April/May 2017 The Utah Traverse

Collecting interest for an April/May 2017 run starting in Southern California onwards to the Grand Canyon and then north jumping onto the Utah Traverse: A west to east off-road execution through southern Utah.

Via Expedition Utah:

History:
"'The “Utah Traverse” proper route first popped up on ExpeditionUtah in 2008 at the hands of forum member and long-time Southern Utah traveler Sinuhe Xavier. You can read more about his thought process and planning behind the Utah Traverse HERE.

The Utah Cruiser Expedition group (many of which ended up here on ExpeditionUtah) planned and completed a similar route in the Fall of 2005, their trip was featured in the November/December 2005 issue of the Toyota Trails magazine and can be seen HERE. The group has since gone on to tackle the Utah Inverse (North-South across Utah) and the ultimate route, the Utah Converse. The Utah Converse treks from 4-Corners UT/CO/NM/AZ to 3-Corners UT/ID/NV, utilizing primarily off-road routes to converse the state east-to-west as well as south-to-north."'

This OP is just a rough draft and we'll be dialing it in further as the date draws nearer. Ask questions, give tips, do it all here. Lets get this trip a brewing.

Tentative dates: April/May 2017

What you will see: awesomeness

Who you will be with:
Responsible, experienced overlanders including some military vets.

Length of roundtrip: 7-10 days. We'll be near a town every couple days so people can split off if needed due to their schedules, etc. Finite details to follow on this.



Because I like pictures, too:

Grand Canyon:


Zion:


Note:

This will be a family trip and where we find ourselves on BLM land, pew pew is ok. We pick up our brass and we don't play around with gun safety.

Moab edit:

For those that want to continue on to Moab, the end of the Utah Traverse puts the group online with a route home to Socal or to Moab. A perfect split off spot for those wanting to continue their adventure up to Moab or head home.

 

Confirmed (capped at 12 rigs):

1. @goblue82 +1 and a pup
2. @stvstoy +1
3. @Willbeck
4. @downhillbik3r +1
5. @goleee33
6. @CaptainReverso
7. @Mike likes Tacos
8. @DefconBrix
9. @Pirhett
10. @Techoma
11. @Socalduckslayer
12. @Cascadia Tents


Maybe

@Dangerousd1987
@Shmellmopwho
@Airdog
@outkast
@TACOmobbin
@Metallikatz3
@SixthSnail
@bawoodfin
@bjs045
@K_Matthews13
@SixthSnail

Once 12 rigs have been confirmed the maybes will be on standby should a confirmed rig need to drop out.


Rig requirements:
4x4 with E rated tires. 2wd with proper clearance, locker, an experienced driver, and E rated tires.

 

Provisions.

Food:
Those using ice chests won't have to worry much as every few days we'll be stopping by a town for supplies. Including expensive petrol if needed. However, I'll shamelessly plug an Rtic cooler. At a third of the Yeti cost they're proven.

Transport:
For us So Cal folks we'll all likely taco-van up to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The final muster will be at North Rim before heading up to Utah. More details to follow regarding meeting points, etc.

Gear:
Get your cold weather gear ready. There will be cold nights at higher elevations and likely snow remaining in some areas. Think layers.

Comunications:
I like Ham and between now and D-day there's plenty of time to get a quality hard mounted 25-60 watt ham setup that won't break the bank. However, the popular baofeng handhelds will do.

Food:
I've always said provide your own food but often what ends up actually happening is people take care of their own breakfasts and lunches and then there's often a family style smorgasbord type of dinner. I can go any direction with that.

That's all I have for now and as always, questions and suggestions are encouraged. This will help us as a team dial in on this adventure.

Here's an Expedition Portal link on The Utah Traverse:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/60947-Exp-Ut-Southern-Utah-Traverse-Sept-09/page2

 

Sounds fan*******tastic!I'll most likely be in Flagstaff,AZ.at the end of April and definitely the beginning of May for the annual visiting of friends and the Overland Expo West!From Flagstaff possibly may roll through Utah like previous trips and then head back to SoCal from there!
I'll keep myself in the loop for how this OP rough draft transpires!

 

Nice. Ill get to the Overland Expo someday. Cheers, mate!

 

Jakin will most likely be joining so gimme a +1

 

Count me in

 

sub'd!

 

Make me a +1

 

I wanna go!

 

Subd, sounds like fun. I'd love to go. We'll see what happens

 

This sounds awesome but probably can't make it. Wife and I are expecting our second child in Feb and April is probably a bit to soon so tell her see ya.

 

I have a couple of gps tracks from Mesquite NV to Kanab UT that took us to 2 overlooks on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. They were Toroweap and Whitmore. Was a fantastic trip! Lmk if you want the files to possibly help with your planning. Think I have both .kml or .gpx available.
Here's a link to photos from the trip.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/19843514@N03/u61F35

 

Congrats on the new edition. There will always be future runs. Cheers.

Killer photos. Id love to snatch up your .gpx files. I'm such a navigation nerd now. Even since I dialed in my iPad and 2nd gen teck deck I've been 100% accurate 100% of the time

 

Well maybe 2 from AZ then! haven't been to any of the places for a few days now! lol

IG: @AlisonsAdventure

 

You really have to plan this one. Are you thinking about going to camp at the national park? I been to both, Gorgeous place, but haven't try the back roads on the way there. Definately interested with the route your going to take.

 

Sounds awesome. Definitely want to hit Zion! Sub'd!

 

I know everyone has ideas.... but I hit Capitol Reef NP for the first time last week. You can get very up close and personal including some tame off road trails.