Photo: Photo John
Monster Mesa — Connecting Six Prominent Mesas In One Epic Ride
Southern Utah is home to some of the world's most unique and beautiful landscapes, which also serve as a dream mountain biking destination. Nestled between Zion National Park and Hurricane is a cluster of mesas that stand prominently against the Southwestern landscape. These mesas are home to some of the most iconic trails in our sport, and the average rider can consider riding a single mesa in a day quite the accomplishment.
Pierce Kettering is no average rider, though, and he set off to ride six mesas in a single pull. This meant 100+ miles and over 11,000 feet of elevation to be climbed on some of the most technical trails in the world.
Kettering heading into the last light of the day
Photo: Photo John
Kettering is not one to shy away from massive rides; he's a seasoned endurance athlete who welcomes long days on the bike, but this effort was viewed with skepticism by locals. “When I told folks I was planning to knock all six mesas out in one day, they questioned the logistical probability of that happening. Local Steve Dann told me he didn't think it was possible," he said.
Staying cool thanks to his friends support
Photo: Photo John
Throughout this impressive ride, Kettering was supported by friends and loved ones who showed up to supply him with ice, keeping him cool and the vibes high as temperatures climbed into the triple digits.
This adventure is truly epic and has set the bar high for big, technical rides in Southern Utah, with comments on social media reflecting the monumental accomplishment this was to complete “There is no way 99.9999% of humans are going to comprehend how mental, taxingly physical, and unbelievably ‘out there’ epic your mesa undertaking really is," one person wrote.
Mission accomplished
Photo: Photo John
Pierce’s bike of choice for his Monster Mesa feat was the Ibis Exie USA, a 100mm cross-country race bike. It’s a choice that stands out when most people ride the Hurricane Mesa trails on trail or enduro bikes with 120mm to 160mm of suspension, burly tires, and long, slack geometry, especially for trails like Flying Monkey and the Grafton DH. Some riders still choose freeride/downhill bikes for Grafton and Monkey.
Pierce Ketterings Ibis Exie USA
Photo: Photo John
Pierce’s choice of this ultralight, short-travel XC bike says a lot about his technical skills and the Ibis Exie USA’s capabilities. We certainly don’t recommend taking the Exie on those trails, unless you’re Pierce, of course.
Watch the epic Monster Mesa video below.
