Vegas, Red Rocks Canyon & Death Valley

“"as it stands this moment. Fly out to Vegas on Friday Jan 23 @ 8:30. I'd like to get to a TH in the evening, and dissappear till sometime on Monday Jan 26, in time for happy hour at whatever hotel my conference will be held.

Then, sometime in the evening of Thursday Jan 29, once again, dissappear into Death Valley for 4 days, in time to get on my 10pm flight out of Vegas on Monday Feb 2.

Any TT'ers interested in helping to keep me safe and alive, would be more than welcome on this adventure."”

“StikMonster,
Where in Death Valley?

I won't know til the white stuff starts falling. If its lousy on the slopes, I will be backpacking and might be able to join you for part of the trip. Right now its so warm out there, it doesn't look like snow. I'll keep an eye on this thread”

“actually, I have unfinished business with marble Cayon. I'd really like to finish that loop, but there are so many possibilities.

and...

You can come off the slopes for oneeeeeeeee dayyyyyy....please.”

“....put me on the maybe list...like I said last night...need to sell this to the "real" boss....but i'm confident i'll be there....”

“Where were you thinking of disappearing when you get here?

There is a good chance that the mountains around Vegas (Spring Mtns or Sheep Mtns) will have snow on them, limiting your backpacking unless you have snowshoes.

It's possible to link canyons in Red Rocks for backpacking but you need to get permits for camping/overnight parking from BLM. You have to camp above a certain elevation and some sections of canyons might be off limits because a big portion of Red Rocks is a wilderness study area. You may run into snow/ice in the upper sections of redrocks as well. Lows above 5000' will probably be in the 20's to 30's.

Southern Utah (Zion) will have snow up on the canyon rims and you will probably run into road closures up on the rims where some of the backpacking trailheads are.

Death Valley would be the ideal location for snow free backpacking in Jan.

Let me know if I can help with any more info.”

“i'll keep an eye on this, but can't promise anything. it's all in the babysitting or hubby's level of interest.”

“...what about the Mojave? Do you know anything about the Devils Playground area? I know there's some nice stuff to do around the Cima Dome area....any insight on other possibilities there?

And I agree....going north into Southern Utah will yield dealings with snow and road closures...”

“I will be time contrained, need to get into the woods friday evening and out monday afternoon. I have all the info on red rocks...I got plenty of time to gather facts...thank Reptile.”

“Jack O Loop,
I don't know much about the Mojave except for the 4x4 roads and the now gone "phonebooth". I did some travelling down there in 98/99 but the only time I stopped to hike was by the state park campground that had the caves. I went to hike the caves but they were deemed too dangerous after an earthquake in 98/99. I'm sure there are some remote mountain chains to backpack but I would imagine water would be hard to come by.

Stik,
If you need any info on where to buy supplies, (food, stove fuel, etc) or need trailhead shuttle info let me know. I might be up for hiking with you that weekend depending on where you're headed.”

“are you talking about the Red Rocks weekend...if so, I don;t have to do Redrocks. I will need to be picked up at the airport on Friday night and returned to a vegas hotel midafternoon on Monday. If that works for you, then, you drive, I'll pay for gas. I'll go play anywhere, for 2 days for sure.”

“That sounds like a great time of year for a Death Valley trip. I'm interested in that part of the trip.”

“Yo Stikkie....was checking out the guides you so graciously let me borrow....Cottonwood Canyon to Marble Canyon sounds cool...”

“i think i can swing this trip. i have lots of sick and personal days and if i dont use any i wont feel overly guilty taking some to go again this year. and i am just so close! so count me in for now.”

“the rock hound has spoken...

Hiya red.

I was hopin you would go...I'm bringing MY WATER FILTER this time...hahaha. or maybe we can go down and fetch yours.”

“i have discovered that our method works fine and have used it many times out here. i never filter water anymore. i never get sick iether. and i am used to the thicker consistency and "richer" flavor!
i am in only for the 29-2nd. my nephew is likely going off to irag after the 23rd and i am flyingo ut to visit him prior to his departure.
anyway...i will be saving sick days!
call me sometime. i cant wait to see you again!!!!!!!”

