I didn’t think I’d have much to write about for a week of picking up cache buckets and road tripping home, but it turned out to be quite eventful, mostly in terms of car trouble. Walking is so much easier. But there was also a lot of good, and I’ve got a bunch of links to share to give you things to follow now that my life will be considerably less interesting for the season.
Upon retrieving my car, we stayed with my friend Neon in Moab and got to swap adventure stories. Neon just returned for winter break from a multi-year trip hiking through South America with her friend Fidget. They’ll continue this really ambitious trek next (South American) summer. Check out blogs and info from their amazing trek here!
Early the next morning we got on the road to go collect our cache buckets. A couple hours in, Bubs commented how glad she was we hadn’t gotten any flat tires while biking. Ten minutes later **thump thump thump**. We had run over a nail in precisely in the middle of nowhere. Changing the tire to the spare went smoothly enough (we had to use my bike seat post as a cheater bar on one stubborn lug nut). But with no Google at our disposal, we had no idea how fast we could drive on the spare. So we crawled along at 40mph to Hite Marina, where we confirmed there was indeed somewhere in Hanksville to get our tire fixed. To make a 5 hour detour into a shorter story, Hanksville couldn’t fix our tire (the sidewall had also blown out) and we had to go 60 miles one way out of our way to Green River to get a new tire.
the hanging bumper is entirely unrelated. Can you believe no one stopped to help 2 beautiful women changing a car tire in the middle of nowhere? Equality is here!On the way to the new tire we passed a woman pushing a baby stroller on the side of the highway. Angela is walking across America to raise awareness for PTSD and challenges facing veterans returning to civilian life. She’s really passionate and just full of great energy. You can follow her on Facebook: Unite the Journey.
Sharing fresh strawberries with AngelaWe had planned to attempt to climb Mt Ellen, which eluded us during the Hayduke, but with the tire saga, we were short on time. Stubbornly, we tried anyway, driving hours up some dirt roads not intended for my Toyota Matrix before snow stopped us about a mile from Bull Creek Pass (our intended trailhead and as high as we’d gotten on the Hayduke). It wouldn’t have been a big deal to just hike the extra mile, but it was already 6:30pm. The obvious solution would be to camp up there and hit it first thing in the morning. Except, of course, ominous clouds were rolling in. No way we were chancing wet roads with my dinky car. Back down we went, three hours rough driving wasted, a wheel well and most of my rear bumper sacrificed to the mountain. We’ve concluded Mt. Ellen hates us.
The important thing is we drove late and set ourselves up for breakfast in Escalante; we simply cannot get enough of the outfitter’s eggs in a basket with house salsa. We picked up more caches, emptied out our bike storage unit and drove all the way to Flagstaff, car camping near the trailhead for Humphreys Peak, the high point of Arizona.
Dusky Grouse quite a bit of snow below treelineWe got an early start and summited without any trouble (there’s a good trail all the way). But as soon as we left the summit, both my quads cramped up. Like, I was crying cramped up. At least, I think it was cramps? Maybe it had to do with all the biking followed by sitting in a car for 2 days? I have never experienced pain like that while hiking before. It was also really really cold, so I couldn’t just sit around and wait for it to go away. I stumbled down the mountain, chugging 2 Nuun electrolyte drinks hoping it would get better. It did slightly, but every step was still excruciating. It took me over 4 hours to make it back down the 4.8 miles to the car. Bubs became the obligate driver.
summit ridge Bubs finally got to try out the Purple Rain Adventure skirt she won at the ALDHA-West Rockies Ruck! Before the pain hitOn to California! My bffs from the CDT, LoveNote and Burly Whites, have a house in Lone Pine and a new baby! We were so lucky the timing worked out to get to spend the entire Memorial Day weekend with them! Rockin’ also drove out for a day and we all took a little hike up to the Tuttle Creek Ashram. The baby is 5 weeks old and has been out on one hike every week of her life – go mom and dad! I once again had quad cramping on the way down. Not sure what’s going on with me – overuse from biking followed by car sitting? Electrolyte imbalance?
babies are scary Burly hiking with the baby and, of course, Huckleberry LoveNote and baby at the AshramOn Memorial Day, we left Lone Pine to start the long drive north to return to home to Portland. And since we had the packrafts in the car, why not stop at Mono Lake for a quick paddle? It was a beautiful and fun diversion.
Packrafting Mono Lake playing in the tufasWe got all the way into southern Oregon, planning to car camp somewhere along a forest road that night. But then I ran over an already dead deer. I didn’t have time to swerve, so I tried to straddle it. Immediately the car started making a horrible noise. We pulled into a rest area to assess the damage. The rear bumper was loose, but that was nothing new really. Getting out our headlamps and looking under the car, we saw lots of blood and fur, but the only obvious damage was a bent bracket under the exhaust pipe. Hmm. Why the terrible noise? It was 11:30pm, and we decided to just sleep at the rest area and deal with it in the morning.
the bent and bloodied bracketBright and early we drove 3 miles into Chemult where there was an auto repair shop. The dude there jacked up the car to have a better look, and assessed that indeed the only damage was the bent bracket, which was pushing up into the exhaust, causing the rattling and popping sounds, and ok’d us to drive to Portland. So we cranked up the Taylor Swift to drown out the noise and off we went.
