The Maze District - Canyonlands Adventure

[Dr_rer_nat_Dan]

Mountaineer01, I am fine with holding it for your friend.

[hiimmike]

We have a bit of a dilemma here now.

Isak's friend wants to join
Someone from the Overland Bound forums in Firestone here wants to join
One of my neighbors here wants to join

I helped narrow this down, I told my neighbor "sorry, you're too late, I told you about this months ago" you snooze you lose.

I guess it is largely my fault because I posted in two locations. I'm fine with Isak's friend if he can commit and I can tell the other individual we're full but they can be on the wait list. Unless I'm lucky and Isak's friend is Akicita, that would make life easier.

[hiimmike]

I talked with Isak and his buddy is in. I'm going to let the OverlandBound folks know they can be first on the wait list. Hopefully no one cancels though.

Some things to think about that I had in mind to talk about when we all met in person:

1) How you all plan to handle pooping. Yeah, I just had to come out and bluntly say it. I have a Lugaloo thing that I've used once, not a great solution but gotta do what you gotta do. I'm used to backpacking and bringing a trowel.

2) How you all would like to handle food. I'm thinking of brining my 22" Blackstone. I had a thought about each night two rigs are responsible for cooking dinner and two rigs responsible for breakfast. If everyone wants to just do every man for themselves, I'm fine with that too. We have a fridge now that we bought specifically for this trip, excited to use it!

3) How to handle Day 1 to Utah, I was thinking meet in CO and caravan. Some people like to drive faster than others though, I'm a 5-10 over typically on pavement with dry clear skies. If I'm in a group I'm usually only 5 over or run the posted limit.

4) Anyone care what camp sites they stay at? We'll have 3 rigs per site. Night 1 in The Maze, we stay about 10 minutes apart from each other. The 2nd and 3rd nights in The Maze we're right next to each other.

5) What time do we want to be on the trail every morning? I think a good plan for time between sites would be helpful to stick to the plan.

6) Afterparty! My wife and I are planning to stay in Moab and return home the 21st. We're meeting with one of our friends to run Elephant Hill on probably the 20th, maybe an easy short trail run on the 19th after we get into town and shower and maybe an easy short trail run (I would love to do a longer run like Dome Plateau) after breakfast on our way back home to CO. If others are interested in staying, whether wanting to run trails, mountain bike, hike, whatever you want to do, would we be interested in an AirBnB out there? Hotels are stupid expensive $300+/night. I figured if others want to hang out a couple extra nights, we could get a house and save a good chunk of money plus have additional amenities.

[Jim]

1 Solids waste) Pack it in, pack it out. Luggable Loo - not that brand but you can easily search on it. (5-gal bucket with toilet seat top) + the zip-lock plastic bags that go inside and get zipped afterwards. Used, sealed bags go into the trasharoo hanging on the spare tire. I do have a "toilet tent" that I'll bring - probably not needed though. Others are welcome to use my bucket but you'll need to supply your own suitable bags. EDIT: At the campsites we stayed prior (Poison Springs Road, Sunset Pass, Dollhouse 2, Standing Rock, Maze Overlook) there were ample places where one could get away / out of view (toilet tent not needed). Toilet bags - Reliance Double Doodie waste bags https://www.rei.com/product/823665/r...s-with-bio-gel

2 Food) I'm good to handle food for myself. I'll have a fridge and a classic coleman 2-burner stove (and folding table for the stove). Folks are welcome to use the stove as much as they wish. Fridge space might be limited - but available if needed. I typically do oatmeal & tea for breakfast, deli meat or PB&J sandwich for lunch, likely can soup for supper.

3 Travel speeds / caravan) I'm a +5 person but the jeep is also speed limited. Generally 60/65/70 in the flats with a rare 75. Group is fine though solo with meet-up time / location is fine too. When Matt, Trent and I met in Hanksville, I think we arrived within 20 minutes of each other.

4 Campsite choice) Generally no preference. I do snore - so others be forewarned. I'm content locating myself at a decent tent spot but away from others.

