Bag Night Challenge 2018

I went hiking in Lower Salt Wash Canyon in Arches yesterday and decided to spend Friday night along Willow Springs Road so I could hit an even 80 nights for the year. I'm pretty sure I am done now. It was a great year! I'm already looking forward to 2019, even though I don't think I'll even try to top this number.

Total: 80 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
Dec 14-15 | Willow Springs | 1


Salt Wash Canyon
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr

Congrats, incredible!
Any update about your Jeep? @IntrepidXJ
 
Any update about your Jeep? @IntrepidXJ

I replaced the rear axle shafts last weekend. I think the flange on the axle shaft may have been bent. http://adventr.co/microposts/nitro-gear-and-axle-dana-44-axle-shaft-kit/

...and just to be on the safe side, I also subscribed to SPOT's Save Our Vehicle service (https://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=114) since it's only $30/year and will tow my Jeep even if it's not on a paved road (unlike AAA). I can also call for service straight from my SPOT if I don't have cell signal. Just a little added security when I'm driving alone in the backcountry, which I do frequently.
 
I replaced the rear axle shafts last weekend. I think the flange on the axle shaft may have been bent. http://adventr.co/microposts/nitro-gear-and-axle-dana-44-axle-shaft-kit/

...and just to be on the safe side, I also subscribed to SPOT's Save Our Vehicle service (https://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=114) since it's only $30/year and will tow my Jeep even if it's not on a paved road (unlike AAA). I can also call for service straight from my SPOT if I don't have cell signal. Just a little added security when I'm driving alone in the backcountry, which I do frequently.

@IntrepidXJ - Rick said : makes sense, replace it all! Hope that solves it. We don’t want that wheel to come off again.
It makes sense to get the SPOT tow service too, we should do that as well.
After we talked in the Needles we signed up for Gaia and it’s been really helpful, when we went to Coyote Butte South and later White Pocket.
Congrats on the 80 nights, it’s exceptional!
 
2 nights total, but the first two nights in 23 years, yeah :)

Nov 6, Deer Creek CG, off Burr trail. 23 F, that was cold! Hard to stay outside even with a campfire. Went to bed early.
Nov 7, Bullfrog CG, 39F, toasty warm at night. We arrived late, it was either Bulfrog or driving to Natural Bridges at night.

Deer creek:
View attachment 71492

Bullfrog- no envelopes in the fee station...
View attachment 71491

3 nights in 2018: third night on Dec 13-->14, in the Sand Hills, White Pockets. 16F, a bit frosty! But an awesome meteor shower, we got up from 2-3am. Ramen Noodle soup in a cup has a whole new meaning to me at 16F, yummy.
Screw the "low carbs" when it's so cold.

I haven't found the night album yet, so here are some extra photos. No need for light painting, a little moon did the work:

A tree with a lovely shadow:
image.jpeg

This was a great spot for sunset, but also late in the evening:
image.jpeg

image.jpeg

Moon like landscape. We really had to watch where we placed our feet (avoid rolling an ankle):
image.jpeg

And a true 'we stayed overnight' photo, just for @wsp_scott . :) If it wasn't for your night photos from one of your trips, I'm pretty sure we would have zero bag nights. But I had to see it for myself. What a night!
image.jpeg
 
3 nights in 2018: third night on Dec 13-->14, in the Sand Hills, White Pockets. 16F, a bit frosty! But an awesome meteor shower, we got up from 2-3am. Ramen Noodle soup in a cup has a whole new meaning to me at 16F, yummy.
Screw the "low carbs" when it's so cold.

I haven't found the night album yet, so here are some extra photos. No need for light painting, a little moon did the work:

A tree with a lovely shadow:
View attachment 72908

This was a great spot for sunset, but also late in the evening:
View attachment 72909

View attachment 72913

Moon like landscape. We really had to watch where we placed our feet (avoid rolling an ankle):
View attachment 72910

And a true 'we stayed overnight' photo, just for @wsp_scott . :) If it wasn't for your night photos from one of your trips, I'm pretty sure we would have zero bag nights. But I had to see it for myself. What a night!
View attachment 72911

The sky looks different when you stay out all night long :) That is a great shot of Orion
 
Total 44 nights
Goal 45 nights

Black Canyon Trail Arizona Bikepack Trip
Near Bumble Bee Ranch 12/18
Rock Springs BCT trail head 12/19
Bonus night 14.4 miles north of the
Carefree Highway 12/20

e5789957f65ae2dccd3b2bd1ea308a4c.jpg


f7309fe4b577d9e97961b6832b4745bc.jpg


285edb3ba2d79746ed5ea57d280a4e04.jpg


Powell Springs CG AZ 12/17 - no picture
Lake Powell Lone Rock Beach 12/16

24dc4157b676b404e2097d6c2b3c3b7e.jpg




Black Canyon Water Trail NV/AZ Kayak Trip 11/23
Virgin, UT 11/21
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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Total: 37 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

Mt Cammerer (GSMNP) - 12/17 - 12/19 - 2 nights
Dec%2B18%2B2018_59.jpg


A great way to end the year
 
@metalbackpacker that view from hurricane pass i saw in 2016 during pretty blah year and it darn near changed the year around for me. that is a great spot.

much as i have backpacked in the winds, I've never been to the cirque yet.
 
