MOAB.
May 20th-25th, 2023
From Denver en route to Moab. I made a few stops.
Day 1: 57 holes of disc golf
Beginning in Frisco, Colorado, with a friendly golden retriever, Theo, and his soon-to-be adopted owner, we played 27 holes bordering a reservoir with beautiful vistas. After I thought 30 additional holes across the water in Dillon sounded smart. The first 12 Dillon holes were a putter-only course. The next 18, started with a half-mile hike straight up to hole one, then continued gaining elevation. The gains were worth the views, and epic downhill drives.
Day 2: Serpents + Kokopelli = blisters
It Began with a hike up “the most crooked road in the world”, the Serpents Trail, built-in 1921 with 1100 ft of elevation in 2.5 miles, overlooking Grand Junction, CO.
After lunch, I thought attempting to mountain bike the Kokopelli trail northwest of GJ sounded pleasant. Note to future self - don’t take red trails marked “super difficult”. Blue is fine. While practicign to fall a few times I began to realize my Converse shoes, from my sisters wedding, soles couldn’t hold up to the pedal’s studs. The studs grinding through the soles were kind enough to leave a big blister on my left foot and a smaller on the right.
After departing Grand Junction and the Kokopelli Trail I arrived in Moab at 4:05 pm to discover the entrance closes at 4:00 pm. Lacking a park pass I decided to find a spot in town to park for the evening. In the morning, with an open park, I discovered reservations were required for entry between 7 am and 4 pm. After acquiring a park pass I headed back into town to determine my next steps.
Day 3 - lemonade
Eighteen miles from town, there was a 5-star disc golf course with rave reviews. I’ll blame my phone for not reading more than a few. I eventually learned why an 18-mile drive had an hour eta. Before departing town for the day, I popped into the used gear store and acquired a sweet used 1/2 size small pair of trail shoes for $25. The tread on my current ones had seen many miles.
The van survived 13 miles of the pothole, washboard, hair-pinned, roughest dirt road I’ve yet been on with her. Slowly. At the 13th mile, my progress was abruptly halted by a creek crossing. After witnessing a few vehicles navigate the water, with varying results, my suspicions were harshly validated. I considered biking, or trying to hitch a ride for the last 5 miles but, the Moab heat told me the best use of lemons would be to explore the few hiking trails I passed on route.
The Hunter Canyon Arch Trail was a much needed respite after my blister acquisitions during the prior days shenanigans.
Moonflower Canyon followed. I bathed with a husky who feared the water and had no qualms about showing him the way. I felt revitalized.
With the hour approaching 4 pm, I departed. My Goal, find a place to park. Reality. Hike all 7.9 miles of the Devil’s Garden Trails before dinner.
After the gentle sandal hikes earlier, it was time to test how the trail shoes got along with still-fresh blisters. I took it fairly easy for the first 4 miles until I reached the Dark Angel. Instead of heading back the easier way I decided to take the primitive path back with haste. A wrong turn was taken or the primitive path required intense bouldering. I gripped my nalgene with two fingers, crimped the crack with the rest, and carefully decended the ravine headed in the van’s direction. I made it back with the setting sun. Aside from a hot spot on my left ring toe. Well worth $25.
After a day of making lemonade, diner was well earned and sleep, briefly interrupted by the Milky Way, was sudden.
Day 4: MOAB to come
After the day prior, I began with easy walks, checking out stops leading away from the Devil’s Garden. The Amphitheater held my attention the longest. Entertaining myself, and the Cliff Swallows who dived towards the wall hearing my whistle, feverishly chirping their replies, back and forth.
After walking to the “easy” Delicate Arch cliffside view, I finished my Nalgene, filled it, and jogged 1.5 miles straight uphill. The Moab’s over 90-degree noon heat facilitated passing people on the way up. Many of whom offered kind words and smile’s on my jog down.
I walked the last few trails of Moab’s Arches National Park on my way out. After the over 90 degree temps, north, to cooler air felt like the right direction.