Bag Night Challenge 2018

January 12-15 | Slickhorn Loop, Bears Ears National Monument | 3 nights
January 15-16 | Random camping outside Mexican Hat | 1 night
March 8-September 4 | Hayduke sections 10-14 and CDT | 152 nights
September 12-17 | Uinta Highline Trail (ish) | 5 nights
September 17-18 | Random camping near Vernal | 1 night
September 24-27 | Salt Lake County Lowest to Highest | 3 nights
October 10 | Wildrose campground, Death Valley NP | 1 night
October 11 | unknown campground (it was after dark and I didn't catch the name), DVNP | 1 night
October 12-18 | Lowest to Highest Route (Badwater to Whitney) | 5 nights
October 19-21 | Random camping outside Zion | 2 nights
October 27-29 | "Route X", CRNP & GSENM | 3 nights
October 30 | Random camping near Hanksville | 1 night
November 1-4 | Dark Canyon, BENM (don't tell it's not part of it anymore; I don't care) } 3 nights
November 5-6 | Random camping outside Hovenweep | 1 night
November 6-8 | Random camping near Bears Ears/Natural Bridges | 2 nights
November 9-11 | Devils Garden, Arches NP | 2 nights
November 11-14 | Random camping near Arches | 3 nights

189 nights.
 
Well, I think that's a wrap for this year, barring any last minute winter camping trips. 190 nights. Great year.

January 12-15 | Slickhorn Loop, Bears Ears National Monument | 3 nights
January 15-16 | Random camping outside Mexican Hat | 1 night
March 8-September 4 | Hayduke sections 10-14 and CDT | 152 nights
September 12-17 | Uinta Highline Trail (ish) | 5 nights
September 17-18 | Random camping near Vernal | 1 night
September 24-27 | Salt Lake County Lowest to Highest | 3 nights
October 10 | Wildrose campground, Death Valley NP | 1 night
October 11 | unknown campground (it was after dark and I didn't catch the name), DVNP | 1 night
October 12-18 | Lowest to Highest Route (Badwater to Whitney) | 5 nights
October 19-21 | Random camping outside Zion | 2 nights
October 27-29 | "Route X", CRNP & GSENM | 3 nights
October 30 | Random camping near Hanksville | 1 night
November 1-4 | Dark Canyon, BENM (don't tell it's not part of it anymore; I don't care) } 3 nights
November 5-6 | Random camping outside Hovenweep | 1 night
November 6-8 | Random camping near Bears Ears/Natural Bridges | 2 nights
November 9-11 | Devils Garden, Arches NP | 2 nights
November 11-14 | Random camping near Arches | 3 nights
November 15-16 | Random camping in NW Colorado | 1 night.
 
Went on a last minute trip to The Needles since the roads in Horse Canyon and Salt Creek Canyon were actually open for a change!

Total: 77 Nights

Jan 5-6 | Cottonwood Wash | 1
Jan 26-29 | Jacobs Tanks & Stateline | 3
Feb 9-11 | Big Flat & Willow Springs | 2
Feb 23-25 | Squaw Flat | 2
Mar 2-3 | Angel Point | 1
Mar 9-12 | The Needles | 3
Mar 15-18 | Ex-Bears Ears | 3
Mar 23-25 | San Rafael Swell | 2
Apr 4-9 | The Maze | 5
Apr 13-15 | Indian Creek | 2
Apr 20-24 | Grand Gulch | 4
May 4-6 | Glen Canyon NRA & Cedar Point | 2
May 11-13 | Hidden Splendor & Skyline Rim | 2
May 19-20 | North Rim of the Black Canyon | 1
May 24-28 | Echo Park | 4
Jun 9-10 | Verde Lake | 1
Jun 15-16 | Horse Ranch Park | 1
Jun 22-24 | The Flat Tops | 2
Jul 3-4 | Geyser Pass | 1
Jul 6-7 | North Halfmoon Creek | 1
Jul 14-15 | Oh-Be-Joyful Creek | 1
Aug 3-5 | Gore Creek & Gore Lake | 2
Aug 5-6 | Santa Fe Peak | 1
Aug 6-7 | Clear Creek | 1
Aug 7-8 | Evans Gulch | 1
Aug 8-9 | Brittle Silver Basin | 1
Aug 9-10 | Weldon Gulch | 1
Aug 18-19 | Molas Park | 1
Aug 25-26 | Willow Park | 1
Aug 30 - Sep 2 | Henrys Fork | 3
Sep 7-9 | Animas Forks & US Basin | 2
Sep 14-15 | Imogene Basin | 1
Sep 20-24 | Labyrinth Canyon | 4
Sep 28-29 | Ruby Anthracite Creek | 1
Oct 1-2 | Mud Spring | 1
Oct 2-3 | Lockhart Road |1
Oct 3-5 | Horsehoof Campsite | 2
Oct 5-6 | Twin Canyon | 1
Oct 13-14 | Ten Mile Wash | 1
Oct 26-28 | Bears Ears | 2
Nov 8-11 | Grand Canyon | 3
Nov 16-18 | Peekaboo | 2

