Bag Night Challenge 2018

We went on a short overnighter in the Weminuche Wilderness to check on conditions and it's a lot drier than even I thought it was going to be. Snowmelt is comparable to early to mid-July conditions during a normal snow year in the San Juans. We were under the smoke of the 416 fire the entire time and it was raining ash on us....the sunset was pretty awesome, though!

Total: 38 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

http://adventr.co/2018/06/highland-mary-lakes-verde-lakes/

That's not clouds over our tent, it's smoke from the 416 Fire near Durango. It made the light strange and eerie all day.


Verde Lake Camp
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr
 
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2018 - 14 Nights

2 - Walked my loop from Squaw Flat in the Needles District CNP 2/2
1 - Uintas MLH 4/1
2 - Silver Reef in Dixie 4/6
3 - Escalante backpacking with @Nick, @neiloro and @Jen 4/19
2 - White Horse Mountains, eastern Nevada 5/4
2 - Cliff Dweller Flat in the San Rafael Swell - 5/18
2 - Boulder Mountain and Pleasant Creek @Michael and Heike - 6/8

The Aliens across the pond as they refer to themselves enjoying themselves in Pleasant Creek today. I met them for my annual visit with these German-invader friends during their usual one month Utah sojourn.

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Total 17 nights
Goal 45 nights

Kayaking and hot spring soaking in Idaho.
Twin Falls/Miracle Hot Sprins 6/8-6/10


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Perrine Bridge

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Pillar Falls
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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

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
Total: 26 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

Sometimes you stay up too late and drink a lot and come up with crazy ideas. Last weekend that happened and as a result, I found myself rafting Cataract Canyon over the last few days. It was amazing, and we managed to pull it off without anyone going for an unintended swim.

Oh, and look who we got to come with! @Jammer doing something that doesn't involve walking hundreds of miles:
IMG_0983.JPG

Scouting Big Drop 2.
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Total: 26 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

Sometimes you stay up too late and drink a lot and come up with crazy ideas. Last weekend that happened and as a result, I found myself rafting Cataract Canyon over the last few days. It was amazing, and we managed to pull it off without anyone going for an unintended swim.

Oh, and look who we got to come with! @Jammer doing something that doesn't involve walking hundreds of miles:
View attachment 65188

Scouting Big Drop 2.
View attachment 65187
You got 'er done! Great! Your resume is quickly expanding.
 
Total: 4 nights

May 25 | Kens Lake- Moab | 1 night
June 2 | Booker Lake- Uintas | 1 night
June 8-10 | Teal Lake- Uintas | 2 nights

Early season Uintas trips are the best. No bugs, no people, and a damn good time!

20180609-_DSC0174.jpg


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Dr. Do you find it reliably bug free in the Uintahs before ...? June 15? This is a weird year snowpack-wise and melt-wise but they all are weird now - the new normal. It is reliable that the first hatch of mosquitoes happens in June too though.
 
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Dr. Do you find it reliably bug free in the Uintahs before ...? June 15? This is a weird year snowpack-wise and melt-wise but they all are weird now - the new normal. It is reliable that the first hatch of mosquitoes happens in June too though.

There were a couple of skeeters, not swarms when we got into camp. Once the wind kicked up on Saturday, they were non existent. Usually end of June to Mid July is peak season for them on a normal year. With how fast everything melted and how low the snow pack was this year, they may only be problematic in certain boggy swampy areas.
 
Total: 18 Nights

2 | Jan 20-22 @ Valley of the Gods & Cedar Mesa
1 | Feb 19-20 @ Moab Area
1 | Mar 16-17 @ The Wedge
2 | Apr 3-5 @ Capitol Reef
2 | Apr 5-7 @ Torrey
2 | May 4-6 @ Torrey
3 | May 25-28 @ Torrey (2 nights) & Dixie NF (1 night)
2 | June 5-7 @ Willow Gulch & Capitol Reef
1 | June 8-9 @ Hobble Creek Canyon
2 | June 12-14 @ Sand Creek & Torrey

Sand Creek
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Torrey
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2018 - 14 Nights

2 - Walked my loop from Squaw Flat in the Needles District CNP 2/2
1 - Uintas MLH 4/1
2 - Silver Reef in Dixie 4/6
3 - Escalante backpacking with @Nick, @neiloro and @Jen 4/19
2 - White Horse Mountains, eastern Nevada 5/4
2 - Cliff Dweller Flat in the San Rafael Swell - 5/18
2 - Boulder Mountain and Pleasant Creek @Michael and Heike - 6/8

The Aliens across the pond as they refer to themselves enjoying themselves in Pleasant Creek today. I met them for my annual visit with these German-invader friends during their usual one month Utah sojourn.