5 On-Trail time) Flexible. Generally not a morning person (8a is typical alarm time, 7a alarm is fine too. 5:30alarm - you're crazy, this is vacation*). Likely, we will have AMPLE travel time between sites. My last trip with Matt & Trent - we didn't discuss any times and things just flowed well.

6 Extra days) Days prior or post planned trip are open for me to extend.


* though the Colorado motto does apply / I do practice it: You wake up earlier on the weekends than you do during the week.

[Mountaineer01]

Mike - These are great topics to discuss.

I think the trail time will depend on what detours we want to take each day for sightseeing/hiking, which we can plan out when we all meet up. I'm flexible on pretty much everything except the extra time, I will have to keep it to the days we have planned.

One thing we should decide and book soon is the campground for the first night before we go into the maze. Any suggestions here? I'm thinking one with some services (Water/bathrooms) so that we don't have to start digging into our supplies before we go into the park, if that is an option.

[Dr_rer_nat_Dan]

My comments, but I am open to variations with our in-person discussion.

1) solid waste: I have a pop-up privacy tent with a sit-down loo using Reliance Double Doodie waste bags.
2) food: I am open to group cooking for some meals, probably supper. I am diabetic, so I have some restrictions. I have a frig, so I can carry some group food, but my medications take precedence.
3) travel speed in caravan: I am open to starting together, but realistically we will get separated due to speed differences, eating needs and comfort stop timing. So a meet-up in Hanksville is good to reconnect.
4) camping: I will be sleeping in my car.
5) on-trail time: I would like to start at a reasonable time in the morning, but not as the British say "at the crack of sparrow fart". I am not in general a morning person, but will follow the group consensus. I would like to have some hiking stops.
6) extra days: I am flexible to staying over for a couple of days to do some other trails.

[hiimmike]

Mountaineer01 previously posted:

[Mountaineer01]

Mike,

I don't have a GPX file, I still need to get an app that will allow me to use them. But I have dropped some pins on Google Maps that you can reference below:

Enter park at Poison Springs Road: https://goo.gl/maps/QsKJttLEggAjNK7QA

Exist park at Flint Trail Road: https://goo.gl/maps/oWZC4AmwMK2Vgy516

Since we are entering at the NW portion of the park, I figured staying around Hanksville would be pretty close. But I would be fine being anywhere within a half hour of the entrance point.

[Jim]

I think it's time to put this run on the calendar - we have enough certainty and people committed.

I went searching for dates to place onto my calendar. Here's a screen shot / might make it an easy visual in the thread:

[Jim]

Post edited: March 1 @ 1:48pm

I'll make edits as desired to keep this info current


Route (as of Feb 24 @ 2:06pm)
232 Miles Hanksville Chevron > in at Poison Springs > campsites (in order) > out at Flint Trail > Hanksville Chevron
Google Map


Pre/Post trip "close to Hanksville" camping options:

Campsite: Poison Springs Road (dispersed camping)
38.130760, -110.542640
https://goo.gl/maps/snJ3Q6mxbLTjGyxB6

Campground: Goblin Valley
38.573042, -110.713702
https://goo.gl/maps/qnBrBcDXKQTHJdQq6

Campground: Green River KOA
38.991369, -110.140855
https://goo.gl/maps/5YZx9AAStaaaG6Jr7

There is likely (need to verify if there's interest) dispersed camping east of UT-24 between I-70 and Hanksville


Closest gas station:

Gas: Hanksville Chevron
38.370356, -110.703511
https://goo.gl/maps/NUdVVb1wVjbSYTnA9


Entrance: Poison Springs Road
38.141793, -110.610093
https://goo.gl/maps/nS31rQR7Yi318et36


First Maze night campsites:

Campsite: Happy Canyon (Canyonlands permit)
38.108511, -110.137087
https://goo.gl/maps/hmbgdG4q6zzPMzcS8

Campsite: The Neck (via Susan Tooch @ NPS Maze District) (Canyonlands permit)
38.090703, -110.141618
https://goo.gl/maps/wuHbWQVyBG7tBrNP8


Second Maze night campsites:

Campsite: Dollhouse 1 & 2 (Canyonlands permit)
38.158702, -109.946293
https://goo.gl/maps/2BK98cYZ4VzaUbaS9


Third Maze night campsites:

Campsite: Maze Overlook 1 & 2 (Canyonlands permit)
38.233267, -110.003279
https://goo.gl/maps/WKzwuRCYEisVaKhU8


Exit: Flint Trail Road
37.901026, -110.378709
https://goo.gl/maps/aqdQVxY9TGiZCaEG8


On this page:
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/maps.htm
Is reference to the Maze district map with campsites nicely labeled
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvis..._508forweb.pdf (1MB)

.

