Bag Night Challenge 2019

[Nick]

Total: 4 Nights

Jan 1 | Gold Butte | 0 - Technically a 2018 night, but I still think NYE should count as a bonus double!
Jan 18 | Gold Butte | 2 Nights
Mar 15-17 | The Swell | 2 Nights

Spent a couple nights in the Swell, scoping out spots for Backcountry Fest. If we can get it, the first pic below is where we'll be camping.

 

[Udink]

I had a great time exploring the Arches National Park backcountry despite the huge spring break crowds this weekend. Slept two nights in the cot, except this morning at 4:30 it began raining and I retreated to the Jeep while @Chris Mosbacker moved under a rat-infested overhang.

Total: 7 Nights

1/18/2019 - Coconino National Forest, AZ (near Wupatki NM)
1/19/2019 - Wet Beaver Creek, AZ
1/20/2019 - The Rolls, AZ
2/1/2019 - Bull Creek (near Hanksville), UT
2/2/2019 - The Cove (GCNRA, Orange Cliffs), UT
3/22/2019 - Dalton Wells Road, UT
3/23/2019 - Dalton Wells Road, UT

 

[Scott Chandler]

Total: 16 Nights

Jan 1-4: Los Padres NF/Big Sur, CA
Jan 5: Channel Islands National Park, CA
Jan 6-8: Just outside Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Jan 9-11: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ
Jan 12-14: Just outside Las Cruces, NM
Jan 16: Mojave National Preserve, CA
March 21-23: White Rim Road, Canyonlands National Park

Finally another couple of nights! Yay moving and winter!

 

[balzaccom]

Now up to 13 nights with the first five in Death Valley last month. And eight more this month with our trip to Arizona:. A snowy night at Navajo National Monument:

A memorable view from The View campground in the Navajo Tribal park:

Amazing skies over Homolovi

The usual Grand Canyon amazement

And a bit of graffiti from a previous visitor...

 

[Nick]

Total: 13 Nights

Jan 1 | Gold Butte | 0 - Technically a 2018 night, but I still think NYE should count as a bonus double!
Jan 18 | Gold Butte | 2 Nights
Mar 15-17 | The Swell | 2 Nights
Mar 20 | St. George | 1 Night
Mar 21 | Kanab | 1 Night
Mar 22-27 | Salt River | 5 Nights
Mar 27 | Butler Wash | 1 Night
Mar 28 | North of Moab | 1 Night

I'm 9 days into a 12 day trip, but I'm alone and in a spot with good connection, so I'm posting an update. My first couple of nights were in less than ideal conditions around St. George and Kanab. Heavy rains made roads impassable. My first night in St. George was basically in a mud pit near the Bearclaw Poppy Trailhead. I got brave and tried to get a few miles down the road to Toroweap the next night and ended up jacknifed with my raft trailer in 4" of mud in front of a polygamist compound of some sort. I got out, but it was messy. I ended up camping in a snowstorm on the pass north of Kanab that night.

On Friday I went south, passing through Page, Flagstaff, Holbrook and Show Low, Arizona before arriving in the Salt River Canyon which blew me away. Truly Zion-esque driving in from the north. No pictures, I was driving after all. Spent one night at the put-in and 4 nights floating the river before heading north again. A long dark drive through the Navajo Reservation put me in Butler Wash late last night. Today I had to go do some actual work in Moab and was blown away by the crowds. I didn't know I could keep being surprised by it, but there are just so many people. Almost to the point that they should probably just close the main street and let people walk. Seriously unbearable. Restocking supplies there was not fun.

I planned to camp nearby but ended up quite a bit further out, up near Thompson Springs. Kind of a crappy campsite, but it has great solitude and fantastic views of the snow capped La Sals, Arches and Fisher Towers. I might stay here another night and then I get back on the river to do Westwater Canyon Saturday morning. Despite missing a night in February, 2019 is off to a good start!

A bit of carnage during my run through Quartzite Falls:

Unloading the boats at our 3rd camp right between two huge rapids.


One of the coolest campsites ever. Glad @Jen got to wake up here on her 40th birthday.


And when she did, she was in full birthday attire. That was costume day.


Also really glad I got to poop in this beautiful place. Best groover spot to date, I believe.


Oh, and Saguaros are just amazing. Forests of them. Huge, amazing, alien things. Here I am with some while we were scouting Black Rock Rapid.


And after all that goodness, now I'm camped out here with a pretty nice view.

 

[slc_dan]

@Artemus Matt and I were in kanab Friday night as well!!! Haha. Should have shared our room in the best western.

Kanab creek was flashing hard as of Sunday morning!!

