A Little over a week ago a group of friends and I decided to voyage to the confluence of the Green and Colorado river . The trail-head is found deep in Canyonlands National Park and is an 11 mile round trip hike. We had a perfect Spring day for it. The sun was out, but the weather was not too hot for a long hike.  The dessert flowers and cacti were just starting to really bloom, making it a beautiful colorful walk.

Indian Paint Brush

view of the Needles

While the moderate trail is relatively easy, there and some cliffs to be mindful of and a short ladder is in place at one point to help transition one of these rocks. Total elevation change for the hike is 200 feet. I didn’t really feel the elevation change being that there are a lot of lengthy flat stretches in two different valleys and one long plateau.

The scenery is great throughout, but my favorite view along the hike was of the needles. We stopped with this great view to have lunch and re-hydrate.

We arrived at the confluence at about 2pm, roughly three and a half hours after we started, but we took lots of breaks for photos and lunch.

There is nothing quite like the view of the Confluence for the first time with your own two eyes. For this reason, I’n leaving the photo out. This is definitely something you want to see for yourself! The red color of the Colorado meeting the almost turquoise color of the Green is spectacular. The reason why the dividing line between the two is so visible is doe to the temperature differences in the rivers. Further downstream, they do eventually mix.

A side note for those of you who do not like to hike or are unable. There is a Jeep Safari trail that also takes you to the confluence. It is definitely a longer road, but I am told is equally as enjoyable.

There are many camping sites along Kane Creek Road. While all were beautiful in bloom with the Spring, there were two that stuck out to me in particular. The more well known of these two would be Moonflower Campground, located just 3 mile off US 191. The entrance to Moonflower is lined with petroglyphs . There was a small flowing creek (I imagine from the rainfall) that leads the way into Moonflower Canyon. All Along this creek through the breathtaking canyon are wonderful unique camping sites. The canyon walls not only provide shelter but a gorgeous landscape. There were about 6 (out of 8) prime camping sites in Moonflower and they are on a first come/first served basis. Camping is 10.00 a night, but definitely worth every penny.

The second site that really stuck out to me was a bit further up the road. This is one i did not find listed on the BLM map. The campground is called Spring Site. It is slightly less protected as it is not in its own Canyon, but does have large trees at each site to provide shae and shelter. I appreciated the open layout and great climbing near by. This one only has 4 sites. Itis right along Kanes Creek which provides  a great water source and the soothing sound of a flowing stream.

Out of the many campgrounds on Kanes Creek, I found these to be the most scenic, secluded, resourceful, spacious, and over all a great place to camp!

Moonflower Canyon

Moab Jeep Safari Week

I can’t believe almost a week has gone by since Jeep Safari Week . It was absolutely amazing for US191.com to be a part of the event this year. Spreading awareness of what beauty and adventure US 191 holds is always such a positive experience. To hear things like “I had no idea it went that far” or “how many national parks?”  Is what our website is all about. I’ve always loved playing tour guide and as a result many people decided to take US 191 on their journey home.

Jeep Safari Week

The time is here again to kick off another amazing week in Moab! Easter jeep safari has been taking place in Moab since the 80’s and each year it seems to get a little bigger and a little better.
COME MEET MEMBERS OF THE US191 TEAM ! We are so pleased to be a part of the expo for Jeep Safari this year! We have made shirts specific for this event, so be sure to get your Jeep Safari souvenir!
The expo will take place on Thursday the 17th ( 7am-8pm) and Friday the 18th (7am-6pm) inside and outside of the Spanish Trail Arena just south of Moab right off US 191 ! This part of the event is open to the general public. Come see everything 4 -wheeling and get information on future 4 – wheeling.
This 9 day event attracts people from all over the world. Each day offers 9 different locations/trails to be explored departing from Moab . “Big Saturday ” caps off the event with the largest ever single trail ride departure happening . 30 groups line up in downtown Moab to head off in very direction to hit 30 different trails!
There is still time and space to register online for this awesome event at www.rr4w.com !
A few things you will want to know before hand, despite the name, not just jeeps are allowed. There are no restrictions as to what type of make and model, but high ground clearance and 2 speed transfer case are expected in whatever you choose to drive. NO ATV’s or UTV’s. vehicles must have an integral metal top or roll bar. All cars must be road legal with proper brakes, safety belts, etc. recommended items include a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, tow strap, spare tire, and jack. Be sure to pack your food, non-alcoholic beverage , plenty of water, sun protection , and proper gear for unpredictable weather.
Please be sure to swing by the booth, can’t wait to see all of you 4-wheeling fans in Moab this week!