I’m just gonna shake shake shake shake shake….shake it off!Finally back home we had one last car challenge – jumping Bubs’ car which had sat untouched in my garage for nearly 3 months. Oy.
(Update: I was able to remove the exhaust bracket myself, bend it back mostly straight and reattach. The noise is gone, yay!)
On his way to Alaska to kayak the Yukon, Pinup came through Portland. We all went strawberry picking in our family t-shirts and exchanged photos from the Hayduke. Pinup doesn’t blog real-time, but does have a website he updates with photos and info post-trip. www.joesdiner.org
We made it just in time for the end of strawberry season strawberries and whipped cream…a callback to our time in Kanab U-pick strawberries on Sauvie IslandBubs will be working for a bit, then hiking a big section of the CDT and/or the Superior Hiking Trail.
I was hopeful Hayduking All the Things would scratch my thru hiking itch for a while, but my mind is already consumed with daydreams for the next adventure. My employer was very accommodating of my Hayduke trip, so I definitely owe them some time right now. The rest of my summer I plan to be weekend warrioring peaks in Oregon and getting out with friends….and scheming for the next long hike.
You two of the most adventurous ladies I have ever met. Adventure is out there. Always go for it. I have been to almost all the places you have but it much smaller segments. To do it continuously is quite the feat.
Really enjoyed your Hayduke adventures, both hiking and biking! I have driven off road most of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and rafted the Colorado for 8 days. Your insights and pictures brought back many good memories!
Thanks
Geryrig
Thanks, Lynn! I really enjoyed reading your comments throughout this trip. Bubs and I both have the same car and have the same feeling about the color – it was the consequence of not being able to be picky when buying a used car, but we’ve really grown to love it!
I was replacing a white 92 Camry I bought new in 1991 and the Prius C works for my garage entrance, I wanted a sunroof.. so when I saw that I could get a sunroof, done deal. The red was first choice, but the bright blue is nice. For a short time I thought about bright yellow, but friends talked me off that ledge.
I drive cancer patients for Road to Recovery and seniors for SilverStreak and most of them love the car.
I haven’t tried opening up the back with seats down but it might be tight for sleeping.. even at 5′ .
Your consistent optimism and joy for the trail has furher inspired my wife and I to take big hikes; thank you so much for bringing us all along with you!
Rad way to end the Hayduke adventure(s). So glad to see you all having so much fun and to see you cross paths with Joey a few times too. Your employer really did you a great service. Glad you have a place to be gainfully employed until your next trip goes off. And I can’t wait till then.
Great trip! Loved reading along.
Thanks! I’m enjoying following you on the ODT – it’s high on my list! Also, next time I see you we need to talk packrafting!
You two of the most adventurous ladies I have ever met. Adventure is out there. Always go for it. I have been to almost all the places you have but it much smaller segments. To do it continuously is quite the feat.
Really enjoyed your Hayduke adventures, both hiking and biking! I have driven off road most of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and rafted the Colorado for 8 days. Your insights and pictures brought back many good memories!
Thanks
Geryrig
Thanks so much! I definitely want to get back to the Grand Canyon..the Hayduke was just a taste of all that’s there.
Such a great trip.. can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
Love your red cars.. I have a bright red Prius C that I am loving.
Thanks, Lynn! I really enjoyed reading your comments throughout this trip. Bubs and I both have the same car and have the same feeling about the color – it was the consequence of not being able to be picky when buying a used car, but we’ve really grown to love it!
Glad the red has grown on you.
I was replacing a white 92 Camry I bought new in 1991 and the Prius C works for my garage entrance, I wanted a sunroof.. so when I saw that I could get a sunroof, done deal. The red was first choice, but the bright blue is nice. For a short time I thought about bright yellow, but friends talked me off that ledge.
I drive cancer patients for Road to Recovery and seniors for SilverStreak and most of them love the car.
I haven’t tried opening up the back with seats down but it might be tight for sleeping.. even at 5′ .
Kind of fun that you have twin cars ??
Loved your blog! Can’t wait for your next adventures.
That photo of you with Baby…classic!
Your consistent optimism and joy for the trail has furher inspired my wife and I to take big hikes; thank you so much for bringing us all along with you!
Loved reading all about your Hayduke (and Hayduke-adjacent) adventures! I totally know that post-trip time-to-plan-a-new-trip itch, too 🙂
On a side note, ’twas rad to see that you linked to my Tuttle Creek Ashram write-up! Such a cool place…hope you liked it!!
Rad way to end the Hayduke adventure(s). So glad to see you all having so much fun and to see you cross paths with Joey a few times too. Your employer really did you a great service. Glad you have a place to be gainfully employed until your next trip goes off. And I can’t wait till then.
Neon always talks about your adventures with relish.
And don’t be fooled, adventures come in all guises!
Good work out there and excellent blogging.
Glad you had a great adventure. Hopefully next time some motorcyclist will stop and help change your flat tire. Hugs Darrell