New to the area!

JamesCulp

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2018
Messages
6
Hey guys and gals! My name is James and I’m from Ohio! I’ve been lurking for a while because I was too stupid to figure out the security question (obviously, the obvious is not my forte), but I finally got myself smart enough to figure it out so here I am!
I’ve been backpacking for a few years now, thanks to my wife. We normally go to Daniel Boone National Forest(a.k.a. the Red River Gorge) in Kentucky but I had told my wife about my lifelong desire to go to the desert a couple of years ago so she let me plan a trip (also not my strong suite) and we spent two miserable days in Canyonlands in July 2017 and I was hooked. Who knew the desert is hot in July?!
But since I was hooked she let me have another shot at it in April 2018 and while it was not as hot, it sure was windy this past spring and having an opportunity to drive all through southern Utah (we went from Valley of the Gods to Escalante and back to Canyonlands) I realized that anywhere on the Colorado Plateau is my favorite place on Earth and you can literally stop the car and start hiking and have your mind blown.

So now that my wife has had her fill of the Colorado Plateau, I’m planning on hopefully going back this coming spring (2019) and making a Hayduke attempt in 2020. None of this sounds appealing to any of my friends so I figured meeting some like-minded people wouldn’t be a terrible idea. Hopefully I can contribute here since I probably know more about the Colorado Plateau than anybody who’s never been there more than 9 days!

Nice to meet you guys and gals(in advance)!
 
Hey guys and gals! My name is James and I’m from Ohio! I’ve been lurking for a while because I was too stupid to figure out the security question (obviously, the obvious is not my forte), but I finally got myself smart enough to figure it out so here I am!
I’ve been backpacking for a few years now, thanks to my wife. We normally go to Daniel Boone National Forest(a.k.a. the Red River Gorge) in Kentucky but I had told my wife about my lifelong desire to go to the desert a couple of years ago so she let me plan a trip (also not my strong suite) and we spent two miserable days in Canyonlands in July 2017 and I was hooked. Who knew the desert is hot in July?!
But since I was hooked she let me have another shot at it in April 2018 and while it was not as hot, it sure was windy this past spring and having an opportunity to drive all through southern Utah (we went from Valley of the Gods to Escalante and back to Canyonlands) I realized that anywhere on the Colorado Plateau is my favorite place on Earth and you can literally stop the car and start hiking and have your mind blown.

So now that my wife has had her fill of the Colorado Plateau, I’m planning on hopefully going back this coming spring (2019) and making a Hayduke attempt in 2020. None of this sounds appealing to any of my friends so I figured meeting some like-minded people wouldn’t be a terrible idea. Hopefully I can contribute here since I probably know more about the Colorado Plateau than anybody who’s never been there more than 9 days!

Nice to meet you guys and gals(in advance)!
Welcome! What are you planning for 2019?
 
Welcome! What are you planning for 2019?
My hope for 2019 is Grand Gulch/Cedar Mesa, but it’s a hell of a drive to do solo from Cincinnati so if that doesn’t pan out I may end up in Green River (the best greyhound stop I can find) and attempting to hitch to San Rafael Swell and exploring there.
July is a great time in the desert if you get some thunderstorms.
I really wanted to see one, but the 107 degree days with no humidity were a bit much for my first Utah experience. Our summers get hot here in Ohio(100+), but 107 was really intense haha!
 
Last edited:
Check out flights to Moab. They're really not as terrible as you'd think as it's subsidized by the federal Essential Air Service program.

For my money, flying into Moab and hitching to the Needles, Abajos, even Grand Gulch would probably be easier than getting to the Swell (I'm not super knowledgable about the Swell but pretty much anything worth doing is on a seldom-traveled dirt road).

Orrrr... fly into the Moab Airport, walk across the road, and start Hayduke Sec 1 via the Klondike Bluffs Alt. It's a fun preview of coming attractions, plus it's a snap to hitch from where Courthouse flows into the River back to the airport.
 
My hope for 2019 is Grand Gulch/Cedar Mesa, but it’s a hell of a drive to do solo from Cincinnati so if that doesn’t pan out I may end up in Green River (the best greyhound stop I can find) and attempting to hitch to San Rafael Swell and exploring there.

I really wanted to see one, but the 107 degree days with no humidity were a bit much for my first Utah experience. Our summers get hot here in Ohio(100+), but 107 was really intense haha!

But it's a dry heat. ;) Elevation is the key.
 
Check out flights to Moab. They're really not as terrible as you'd think as it's subsidized by the federal Essential Air Service program.

For my money, flying into Moab and hitching to the Needles, Abajos, even Grand Gulch would probably be easier than getting to the Swell (I'm not super knowledgable about the Swell but pretty much anything worth doing is on a seldom-traveled dirt road).