I will admit, I am a dare devil at heart. I enjoy anything that really gets the adrenaline going. Such as, but not limited to, speed in any sort of motor sport, defiance of nature; such as white water rafting, camping with bears, tornado watching, etc, or anything that challenges my fear of heights. So far to conquer this fear I have pushed myself a bit further each time when rock climbing, conquered the world tallest zipline, and jumped out of a perfect;y good airplane.

None of things I imagine compare to the thrill of the World’s Largest Rope Swing.

There are many things I will never forget about my first trip to Moab. One of which being the very concerned phone call that I received from my parents. Knowing my darting heart (and just learning how to use the internet) they had seen a video of a man who tried to ride the “swing” and tragically lost his life. I am fully an adult, but there are sometimes that my parents still feel the need to be parents (as most do) and evidentially this constituted. They made it very clear to me that this was NOT on the parents approved list of adventures. Naturally, this left me curious. I thought I must investigate this tomorrow.

To my surprise, later that night I met up with two of my friends for a bonfire that I conquered the “swing” that very day! I had envisioned this swing all set up, just there for the taking, but in fact, it is much more complicated than that. In order to ride the swing, you must first set it up. This requires not only the knowledge, but also very expensive equipment (good rope isn’t cheap). Luckily, my buddies had both.

They showed me a video on their phones that left me even more intrigued. Even with all of their skill and careful planning, they did not fully escape without injury. My friend Al had a rope burn to his neck that could have been a lot worse. All of these fear factors aside, in that moment, I added the swing to my personal life list.

Being that I will be headed back to Moab in a little over a week to run a booth for US191.com at Jeep Safari Week (more information on that to come) I was thinking about this swing. Will it finally be my time?

When I was researching the World’s Largest Rope Swing online, I found this video….enjoy

http://youtu.be/4B36Lr0Unp4

We often miss so much of the world that surrounds us because we are moving too fast.  It’s not just the sights to take in, but the culture, the history of the land, nature; the circle of life that unnoticeable to most of us fuels our land and our bodies. Sometimes it’s a good idea to slow down for a moment to actually slow down and appreciate all of these things.

When I was searching for upcoming events of US 191 today, this came up on the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce page:

Starting June 21st , spend a week bicycling through the scenic valleys and over the mountain passes of western and southwestern Montana. Beginning in Adventure Cycling’s hometown of Missoula, follow the Bitterroot River upstream before climbing over Lost Trail and Chief Joseph passes. After crossing the Continental Divide, descend into the Big Hole Valley, a basin that is so sparsely populated that you may occasionally feel as if you’ve ridden back in time a hundred years.

All I can say is, what a great idea! I hope I see many people out there participating in this fun, amazing, eye-opening experience! 

If you are looking for a great three day backpacking trip in Grand Teton National Park, the Moose Basin Divide is highly recommended.  There are a number of different routes, but I explored a route starting at the Glade Creek Trailhead along Grassy Lake Road per research of others opinions before the hike.

All backcountry camping requires a permit. Backcountry camping permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis no more than one day before the start of your trip. It is easy to get a permit, just go into the Flagg Ranch and request one.

From the trailhead the trail heads south along the Snake River, starting out in a burned forest that is slowly coming back to life. The trail here is an easy flat walk with not much change in elevation. You will know that you are getting closer to Jackson Lake as the Snake River gets wider.  This is an open area with plenty of sun and not very much drinker water, so be sure to bring the proper supplies to avoid burning and dehydration.

From Jackson Lake, it’s on to Berry Creek. The ford between the two is easy, less than a foot deep.  After the ford follow the Webb Canyon Trail. It is easy to get off point here, so be sure to check your map. Webb Canyon is lined with a lot of dead trees and some tricky slopes to be cautions of as well. In the entire park you also run risk of being in bear country, so be sure to make a lot of noise and carry spray. Be aware that the park service requires park-approved bear canisters to be used in the backcountry. The park provides canisters free of charge.

I did this hike in the spring. The best time in my opinion because the trails and open areas were lined with wildflowers. A good stopping point for the second night is between the Webb Canyon Patron Cabin and Moose Basin Divide.  The camp has great views and is near a water source for cooking/replenishing your supplies.

On the morning of the third day, you’ll cross Moose Basin Divide. The trail gets fairly rocky and there are awesome rock formations all around as you hike toward the Divide. Be sure to bring a camera.

The next hike is into Owl Creek Canyon. This is fairly steep in spots but not too tricky at all. The final (3^rd) night of camping is in Owl Canyon, just before the Owl Creek ford.  In this spot you will enjoy spectacular views of the canyon on one side and a beautiful forest on the other. This spot is known for Elk gazing because of the lay of the land, but I did not see any elk on my trip.

