Fall 2022 - CanyonLands - Maze (Routes Set)

Updated the title and OP.
We all have time to finish modding our trucks.
PLUS, PLUS we still have @chrslefty Mohave Trip in the spring.
So, Ideas for dates? Sept again?

 

Yes, a fall trip would be great. Maybe a week or two later than our recent trip. Drop the day time temps a little bit while nights are still comfortable.

 

I’m interested. Followed along your last adventure and I love exploring southern UT. Wife and I just did a big piece of the Kokopelli Trail, from Fruita to TOTW, then did TOTW. Beautiful scenery. I’d love to join you guys next year.

 

What Mike said...

And the thread title...Needles District is separate from the Maze District...are we planning on both?

 

Maybe? Still looking at maps and routes. If there’s a way to enter via Elephant hill exit Needles on the south side and make our way back up to Maze. Looking.

 

That would involve crossing the Green or Colorado Rivers, which are the boundaries between the three districts...Horseshoe Canyon is standalone (see attached file)

ETA: We "may" be able exit Needles by continuing south past where we were at Bobby Jo, but looks like a gate at the boundary. Then take 95W to a turnoff near Hite. Hella long ass way with no fuel stops, unless we divert to Blanding since the Hite Outpost is now permanently closed. We'll likely need to still check-in at the Hans Flat station. I have some routes already plotted if you need them...

 

Hire is permanent closed? Crap. Well it’d be nice if NFS updated their page. I was looking of going that way south through the gate then up.
Well scratch that unless you want to make a scouting run with me.

 

I meant the tiny gas station there...pretty sure the ranger station is still open. I might be interested in a scouting run, but I'll be taking a week!

 

Sent ya a Pm about it

 

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

News Release

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Rainbow Bridge National Monument

Office of Communications 691 Scenic View Drive PO Box 1507
Page AZ 86040

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 2021

Contact: Mary Plumb, GLCAmedia@nps.gov
Fuel Services Unavailable at Hite, Utah

HITE, UT – Travelers on Highway 95 in rural Utah are advised that fuel service is out in Hite, Utah. The 24-hour, pay-at-the-pump service will be out until further notice. Hite is a remote Ranger District in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, located at the top of Lake Powell, adjacent to the confluence of the Colorado and Dirty Devil Rivers. Many recreational opportunities are available, including Jeep trails, backpacking, canyoneering, mountain biking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, boating, and fishing.

Motorists driving the 134-mile stretch between Hanksville and Mexican Hat, Utah will need to get sufficient fuel for their recreational needs prior to going to Hite. The nearest towns with fuel available are Hanksville, Utah (51 miles to the west) and Mexican Hat, Utah (83 miles to the east and south). Be aware how much fuel is in your tank and how far away you are from the nearest gas station. The park is assessing the situation and hopes to restore fuel service soon. The park apologizes for the inconvenience.

More information is available on each park’s website: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area or Rainbow Bridge National Monument

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at NPS.gov Homepage (U.S. National Park Service), on Facebook , Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.

 

Nope that’s fine and working on it.
Hence the requirement for minimum half tank extra fuel.

 

Following. I would *love* to join for a day or two of this trip. Logistics are my only obstacle, so will update as I know more.

 

Add me to the list please!

 

Add me to the list as well

 

I’ll be able to update once home and off mobile.
Plus as said. Plan is fluid for now. Want ideas for maybe any extra sights or hikes.
I’ll have to add pics of route scouting

 

I'm in...

 

News, 15 Oct, 2021

Wow! Man we've gathered a bunch of interest. Which is awesome.