“Sonja, those are the dates. My friend Joe will be coming in for this. Can you drive up and pick us up, we'll cover the gas and meals, to and from Vegas.”

“....stikmon's friend Joe....is...well...me....I sure hope you can make it....I've heard many stories about your trip to drink green water....maybe this time with the assistance of a real map man....we'll complete the loop. I'm really looking forward to this trip and I hope you can make it. Like Marc said....if you can drive....we'll make sure you're fed well and the gas is paid for.....”

“Marble Canyon sounds nice.”

“Sonja lives for Ramen noodles. I'm gonna pick up a case from Memphis for her and ship em out. hmmmm...I wonder if UPS delivers to the heart of canyon country out on the Navaho reservation near Bluff Utah.

Sonja, you really rot the bird. living out in the desert like that and having unlimited hiking potential every weekend. dang!!!”

“i think that very single day. oh no, not ramen noodles, thai rice noodles. they are 97 cents a pack here. i buy them by the case for a discountd price og about 90 cents. yes ups delivers to my PO box. so feel free to send all the thai noodles you want to po box 473 bluff 84512. mmmmmmm!!!!
i am asking in advance for those days off. i cant imagine i would be denied. i am excitd about having someone along on the trip that wont think EVRY SINGLE turn is THE ONE. and i am immune to green water now. i drink it regularly.”

“your funny!!!

you drink your green water...I'll drink my nice clean clear water. the first time you get ill...you'll be sorry. and I'll have to carry you all the way out. greeeeeeeat”

“Hi Sonja,
If I can, I might show up on this trip. Depends on Mammoth Mountain conditions. I'll be in Death Valley again this weekend. Not sure where yet.”

“stikmon's claim to fame:

1) Dragging a canoe down a dry river.

2) Dragging a sick Sonja through the desert by her hair, caveman style.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....”

“You know you want to be the one dragged throughn DV by your hair.....mmmmmmoooooowwwaaaahhhhaaaa”

“hey, how are yu???? i hoep you do get to go. that would be so great. i have moved to utah, so i am days closer now. keep me posted on any winter trips you have planned. i am all up for any back country si or snow shoe trips. i wuold even be very up to learing to snowboard!!! i am so loving it out here. last years death valley trip was THE deciding factor, the big prompt to giving me the guts to up and move. keep in touch and i really wnat to hike some more iwht you.
how is your son?”

“Sonja, you type like ice tea. (and aren't you a teacher?)

LOL! sorry, couldn't resist..... heheehe. It's been "Pick on Ice Tea" Day”

“but i am not a typist. it is difficult enough for me ot type anything so i am not going ot go back and correct my mistakes when i know all you bright peopele can easily decipher my mesage, even wiht the typos. and who is ice tea? the rapper guy?”

“I'll try to make it. After the past two weekends in Death Valley, I want to go back there. I'm a newbie in the desert, so now I'm really interested.”

“ROCKS!!!

I wanna do some slots...hehehe”

“...that's right....the boss gave the OK....Death Valley here I come....”

“is so excited...he now has a permenant woody in his pants.

The 2 of us are now in talks and negotiations as to what our adgenda should be. He wants to bag peaks (THANKS snowNymph) and I want to crawl slots...maybe we can do both. we'll see. but in the meantime...the dates and times are as follows...

Jan 29th (thursday) leave out from Vegas at 11pm (SL's arrival time) and head to DV. Camp near CorkScrew peak and on Friday morn,,,go bag that peak. after that...we haven't figured out the rest.”

“.....thanks Snow Nymph...you've got me hooked girl...

....Stikdude...we'll get to crawl through some slots....it's on the agenda....”

“not baggin corkscrew...gonna go slot it out with Fall Canyon, then hump Wahguyhe Peak, then back down fall canyon to then move on out to Ubehebe Peak, then go home on Monday.

any interested parties...lets DO IT!!!

This trip is now written in stone..."so let it be written, so let it be done"...now...what trip should I do later on in Feb??? hmmmmmm and then march, and April????heck...April is the start of canoeing season...so much for the spring...heck...summer on the OUter Banks again...wow, its almost thanksgiving...another mt rogers trip?...can we go back to Arkansas and the OHT for another 3 day weekend?...oh heck...2004 is already OVER...guess its time to start planning 2005. Where does the time go...someone tell me that I'm having fun, cause I just can't tell anymore...the trips just come and go...did someone else say..."when does he work?"...I work between trips. Don't we all?”