 

[Udink]

I squeezed another night in for March after poking around Arches National Park again. I didn't get any photos of camp 'cause it was late when I rolled in and I was tired, but it was a good couple of half-days hiking!

Total: 8 Nights

1/18/2019 - Coconino National Forest, AZ (near Wupatki NM)
1/19/2019 - Wet Beaver Creek, AZ
1/20/2019 - The Rolls, AZ
2/1/2019 - Bull Creek (near Hanksville), UT
2/2/2019 - The Cove (GCNRA, Orange Cliffs), UT
3/22/2019 - Dalton Wells Road, UT
3/23/2019 - Dalton Wells Road, UT
3/30/2019 - Dalton Wells Road, UT

 

[Scott Chandler]

Total: 17 Nights

Jan 1-4: Los Padres NF/Big Sur, CA
Jan 5: Channel Islands National Park, CA
Jan 6-8: Just outside Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Jan 9-11: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ
Jan 12-14: Just outside Las Cruces, NM
Jan 16: Mojave National Preserve, CA
March 21-23: White Rim Road, Canyonlands National Park
April 1: San Rafael Desert

 

[Carcass]

Thanks! Just completed it.

Still waiting to hear back...

 

[Udink]

Three more (very late) nights for the year at Backcountry Fest!

Total: 11 Nights

1/18/2019 - Coconino National Forest, AZ (near Wupatki NM)
1/19/2019 - Wet Beaver Creek, AZ
1/20/2019 - The Rolls, AZ
2/1/2019 - Bull Creek (near Hanksville), UT
2/2/2019 - The Cove (GCNRA, Orange Cliffs), UT
3/22/2019 - Dalton Wells Road, UT
3/23/2019 - Dalton Wells Road, UT
3/30/2019 - Dalton Wells Road, UT
4/4/2019 - Temple Mountain, UT
4/5/2019 - Temple Mountain, UT
4/6/2019 - Temple Mountain, UT

 

[Artemus]

(very late) nights for the year

You got that right! I think I was up until past 11 a couple of times...

 

[Nick]

Total: 16 Nights

3 more nights at Backcountry Fest 2019. Now it's time to take a break and let the ribs heal so I'm good to row the Yampa and Tatshenshini-Alsek this spring and summer.

Jan 1 | Gold Butte | 0 - Technically a 2018 night, but I still think NYE should count as a bonus double!
Jan 18 | Gold Butte | 2 Nights
Mar 15-17 | The Swell | 2 Nights
Mar 20 | St. George | 1 Night
Mar 21 | Kanab | 1 Night
Mar 22-27 | Salt River | 5 Nights
Mar 27 | Butler Wash | 1 Night
Mar 28 | North of Moab | 1 Night
Apr 4-7 | Backcountry Fest - Swell Edition | 3 Nights

 

[Jazzy Joe]

Total: 5 Nights

January 31 - Feb 1-3 On the Pariah Plateau
April 12-14 Alstrom Point & House Rock Valley

 

[blueeyes]

TOTAL: 4

4/5 Temple Mountain
4/6 Temple Mountain

4/12 Nine Mile Canyon Road

4/13 The Prop Duchesne

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[Tipi Walter]

Okay boys, I got an update to my Quest for the Holy Bag Night---as I just returned from a 24 day backpacking trip and here are some highlighted pics---


My trip starts in Citico Creek wilderness in TN with a butt heavy McHale pack loaded with 24 days worth of food and winter gear and other crap. Pack weight comes to about 95 lbs.


On Day 3 of the trip my backpacking buddy Patman finds me on the Brush Mt trail as we descend to set up camp together and get thru a terrible thunderstorm with blasting winds in the 60+mph range. We survive.


After pulling part of Brush Mt Patman leaves and I continue my solo trip by passing over Bob Bald at 5,300 feet and getting into NC on the Stratton Ridge trail---a 9 mile trek that loses 3,000 feet down to Santeetlah River.


After pulling Stratton Ridge I regain the 3,000 feet I lost by climbing up the Naked Ground trail to a high gap and head 6 miles off the gap down to Slickrock Creek where I meet my friend Paul who is leading some high school kids on an 11 day wilderness trek.


I leave Slickrock Creek and start my 46th backpack up the "hardest trail in the Southeast"---the Upper Slickrock #42 Nutbuster trail. Along the way I run into Ian and his high group camping by the upper reaches of Slickrock Creek.


After pulling the Nutbuster trail up to Seven Mile Ridge I pull a 10 mile day on the Benton MacKaye trail and run into this BMT thruhiker named U-Turn.


During my 10 mile day heading south on the BMT I try to escape forest fire smoke set by your beloved Forest Service during a prescribed burn. I choke my way thru it as I pass over 5,000 foot Whiggs Meadow.


