Don't Waste Your Time In Utah/Arizona

[crosscheck]

It's almost time to head south for some fun on the Colorado Plateau after a good ski season. This will be our 5 th trip in as many years, leaving on Apr. 15, arrive St. George, 17th. We will leave for home on June 4 to be back in Coldstream, BC for a wedding on the 6th.

As the title states, we don't want to waste time driving in round about directions to interesting areas. The one problem is waiting until May 15 for the route into the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Following is a rough itinerary of our trip. Feel free to comment on the direction of the route and if there are any interesting places along the way which should not be missed or if there is a more efficient way of seeing these places.

We mostly hike and MTB (mountain bike) when on these trips and 100% of our camping is dry or Boondocking. We can hike for 12 minutes or 12 hours doesn't matter and are intermediate MTB riders.

Usa trip 2015

Apr. 15 Leave south
April 17. St.George - Gooseberry Mesa- JEM-Gould Rim- Hurricane Rim- Guacamole-MTB
22 Sedona.- MTB and hike.
25 Grand Canyon- New Hance to Papago Wall- return - day hike
27 Canyon de Chelley
29 Comb Ridge- hikes along both sides of Comb Ridge
May 2. Valley of the Gods- hike the buttes
4 Goosenecks
5 Muley point
6-12 Grand Gulch- Colin's Springs- Government trailhead-Slickhorn Canyons
13 Rainbow bridge-hike
14 Buckskin-Paria- hike
16- 20 Grand Canyon North Rim. (North Kaibab, North Bass,Nankoweap)
21 Red Canyon -Thunder Mt-MTB
22 Phipps Arch-hike
23 Horse-Wolverine- Little Death Hollow-hike
25 Lower Muley Twist canyon-hike
27 Robbers Roost canyons-hike
29 Moab -White Rim?-Mag7-Dead Horse Point trails- Klondike Bluffs-MTB
June 4 Leave for home
5 Home

Comments?
Thanks

Dave
UPS, Moab 2014

[profdant139]

Dave, you and Mrs. C are far more competent and adventurous MTB riders than we are -- I have followed your blog for several years. If we could do that trail comfortably, you can do it blindfolded! No danger at all.

Rainbow trail report

Another good trail report

[crosscheck]

SteveAE,

Dark Canyon. That might be a good plan. I've looked at the round trip possibilities and it looks good. Wasn't planning on taking backpack gear this year but might have to rethink that. I will PM you.

profdant139,

Rainbow Rim maybe a good way of breaking up the hiking on the North Rim. I will check out your blog. We like to ride but getting hurt trying to copy strong Technical riders is not fun.
Thanks again for suggesting Gooseberry Mesa for MTB riding. (2 years ago)We are going back to St George area for the 3rd time. Lots of variety.

Dave

[profdant139]

Dave, you might want to build in another day out on the Rainbow Rim in the Kaibab NF -- one of the best MTB areas we have ever visited. Here is a blog link:

Rainbow Rim blog post

There are multiple "points" out there, as you probably know -- the MTB trail traces the outline of the points. The trail is not too technical -- in fact, based on some of your earlier trip reports, you and Mrs. Crosscheck might find it a little tame at times. But the riding is just great -- often shady and cool, great views, dips and climbs, wildflowers (depending on the time of year), wildlife, etc. There are several days' worth of rides in the area. The camping is also excellent -- usually, there is a good breeze to keep the bugs away, very quiet, often no one else around.

[crosscheck]

bka0721 wrote:
Looks exciting for your destinations. Just be prepared for weather events that might interrupt your plans, like in 2014.

VOG was perfectly suitable for me through the end of May in 2014. I doubt this issue of temp will bother crosscheck nor more than it did me. The Paria is indeed very turbid this season and has changed my plans for non-potable uses. Sorry that we will miss each other, and my boondock camp by 3 days, by your current schedule, in the Paria.

Travel safe and don't take short cuts off of cliffs.

b

bka0721,

Our itinerary is just a rough timeline based on weather so we may bump into each other around the Paria. I promised some friends we would hike Wire Pass to White House with them. Normally we would not go back to the same spot but the canyon although easy hiking was pretty interesting.
After backpacking the Beamer-Escalante trails in Grand Canyon in 100F+, no shade ,last year, VOG in May will be downright balmy.

