Spring Time Hole in the Rock Trail ride

[rholbrook]

I can't believe how excited I am getting for this trip. Barring some castastrophe, I am in for sure. Its like Christmas for me.

 

[rholbrook]

Caleb, you had mentioned that you were kind of thinking about riding your bike down, wow, that would be one hell of a case of Baboon Ass by the time you got back home. Toss it in your truck.

 

[Corban_White]

Are you going to be on the WR?

 

[Caleb]

Caleb, you had mentioned that you were kind of thinking about riding your bike down, wow, that would be one hell of a case of Baboon Ass by the time you got back home. Toss it in your truck.

Yep, even with my new seat, I've come to the same conclusion

 

[lhracing]

In planning for this trip I propose that we all meet Friday morning 5/21/10 at the Bullfrog Ferry. With the Ferry leaving a 9:00 am and 11:00 am, I would like to do the 9:00 crossing.

I am open to other suggestions if someone has some so please speak up so we can get this firmed up.

 

[rholbrook]

In planning for this trip I propose that we all meet Friday morning 5/21/10 at the Bullfrog Ferry. With the Ferry leaving a 9:00 am and 11:00 am, I would like to do the 9:00 crossing.

I am open to other suggestions if someone has some so please speak up so we can get this firmed up.

I agree with Lane, take the earlier ferry

 

[Caleb]

In planning for this trip I propose that we all meet Friday morning 5/21/10 at the Bullfrog Ferry. With the Ferry leaving a 9:00 am and 11:00 am, I would like to do the 9:00 crossing.

I am open to other suggestions if someone has some so please speak up so we can get this firmed up.

Sounds good to me. I'm heading down Thursday night after work, so I won't be there until super later Thursday or super early Friday.

 

[Corban_White]

So, I just re-read this thread to get my plans firmed up. It looks like we will have several jeeps and 4? bikes? Me, Caleb, Greg and maybe Russ? Should the bikers plan on putting some gear on the jeeps? What is the itinerary looking like? Having never been on this trail I have a lot of questions. Also, having never been on a ride involving bikes and slower vehicles (jeeps) how will that work? Where is a good place to park the truck for a few days? What exactly is our meeting place and time? sorry for so many questions. I am just so excited!!!!!

 

[Caleb]

So, I just re-read this thread to get my plans firmed up. It looks like we will have several jeeps and 4? bikes?

Good questions, I'll answer with my understanding and we can modify/tweak from there.

Me, Caleb, Greg and maybe Russ? Should the bikers plan on putting some gear on the jeeps?

I think the offer has been made, but I'm really trying to keep everything on my bike. I want to prove to myself I can get everything I need with the setup (bags, racks, etc) that I have.

What is the itinerary looking like?

Right now, my understanding is we're meeting Friday morning to catch the 9am ferry, we'll travel ~half way in to the trail and find a suitable camping spot for the group, setup camp for the night. We'll keep this spot as "base camp" and travel in to the end of the trail on Saturday and back to camp that same day. Get up Sunday, break camp and head out and home. Ofcourse this is a high level itinerary because as you pointed out, we have bikes (that, from what I have gathered, can do the whole trail in only a couple hours, maybe a full day) and we have the fullsize rigs that will be going much more slowly. I envision the bikes being in a mini-group and the Jeeps being in a mini-group, since each group is large enough to support themselves (not a single vehicle in either group) I think the guys on the bike will be doing more exploring, scouting for a camp spot, etc. This is just how I'm envisioning it, I'm open to change or other suggestions.

Having never been on this trail I have a lot of questions. Also, having never been on a ride involving bikes and slower vehicles (jeeps) how will that work?

See my attempted answer above

Where is a good place to park the truck for a few days?

Good question, I'm not sure on that one. I figured there will be a place near the trailhead we can park since I'm sure we're not the first to ride bikes in.

What exactly is our meeting place and time?

Bullfrog Marina at the ferry by 9:00am Friday. I'll be heading down after work on Thursday so I probably won't get in till after midnight.

sorry for so many questions. I am just so excited!!!!!

No worries on the questions, it's good to discuss our "plans"

 

[Corban_White]

Thanks for the answers Caleb! Now a couple more less general ones. How much water are you planning to bring? That is going to be the hardest thing for me as I usually drink about a gallon/day under the expected conditions plus whatever I will need for cooking. If there will be water on the trail I can filter to replenish my supply but if not that is a lot of space/weight.

What kind of tent situation are you planning on? I am leaning toward purchasing a bivy but most of the ones in my price range use poles and are not free-standing which will not work well if the dirt is only 2" thick on top of the rock. I also thought of no tent but the thought of not being prepared in the event of a downpour really bothers me. I have slept out under the stars plenty but always with another option nearby if needed.

Which side of the ferry is the trailhead on? In fact, is there somewhere online I could go to find a map of the entire trail? Or maybe someone familiar with it could trace it on google maps for me? I don't want to get back on Sunday to find my truck towed away because it was parked for too long in an unapproved area. You said the trail is ~115 miles earlier. Is that from the trailhead to the end and back?

Thanks for the info. I'm a little OCD with my planning so I am sure I will continue to have questions.

 

[Caleb]

Thanks for the answers Caleb! Now a couple more less general ones. How much water are you planning to bring? That is going to be the hardest thing for me as I usually drink about a gallon/day under the expected conditions plus whatever I will need for cooking. If there will be water on the trail I can filter to replenish my supply but if not that is a lot of space/weight.

