take a rest. We could see Currant Creek Reservoir to our southeast.

Things are looking good so far. Are those clouds moving this way, or are we going that way?

And dark clouds to the northeast.

The clouds are getting darker.

Despite our detailed directions, we took a wrong turn and encountered a mud hole and several creek crossings. But nothing was going to stop us from experiencing the Hanna ride.

As Darth says, always bring a saw, for trees and the impromptu amputation.

Once we found the right road down to Hanna, things were going well. We saw all the landmarks Darth mentioned – ranch, deep river crossing, small bridge. Then we encountered rain-soaked mud. Also known as greasy clay.

This is what happens when you ride through clay.

I tried to stop for a pick-up and horse trailer that slid off the road and it was like riding on ice. After five minutes of trying to get my kickstand to hold my bike I started hiking back to see what had happened to Rich. What I found was not good. Rich went down on the greasy mud and snapped the rear brake lever off his KLR.

The rear brake lever on a KLR doesn't do much when it is in your hand.

As the rain and lightning started in earnest, we began a two-hour slog over about a mile. The clay was so thick and sticky the bikes’ back wheels would clog and the bike would stall. We stopped and cleaned them out only to have them clog again 100 feet later. Even when the bikes would run it was so slippery you had to effectively walk down the road.

I sent this image to Moto with a simple question: this is bad, right?

Covered in mud and soaked from the rain, we headed for Heber. The sunset on Wolf Creek Pass was beautiful but cold and the deer and elk were out in force. We reached Heber around 10 p.m., had dinner, took the bikes to the carwash and then rode over Guardsman Pass, getting home around 11:30 or 12. Rich rode the entire way with his front brake.

We missed the return on dirt, so I’ll be going back, but it will be dry.

Indeed, it was a Double Rainbow All The Way.