Monday, January 19, 2009

If you can't beat it, float it!

We discussed an interesting option last night, one that will perhaps allow us to escape the Lockhart Basin section of the route, unscathed by the sights, sounds, and smells of the annual Jeep Safari. This rally is held every year and unfortunately happens to coincide with our period of travel through the area. I should say at the outset that the proliferation of mass-attended, off-road vehicle rallies is a perversion of outdoor recreation like none other. The thrill surely must involve some combination of being carted around everywhere on petroleum power, the allure of mob activity, or the feeling that a desert area is a wasteland relegated to the most destructive means of travel. I really can't imagine that attending a jeep rally near Moab involves an appreciation for the solitude, or for the landscape and its non-human inhabitants. Sorry for this personal digression.

We decided that we would float the Colorado River between the river access at Kane Creek Road and Spanish bottom (~70 miles). We will be using Alpacka Yukon Yaks such as those pictured. They are light (4.5 lbs) and and can easily be packed out to Needles Outpost via the Red Lake Canyon trail opposite the Spanish Bottom. There is no whitewater on this stretch, although I've seen these babies do some remarkable maneuvers (on YouTube, of course). I've had two of these packrafts for quite some time and have always dreamed about using them in such a fashion. So, here it is. I just hope the plan is sufficient for avoiding the jeeps and all their wondrous sounds and smells!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Innocuous thoughts, part 1.

I'm excited about this trail and very much looking forward to that feeling of anticipatory wonder that accompanies the start of an ambitiously long trail. Throw in a little anxiety and couple that with the mystique and awe-inspiring beauty of the Colorado Plateau landscape and what we have is pure rejuvenation!
Until then, we will keep firmly focused on the trip preparations as our start date of April 5 is approaching rapidly. We continue to be perplexed at a strict mail-drop resupply plan. The regions in and around the Escalante-Grand Staircase NM are indeed so isolated that caching appears to be the only option without including a significant re-route. The rendezvous option is still there but we need takers. If interested, don't hesitate to shoot us an email. We could even hike together with a gaurantee that no one will be disappointed with the relevant sections of the Hayduke.
Stay tuned for updates.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Well, here it is ... our blog for our upcoming Hayduke Trail trek. Jeff and I plan to start the trail in early April and are really excited about it. Right now, we're working on the topos, dehydrating food, gathering our gear, etc.

Yeah, baby ...