Orrrr... fly into the Moab Airport, walk across the road, and start Hayduke Sec 1 via the Klondike Bluffs Alt. It's a fun preview of coming attractions, plus it's a snap to hitch from where Courthouse flows into the River back to the airport.
I had initially decided this wasn’t a possibility as a flight from Cincinnati costs like $800+, but I just checked Cincinnati to Denver to Moab and it’s literally like $300 round trip, thanks for making me use my noggin!
 
Or ride the train - it stops in Green River right across from the Epicenter guys/gals who are very helpful.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
M Lost a drone in the San Rafael River area/below the wedge. No time to hike in to retrieve. General Discussion 0
G Escalante area 4-5 night backpack trip suggestions in late September. Loop if possible. Limit technical sections if any. Thanks! Backpacking 6
canadug Escalante area exploring Trip Planning 0
B March at Valley of Fire other recommendations in the area Trip Planning 7
balzaccom Tahoe area restoration project General Discussion 0
BJett Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area Packraft/Backpack Loop (TN) Backpacking 6
Desertratgal 3-Day Rattlesnake Arches Area Adventure Backpacking 4
Janice Water questions - Escalante area Trip Planning 38
Nethos Santa Fe/ABQ/Durango Area- Mid Late June Trip Planning 11
regehr buffington pocket area recs? Trip Planning 17
F Invite Fourth Wanted- Bechler Area- 16-21 September Meet Up (Members Only) 1
J Death Valley National Park and Area Mountain Rambles Dec. 16-17, 2020 Hiking & Camping 0
BJett Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness Area. North Carolina. Backpacking 0
JBPHXAZ Suggestions for day hikes in Cedar Mesa area Trip Planning 4
J Need Park City area Hiking help Trip Planning 2
fossana Red Cliffs & Dixie NF fire-related trail/road closures (St George area) Trip Planning 1
regehr quick Medicine Bow / Laramie-area hike? Trip Planning 0
C Arches area walking in the tourist spots Everything Else 2
norwegianxplorer Sequoia National Park, Backpacking Mt Silliman area, June 2020 Backpacking 8
U Favorite Yellowstone Gallatin Mtn Area Campsite? Looking at WD5, WE7 and that area Trip Planning 5
Eugene Stanley Idaho area hikes Trip Planning 2
Perry 5.7 mag Earthquake in Salt Lake City Area - Check in Here to Let Us Know You're Okay General Discussion 44
M Non-technical 1-2 night backpacking w dogs and kids - Escalante-ish area in April? Trip Planning 14
westy Fishhawk Creek, Washakie Wilderness Area Trip Planning 4
J Lake Mead Natl Recreation Area North Shore scramble fun. Nov. 28-30, 2019 Hiking & Camping 5
J Mount Nutt Wilderness Cave Spring Area dayhike Nov 26, 2019 Hiking & Camping 0
Artemus Road Proposed to be Bulldozed through Red Cliffs Recreation Area General Discussion 7
Sweeg Savage Gulf State Natural Area Backpacking 14
Titans Prescribed burn South Monroe Mountain- photos from Capitol Reef area Photography 0
Stephanie B Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab Area Hiking & Camping 2
powderglut Hanksville Area/ Weekend Meet-Up 2019 Hiking & Camping 7
P Hellroaring area, Yellowstone Backpacking 9
BJett Mount Rogers National Recreation Area - Virginia Backpacking 18
TeamJenkins17 Hawks Rest/Bridger Lake area Trip Planning 6
BJett Linville Gorge Wilderness Area - North Carolina Backpacking 18
NorthwestWanderer Backpacking the Methow Wildlife Area : Pipestone Canyon Backpacking 3
regehr Hanksville area rain March 21? Trip Planning 5
swmalone Rain, Mud, and Wind....First Trip to Escalante Area Hiking & Camping 16
Mikjik86 Good car camping? Stuff to do near Goblin Valley area Feb 24,25,26? Trip Planning 15
wabenho Move from the Wasatch Front to St. George area? General Discussion 6
Jazzy Joe Looking for Escalante Area Short Backpacking Suggestions Early Spring Trip Planning 21
misSOULa How do you like living in the SLC area? General Discussion 28
J Brooks Lake area to Younts Peak via the Continental Divide Trip Planning 24
Rockskipper For Utah fans: Dalton Wells area could become ‘Utahraptor State Park’ General Discussion 1
fossana Tucson area trails/site recommendations Trip Planning 7
I Making Final Preparations for Cedar Mesa Area Trip Planning 5
LarryBoy Water source information - Escalante/CRNP area Trip Planning 14
J Red Rock(s) Canyon Natl.Conservation Area Hikes and Scrambles Nov. 15 and 16, 2017 Hiking & Camping 0
N FL hiker who travels to Teton Wilderness area frequently. Noobs: Introduce yourself! 3
chandlerwest Needles Loop/Druid Arch, Moab Area Hiking & Camping 11

Similar threads

Back
Top