4th quarter 2015 Club Run, November 20th-22nd

The plan is Burr Trail -> Wolverine Loop -> Notom/Bullfrog Road -> Hartnet Road -> Cathedral Road -> Caineville Wash, along almost entirely graded dirt roads.  There will be one water crossing at the Fremont River, water level should be low.  Along the way we'll check out the Wolverine Petrified Forest, Strike Valley, and Cathedral Valley.  Total mileage from gas to gas looks to be about 275 miles - there will be a chance to bail back to Torrey in the middle of our loop if necessary, but that'll take an hour of daylight so better if we don't have to.  I anticipate about eight to nine hours total drive time, but we'll obviously take longer than that due to stops along the way.

Don't know where we're camping Friday night, so we'll need to meet up and drive down together.  There's a Conoco at exit 260 in Springville that's right next to the on-off ramp, let's rally there at 3:15 with plans to be rolling by 3:30.  That'll put us in Torrey by 6:00.  Torrey will be our last fuel stop, and don't plan on ANYTHING else, the town shuts down in the winter and even the convenience store may not be open.  From Torrey we'll head south to Boulder, looking for somewhere to camp along the way - I'm going to check with the area RV parks to see if we can find somewhere to put up tents because that would make it a lot easier, but I'm pretty sure they'll all be shut down for the season so we may be stuck with whatever primitive site we can find in the dark.  Saturday morning we'll hit the Burr Trail, the earlier the better.  We'll leave Burr to drive the Wolverine Loop and check out the petrified forest and whatever else strikes our fancy.  After returning to the Burr Trail we'll continue to Upper Muley Twist and the Strike Valley Overlook - a short washbottom drive and a short hike to the overlook, but you guys don't want to miss it.  After the overlook we'll descend the switchbacks (maybe - if they're snowy/icy we might get turned back) to the Notom/Bullfrog road and drive north along the Waterpocket Fold.  There's camping and primitive toilets at Cedar Mesa campground along the road, or if we've got a lot of daylight left we might continue on towards Cathedral Valley and find primitive camping along Hartnet Road.  If anybody is low on fuel and needs to fill up, this is the time to do it.  The spot where we'll cross Hwy 24 is twenty miles from Torrey, or thirty miles from Hanksville if you need shopping.  Sunday we'll hit Cathedral Valley, with lots of picture stops for overlooks and landmarks and such.  From there we have options - we can backtrack through Cathedral Valley and exit north through the Last Chance desert ending up on I70 (quickest), we can follow Cathedral Road down to Caine Wash and back to Hwy 24 (closest gas), or if we have time we can exit east on Factory Butte Rd, cross the Muddy and pop out at Goblin Valley (never been this way, might be awesome?).

This sounds like an awesome exploring trip that I wish I could make! I was just offered a specialty promotion at work yesterday which will make me super busy for the next little while. As always I expect good pictures

Aww, lame. Promotions are good though.

offroad_medic wrote:This sounds like an awesome exploring trip that I wish I could make! I was just offered a specialty promotion at work yesterday which will make me super busy for the next little while. As always I expect good pictures  

Congrats!!!

Where exactly might we be Sunday morning? I need to be home by 10am.

Somewhere between Cedar Mesa campground on the Notom-Bullfrog Road and Cathedral Valley. I think we could make it a point to camp near Hwy 24 so that you're close to pavement.

I've hesitated posting, just because I don't wanna jinx it... but I am planning on this trip! I may have to bug out Sunday morning as well, but at least that will get some exploring time in on Saturday. I've had my project back on the road now for a few weeks, and seems to be doing real good! I even fixed the cruise control yesterday to help with the highway miles

Sounds awesome, Ben, it'll be good to have you along. I'm sure Andrew will appreciate the escort home Sunday morning, he's gotta be nervous about that Dodge making the drive.

I don't want to assume anyone's schedule or time, but do we need to get rolling earlier on Friday so we can hit some sites before dark? I've got the day off, so I'm open, but I don't know how everyone else is sitting.
Just a thought.

1330 would be the earliest I could leave the house. If everybody else wants to get rolling that early that'd be fine with me. We won't be hitting any sites per se, but I hate setting up camp in the dark.

We've decided to head to Cali for Thanksgiving this year. We're leaving this Saturday so that means I'm out.

Boo!

You guys will hate me, but I'm bailing too. I'm helping the dude get the 7mgte pulled this weekend: 1. so I have a better idea of where everything goes 2. there's a chance I have it in my garage by Sunday.

So... who's still in?

You, Brad, and my crew?

Nope. Not me. I was out from the beginning sadly. With my new spot at work I'm way to busy to go sadly.

I am still planning on going, I might have to drive down later - don't know if I can make it to the gas station at the same time as everyone else. I was planning on headed back home early Sunday morning though since that's the wife's birthday and all.

offroad_medic wrote:Nope. Not me. I was out from the beginning sadly. With my new spot at work I'm way to busy to go sadly.

Vitruvius wrote:I am still planning on going, I might have to drive down later - don't know if I can make it to the gas station at the same time as everyone else.  I was planning on headed back home early Sunday morning though since that's the wife's birthday and all.

I meant Chris, I'm sorry. I have medicine head.

Ok, Ben, Chris, Reid and wife, myself and clan.

Chris, I really truly have no idea where we're going to be Friday night. What's your worst case departure time?

My departure time is kind of out of my control on Friday. I can't commit to a time yet, but if 3:30PM still works for everyone leaving the gas station in Springville, I will plan on that.

I have Friday off, so I could always head down ahead and find a spot. I'm not sure how good cell service is. Some of the area of HWY 12 between Boulder and Grover is pretty remote.
Looking online, I found a campsite just a little south of Boulder, near the Hell's Backbone area: http://freecampsites.net/#!5123&query=sitedetails
Doesn't look too bad of a place, and free? I guess what I'm saying is, if I head down late morning-ish from the West Jordan area, I should be able to find a spot before dark, and give you guys a target. Would that help?

What a cool website! That'll work, Ben.

Alright, then. That's the new plan.
Only thing to figure out is communication. CB channel preference? Texting? Smoke signals? The dreaded white paper plate stapled to a tree that you'll probably miss if you blink at the wrong time?

I think ch22 is our default. Texting will be iffy. From looking at satellite, it seems like you could be really anywhere around that airstrip and you'll be able to see us coming. If you're further afield and need to lead us in, flag us down in Boulder.

You got it! I'll see you all Friday evening!

we meet at 3:30 or 1:30 at the Conoco in Springville?