What kind of tent situation are you planning on? I am leaning toward purchasing a bivy but most of the ones in my price range use poles and are not free-standing which will not work well if the dirt is only 2" thick on top of the rock. I also thought of no tent but the thought of not being prepared in the event of a downpour really bothers me. I have slept out under the stars plenty but always with another option nearby if needed.

Which side of the ferry is the trailhead on? In fact, is there somewhere online I could go to find a map of the entire trail? Or maybe someone familiar with it could trace it on google maps for me? I don't want to get back on Sunday to find my truck towed away because it was parked for too long in an unapproved area. You said the trail is ~115 miles earlier. Is that from the trailhead to the end and back?

Thanks for the info. I'm a little OCD with my planning so I am sure I will continue to have questions.

For water I'm using a 2 gallon rotopax and my camelback (3L) so I'll have almost 3 gallons for the trail. I have a couple different tents I'm considering taking, I have a two person and a single man, the single packs down a tad smaller but both weigh about the same, I'll probably take the two man...it's a nicer tent. I thought about doing the no tent or even a hammock, but I doubt there will be trees or anything to tie to, and with the way our weather has been, I don't want to risk the no tent deal. I figure if I were to do no tent, I'd almost guarantee rain for the trip, since I'm bringing one, I doubt we'll have rain.

I don't know much more about the rest since this is my first trip. I know the trailhead is on the other side of the lake from Bull Frog, that's about it. :d I'm pretty sure on EU, there are some good write-ups, you can probably find exact trail info on there.

 

[Caleb]

You said the trail is ~115 miles earlier. Is that from the trailhead to the end and back?

Also, I'm not sure where I got that info. I'm finding now that it's around 30 miles each way (30 in , 30 out).

 

[Corban_White]

Are you planning to take your truck across the ferry and unload at the trailhead (~13 mi down the hwy from the ferry from what I have been able to gather) or park on this side of hall's and ride the bike in?

 

[Caleb]

Good question, I will probably take the truck across so if by chance, for whatever reason, we don't make it back to the vehicles before the last ferry on Sunday I'm not stuck riding my bike all the way around and back to my truck.

 

[Corban_White]

I was kinda thinkin I would as well. Less distance to drag the bike (or body ) in case of a breakdown.

 

[Corban_White]

Also, it might be good to have some 2-way radios or a hand-held CB/ham so the 4x group and the 2x group can stay in touch. Just an idea.

 

[rholbrook]

The trip is approximately 30 miles each way plus a little jaunt over to Lake Canyon. My plans are to take a 10 gal water container plus freeze water bottles to help as ice and then drink. Lane suggested that I start the cooling process of my food several days prior to leaving so the coolers can be drop in temperature enough to not go through as much ice on the trail. I had offered to haul stuff for the riders if needed. I will have my two jeeps with one of them being an LJ and the other being a TJ. My nephew and niece will have their TJ plus Lane has a JK. I know in my jeeps, I don't think I will be using the rear seat in one of them and I know my nephew and niece will have their seat either folded up or removed. I can't speak for Lane but knowing Lane, he may also help. I really don't see it being a problem. I have a rack on the back of my TJ that we can strap some fuel cans down to.

I wouldn't chance the weather without a tent because you never know how that will end up.

If you choose to drive to Halls Crossing, I believe it is an extra 70 miles if you decide not to take the ferry. I am planning on leaving Thursday after my kids get out of school so realistically, by 4:30 or 5:00 pm and driving through to Bullfrog. I will find somewhere to sleep once I get there. I believe Lane is planning on spending the night in Hanksville and then meeting up with me to eat breakfast at the restaurant at Bullfrog. Anyone is welcome to join but I would imagine that we would have to meet by 7:30 am to make it to the ferry on time.

For meals, I am planning on easy stuff for breakfasts, powder donuts, cereal, etc. Lunch will consist of sandwiches, trail mix, etc... For dinner, we are planning on steak one night and maybe hamburgers and hotdogs the next night. I am bringing a two burner grill and would share the use of that as well.

I am assuming that those on bikes (I am still undecided) will scout the area, find a good camping spot as well as find some cool things to go see. I am sure we will not be the only group on the trail.

I am excited for this trip and have been really looking forward to it. What you will find out with me is I am very laid back and just want to have a good safe trip and make some friendships that will continue. Actually, that’s how I met Lane and his son. Good people who I would not hesitate to jeep with many times.

I guess what I am saying is if your a dick, haul your own stuff. If your not, my jeeps, my food, my water.....I will share it all with you or help you haul yours.

 

[lhracing]

I will be able to carry some of the motorcycle gear in my JK. I think the 2 groups (2 wheel/ 4 wheel) with plans to meet someplace on the trail is a good idea.

Here is a link to a good description of the trail with a map.

http://www.expeditionutah.com/featured-trails/hole-in-the-rock-4x4-trail/

It is my understanding that you can drop a truck and trailer at the Cal Black Airport but I have never do it so don’t take my word for it.

 

[rholbrook]

I am leaning towards bringing the WR. My father-in-law says he wants to ride it some so I think I will bring it.

 

[Corban_White]

If you are just bringing jeeps and don't want to deal with a trailer I might be able to fit the WR in the taco with my bike.