@metalbackpacker that view from hurricane pass i saw in 2016 during pretty blah year and it darn near changed the year around for me. that is a great spot.

much as i have backpacked in the winds, I've never been to the cirque yet.

That is a killer spot, the view from Hurricane Pass. I'd have to say it was the best view I had in the Tetons. The runner up would be the view from an unnamed pass we took above Lake Solitude, towards Littles Peak. As for the winds, the cirque is awesome no doubt, but the winds have sooo much to offer besides the cirque... and I'm sure I don't need to tell you this! I've hiked two high routes in the winds, green river lakes to big sandy in 2014 and south pass city to dubois this year on the CDT... I could go back to the winds every year and not get bored with it. My favorite backpacking destination for sure.
 
Total 45 nights
Goal 45 nights

This is the most nights I have ever stayed out in a sleeping bag. It has been a fun year. I am not sure I will ever get this many in again but I will sure try!

Gold Butte 12/27 and with this day I can remove Laramie where I slept in the parking lot of the hotel.
Gold Butte 12/25


Black Canyon Trail Arizona Bikepack Trip
Near Bumble Bee Ranch 12/18
Rock Springs BCT trail head 12/19
Bonus night 14.4 miles from Carefree.
Highway 12/20
Powell Springs CG AZ 12/17
Lake Powell Lone Rock Beach 12/16
Black Canyon Water Trail NV/AZ 11/23
Virgin, UT 11/21
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

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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49a7075362e74e1848f2c7b23a0990bc.jpg

Here is Devil's Throat from out there at Gold Butte. Even bumped in to@Nick as I was packing up and calling it quits on the cold wind and sand.
 
Total: 68 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
December 28 | Gold Butte - Whitney Pocket | 2 Nights

Two nights into a four night trip to bring me up to an even 70! This morning at Whitney Pocket and this afternoon and an outcropping just north of there. Loving this area. Heading out toward Little Finland tomorrow.

IMG_2181.JPG
gb.jpg
 
Total: 68 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
December 28 | Gold Butte - Whitney Pocket | 2 Nights

Two nights into a four night trip to bring me up to an even 70! This morning at Whitney Pocket and this afternoon and an outcropping just north of there. Loving this area. Heading out toward Little Finland tomorrow.

View attachment 73551
View attachment 73552

Congrats!!! Love the picture of Sage.
We need to check out that area.
 
Total: 68 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
December 28 | Gold Butte - Whitney Pocket | 2 Nights

Two nights into a four night trip to bring me up to an even 70! This morning at Whitney Pocket and this afternoon and an outcropping just north of there. Loving this area. Heading out toward Little Finland tomorrow.

View attachment 73551
View attachment 73552

Really cool area! You need to hurry up and do two more so you have an even 70 for the year! You've got 47 more than me! Good stuff!
 
Total: 70 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
December 28 | Gold Butte | 4 Nights

Stick a fork in me. We explored Little Finland today and just met up with @Artemus and friends for the final sign off to 2018. I’m not sure I’ll ever hit 70 bag nights again while holding down a full time job, but I sure hope I do. 2018 was awesome.

8BC6C987-3D6E-4C80-86F4-C439793A3407.jpeg
BABA213D-B074-457D-9A1D-5C58C80B2105.jpeg9E00434F-B697-464C-883D-E53656F12F10.jpeg
 
Total: 23 nights. GSENM and Big Bend trip reports coming...eventually!

1/12 & 1/13 (2 nights)- Oxford Ranch Campground outside Enchanted Rock State Park, TX
4/28 (1 night)- Pace Bend Municipal Park outside Austin, TX
5/11 & 5/12 (2 nights)- Garner State Park, TX
9/14-15 (2 nights)- Colorado Bend SP, TX
9/28 (1 night)- Buescher SP, TX
9/29 (1 night)- Krause Springs, Spicewood, TX
10/13-10/17 (5 nights)- Grand Staircase-Escalante Natl Monument, Burr Trail Rd area
10/18 (1 night)- GSENM, OSR area
10/19 (1 night1)- GSENM, HITRR area
11/18 (1 night)- Seminole Canyon State Park, TX
11/19-22 (4 nights)- Big Bend National Park, TX, Cottonwood campground
12/14-15 (2 nights)- Pedernales Falls State Park, TX

Big Bend, sunset glow over the Mule Ears
IMG_2481.JPG

Pedernales Falls
IMG_3556.JPG
 
Piper - I'm headed across Texas in a few months with time to burn. Aside from captock, palo duro, Guadalupe, and big bend parks, any must-dos or neat little areas in west texas/panhandle/hill countey?
 
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