It would be fun to sit down and hear about the trials and tribulations of full timing in a TC.

Dave

Looking back at Fish Canyon after hiking the Owl-Fish round trip. Cedar Mesa 2014

[Lauren]

You will BE a lot of places but, with your time frame and intent, you will not really SEE them. But, it would appear, that is your lifestyle. I can kinda understand that though as in my 40's and 50's I ran ultra races out to the 50 mile distance. So I spent a lot of time training running and racing.

Some day, like me, you will slow down - by choice or not - and smell some roses and truly see these places and many more.

[crosscheck]

tuna fisher wrote:
Last week it was in the upper 80's around VOG area, has cooled this week to freeze warnings. Were loaded for Comb wash, VOG, John's cny,and others in that area. Leaving thursday if temps stay below 80. Typical Spring weather, hot/cold. I doubt it will be below 85 come May. To hot for boondocking with no shade for me. Good luck.

Last year in May, we were planning a hike into Owl and Fish canyons when a storm came through making side roads impassible. 2" of slushy hail at visitors centre in Natural Bridges. Came back a week later and although camping at the trail head(6000') was cool at night, the canyon bottom was quite warm.
We love the heat in this area but because of the elevation, nights are always cool.
Have good trip.

Dave

[bka0721]

Looks exciting for your destinations. Just be prepared for weather events that might interrupt your plans, like in 2014.

VOG was perfectly suitable for me through the end of May in 2014. I doubt this issue of temp will bother crosscheck nor more than it did me. The Paria is indeed very turbid this season and has changed my plans for non-potable uses. Sorry that we will miss each other, and my boondock camp by 3 days, by your current schedule, in the Paria.

Travel safe and don't take short cuts off of cliffs.

b

[SteveAE]

crosscheck,

I am glad to hear you had a good ski season up there. Snow here was awful this year, so didn't go out much this year...like only once.

Looks like our paths will again, almost, cross. This year we plan to do some easy canyoneering around Hite, backpack Dark Canyon (look into it if you are looking for a multi-day hike), and maybe poke around on Cedar Mesa again (esp. if it is hot). Will adjust based on the weather. Our time frame is May 2 - 19. Give a shout if you want to hook up....esp. for Dark Cyn. as having another vehicle to do the shuttle with would really help.

Some possible tips:
- Like last year, you are biting off a big chuck of real-estate. But I realize we have different styles.
- Good camping at both ends of Comb Ridge as well as along the road .... for your rig. As you probably know, you could spend a lifetime just in that area (we did three weeks a few years back).
- If you guys like slot canyons, check out Slot Canyons of the American SW
- Paria river is very turbid (it took over a month for the white patches on our dog to become white again), so don't wear anything you want to see clean again for a long time....if ever.
- Death Hollow was an excellent, easy, three day hike (Boulder Mail Trail to Death Hollow, down Death to Escalante, down Escalante to hwy bridge) . Do it if at all possible. The owner of one of the restaurants in Boulder did our shuttle. Great guy. If you are interested, PM me and I will dig out his card.
- Am envious of your getting into L. Death this year. Maybe next year for us....

Steve

[coolbreeze01]

When the road or trail is open, go ahead and take it. Or wait..........

[tuna_fisher]

Last week it was in the upper 80's around VOG area, has cooled this week to freeze warnings. Were loaded for Comb wash, VOG, John's cny,and others in that area. Leaving thursday if temps stay below 80. Typical Spring weather, hot/cold. I doubt it will be below 85 come May. To hot for boondocking with no shade for me. Good luck.

[homefor2]

Just reading your itinerary makes me tired. I'm sure it will be fun but too exhausting for me.

[lbrjet]

Looks ambitious. Have a great time.

[Jim_Shoe]

Different strokes for different folks. I think pedaling my rear end all over the place is a waste of time and energy.
For those of you that would like to see a couple of places that are ones of a kind, I'd recommend the Tucson, AZ area and in particular the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Old Tucson.
The desert museum specializes in animals that live in the desert. Snakes - sure, but there are several four legged animals that call the desert home.
And Old Tucson is a collection of cowboy movie sets. You may spot John Wayne walking around.
Here's a partial list of the films shot there.

[midnightsadie]

I, m sure thats the detour route. don,t worry it won,t hurt ,