Moab Boot Camp - Final Chapter

Shop Hard

We decided that we would arrange our trip so that we could spend the last half day or so in Missoula, Montana shopping. That did not mean that I didn't do any shopping prior to that. Besides having a favourite restaurant in Moab, I also have a favourite store - Gearheads.

Gearheads is an outdoor store that sells everything you might need (and want) for camping, canoeing and hiking and it was conveniently located right beside our hotel (and it opened at 8 a.m. so I could drop in there on my way to pick up coffee and baked goods, scope out what I want and then go back and purchase it later.) We ended up dropping some serious dollars here. Tim discovered his thermarest had a leak so we needed to get a new one. We ended up getting a thermarest NeoAir Sleeping pad and although it was Tim's thermarest that had the leak, I ended up being the lucky one to use the NeoAir. I think it was the most comfortable I have ever been camping. On the old thermarest, I would have to turn over every hour or so because my hips were sore but on the NeoAir, I woke up in the same position I was in when I went to bed. Besides the thermarest, I purchased some hiking socks, a 2L camelbak resevior, a camelbak drying kit, a head lamp and Tim also picked up a couple of things for the canoe trip.



We got to Missoula in the early afternoon, found a hotel, got some dinner and headed out to do some shopping. We first went to Ross Dress for Less and I was very disappointed in that I couldn't really find anything. I found a pair of jeans and camisole and when I went to try them on, who was coming out of the change room with an armload of clothes. You guessed it, Mr. I Hate Shopping. He spent more at that store than I did (but then again, I only spent $15 and got the jeans and camisole).
Right next to Ross Dress for Less was this REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) store which was like a very small version of Mountain Equipment Coop. Their stuff wasn't cheap but they had some nice things. Let's just say my American Express got a workout here. Across the street was a Target and I was a little disappointed there too. However, I still managed to find a few shirts and socks. We also hit WalMart where I found some PowerAde Zero (and I bought a few cases) and a beautiful sparkly bracelet.














I must say, Tim was extremely patient and didn't make me feel like I had to rush at all (even though I kept him out until 10 p.m.) I think he was a little tired of shopping at the end but I didn't hear one complaint from him. I have to admit, even I was a little tired of shopping but if we had more time, I'm sure I would have gotten my second wind!

Well, that's it. The final chapter of Moab Boot Camp. However, I am hoping it is not the final chapter as I would love to go back there again.

Moab Boot Camp - Chapter 3

Canoe Hard

I wasn't sure about this whole canoeing thing but in my wanting to be a good wife, I agreed to this whim of Tim's to canoe down the Meander Canyon in the Colorado River. I like to be close to civilization and bathrooms (even if they are pit toilets) and I figured this part of the trip would be the most work. But, I will admit that I was wrong. It was very relaxing and a lot more fun than I imagined. However, saying all that, I'm glad it was only for 3 nights.

Our trip started at Potash and ended just north of the confluence and Spanish Bottom, a total distance of around 75 km.

We showed up at Tex's Riverways bright and early on the Friday morning to find we were the only people being shuttled that day, which meant we had the full attention of Kenny, our very informative and humorous driver. We got to the launch site only to find that we were surrounded by huge groups of rafters. Each group must have had at least 4 rafts, radios, tons of gear and I counted 19 cases of beer (and that was just the one group!). Kenny said that it would probably take them all day to get their act together and get on the water so to look for a small beach campsite the first night, one that could not accommodate more than 2 people or else there was a chance we might be sharing.

Kenny went over the maps with Tim and showed us where some good hikes were, where the good campsites were and where we could find some ruins. We also had to rent a washable, reusable toilet system that uses dry chemicals and enzymes to render solid human waste into non hazardous products acceptable for disposal in permitted landfills. Kenny had quite a few toilet jokes as he showed us how to use it. Tex's does not take very kindly to those who harm the ecosystem in the park and if the toilet weighs the same when they pick you up as when they dropped you off, there is a good chance you will be met at the launch site by a park ranger with a ticket book in hand. Notice it is for solid waste only. Liquid waste must be put in the river as there is not enough precipitation to break down any liquid waste in the ground. In simpler terms, we had to pee in the river.Yep, I'll tell you, there are not too many bushes to hide behind on the river. Oh, and guess where the this toilet fit perfectly in the canoe - under my seat. Good job it had a good seal.

We packed up the canoe and away we paddled. The weather was absolutely perfect - not too hot and not a cloud in the sky. Our first side trip was a short hike to a petrified forest where we saw tons of petrified logs that just sparkled in the sun.

Our second stop was to the Concert Hall. It was incredible. It was like walking into a mini Hollywood Bowl made of red rock. It literally took my breath away. I'm not going to post any of the pictures because they do not do it justice. They have a music festival in Moab and they haul a grand piano down the river into the Concert Hall and have actual concerts there. Now that would be something to see.

It was starting to get into the late afternoon so we figured we should find ourselves a campsite. We found a nice little beach (big enough for us but not big enough for any of those rafters!) which had a little rock ledge for cooking.

We set up camp, headed out for a short hike and feasted upon an Indian dinner on our return. The sky was clear and we slept under the stars (first time I have ever done that). It was pretty incredible waking up in the middle of the night and seeing the stars. It cooled off quite a bit during the night and I was cold and in the morning I told Tim I wasn't getting out of the sleeping bag until the sun was shining on me.

Sunrise

Our second day on the river consisted of more paddling and a couple of hikes to see some ruins.





Coffee Pot Rock

A granary

Another granary with a view of the river and canyon.

We found another sandy beach for the night and enjoyed an appetizer of hummus, salsa and crackers and another delicious Indian dinner.






On our last day of paddling, we headed into the Loop. At the beginning of the Loop there is a trail you can access that leads up into one of the saddles. It took us a while to find the trail and it was quite the climb. At the top, we could look down and see the river on both sides of the Loop.

The saddle.

On the trail to the saddle

Views from the top of the saddle

That was the only hike that day and we continued paddling until we got just north of the confluence (where the Green River and Colorado River meet). We found a beautiful sandy beach to spend our last night. It had started to cloud over and the weather forecast has predicted rain so we put up the campfire tent. It was a good job we did because it did rain pretty good during the night.

The next day we packed up all our gear and waited for Tex's jet boat to pick us up.

The ride back to the launch site took about 2 hours and it was cold. From there it was back to Tex's to pick up the truck, unload our stuff from the jet boat and reload it into the truck. We headed back to our hotel to clean up and then out to dinner at my favourite restaurant in Moab, Miguel's Baja Grill, home of the MOAB burrito.

Next (and last!) chapter - Shop Hard.