http://adventr.co/2018/11/horsin-around-the-return-to-horse-canyon/


Horse Canyon Road
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
Total: 35 nights
Red River Gorge - 2/2-2/3/18 - 1 night
Forney & Hazel Creeks (Smokies) - 3/12 - 3/16 - 4 nights
Jailhouse Rock in the Red River Gorge - 4/5 - 4/6 - 1 night
Solo kayaking in the Stockholm Archipelago - 5/28 - 6/1 - 4 nights
Joyce Kilmer/Slickrock Wilderness (NC) - 6/25 - 6/27 - 2 nights
Douglas Trail in the Red River Gorge (KY) with my 5 year old - 7/1 - 7/2 - 1 night
Van Hook Glade Campground in NC - 7/8 - 7/13/18 - 5 nights (car camping)
Dolly Sods with kids - 7/18 - 7/21 - 3 nights
Cave Run Lake - 7/26 - 7/28 - 2 nights (car camping)
SEKI - 8/1 - 8/8 - 7 nights
Kayaking with my oldest on Fontana Lake (Great Smoky Mountains NP) - 9/1-9/3 - 2 nights
Kayaking with my middle kid on Laurel River Lake (Daniel Boone NF) - 10/6 - 10/7 - 1 night

Standing Indian Loop (NC) - 11/16 - 11/18 - 2 nights

Albert Mountain Firetower
2018-11-18%2B13.12.44.jpg
 
With ski season ramping up up here in the high country, it's unlikely I'll get another bag night in 2018 (10th mountain huts don't count). Although my bag night numbers are lower than the last few years, I made a concerted effort to spend more time in my backyard Wilderness Areas, meaning many more days in the field, but also more nights at home. It was a good year.

2018 Bag Nights (51 Total - 25 Colorado, 17 Utah, 3 Arizona, 4 Nevada, 1 California, 1 New Mexico)

March: 14 nights
  • Moab - Kane Creek area (4 nights)
  • Virgin River Gorge, AZ (3 nights)
  • Mojave Desert near Searchlight NV (1 night)
  • Mojave Desert near Castle Peaks Nat'l Monument (1 night)
  • Cedar Mesa, UT (1 night)
  • Boulder UT (2 nights)
  • Ruby Horsethief Canyons, CO (2 nights)
April: 6 nights
  • Highline State Park, CO (2 nights)
  • Lower Dolores River, CO (1 night)
  • Upper Dolores River, CO (1 night)
  • Butler Wash, UT (1 night)
  • Chama River, NM (1 night)
May: 3 nights
  • Vale of Tears Wilderness Study Area, CO (1 night)
  • Greater Dinosaur NM, CO (2 nights)
June: 5 nights
  • Douglas Mountain, CO (1 night)
  • Byers Peak Wilderness, CO (1 night)
  • Vasquez Peak Wilderness CO (1 night)
  • Bear River, Flat Tops Wilderness CO (1 night)
  • Ripple Creek, Flat Tops Wilderness CO (1 night)
July: 5 nights
  • Zirkel Wilderness CO (1 night)
  • Browns Park, UT (2 night)
  • Flat Tops Wilderness CO (1 night)
  • Zirkel Wilderness, CO (1 night)
August: 5 nights
  • Zirkel Wilderness, CO (1 night)
  • Colorado River, CO (1 night)
  • Flat Tops Wilderness (2 nights)
  • San Miguel River, CO (1 night)
September: 10 nights
  • Priest Lake, CO (1 night)
  • North Bank CG, CO (1 night)
  • Schell Creek Range, NV (1 night)
  • Kern Mountains, NV (1 night)
  • Cleve Creek, NV (1 night)
  • Molen Reef, UT (1 night)
  • North Routt Cty, CO (1 night)
  • Grand Staircase UT (1 night)
  • Book Cliffs UT (1 night)
November: 3 nights
  • Dirty Devil UT (2 nights)
  • Henry Mountains UT (1 night)
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I got two more nights in this past weekend, exploring Keg Spring Canyon and hiking down the Wolverton Canyon Trail to the Green River.

