1st Quarter club run, the Swell.

Split from the Death Valley thread.  Take it away Brad!

Trip details and assignments:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rwbP5HCokTxuSS7CUtHeZPQ-96Bzbzxnhdg7ZsGNbTI/edit?usp=sharing

Yeah that would be a lot of miles on a mountain bike....have fun. :face:

Anyway would anyone other than Brady be interested in a shorter weekend trip somewhere slightly more local? Even down like Escalante or Swell area?

Kevin wrote:It is a lot of bike miles.  I strongly suspect that I will cheat and spend at least part of the trip riding shotty while my wife drives.  There's room for you to do the same.

I'd have to do some serious tune-upage to my bike before I attempt a trip like that.

offroad_medic wrote:Yeah that would be a lot of miles on a mountain bike....have fun. :face:

Anyway would anyone other than Brady be interested in a shorter weekend trip somewhere slightly more local? Even down like Escalante or Swell area?

What weekend? If I'm free, I'm down.

I have Feb 28th, March 14th, March 28th all weekend available.

I like an overnighter the weekend of the 28th.

Kevin wrote:I like an overnighter the weekend of the 28th.

Which 28th....there's two.

offroad_medic wrote:Which 28th

Um, yes.

Either/or, really.  February will be colder at night, March will have a higher chance of mud.  Pick your poison.

Both will be cold. The swell would be less wet than escalante area maybe. That being said, as much as I hate mud, southern Utah mud isn't the worst ever.

offroad_medic wrote:Both will be cold. The swell would be less wet than escalante area maybe. That being said, as much as I hate mud, southern Utah mud isn't the worst ever.

So make an account at ExpeditionUtah.com and read up on the San Rafael Swell loops in the featured trails section. There's lots more trip research and trip reports on the forum. I have the Nat Geo Trails Illustrated map and a printed copy of the MVUM, you're welcome to borrow them. Plan us a trip, Brad!

How much hiking/driving ratio would people want? And which weekend have we decided on? Kevin you keep trying to be sneaky and get me signed up for different sites. I'm catching on to you....

I'm sorry, was I being sneaky? I thought I was being pretty blunt about it.

I'm good with whatever you want to do, man. I'm free both 28s.

Here's an online copy of the Emery County MVUM. I think you can email them and get them to send you a free printed version. I scored mine in one of those touristy brochure racks at a gas station in Wellington.

http://www.emerycounty.com/Travel/Maps/emery_co_ohv.pdf

The wedge is an awesome place to camp and is definitely worth visiting if you have never been there. It's gorgeous during sunrise/sunset. Also buckhorn is pretty rad to see the petrified dinosaur footprints, butch Cassidy inscription, and petroglyphs. That being said, nothing more than grades dirt roads down there but worth seeing for sure.
Down by temple mountain can be fun to explore if you enjoy abandoned uranium mines. All the old equipment and mine entrances are cool for me and if any of the kids are coming they would probably love it. Once again, nothing really more than dirt road exploring but that's fine with me.
Is anyone else wanting to come or is it me and Kevin for now?

It'd be cool to swing by Copper Globe, too. I haven't been there yet either.

I don't think I've been to that one but it sounds awesome. Have you been to the Swaseys area at all?

I've been to the cabin and driven part of Eagle Canyon, I've driven Coal Wash and Devil's Racetrack, I've been partway up Black Dragon and that's about it. I'd love to see more of the area and I'm down for anything you come up with.

I'm in depending on the wife's work schedule.

Right now my wife and I are thinking that march works better for our schedule. The 14th or 28th are the weekends I'm looking at. Everyone give me input as which day you prefer.

I'm planning some good exploring trails to mines in the area with some possible hiking/further exploring if interested. Also let me know if kids are coming and I'll make it kid friendlier. ***this trip will be any 4WD friendly and will not require anything too special ***

And since my username isn't cool and bright green I'll let the powers that be decide if they feel like renaming this thread or not.

I'll be on the White Rim the 14th, so I would prefer the 28th. I'm down with hiking, I'll probably have the family with.

The weekend of the 28th works better for me.  My daughter's birthday is the 14th. I'll have, at least, my 8 year old boy in tow.

Without looking at Britt's calendar I think I am probably good for the 28th. I need to get my rig and see how streetable it is before I make any promises. I will for sure have at least my 2 boys. I don't like to go anywhere without them.

Are we thinking Friday night into Saturday or a 2 nighter or just Saturday into Sunday????

With the way things are going at work I may have every other friday off for furloughs by then

I was thinking friday-Saturday and I'm not positive if I can make Sunday or not but will plan on it for now.

What's your feeling on group size, Brad? Wanna keep this tight or wideband it?

I don't really want it huge but I'm totally down with having more people come out and enjoy. There's more than enough room down there for large groups to camp and we don't need permits and shouldn't need reservations anywhere so no big deal.