View attachment 65162

I was standing on those rocks...again...just yesterday. Drove my 4Runner up 12, then down PC road to loop down into Sheets Draw, then up and over into South Draw through CRNP and back out 24 to close it out. What a ride!
 
I was standing on those rocks...again...just yesterday. Drove my 4Runner up 12, then down PC road to loop down into Sheets Draw, then up and over into South Draw through CRNP and back out 24 to close it out. What a ride!
Yes, indeed it is. One of my favorites. Probably the best way I did it was on a mountain bike (except the paved portion) :)
 
About time to get back into this fun.

Total: 10

3/17- Dead Horse Point State Park
4/9- Comb Ridge
4/29-5/2- Coyote Gulch & Deer Creek CG
6/10-15- Green River UT, Desolation and Gray Canyons

Huge cudos to Holiday River Expeditions. They do a fantastic job taking people down rivers. I can't believe my luck that I got to go with them for work!

IMG_20180611_182855.jpgIMG_20180613_190948.jpgIMG_20180614_064127.jpg
 
Total: 19 Nights

2 | Jan 20-22 @ Valley of the Gods & Cedar Mesa
1 | Feb 19-20 @ Moab Area
1 | Mar 16-17 @ The Wedge
2 | Apr 3-5 @ Capitol Reef
2 | Apr 5-7 @ Torrey
2 | May 4-6 @ Torrey
3 | May 25-28 @ Torrey (2 nights) & Dixie NF (1 night)
2 | June 5-7 @ Willow Gulch & Capitol Reef
1 | June 8-9 @ Hobble Creek Canyon
2 | June 12-14 @ Sand Creek & Torrey
1 | June 15-16 @ Fern Lake

1529193052127.png
 
About time to get back into this fun.

Total: 10

3/17- Dead Horse Point State Park
4/9- Comb Ridge
4/29-5/2- Coyote Gulch & Deer Creek CG
6/10-15- Green River UT, Desolation and Gray Canyons

Huge cudos to Holiday River Expeditions. They do a fantastic job taking people down rivers. I can't believe my luck that I got to go with them for work!

View attachment 65369View attachment 65370View attachment 65371
I'll say it is about time, mister!

You used to be the consummate pro backcountry guy in the White Clouds? with your 100 bag night days. Welcome back. Time to accelerate!
 
I cut my trip into the West Elks a day short this weekend because of the weather. We really need the rain!

Total: 39 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

http://adventr.co/2018/06/horse-ranch-park-loop/


Anthracite Range
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr
 
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Total: 20 Nights

2 | Jan 20-22 @ Valley of the Gods & Cedar Mesa
1 | Feb 19-20 @ Moab Area
1 | Mar 16-17 @ The Wedge
2 | Apr 3-5 @ Capitol Reef
2 | Apr 5-7 @ Torrey
2 | May 4-6 @ Torrey
3 | May 25-28 @ Torrey (2 nights) & Dixie NF (1 night)
2 | June 5-7 @ Willow Gulch & Capitol Reef
1 | June 8-9 @ Hobble Creek Canyon
2 | June 12-14 @ Sand Creek & Torrey
1 | June 15-16 @ Fern Lake
1 | June 20-21 @ Provo Canyon

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After 26 days of mainly car camping from Great Basin to Cedar Breaks/North rim/Zion/Bryce/Capitol Reef/Canyonlands/Dead Horse Point/Mesa Verde/Hovenweep/Dixie Forest and back home again, I'm up to 41 nights this year.

Being retired is really cool--even if tendonitis and a bad knee kept us from backpacking as much as we would have liked.
 
After 26 days of mainly car camping from Great Basin to Cedar Breaks/North rim/Zion/Bryce/Capitol Reef/Canyonlands/Dead Horse Point/Mesa Verde/Hovenweep/Dixie Forest and back home again, I'm up to 41 nights this year.

Being retired is really cool--even if tendonitis and a bad knee kept us from backpacking as much as we would have liked.
Good on ya Balzaa! Normally we require a nightly accounting with pics of your camp sites but we probably can give you a pass - even though this will put you firmly in the running :)
 
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