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At the TARKC meeting last night, Scott B. told me about this thread and video--an impressive FAIL!

Watch the video on YouTube. Crank the quality up to HD. (Crash is about 5 minutes in.)

Here is the AdvRider thread.

What's the consensus? Too fast, too slow, bad line? It sounded like he went off the edge under power to me!

The worst part is he couldn't finish the trip.
Jim

So paraphrasing.............
Probably a good speed, the cliff was an unexpected new development that foiled the plan ride out of an unexpected rear wheel slide. Add fatigue as a factor.
It would have been pretty hard for me to have turned hard "right" to compensate for the slide with mountain so close on the right side. It was so easy to see how it can happen so quickly...............
It always amazes me how much abuse these bikes can endure and still be able to be ridden. People too for that matter.

Wow how ironic. Two years ago we were riding in that same area when a friend of mine rode of a cliff. It definitely ended our day! What I find kind of spooky is when we were planning our ride for the day, we were going to ride that same trail. Utah had some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever ridden....also some of the most dangerous.
My friend was very lucky to survive. The bike was a loss and not retrievable. This happened on our 2nd day of riding, I witnessed the accident and I was jittery for the rest of the trip.

I read a bit of the AdvRider analysis ...

Did his rear wheel get stuck in that crack (ride the rut with Shane Watts)? That explains the left turn of the handlebars as the rear of the bike was off to the left.

Near the end of the video you get a view of his bike. Appears to be very top heavy with gear. Once that high-center-of-mass got leaned over to the left, recovery was going to be tough.

That's one that is hard to watch but I had to rewind and watch it several times like everyone else I'm sure. Can't help but imagine that it was ME on the bike and what a nasty experience it would be.
I just have two words: WHISKEY THROTTLE

Hmm! I watched it, then watched and watched it again trying to figure out what would I do. Reading your stories above makes me nervous on riding western trails.[GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]