As for the list of people interested and what not; this is important.
I dont need hard commits right now, however it will help in planning. The reason being is with permits for Needles and The Maze we have strict requirements.
First is, no more than 3 trucks in a group. Which is fine, because we can break up into several groups. While in the parks we may not be able to travel all together. We can still all be in the parks together albeit separated by hours, day etc.
On that note. What I do need from you guys is days you'll have available for the trip. For example, me. I plan on

• Friday - Travel
• Saturday - Trip
• Sunday - Trip
  
• Monday - Trip
  
• Tuesday -Trip
  
• Wednesday - Trip
  
• Thursday - Trip
  
• Friday - Trip
  
• Saturday - Trip/Travel
• Sunday - Travel/Home

With this type of schedule. I can dedicate 7-8 days for the trip. With only using 1 day travel to and 1 day travel back.
However, I know NOT all of you can do this. So, I need to know what your looking at for being able to dedicate for the trip, and how many days pre and post trip you need for travel.
Because in planning and organizing the groups. This will come into play and give me a way to look at things and possibly stagger routes.

I am going to impose a hard limit of 9 people. (Possibly 12, but that's to be discussed) At least for me to plan this out. Then each group will have a Group Lead (GL). The GLs and I will be the ones coordinating when the time comes for getting the permits.
The permits for next fall wont open until next May if they follow 2021s date schedule. This is important as I cant have the permits for all because permits are by names, vehicles and license plates. Keeping this in mind. When it comes time for groups to be formed, the list is fluid. Then when we get about 2 weeks out from permit time. We will need hard commits. As the permits will require Names, Vehicles and the tags to be inputted to purchase the permits. Which then the groups are set. Getting changes can be done, but does take time.

Not trying to scare or weed anyone out here. If we have a solid 12 to go, then we'll figure out how to do 4 groups. Just being so far out, from past experience. I expect some changes.

There's much to explore in Needles and The Maze. With The Maze. I plan on dedicating a solid 4 if not 5 days for it. Why? Because, you can be at one campsite and be able to hike and explore most of the day. Spend 3-4hrs traveling and maybe do two nights at a particular campsite because there's just so much to do. I dont want this to be a drive through Christmas display tour. I want this to be an extensive opportunistic tour of The Maze.

I am always inspired by @turbodb writes ups of his trips. I've pulled much inspiration from his trip reports. Of which, I will be re reading his reports from the Maze. The one thing thats stuck from his stories and even my travels. Is, we always wanted more time to explore. Why NOT? Why do we have to rush this? Granted, time restraints because of "life" do exist. We have to play the cards were handed.

We're still a ways away. As a Sergeant of Marines I've been involved with multiple Movement plannings from Conus to theater, and In theater movements. I'm kinda treating this the same way. We have personnel, equipment and logistics to deal with. Which we will.

One last thing; Comms. Most of us are already running GMRS. Thats going to be the main comms for the trip. If you have Ham. I know there's a "mod" to be able to use it on GMRS. (I dont know legality of that, but....)

I'm already excited for this!

 

I can take the time off, but do to military training the 1st weekends of the month are generally not available.

 

Thank you!

This also is the type of information needed. Are there times you cant do. So when it comes time for picking dates, we can all have a happy medium!

 

I'm good for the entire time of the trip, whatever it is. I'll take a day or two to travel down, and the same back, but I'll tack those onto whatever days the trip covers.

Here are the things that are still up in the air for me:

1. I've got no "easy" way to say this, but the "normal" group I go with also does a fall trip. Generally, it is late fall - two weeks between mid-Sep to mid-Oct. Traditionally at least. I will do my best to get commitment on those dates (always a hard thing) as soon as possible from them, so I can commit or not to this. Sounds like I have an April/May deadline on that.
2. There will be a week in August that is best for me when the kiddo is at summer camp (2nd week, I think, but will need to check with the mrs). Might even be able to bring the mrs with me that week. Or maybe not. Will depend on the hike/drive ratio (she is a fan of the hiking, more than the driving). I don't know if August is even an option for you all.
3. Condition of the truck. Not much I can do about this one, obviously, but it's always a question for me with the number of trips I do.

Last thing I'll add - I think 12 is too many. Even 9 is pushing it. I get the "3 truck groups" so it's hard to go 7-8, but those often feel like the right "limit" to me - even that many gets unwieldy. Who knows though, really, maybe there won't even be 6 commits, hahaha. If having a smaller limit means I can't go, I totally understand. I think everyone else will have a better time with fewer rigs.