Allan & Mike's
Excellent Adventure

Capitol Reef National Park
May 4 & 5, 2019

Allan & Mike took off a couple of days early and did some exploring of Capitol Reef National Park. Day hikes included a trip to the Hickman Bridge, Grand Wash, and visits to many other historical and geological sites in the Park.

Note photo takers are given in the titles under the thumbnails:

Kickass Trekkers on this trip were: Allan Hoseth & Mike Stong

On the Road Again
Trip to Utah

May 4 & 5, 2019

For the last two years, we had met Mike, Will Stong, and Allan Hoseth (2018) in Kennewick at Mikes house before we continued on our long two day trip to Cedar Mesa. This year Mike and Allan, left a few days early to do some day hiking and exploring at the Capitol Reef NP. Jon Younger and Nick McMahan met me at my house and after transferring the packs, food, and troop gear to Nick's 2006 Subaru, we headed out.

In the meantime, Will and his wife, Nancy, had traveled to New Mexico to meet up with Fred. They would drive up and meet us at the Todie Canyon Trailhead, our traditional camp spot before our hike.

On the way we did our usual stop at the Ellensburg McDonalds for breakfast and continued on to our nightly stop at the Marble Motel in Tremonton, Utah. The next day we picked up Nick's dad, Tracy, at the Salt Lake airport. After our usual pit stop in Price at Lin's Market to get last minute supplies we tried to make a little time by avoiding our usual truck stop Subway in Wellington by detouring to a Subway in Green River. Unfortunately that was also a truck stop Subway so we didn't gain any time.

We met Mike and Allan in Hanksville and had lunch at Stan's Burger Shack. Like the last two years, Blondies appears to be permanently closed. In caravan we headed south, stopping at the Hite Overlook, and on to our campsite at the Todie Canyon Trailhead, where we met up with the New Mexico contingent.

Note photo takers are given in the titles under the thumbnails:

Kickass Trekkers on this trip were: Bill Mooseker, Nick McMahan, Tracy McMahan, Jon Younger, Fred Stong, Mike Stong, Will Stong, Nancy Stong, Allan Hoseth

Fish-Owl Loop: Day 1

May 6, 2019

Day 1 of our Fish/Owl loop was supposed to be a fairly easy day – first we would day hike down to an alcove with some nice ruins after leaving our packs near the trailhead. Then after a hike across the mesa, we would descend into Fish Canyon via the “Crack” and get into camp early.

The reason we were doing the day hike to the ruins on Day 1 was that showers were expected on the day we were hiking out, and also because they are almost at the end of the hike, I felt that no one would really be feeling up to sightseeing while the exit was so close. I was right on both counts.

Our day hike went well and we arrive at the rim of Fish Canyon in good time. After stopping for a break and lunch, we lowered the packs and “Butt Slid” down the “Crack”. The “Crack” requires a 15 foot drop or climb up steep rock face depending on the direction you're taking the loop. We had no problems getting down the “Crack”. However, the rest of the descent was very hard on the ankles, knees, and feet as it was very steep and requiring a lot more “Butt-sliding”.

When we got to our campsite, the senior citizens component of our group was pretty much done in, but we all were looking forward for the next day hiking down Fish.

Note photo takers are given in the titles under the thumbnails:

Kickass Trekkers on this trip were: Bill Mooseker, Nick McMahan, Tracy McMahan, Jon Younger, Fred Stong, Mike Stong, Will Stong, Nancy Stong, Allan Hoseth

Fish-Owl Loop: Day 2

May 7, 2019

Our second day on the trail is through one of the most scenic canyon hikes around. Unlimited variations of distinctive hoodoos greeted us around every bend in the canyon. Unlike most canyons on Cedar Mesa, there is flowing water through much of its length. Beautiful pools and trickling waterfalls beckon.

Unfortunately, it was going to be a very long day that entailed a lot of bushwhacking through brush and over rocky stretches of wash. Because of the slow pace, Nick and Jon were able to do some explorations along the route. When we started in the morning, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. As the day progressed, more and more clouds appeared. During the last stretch, we had a short shower that cleared up after we got into camp

Our campsite is one of the best canyon camps we've had, featuring a large mostly flat boulder that served as a table and bench for making and consuming our dinner as well as ample level space to pitch our tents.

Note photo takers are given in the titles under the thumbnails:

Kickass Trekkers on this trip were: Bill Mooseker, Nick McMahan, Tracy McMahan, Jon Younger, Fred Stong, Mike Stong, Will Stong, Nancy Stong, Allan Hoseth

Fish-Owl Loop: Day 3

May 8, 2019

Day 3 was a relatively easy day. We left at about 10:30 am and were in camp at about 2:00 pm, less than half of the time on the trail as the day before. We were fortunate in that there was water at the junction of Owl with Fish, unlike in my previous trips. I had thought that we would have to go down Fish a ways to find a camp with water.

The hike down from Big Rock camp was fairly easy. The canyon gradually opens up with wider vistas. It was nice to have a rest day in camp, although a group did do a day hike down Fish. As the day progressed, the clouds rolled in and we had a shower or two before we hit the sack. We had our traditional “Chilli” for dinner, which was tremendous as usual.

Note photo takers are given in the titles under the thumbnails:

Kickass Trekkers on this trip were: Bill Mooseker, Nick McMahan, Tracy McMahan, Jon Younger, Fred Stong, Mike Stong, Will Stong, Nancy Stong, Allan Hoseth

Fish-Owl Loop: Days 4 & 5

May 9 & 10, 2019

We awoke to bright and sunny skies and got an early start up Owl Canyon at about 9:30 am. As the day went along the clouds rolled in and it got a lot chillier, and we had a shower or two just as the weather report had predicted. Hiking in these conditions is not as uplifting as with blue skies, feathery clouds, and bright colors of the canyon walls in the sunlight but it was satisfying nonetheless.

Even though you are going uphill hiking Owl seems a little easier as there are more defined trails across wide benches, although sometimes you find yourself bushwhacking up the wash when there is a great trail on the other side of the wash that you missed along the way. It is very scenic with spectacular Neville's Arch, neat pouroffs and pools with whispering waterfalls.

We were heading for the spectacular Pouroff Pool camp that we had stayed at in 2007. We arrived in camp at about 3:30 pm after a grueling climb to avoid a huge pouroff. I was happy to see that the camp was unoccupied. Back then I would have rated the camp as a 10 – the camp was open with views to the pool and waterfall, and there was a great level area for tents. In 2019, brush was choking the camp, cutting off the view of the pool. There had been some erosion and the tent area was not as nice and some of the cottonwood trees ringing the camp had fallen across the site. Now I'd give the camp a 5 or 6 rating.

During the night we had several periods of rain and when we got up in the dark everything was wet. We got out of camp in good time (6:30 am). The climb up and over the Pouroff was a grueling one, taking us about an hour and 15 minutes. Nick and Jon were quite a help getting us up and over this hump. It seemed a whole lot easier going down back in 2007. The rest of the way was no picnic either. We were all glad to see the canyon rim and to trudge into the trailhead parking lot. After having lunch in Blanding, everything felt a lot better for the long drive home.

Note photo takers are given in the titles under the thumbnails:

Kickass Trekkers on this trip were: Bill Mooseker, Nick McMahan, Tracy McMahan, Jon Younger, Fred Stong, Mike Stong, Will Stong, Nancy Stong, Allan Hoseth