Daily Miles: 27.0, Total Miles: 128.6 Early start on a big day because I want to exit the south end of Canyonlands to avoid having to use a bear can which is now required in the park. The other big reason was to put me closer to water tomorrow. I hauled seven liters of water today – don’t think I’ve carried that much before and I could feel it! A beautiful, cool, clear day on a mix of primitive roads,…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 101.6 I woke up to a crackling, icy tent but the skies were clear. Once the sun came up, it warmed up to maybe the mid-50’s. A leisurely two cups of coffee morning. Got an assortment of goodies (easy to do on a tab) from the store for today’s meals. The store had a pretty good wireless connection for $5 per day so was able to connect to family. Caleb and Amber, who have the…
Daily Miles: 18.8, Total Miles: 101.6 Just as I was getting up for an early start, more snow flurries. Laid my head down for another 30 minutes, then off and running. Well, actually trudging down Rustler Canyon. Got to the big 50′ pouroff into Indian Canyon and looked on the south side for the way down. I think I found it, the giveaway being stacked rocks at the bottom of a ledge drop off. The guidebook advises two people should…
Daily Miles: 17.7, Total Miles: 82.8 Yes, earplugs allowed me to sleep a bit with the flapping tent. It also rained early this morning for a few hours. I headed back out of the wash and got water at a seep – too alkaline to drink much. Back to Lockhart Road, I continued south between the canyons and bluffs. I had to find a few overhangs in the bluffs to escape rain and snow flurries. Hung my tent over my…
Daily Miles: 18.3, Total Miles: 65.3 A symphony of quacking ducks and cooing doves on the Colorado River this morning. Tom appeared with Jack, his small dog, just as I was about ready to set off. Tom walked with me on a shortcut back to the HDT, so I got a property tour and some history. I bid farewell to a gracious host on a cool, overcast morning. I then heading south on a bench high above the Colorado River….
Daily Miles: 17.0, Total Miles: 47.0 I set out from Moab around 8am and quickly got to Kane Springs Road. The paved road headed southwest, closely following the Colorado River for a few miles. The road turned south away from the river, got great water at Kane Springs and continued to climb and wind around the now dirt road through rocky, picturesque Kane Springs Canyon. Thankful for shade in the morning along the canyon walls, but couldn’t avoid the full…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 30.0 I laid low today trying to gain some ground on this head cold/sinus infection(?). Just a short stroll to City Market for breakfast and Starbucks. Another short excursion down the street for a late lunch at El Charros – the spinach enchilada was interesting. Other than that, I got my stuff together for the next leg to Canyonlands Needles.
Daily Miles: 6.5, Total Miles: 30.0 A very noisy gobbler woke me out of a sound sleep this morning – he definitely wanted his presence known. I continued working my way down Lower Courthouse Wash, mostly on a trail with easy water crossings. Steep canyon walls and cool rock formations all the down to Hwy 191. Then an unavoidable road walk into Moab. Bustling, bumper to bumper traffic heading out of Moab on Saturday morning, mostly jacked up and tricked…
Daily Miles: 10.0, Total Miles: 23.5 Slow start by my usual standards but left camp on a beautiful, sunny morning. From Willow Springs I headed into Upper Courthouse Wash, no trail, just followed the twisting, narrow canyon. Ankle deep water was flowing through much of the canyon and the wash bottom was often the most direct route. Had my first experience with quicksand today. No warning, took a step off solid ground and the next thing I knew I was…
Daily Miles: 13.5, Total Miles: 13.5 I flew to Moab on Tuesday with what felt like the beginnings of a head cold. It was in full force by the time I went to bed. The next morning wasn’t much better but my only task was a trip to the Arches Visitors Center to get my backcountry camping permit. I was in bed by 6pm loaded up with on nighttime NyQuil so got a pretty decent sleep. Randy from Trail Taxi…