The ford across Owl Creek is pretty cold, but not very deep. Here, I took the cutoff for the Berry Creek trail to Glade creek trail as it was suggested by other hikers. The cutoff to Berry Creek lands you in slightly deeper waters, but as always, spectacular views and seemingly no other hikers.

This route is challenging without being too difficult. The peace and serenity found within the quiet and lack of other hikers is what I enjoyed most.

For more information please visit http://www.nps.gov/

A side note from the National Park Service: When planning a backcountry camping trip in Grand Teton National Park, backpackers should expect to travel no more than 2 miles per hour. Add an additional hour for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Also, trip planning that requires going over more than one pass in a day is not recommended.

Backpacking to Owl Canyon

Yellowstone contains the majority of the worlds geysers.  Much of Yellowstone Par is inside an ancient volcanic crater that exploded over 600,000 years ago. Even though the explosion took place that long ago, reminisce from the heat is still seen on the surface today in the form of geysers and other thermal features such as hot springs, fumaroles, and mudpots.

Geysers of Yellowstone

Geysers in fact are a form of a hotspring. They are most hot at the deepest points that are closest to the hot rock at the bottom of the geyser. The cooler water above doesn’t allow the boiling water to simply steam out because of the weight of the water above. Therefore, the boiling water is released in channels which is why we see eruptions  and overflow of these geysers.How hot springs and geysers differ is that hotsprings do not need to “boil” or erupt to release heat. The underlying hot water of a hotspring is close enough to the surface that it can release it’s hot water in the form of steam/vapor or runoff.

The real appeal to these majestic beauties is not how they operate, but rather how they look. It gives me the accurate feeling as if I have gone back in time and entered some sort of alternate universe like the Land Before Time when the dinosaurs roamed the earth. The geysers are indeed that old and a great look into the history of our planet. As natures wonders go, these are a must see any time of the year.

Moab is close to some of the greatest desert climbing in the world.  Mostly a traditional climber’s paradise, there are also amazing areas to sport climb, go canyoneering, and bouldering almost year round.   Indian Creek is possibly the most famous crack climbing in the world and leaves little to the imagination when you experience the seemingly infinitely walls.  People come from all over the world to test themselves in this ultra-classic area.  Beginners or first time climbers will want to contact Moab Adventure Center or one of the other guide shops in Moab.

 The best time of year depends on the actual weather Moab is experiencing that year.  The summer months, with their hot and sticky days, mean the climbing is typically best October through January, but the spring months offer some cooler days for good friction as well.  During a wet spring you may find some climbs difficult to get to or climb.  Bouldering can be good almost any time of year and can be found anywhere from off the highway to deep in the desert away from civilization.

 Utah has amazing climbing in much of the state, and many of the classic climbs are in National Parks so be respectful of the terrain and the ethics of climbing, which may be specific to your area.  For instance people want to be able to climb the Castleton and Fisher Towers for generations to come, but they are also a popular hiking destination so stay on trails and follow cairns to avoid damaging the fragile ecosystem.  Erosion happens quick in the desert and it can increase with human impact, even the classics climbs will change over time, so be aware of your own climbing ability as accidents do happen.

 Whatever your reason for going to Moab as a climbing choice, try to hook up with a local and experience the beauty that the rock in this small town off 191 has to offer.”

rock climbing in Moab

As Congress gridlocked, Obama said a “shutdown will have a very real economic impact on real people, right away.” This speaks true not only to park employees but to the thousands of visitors who have planned their trip of a lifetime to any one of the beautiful USA National Parks. Although it is not peak tourism season, all of us at us191.com recolonize that this still greatly effects tourist on a large scale. That is why in this post we are encouraging you to still travel. In life, the only thing that is consistent is change. Remember that this may only alter your plans slightly; walk instead of drive, camp instead of staying in one of the parks grand hotels, cook over a fire as opposed to having a delicious meal prepared for you. In other words, let’s get back to the basics. All things are possible when we look past the problem and onward to the solution. Just because the government is taking time making their decisions, doesn’t mean that you have to.
Also, let’s not forget the importance of supporting local business to the area. A lot of the smaller towns on the outskirts of our National Parks would love for you to vote with your dollars. They have all of the little trinkets you could hope to get in the park gift shops, but at a fraction of the price. Now, don’t get me wrong, we are all for supporting the parks when people are able to, but for now, don’t forget the world of wonderful alternatives!
Don’t let the small things slow you down, and don’t forget to LIVE OUT LOUD!