Moab 12/30/06 - 1/6/07

[knuth]

We got back from our first ever trip to Moab on Saturday and wow, what a place. Here are some shots from the trip, enjoy.

This is a 30 second exposure with the camp fire lighting the stuff in the front and the moon lighting the red rocks behind. This is where we camped mostly, right on the Colorado River on the border to Arches. (I've got a big version of this shot if anyone wants it, I don't mind. It's on my unbuilt website www.knuthphoto.com . It's the first one.)

Our humble sleeping quarters. After buying the truck I stole the idea from BajaTaco (Thank you Sir) of the false bottom set up. It worked really well.

Camp site

This is the White Rim trail everyone was talking about. Really really really nice. It was exactly what I wanted to find. I wasn't interested in real hardcore 4 wheeling, but rather a nice back-country road. And this was it. They closed off the east end of the trail so we entered from the west, and obviously didn't do the whole thing.

The tail gate was perfect for cooking and eating.

Some of the snow we ran into on the un-sunny sides of the mountain.

So nice.

I'll reply to this thread so it won't get too long...

 

[knuth]

What a spot for lunch.

My driver side got a lot dirtier being as I knocked off my front mud flap

Potatoes, sweet peppers, onions, pancetta, and hot italian sausage.

We rented some cross country skis one day, it was really fun.

This was the hike to the Moses rocks, an easy two mile one but well worth it.

All and all the place was great. It got down to the mid-teens during night, but it wasn't windy or stormy at all, so we did end up having nice weather. The second to last night it snowed so we agreed to get a hotel room for the first time. The next day we realized we didn't really want to go hiking or drive on back-county roads with all the snow, so we just decided to go to LAS VEGAS! It was way out of our way, but better than spending another night in the Best Western in Moab watching TV. Vegas was cool and I ended up winning a little money, so it all ended up good. Thanks for everyone's help with this trip, it was nice to have some ideas of where to go after talking to all of you. Everyone was really nice, that's why I like this forum. Take care.

Dean

 

[Wanderlusty]

That is just awesome! I love seeing snow there. Nice set up (a la BT) you got too.

Glad to hear that you left Vegas with more than you came with!

 

[slooowr6]

:clapsmile Looks like a fun trip!
Would you share a little more info on where you enter the park which route did you take? Is there any permit needed? I hope to check out the area early Spring.

 

[jeffryscott]

Great pics Dean, glad you shared ... it's been over 20 years since I've been up there, car camping in a Datsun 510 station wagon isn't the same as the rigs we have now ... have to get up there again.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What fun!



.

 

[knuth]

:clapsmile Looks like a fun trip!
Would you share a little more info on where you enter the park which route did you take? Is there any permit needed? I hope to check out the area early Spring.

You do need a back country permit to go on the White Rim trail. This cost $30 if I remember correctly and can be purchased at the Canyonland's Visitors Center and is good for 7 days. After you buy that you have to buy a camp permit for $10. At least if you do the White Rim trail, you must designate exactly which campground you will stay at with a pretty detailed itinerary. Meaning...we had to choose a campground just by looking at the map and guessing how far we would get. This really sucked because we ended up getting to our designated campground by 2:45 p.m. (that doesn't mean I didn't love the place, just some hassles.)

The place where we camped the most was at Hal Canyon. It's about 7 miles away from the town of Moab, right along the Colorado River. Take highway 128 east, there are a lot of camp grounds along there. The thing that most surprised me was that you cannot have fires in the Canyonlands NP. So that's why we kind of made this area our home base: it's BLM land, costs 10 bucks a night, and allows fires and is pretty close to everything.

Anyways, we took the west end of the White Rim trail and camped one night at Potato Bottom B. Also we did the La Sal Mountain loop road (paved), and then took the Kokopelli Trail (unpaved) back into town. Also we found a unpaved road out of Arches NP, that was very unmarked and led from the park west out to highway 191. As I said before, we really didn't want to go 4 wheeling, so these are all pretty much back country dirt roads. And that was perfect.

The moses hiking trail was accessed by the west end of the White Rim trail by going east on the Taylor Canyon trail.

I've got a GPS but I don't have a windows machine (Apple only) so I can't upload my GPS tracks. Please let me know if you want clarification on anything.

 

[slooowr6]

As I said before, we really didn't want to go 4 wheeling, so these are all pretty much back country dirt roads. And that was perfect.

Perfect, I don't plan on 4 wheeling, I don't know how anyway. :xxrotflma Back country dirt road is just what I'm looking for.
So I need:
1) Go to Canyonland NP visitors center get backcountry permit, get a campsite permit.
2) Hal Canyon has campsite belongs to BLM. This is where I can stay outside of the NP.
3) Get a map of the area, connect the back country road.
4) Get some time off.
5) Head out!
:rally_guys:

Thanks, knuth!!

 

[Wanderlusty]

slooowr6,

One thing I would add is that for WRT, the permits usually have to be gained months in advance. For instance, we have a thread right now for a trip we are planning for August or September, and we are trying to pick a date ASAP in order to secure the desired campsites.

 

[slooowr6]

slooowr6,

One thing I would add is that for WRT, the permits usually have to be gained months in advance. For instance, we have a thread right now for a trip we are planning for August or September, and we are trying to pick a date ASAP in order to secure the desired campsites.

Thanks for the info. I want to go there when it's less crowded is the place driveable in early Spring? I plan to stay on dirt road/back country road no 4 wheeling for me yet.

 

[knuth]

Yea I agree that the place can get really busy. In our case it wasn't though. We didn't call or contact in advance and just went to the visitors center and bought the permit and the camping permit. We didn't see anyone else but a park ranger while we were out. But yes, I've heard in the summer you must get the stuff much in advance. I'd call the visitors center and ask them what they think.

 

[sinuhexavier]

Great trip!

I have never been ther ewith snow on the ground, it looks like a cool change of pace. That and the total lack of crowds.