Club Runs discussion thread

[Kevin]

EDIT - This thread got cattywompus, so I've renamed/repurposed it and opened a new thread with details for the 2nd qrtr 2015 trip here: https://desertrunnerst4r.forumotion.com/t529-2nd-qtr-club-run-the-pet-6-4-to-6-7

Brad stole my trip idea, so instead of the Swell I think lets aim for the Maze.  I'm thinking we probably go in Poison Springs Canyon and come out at Hite.  Two nights, might need to carry spare gas depending on your range, shouldn't be any driving a stock truck will have trouble with. Except maybe crossing the Dirty Devil, I should say... if runoff levels are high we'll go in through Hans Flat and leave Poison Springs and the Dirty Devil crossing for later.  Expect lots of driving, some hiking, some epic scenery and maybe a little Robber's Roost style history.

Looking at the weekends of May 9th, which might have milder weather, or May 23rd, which will probably be getting a little warmer but is a 3 day weekend.  What say ye?  I need to know relatively soon because camping in the Maze requires permits.

Ty, I know your time off is still iffy, how do we make this trip Hardy-friendly?

[offroad_medic]

I have both of those weekends off it would just require convincing my wife

[Andrew]

May 9th would work better for me. My daughter's birthday is the 23rd. No, not an excuse. I have 3 daughters...and so far 2 trips this year have been planned on 2 of their birthdays. The 3rd daughter is July 14th...so nobody plan a trip then...

BTW, my son's birthday is the 19th of July...and he wants to spend it camping.

[Andrew]

Just realized May 10th is Mother's Day...might be a problem for some...especially if we don't make it home...

[Kevin]

Just realized May 10th is Mother's Day...

Whoa, nice catch. Let's not piss off the mothers.

Ok, two more options. I could do a Thursday/Friday/Saturday the weekend of May 30th, or I could do a Friday/Saturday/Sunday the weekend of June 6th.

[offroad_medic]

The 6th is my vote if those are the dates

[Andrew]

Looks like June 6th works for me.

[dutchman]

I think the 6th will work for me too. We're being awfully proactive this year!! Should we start the 3rd quarter planning already? Did we want to do a Moab run end of April?

[Kevin]

K, pending input from Tyson we'll tentatively plan on the weekend of June 6th.

We're being awfully proactive this year!!  

Yah. Last year we didn't do anything on our list of trips we said we were going to do (except for the T4R Moab trip) and I didn't like it. If we're going to grow as a club we have to be active, so I'm gonna be pushy. Lemme know if I get too pushy.

[Ty]

I'm going to be pushing it for a 2 nighter, but I will see what I can do. If I can pull it off, June 6th would be the best.

[Ty]

By the way where is the Maze??

[Kevin]

I'm going to be pushing it for a 2 nighter, but I will see what I can do.  

It's a five hour drive just to hit dirt, then another couple hours of dirt roads before we even get anywhere. It almost has to be a two nighter.

The Maze is the district of Canyonlands National Park west of the Green and Colorado rivers (Islands in the Sky sits between the Green and Colorado north of the confluence, Needles is east of the Colorado). We'll hit dirt somewhere near Hanksville, slightly north or south depending on whether we go in via Hans Flat or Poison Springs canyon. Check out the overview map at http://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/maze.htm.

[Kevin]

Ok, so here's a way to get a taste of the Maze in a one night trip:

http://goo.gl/maps/ND3l5

We would leave early Friday and hit dirt at Hite Crossing (A) roughly five hours later.  It would be another hour, maybe hour and a half to that night's camp (B).  I've camped there before, it's an awesome little spot and it's just outside the park boundary on BLM land so no permits required.  That would leave some daylight for exploring the area on foot.  Next day, I'm guessing the three to four hours to Hans Flat (C) is about right, these will not be high speed dirt roads for the most part.  Ty, you'd probably be around four hours from home leaving from Hans Flat, so you'd be home that night with room to spare.

If the rest of us hadn't had enough, we could take our leave of Ty at that point and head back in for more adventure, camp that night, and play some more before heading for home the next day.  But if Ty can swing two nights away I can come up with a better plan for sure.  I'd really like to go all the way in and camp at Dollhouse. We'd get all the driving we need on the way in and way out, and wouldn't have to move camp the second night.

[Ty]

Looking at my work calendar and the current state of the Oil economy it doesn't look like I will be in for any Longish trips. I need to cut back where ever possible, and unfortunately hobbies are one of the first to go.

Honestly it might be Fall/Winter before work pics up enough to get my hours back, then hopefully there is not a lot of bill catching up to do. The Dairy thing is so hit and miss too. I will only be going down there when they call and need help.

[Kevin]

I know you hate not driving, but it doesn't take any gas money to ride with me. Sounds like time off shouldn't be a problem anyway.

[Ty]

I'm good for Friday and Saturday, but the Payson temple dedication is that Sunday. It's not every day a temple gets dedicated in your backyard, plus this is the first one Aiden is old enough to go.

[Kevin]

So how about this, let's keep it a little closer to home and maybe provide some options for guys that can't get the whole chunk of time away?

Thursday night, camp near the Sheeprock Mountains. Friday, wander said mountains looking for interesting mining ruins, then head out the PET for camp at Simpson Springs. Saturday, continue out the PET to Gold Hill, stopping for points of interest along the way, and check out mining ruins at Gold Hill if there's daylight left. Camp Saturday night somewhere out there. Sunday, finish checking out Gold Hill and come home on I80.

Folks could join or leave at any point, I don't think we'll be any more than an hour or two from home at any stage, except for the stretch of PET between Simpson and Gold Hill. Guys that can't get Friday off can join us Friday night at Simpson, and guys that need to be back Sunday can split from Gold Hill saturday evening and jam up to I80.

[Ty]

Where are the Sheeprock??

[Kevin]

West of Eureka from you, just south of the PET.

[offroad_medic]

I could be talked into that depending on if anything comes up with work or whatever

[Ty]

Any idea how much dirt vs pavement? I'm trying to device whether to take the runner or hitch a ride.

[Ty]

How do you get to Gold Hill without going through Wendover or Dugway??

[Kevin]

Your car would be fine. You could park at the base of the Sheeprocks and hitch a ride when we go up the canyons, and you've seen the PET, it's flat as a pancake.

I suppose you could come at Gold Hill from the south, but that's the long long way around, and the roads will be worse than the PET.

[Ty]

If it's mostly dirt I will bring the runner.

[Ty]

I suppose you could come at Gold Hill from the south, but that's the long long way around, and the roads will be worse than the PET.

Are you planning on going in through Wendover, or is there public access through Dugway?

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