Memorial Day Campout

Memorial Day holiday weekend trip:

Semi late departure from SLC around noonish, where we picked up some snackage, and filled up the gas tank at Costco. After picking up more camping stuffs, Bryan and I made a dash for free firewood, where we met up w/ a cool guy who hooked us up w/ as many rejected cedar stakes as we could carry. Then off to Provo to pick up Andra. Soon enough we were off to Highway 6 and then from there to the canyon lands in the San Rafael Swell. I engaged 4X4 after the road turned into exposed bedrock and large rocks. We circled around Temple Mountain, until we found an excellent camping site overlooking the valley and canyons.

After setting up camp, we went exploring around at the distant abandoned mines. We found excellent views as the sun was setting, and interesting pieces of old machinery, and blocked off mine entrances. At this point the wind started picking up to nosebleed speeds. When we got back to camp, the sun was almost gone, so we started a nice fire that was fed a constant supply of oxygen from the gusts of wind hammering our site. Cooked some chili and ate other food like things, until our rationed supply of wood was eradicated. Then we set up tents, placed LARGE rocks in the corners, and went to bed. Several times during the night, I felt the wind flow underneath me and lift me up slightly. The wind continued to test the tent fabric to its true structural integrity. Andras tent got quite the pummeling, and she retreated to the safety of the steel tent or my Suzuki.

The sun came up later, and the wind had died down. With new light, we could see some darkened debris on the side of the mountain, and decided to investigate. We found an entrance of a mine that appeared to have been blasted open mysteriously. Of course we had to investigate further. We only got so far until the air became near almost unbreathable, and the mine dove DOWN VERY STEEPLY! Almost unsettling. Thereafter, we broke camp, and drove around the mountain some more, stopping here and there for good photos, and random exploration tendencies. There were several oldschool vehicles that had died years ago, but looked almost untouched from the elements of erosion, and decay. We did more mine exploration and view mongering until we were turned around from the steepness of the decaying rotted rock on Temple mountain. If you began to slide, the pebbles from the sandstone mixture acted like ball bearings and led you to the sharp rocks below. Bad JuJu.

It being rather warm, we retreated back to the car. Instead of circling around on the road we were on, we turned around because it got REALLY nasty later on. Back on the main stretch, we turned towards Goblin Valley, and took the road to Muddy Creek. The road snaked trough a wash, w/ cool veined canyon walls, and interesting mineral deposits. Then the road climbed high upon the ridges above, and dipped around the strange landscape. It almost looked like an alien planet, almost Mars-like in appearance. Deep red sand colors mixed in with bleached white deposits. The road seemed almost untouched, but it got very steep in places that taxed the capabilities of my 4X4. We got to Muddy Creek, and cooled off a bit, then set up camp in a ghost town named Ford. There were a few shacks, and an old house w/ wallpaper made of newspaper/magazines from the 1920s inside. It was nice to get away from the wind too. We started a campfire by some wind sheltered trees, and I went out to find dinner.

I had some ramen noodles, but I craved meat. There were HUNDREDS of jackrabbits running around, so I stalked one until I had a clean headshot. I took care of the rabbit, skinned it, gutted it, and Bryan made a spit to hang the rabbit over the fire. There was surprisingly little meat on such a large hare, but it was an experience nonetheless. The sun went down, and the stars came out along w/ the fingernail crescent moon. The wind became almost non-existent oddly enough, so we threw down a tarp and rolled the sleeping bags out, and slept under the stars. I awoke to see the stars in a different configuration, and my feet and legs slightly numb. It was COLD! Well below freezing. I put on a layer of clothes in my sleeping bag and mummified myself until dawn. After the sun rose, we threw some wood on the hot coals to start a small fire to warm us before heading out. Got everything packed up, and we headed out. On the trip through the crazy steep rocky road, I was momentarily blinded by the low angle sunlight glaring on my windshield. I could only make out the slight color contrast of the edge of the road, and suddenly, BOOM! My right tire slammed into some LARGE rock or steep incline. The steering wheel hurt my wrist it was so fierce. Unfortunately at this point we were well over 20 miles from the nearest paved road. Thankfully, it wasnt a critical blow to my machinery, but the alignment was noticeably off a bit. But it got us home safe and sound. Now back to the gauntlet of work and school.

*Cue the Monty Pythons unenthusiastic yay! *