Once I pass over the Whigg I drop down to Tellico River and climb up and over Sugar Mt and reach this crossing over Bald River which I pull in my crocs.


I take the Brookshire trail over Bald River and head up Kirkland Creek with its 11 creek crossings and take this pic of pretty Kirkland valley.


Kirkland Creek climbs up to Sandy Gap and in 2 miles I'm at Six Mile Gap and then alittle further I'm atop Waucheesi Mt as I make my way to Warrior's Passage trail.


In about 7 miles I reach this ford on Wildcat Creek on the Warrior's Passage trail.


On Day 23 of the trip I bushwack to this secret area on Wildcat Creek for my last night and then I hike 4 miles out to my evac pickup point.

BAG NIGHTS?

41 Backpacking Bag Nights

77 Backyard Sleeping (cowboy camping on the back porch on a thermarest and sleeping bag).

TOTAL BAG NIGHTS TO MAY 1ST: 118

 

[wsp_scott]

Okay boys, I got an update to my Quest for the Holy Bag Night---as I just returned from a 24 day backpacking trip and here are some highlighted pics---

View attachment 77261
My trip starts in Citico Creek wilderness in TN with a butt heavy McHale pack loaded with 24 days worth of food and winter gear and other crap. Pack weight comes to about 95 lbs.

View attachment 77262
On Day 3 of the trip my backpacking buddy Patman finds me on the Brush Mt trail as we descend to set up camp together and get thru a terrible thunderstorm with blasting winds in the 60+mph range. We survive.

View attachment 77263
After pulling part of Brush Mt Patman leaves and I continue my solo trip by passing over Bob Bald at 5,300 feet and getting into NC on the Stratton Ridge trail---a 9 mile trek that loses 3,000 feet down to Santeetlah River.

View attachment 77264
After pulling Stratton Ridge I regain the 3,000 feet I lost by climbing up the Naked Ground trail to a high gap and head 6 miles off the gap down to Slickrock Creek where I meet my friend Paul who is leading some high school kids on an 11 day wilderness trek.

View attachment 77266
I leave Slickrock Creek and start my 46th backpack up the "hardest trail in the Southeast"---the Upper Slickrock #42 Nutbuster trail. Along the way I run into Ian and his high group camping by the upper reaches of Slickrock Creek.

View attachment 77267
After pulling the Nutbuster trail up to Seven Mile Ridge I pull a 10 mile day on the Benton MacKaye trail and run into this BMT thruhiker named U-Turn.

View attachment 77268
During my 10 mile day heading south on the BMT I try to escape forest fire smoke set by your beloved Forest Service during a prescribed burn. I choke my way thru it as I pass over 5,000 foot Whiggs Meadow.

View attachment 77269
Once I pass over the Whigg I drop down to Tellico River and climb up and over Sugar Mt and reach this crossing over Bald River which I pull in my crocs.

View attachment 77270
I take the Brookshire trail over Bald River and head up Kirkland Creek with its 11 creek crossings and take this pic of pretty Kirkland valley.

View attachment 77271
Kirkland Creek climbs up to Sandy Gap and in 2 miles I'm at Six Mile Gap and then alittle further I'm atop Waucheesi Mt as I make my way to Warrior's Passage trail.

View attachment 77272
In about 7 miles I reach this ford on Wildcat Creek on the Warrior's Passage trail.

View attachment 77273
On Day 23 of the trip I bushwack to this secret area on Wildcat Creek for my last night and then I hike 4 miles out to my evac pickup point.

BAG NIGHTS?

41 Backpacking Bag Nights

77 Backyard Sleeping (cowboy camping on the back porch on a thermarest and sleeping bag).

TOTAL BAG NIGHTS TO MAY 1ST: 118

Looks like a great trip, I've never been south of the Skyway and it looks like I need to change that

 

[Tipi Walter]

Now is not the time to be anywhere near the Skyway since it's become a motorcycle racetrack with all day harley noise pollution---whether south or noth of the road. Better bet is to go into Bald River wilderness and along Brookshire and Kirkland. Get as far away from the Skyway as possible.

 

[blueeyes]

TOTAL: 6

4/5 Temple Mountain
4/6 Temple Mountain
4/12 Nine Mile Canyon Road
4/13 The Prop Duchesne
4/19 The Prop Duchesne
4/20 The Prop Duchesne

Decided to avoid all crowds and just hung out solo by the camp fire this weekend.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[Jazzy Joe]

Total: 6 Nights

January 31 - Feb 1-3 On the Pariah Plateau
April 12-14 Alstrom Point & House Rock Valley
April 19 Hanksville Area

 

[Windy]

TOTAL: 2 nights

April 17th- The Backyard - puppy tent training
April 27th - San Rafael Swell