[Mountaineer01]

Jim previously posted:

[Jim]

EDIT:

Susan Tooch @ Maze District NPS replied with coordinates for The Neck campsite.

See my full coordinates post, above, or at this link:
https://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums...815#post350815


==========================

I have been searching for an exact location for The Neck campsite - no success aside from general mentions. Several maps show the campsite to the west of the road but scanning the area via satellite I see only one location on the west side of the road (but it's questionable) and two or three on the east side.

From what I've found, I might wish to put a preference for The Neck (vs Happy Canyon).

Reference this PDF:
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvis..._508forweb.pdf

West side location (it looks to be too far north from what several maps depict, but it's on the west side)
38.095501, -110.141717
https://goo.gl/maps/hPf7Jni6A9uNFzCF7

East side of road #1
38.097083, -110.135598
https://goo.gl/maps/BEQ3unsqLss1yQry7

East side of road #2
38.095221, -110.136932
https://goo.gl/maps/69T8jbydYUPu7Bqv6

East side of road #3a
38.085880, -110.145338
https://goo.gl/maps/ooFndkkBMe1yY4Be6

East side of road #3b
38.084197, -110.145530
https://goo.gl/maps/QbTSkgZ9cMGtfG7o9

.

[Dr_rer_nat_Dan]

The Neck campground is about 1.5 mile south of the Happy Canyon campground turnoff continuing on Roost Road.
Happy Canyon is about 0.2 mile west of Roost Road.

[Dr_rer_nat_Dan]

This post has been edited on 1 Mar at 16:05 to reflect new data Jim got from the NPS and be consistent with that data.

Based on Jim's suggestion I entered the various day routes into Gaia GPS. The Neck campground appears in Gaia.
This was an exercise to get more familiar with Gaia and to see what the daily distances are (rounded up). This
could give us estimated driving times plus stops for views, photos, and short walks.

The Neck campground is a total of about 3 miles more than Happy Canyon.

Poison Springs road entrance to the Neck campground is 54 miles.

Neck campground to Doll House campgrounds is 33 miles.

Doll House to Maze Overlook campgrounds is 41 miles.

Maze Overlook to Flint Road intersection with 95 (Hite) is 53 miles.

Total trail mileage is 181.

If anyone wants the Gaia GPX files, I am happy to share. Exports of GeoJSON and KLM are possible.

[Jim]

EDIT:

Susan Tooch @ Maze District NPS replied with coordinates for The Neck campsite.

See my full coordinates post, above, or at this link:
https://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums...815#post350815

=============================

Lat/Lon for The Neck would be appreciated, thanks!

EDIT: Via NPS.gov, I submitted a "contact us" e-mail for "The Neck" campsite coordinates.

[Dr_rer_nat_Dan]

This post has been edited on 1 Mar at 16:05 to reflect new data Jim got from the NPS and be consistent with that data.

Based in where I marked a waypoint in Gaia GPS the Neck campground Lat/Log is roughly:

38° 5' 26.5" N, 110° 8' 29.8" W

The Neck campground was labeled in Gaia.

[Jim]

EDIT:

Susan Tooch @ Maze District NPS replied with coordinates for The Neck campsite.

See my full coordinates post, above, or at this link:
https://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums...815#post350815

=============================

Nice to know - that's the "3b" item from a post up higher.

[hiimmike]

Thanks for throwing this all together. I just logged in to make another route in Gaia and you've got all the details anyway.

[JLWILLYS21]

Hi All, I just had a change at work and cannot make the trip :(. Let's catch up for some local wheeling soon

[Jim]

Sorry to hear it - next time around perhaps.