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For camping along the rim rocker it will probably just be dispersed camping in the portion that's in national forest. My white rim permit application is for "potato bottom B" the night of the 17th. I don't think it'll take more than 2 days/1 night to complete.

 

You'll be hoofing white rim at that pace. Doable, yes. Enjoying the sites, debateable. I recall @thefatkid and I wishing we had another day to just relax and enjoy the trail rather than hammer down the entire time.

 

Good to know. I'll have to see if I can amend my permit and add on a second site if there are any available. I'm pretty much flying blind here as I've never been to Moab or canyon lands NP. I'm just trying to get the ball rolling so I don't miss out completely. I appreciate the info man!

 

Lemme check my days on this one. Looks fun.

 

Wasn't Potato Bottom on the very last section of the trail before the exit? Like in the last 2/3rds before dirt turns to pavement?

I would 2nd what @alee891 said. 2days and 1 night was rushed. Over 8 hours of seat time each day if I remember correctly, closer to 10. I feel we missed some time at some overlooks and possibly some more hikes.

 

You're correct, potato bottom is in the final 1/3 of the loop. Most sites were already all reserved for the entire week around RT. ALL of the available sites in that timeframe were all in the final 1/3 unfortunately. Looks like I waited too long to figure out my travel plans... Beggars can't be choosers.

 

That sucks because you will miss some cool stuff because you will have to haul ass and not stop much at all to make camp before dark. Make sure your on trail before 9.

Did you look into getting a gooseberry or airport camp site the day before or after Potato bottom? I heard white crack has some good camping but, because of time we couldn't go and see it.

Both goose and airport were pretty exposed camping, while they had vault toilets, not much sand for tents.

 

Here are the available sites for the week of 10/14-10/20. As you can see hardly anything is available and nothing is available in the first 2/3 of the loop at all. I'm bummed, but it is what it is. I'll just have to make the best of what I got.

 

I was looking into those spots on the 18th but not worth it to be in a rush the first day

 

If I was just going to do a day trip would it be worth it? And how far should I go on the white rim trail before turning around?

 

Schafer Trail to Potash could be done without a permit but think they still collect fees if I remember correctly. Make it in to Musselman arch if you get a permit. That is all just really dirt roads at that point though. After Musselman there are some good overlooks.

 

Yeah you have to be early to get the sites you want. Even though you might be a little rushed or get into camp later on day one, just start early and you'll be fine and see plenty.

We did two nights, stopped at most sites and had plenty of time. We made good time on the trail, which you mostly can since there's nothing that's technical.

I think we had Murphy and Labyrinth.

And yes, you have to have a permit to go on the trail, motorcycles can easily do the whole thing in a day, but you need a day use permit unless it has changed.

 

@mountainmonkey Have they changed it to make it one way? When we ran it we stayed at Hardscrabble I think. But we ran it in 'reverse', so we had all day to do the 2/3 part and a hotel stay waiting at the end of that, so no worrying about getting to point b and setting up camp. Honestly, it was fine, didn't really feel rushed at all. We didn't do a lot of stopping, but we did a number of times. The slot canyon, the arch, the tower, several overlooks, all the campgrounds, took most of the spurs (not that there's a lot). Longest stop/hike was probably the slot.

@Flboarder / @thefatkid is right, the turnoff onto Schafer is just past the entry station, so entrance fee would be collected. If you do go in, you could spend the morning at overlooks and stuff and then take Schafer out down to Potash and back into town. Alternatively you could take Long Canyon down to Potash, which is on the way to Deadhorse Point. Schafer is pretty much dirt/county road, Long Canyon can be a little rough at the top stretch, or possibly even closed as the last couple of years it's had some damage and they're being slow/indecisive/ineffective at repairing it. If it were me, I wouldn't bother with any of White Rim unless you can take at least the one overnight to do it. There are similar alternatives that can be day trips - for instance Chicken Corners.

 

As far as I know it is still a 2-way trail. Luckily for me I will already be in Moab the day before, so I could get a nice early start on day 1 (sunrise if I wanted to). It looks like my camp is at mile 66/100 so it's not too far from the mid point of the trail. If I don't get a chance to see something along the way it'll just give me a good reason to go back

 

Alright guys here are my tentative plans for the week of Rock Therapy. Let me know if you are interested in joining for all or part of the pre-Rock Therapy festivities. I will continue to update this post as my plans solidify.

Oct 14th: Leave Denver and head to Montrose. Begin Rimrocker trail and find a dispersed camping campsite after entering the Uncompahgre National Forest (~12 miles from start of trail)

Oct 15th: Continue along the Rimrocker trail and make camp that night in the Manti La Sal National Forest near the Colorado/Utah boarder

Oct 16th: Finish the Rimrocker and roll into Moab. Stake out a campsite in Moab for the rest of the week/Rock Therapy.

Oct 17th: Start the White Rim trail (**Permit in hand for campsite "Potato Bottom - B"**) This camp site is 66 miles from the beginning of the trail so I will be getting an early start on the trail. I would like to start the trail at or before sunrise (approximately 7:30 am) to allow for maximum travel and site seeing time. Planned stops along the way include the Gooseneck Overlook (0.6 mile "hike"), Musselman Arch, and Washer Woman Arch.

Oct 18th: Finish White Rim trail and head back to Moab to join the Rock Therapy festivities. The remainder of the White Rim trail is shorter which allows more time for side hikes. Planned side hikes include Fort Bottom Ruin (3 miles) and Moses and Zeus (1 mile)

Oct 19-21: Take in as much as Moab has to offer (Possible trails to be run: Top of the World, Golden Spike, Fins N Things, open to suggestions from those with Moab experience)

Oct 22nd: Say goodbye to Moab and book it back to Denver via I-70

**The White Rim campsite permit allows for 3 vehicles and up to 15 people, but I will need to call and modify the permit so if you're in, you're in. No backing out. Each vehicle requires a $30 fee for the camping permit and a $25 fee to enter the park (park entry fee is valid for 7 days and can be paid ahead of time online here https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/74186020). This is highly recommended so there is no need to stop at the visitor center prior to entering the park. If you are interested in sharing the campsite with me you can paypal me the $30 camping fee and I will get the permit amended to include your vehicle. You will be responsible for paying your own park entry fee.

A good map of White Rim can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/upload/island.pdf

Good Rimrocker info here (maps, gpx files, etc): http://rimrockertrail.org/

Here is a pretty nice guide showing info for many of the tourist activities surrounding Moab: http://www.discovermoab.com/pdf/gclodging.pdf

 

I would skip fins n things and do hells revenge. Or do first part of fins and then do hells revenge. I might run it if my parents come. Planning on running top of the world for sure.

 

Hells revenge was fun, and top of the world was cool at the top. Fins isn't anything too special if you're pressed for time.

 

The "fins" are cool, it's the "things" that are an annoying waste of time

 

Anyone interested in doing something on the scenic side tomorrow afternoon/evening?

if not anyone have 3-4 difficulty trails that would be ok to run alone? (I know breaking a big rule

 

@Coop68
@mountainmonkey
@Nazupag524

Y'all still thinking of going out this weekend?