Total: 26 nights

1/12/2018 - The Pads near Death Valley Junction, CA
1/13/2018 - Searles Valley, CA
1/14/2018 - Hidden Valley, CA
2/9/2018 - Willow Springs Overlook, San Rafael Swell, UT
2/16/2018- Justensen Flats, San Rafael Swell, UT
2/17/2018 - Justensen Flats, San Rafael Swell, UT
3/23/2018 - The Needles (the one near Dubinky Wash), Moab, UT
3/24/2018 - Deadman Point, Moab, UT
4/21/2018 - Hans Flats, UT
5/18/2018 - Coal Wash, UT
5/19/2018 - Dutch Flat, UT
5/21/2018 - Coal Creek, UT
6/1/2018 - East Mountain, UT
6/23/2018 - North Willow Canyon (Stansbury Range), UT
7/5/2018 - Cottonwood Creek (near Sherman), CO
7/6/2018 - Lake Fork Gunnison River (near Cinnamon Pass), CO
7/7/2018 - Animas River (near Arrastra Creek), CO
8/31/2018 - Gray Canyon, UT
9/28/2018 - Wedge Overlook/Little Grand Canyon, UT
9/29/2018 - Sand Wash Airstrip, UT
10/19/2018 - Runt's Knob, UT
10/24/2018 - Tule Valley, UT
10/25/2018 - Miller Cove, UT
11/1/2018 - Deadman Trailhead (Horseshoe Canyon), UT
11/16/2018 - Keg Spring Canyon, UT
11/17/2018 - Wolverton Overlook, UT

Morning at Keg Spring Canyon
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Wolverton Overlook
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With ski season ramping up up here in the high country, it's unlikely I'll get another bag night in 2018 (10th mountain huts don't count). Although my bag night numbers are lower than the last few years, I made a concerted effort to spend more time in my backyard Wilderness Areas, meaning many more days in the field, but also more nights at home. It was a good year.

2018 Bag Nights (51 Total - 25 Colorado, 17 Utah, 3 Arizona, 4 Nevada, 1 California, 1 New Mexico)

March: 14 nights
  • Moab - Kane Creek area (4 nights)
  • Virgin River Gorge, AZ (3 nights)
  • Mojave Desert near Searchlight NV (1 night)
  • Mojave Desert near Castle Peaks Nat'l Monument (1 night)
  • Cedar Mesa, UT (1 night)
  • Boulder UT (2 nights)
  • Ruby Horsethief Canyons, CO (2 nights)
April: 6 nights
  • Highline State Park, CO (2 nights)
  • Lower Dolores River, CO (1 night)
  • Upper Dolores River, CO (1 night)
  • Butler Wash, UT (1 night)
  • Chama River, NM (1 night)
May: 3 nights
  • Vale of Tears Wilderness Study Area, CO (1 night)
  • Greater Dinosaur NM, CO (2 nights)
June: 5 nights
  • Douglas Mountain, CO (1 night)
  • Byers Peak Wilderness, CO (1 night)
  • Vasquez Peak Wilderness CO (1 night)
  • Bear River, Flat Tops Wilderness CO (1 night)
  • Ripple Creek, Flat Tops Wilderness CO (1 night)
July: 5 nights
  • Zirkel Wilderness CO (1 night)
  • Browns Park, UT (2 night)
  • Flat Tops Wilderness CO (1 night)
  • Zirkel Wilderness, CO (1 night)
August: 5 nights
  • Zirkel Wilderness, CO (1 night)
  • Colorado River, CO (1 night)
  • Flat Tops Wilderness (2 nights)
  • San Miguel River, CO (1 night)
September: 10 nights
  • Priest Lake, CO (1 night)
  • North Bank CG, CO (1 night)
  • Schell Creek Range, NV (1 night)
  • Kern Mountains, NV (1 night)
  • Cleve Creek, NV (1 night)
  • Molen Reef, UT (1 night)
  • North Routt Cty, CO (1 night)
  • Grand Staircase UT (1 night)
  • Book Cliffs UT (1 night)
November: 3 nights
  • Dirty Devil UT (2 nights)
  • Henry Mountains UT (1 night)
View attachment 71848
Why would 10th mountain not count? I would count that. Still carrying my sleeping bag and all my crap in.