“Stikmon- Exactly where are you gonna be Friday night/Saturday morning? Thinking about joining in for the weekend. Keep me posted, I'll try and get a hold of Wingding and Snownymph and see if they are still interested in going.”

“I'm going to head to Death Valley on the 17th of January for a couple days, so I don't think I'll be up that way at the end of January.”

“sorry to miss you, but, I'm sure we'll detect your aura while we are traveling there.

Trailtreker...by friday night we will be deep into Fall Canyon. Sat morn, our goal is to emerge Fall on the upper end and then hump it up to Waguhyeewwheisalhtlto peak (day hike).

then back to the packs in Fall canyon for sat night, and out of Fall on Sunday...our goal is to time our exit so that we can be on the stove Pipe wells, sand dunes for some spectacular dune sunset pics, then off to ubhebe to drive the road in the dark and camp,and then monday morn dayhike up to the ubhebe peak, to duplicate snownymphs photos and accomplishments, then drive out and say good night to another fantastic trip to one of God's holy places.

Hope you can make it, and anyone else.”

“....the tickets are officially in my hand!

Here we go Bro.....but I know you're more excited about Big Bend....like Wakeman says....knock it on it's head.”

“LUCKY!!!! Lot's of pics for us (well me).”

“my focus is Big Bend, but DV is right afterwards...so, I'm pumped for that too. I'll have 13 bag nights in at the end of the Death Valley trip...yeee haaa. bring it ON!!!”

“....just a side note....

Let me know about July as soon as you can....whether budget trip to Denver will occur....the Little Lady wants to go....we can take her out a ways, base camp and then do day hikes....boss gave it the OK btw....

Tango....instead of enjoying the pics....come join us...I don't care if you're not blonde...he he....LOL....”

“if your a girl...I'll share my tent with you and cook and rub your foots. LOL...

from what the rumor has it, a trip to denver will "more than likely happen", but, that won't be known till like may or June. That's the way it is.

hmmmm...rebecca in the rockies...that means I won't have any death defying hiking. That might be a good thing...one can only push the envelope so long, before one gets caught in the flap...hehehehe.

If she is to come...my suggestion is to go to Meuller St Park, then we can hike to the crags, and go out to fossil beds NM. and hike in Mueller. Its a very cool place with loads of great hiking. Plus its next to a huge wilderness area.”

“Yes I'm a girl! What kind of tent? You me and the dog! (Smile) Thanks for the offer of foots rubs ! I'll take a rain check!”

“Florrisant National Monument?

hehehe :-)”

“Also in that area for the tourist:

1. Cripple Creek old mining now casino gambling town. Cheap meals. Entertainment.

2. Mollie Kathleen gold mine tours at Cripple Creek.

3. There's an interpretive display on gold mining past Victor and near, hmmm forgot the name. Some near ghost town.

4. Oh yeah, old steam engine train to ride from Cripple Creek. I think it runs to Victor.”

“not chooches...sheesh...but, a free trip is a free trip...and a 9 year old is easily amused.

awwww gee tango...I don't bite (very hard) and no doggy in colorado.

man, I been dissed by someone I don't even know...my reputation is really taking a dive...”

“Ya gotta give a girl some notice!”

“...you've just been notified...if you bleach your hair blonde...i'll rub your feet...ha ha

Studdley Stikboy at it again...sheesh....things never change....doing the ole rubbing the feet routine again...oy vey

Lizs....echoing Studdley Stikkie Boy....we are not chooches...we are backpackers taking an 8 yr old along for the ride...she's been bugging me all the time....

And Bro...forget Mueller...we're going up to Rocky Mtn Natl Park.....”

“3 Weeks from today starts the journey!”

“Hey folks, I've been jonesing for some desert action since last year and have been following this thread. I do have a question though. In Fall Canyon, there are a couple of dry falls. The first is easy enough to navigate up but the second, I've heard, can be problematic, esp. with packs. Were you planning on dropping the packs and doing Wahguyhe Peak as a day hike?”

“....yes....that's exactly what we plan to do....”