It's About the Journey, Not the Destination
Once again… we found the adrenaline rush just sitting around and planning for a backpacking trip. This time, Moab, round two.
<div class=separator style=clear: both; text-align: center;><a href=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pMB_Rpksf2A/UPkFQB3EOVI/AAAAAAAAEjs/2AqwAAAZl34/s1600/IMG_3309-Edit.JPG imageanchor=1 style=margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;>
Our goal was to enter into and exit out of ‘The Maze District’ in Canyonlands National Park in four days. You know the reason why they call it ‘The Maze’? It is the exact reason why we spent countless hours staring at all the different types of maps to make sure that we DO know this maze. Here’s the LD..
- Take off from Denver at 12 AM
- Be at Hans Flat ranger station at 8AM
- Off-road for 6 hours into our car parking spot at the Maze Overlook by 3PM latest
- Pack up and final check and head down into The Maze by 4 PM (sunset approximated to be at 5PM)
- Find one specific canyon for the climb out, out of countless of canyons before sunset
- Night hike until tire on top of the canyons
- Pitch tents, eat, star gaze!
- Wake up and catch the sunrise over The Maze at 6AM
- Head to Chimmey Rock by 12PM
- Unload and hike around to catch all of the wicked features for a few hours
- Pack up and head into the Maze by 4PM
- Hit a specific junction in The Maze as a safe-ground by 9PM at the latest
- Eat, sleep, wake up at 7AM and try to find way out of the maze by 11AM
- Head to back to the ranger station and check out
- Drive back to Moab for a good grilled steak dinner!
- Pitch tent at a primitive site.. then head into Arches National Park to do Devil’s Garden Loop by 7AM
- Get over to Delicate Arch trailhead by 3:30PM to hike into the arch to catch the sunset
- Head out and back to Denver around 12AM
Countless of hours and effort went into the planning to make sure this trip will happen and will happen safely. Due to the hard off-roading and the winter conditions, we went out and get a hi-lift, tire chain, towing cable and extra gas tank to ensure our survival driving into and out of The Maze. Additionally, we got contour maps and GPS maps loaded on all our phones to make sure we will hit all of the necessary points and turns in the trip.
The final day came after an unbearingly slow week. Our eyes have been set on the weather for a few days prior to the trip. Slowly, it became apparent to us with the snow conditions, we would not have been able to make it into or out of The Maze alive. Plan B.
The two days before heading out, we came up with the awesome Plan B. This called for The Needles District in Canyonlands. Not meticulously planned as The Maze, The Needles District is a place of fond memories for me personally. I knew some of the trails from the first trip and was confident we would be able to get in and out pretty easily. It is is confidence that also led us into some uncalled for adventures.
Next post… Our adventure in The Needles District.