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Why would 10th mountain not count? I would count that. Still carrying my sleeping bag and all my crap in.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
No hard rule. I personally don't count nights in huts. Structures that have heat, running water, four walls and roof, kitchen etc don't count for me. Same reason I wouldn't count a night in a camper, fifth wheel, sprinter van, etc. I know many people do, that's fine with me. But to me a bag night is about being outside, cooking outside, etc etc.
 
No hard rule. I personally don't count nights in huts. Structures that have heat, running water, four walls and roof, kitchen etc don't count for me. Same reason I wouldn't count a night in a camper, fifth wheel, sprinter van, etc. I know many people do, that's fine with me. But to me a bag night is about being outside, cooking outside, etc etc.
My rule of thumb - if its' a structure designed for human habitation, I don't count it. So in a yurt doesn't count, but in a 24-hour cinderblock laundromat in a sketchy part of a sketchy town with no heat definitely does.
 
My rule of thumb - if its' a structure designed for human habitation, I don't count it. So in a yurt doesn't count, but in a 24-hour cinderblock laundromat in a sketchy part of a sketchy town with no heat definitely does.

Well, my tarp or tent was designed for human habitation, but yeah, I get where you're going with that. I've seen #vanlife folks pull up to camp in broad daylight and get out of their vehicles to lay their cute carpet outside their back door, maybe hang some lights, maybe let the dog out, but then disappear into their vans for the rest of the evening and night. To me, that's no different than a motel room on the outskirts of town. But hey, to each their own. I'm not trying to beat anybody else's bag night numbers, I just like to keep track for my own motivations, and so I don't count night like those, just like I don't count a night where I'm out all day playing in the dirt, but then show up to the Mexican Hat Motel to crash for six hours before going out to do it again.
 
Well, my tarp or tent was designed for human habitation, but yeah, I get where you're going with that. I've seen #vanlife folks pull up to camp in broad daylight and get out of their vehicles to lay their cute carpet outside their back door, maybe hang some lights, maybe let the dog out, but then disappear into their vans for the rest of the evening and night. To me, that's no different than a motel room on the outskirts of town. But hey, to each their own. I'm not trying to beat anybody else's bag night numbers, I just like to keep track for my own motivations, and so I don't count night like those, just like I don't count a night where I'm out all day playing in the dirt, but then show up to the Mexican Hat Motel to crash for six hours before going out to do it again.
I was just curious.

I count my nights if it requires effort to get me and my gear there. But not a hotel.

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Total: 66 Nights

Feb 1 | Bears Ears | 3 Nights
Mar 16 | San Rafael Swell | 1 Night
Mar 30 | Toroweap | 2 Nights
April 13 | Escalante Backpacking | 3 Nights
April 20 | Rafting Ruby Horsethief | 3 Nights
April 25 | Gates of Lodore | 4 Nights
May 4 | Zion Canyoneering: Mystery, Pine Creek & Keyhole | 2 Nights
May 16 | The San Juan River | 5 Nights
June 7 | Cataract Canyon | 3 Nights
June 17 | Middle Fork of The Salmon | 7 Nights
July 5 | Uinta Highline Trail | 4 Nights
August 10 | Payette River | 2 Nights
August 29 | Near Malta, Idaho | 1 Night
August 30 | South Fork Payette River | 1 Night
August 31 | Diamond Lake, Oregon | 1 Night
September 1 | Coos Bay | 1 Night
September 2 | Cape Perpetua |1 Night
September 3 | Cape Lookout | 1 Night
September 4 | Quinalt Rain Forest | 1 Night
September 5 | Near Rialto Beach | 1 Night
September 6 | Mount Rainier | 1 Night
September 7 | Snake River | 1 Night
September 14 | Buckhorn Rim and Mexican Mountain | 2 Nights
September 27 | The Wedge, Hidden Splendor and Moab | 4 Nights
October 5 | White Rocks | 1 Night
October 13 | Uintas | 1 Night
October 26 | The Desert | 2 Nights
November 1 | The Arizona Strip | 3 Nights
November 21 | Bears Ears | 4 Nights

Met up with some friends to do Thanksgiving out in Bears Ears. Great way to spend the holiday.

