Two More Nights to Close Out New Year’s

We wrapped up the time Joan had off during the week of New Year’s with two more nights in the backcountry.

Before the deer crash prior to Christmas, we had planned an eight-plus-day trip that mixed car camping and backpacking in an area that required a lot of dirt road driving. Our trusty Honda was not the right vehicle for that kind of trip, so we pivoted to a few Honda-friendly backpacking options. Luckily, living where we do makes those options viable.

A silver lining arrived with some much-needed moisture. A mid-week storm filled potholes that usually sit dry, and they opened up routes we rarely get to walk without schlepping a lot of water. The same storms also confirmed our decision to bail on the original plan. Even with a 4WD vehicle, muddy roads could have potentially stranded us deep in the backcountry. Joan and I joked that we took a zero day at home before we headed back out for two nights.

We caught an incredible sunrise and sunset, spotted signs of others who walked these canyons before us, and enjoyed an intensely bright full moon.

Beautiful scenery, but the temperatures felt a bit too warm for January.

Even so, we welcomed the gift of time and felt grateful for accessible options close to home.

Joan showed off her new MYOG fleece pants in “fun colors,” as she put it. The pants also matched her MYOG mittens.

I later found out the weekend lined up with the “Full Wolf Moon,” and it lived up to the promises.

Each night we settled in and watched the light show play across filled potholes. The sun lit up the distant mountains, nearby rock, and canyon walls in that delightful winter light.

The moon lit up our camp so well that we barely used headlamps. The warmth felt comfortable for walking around camp, especially compared to even a few days previously, but January comfort also felt a little off.

Each morning, we woke up, heated water for tea or coffee, and welcomed a new day from our warm quilts as the sun rose over the slickrock.

We wandered through canyons and continued to see what we could see. We again saw signs that these “trailless” places saw travel long before anyone drew lines on a map.

We watched fog settle into distant valleys while we walked just above the clouds.

The trip felt mellow and relaxing, and it made a fitting way to ease into the New Year. As always, we also found a few places that called to us for future trips.

Photo by Joan. I have to show up in at least one picture once in a while.

As much as we enjoyed the trip, the warm weather felt a little disconcerting.

Joan snapped the photo above, but it sparked a few thoughts on my end.

Note the jacket. That is my three-season puffy. A few days earlier, I wore a jacket better suited for January conditions when the lows dropped into the high teens. I suspect we will see more warm days than cold ones in the years ahead.

This week brought a noticeable uptick in visitors to Moab, likely due to the lack of snow in the Salt Lake City and Denver areas. While people watching, we saw plenty of confused visitors. Many wondered why certain facilities were not open because “the weather’s nice.” Others stood in parking lots scanning maps and brochures, unsure where to hike. Quite a few wore ski and snowboard clothing and looked like they had pivoted from their usual winter plans. Considering the unusually warm January weather in the high desert, I empathize. What is usually a quiet time of year felt noticeably busy.

As winters continue to warm, will public lands need more staff during the so-called off-season? Will funding keep pace with that shift? Will partner agencies take on more of that role? Interesting times indeed.

In the meantime, the land endures and continues to provide memories we will not forget.