IMG_1973.jpeg

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Total 39 nights
Goal 45 nights

Black Canyon Water Trail NV/AZ 11/23
12ace5f1be183be043be80b4bfc4ffbb.jpg



Virgin, UT 11/21
b5c6811f27662a74c49e4f9f5d6aa6a7.jpg




Maob, UT Kane Creek Bikepack 11/2 to 11/4
Price, UT 10/18
Moab, UT 10/5 to 10/7
Oneida Narrows Reservoir, ID 9/22, and 9/28 to 9/30
Laramie, WY 8/31
Tony Grove Campground 8-25
Wind River Range!! 8-16 to 8-19
Somewhere MT on the divide near Antelope Basin 7-15
Hungry Horse Dam, MT 7-14
Deer Lodge, MT 7-13
Elk Lake, MT 7/7-7/8
Wydaho that in between place where you find bliss. 7/3-7/5
Oneida Narrows/Maple Grove Hot Springs 6/23-6/24
Twin Falls/Miracle Hot Sprins 6/8-6/10
Henefer, UT 5/26-5/28
12 Mile Hot Spring, NV 5/12
Rupert, ID 5/11
Vernal, Utah 4/27-4/29
Moab, Utah 4/20-4/22
West Desert, Utah 3/31
Fruita, Colorado 3/17-3/22





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We woke up to about an inch of snow this morning in the Squaw Flat campground at The Needles and it was still coming down. I'm going to try go get one more night in this year for an even 80, but not sure if it's going to happen...

Total: 79 Nights

Jan 5-6 | Cottonwood Wash | 1
Jan 26-29 | Jacobs Tanks & Stateline | 3
Feb 9-11 | Big Flat & Willow Springs | 2
Feb 23-25 | Squaw Flat | 2
Mar 2-3 | Angel Point | 1
Mar 9-12 | The Needles | 3
Mar 15-18 | Ex-Bears Ears | 3
Mar 23-25 | San Rafael Swell | 2
Apr 4-9 | The Maze | 5
Apr 13-15 | Indian Creek | 2
Apr 20-24 | Grand Gulch | 4
May 4-6 | Glen Canyon NRA & Cedar Point | 2
May 11-13 | Hidden Splendor & Skyline Rim | 2
May 19-20 | North Rim of the Black Canyon | 1
May 24-28 | Echo Park | 4
Jun 9-10 | Verde Lake | 1
Jun 15-16 | Horse Ranch Park | 1
Jun 22-24 | The Flat Tops | 2
Jul 3-4 | Geyser Pass | 1
Jul 6-7 | North Halfmoon Creek | 1
Jul 14-15 | Oh-Be-Joyful Creek | 1
Aug 3-5 | Gore Creek & Gore Lake | 2
Aug 5-6 | Santa Fe Peak | 1
Aug 6-7 | Clear Creek | 1
Aug 7-8 | Evans Gulch | 1
Aug 8-9 | Brittle Silver Basin | 1
Aug 9-10 | Weldon Gulch | 1
Aug 18-19 | Molas Park | 1
Aug 25-26 | Willow Park | 1
Aug 30 - Sep 2 | Henrys Fork | 3
Sep 7-9 | Animas Forks & US Basin | 2
Sep 14-15 | Imogene Basin | 1
Sep 20-24 | Labyrinth Canyon | 4
Sep 28-29 | Ruby Anthracite Creek | 1
Oct 1-2 | Mud Spring | 1
Oct 2-3 | Lockhart Road |1
Oct 3-5 | Horsehoof Campsite | 2
Oct 5-6 | Twin Canyon | 1
Oct 13-14 | Ten Mile Wash | 1
Oct 26-28 | Bears Ears | 2
Nov 8-11 | Grand Canyon | 3
Nov 16-18 | Peekaboo | 2
Nov 30 - Dec 2 | Squaw Flat | 2

http://adventr.co/2018/12/end-of-trails-in-the-needles/


Squaw Flat Snow
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
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