We woke up to cloudy skies again on Day 6. The Paradox Hut was cool and comfortable. I was able to talk the group into starting a little later as we would be climbing into the La Sals and cooler temperatures. Andrew was long gone; he left at 6 am to drive back to DIA. He was headed to London the next day, so he couldn't take a chance on missing his flight. Outside the hut were two strange dogs, we figured they were just farm dogs visiting from near by. After another protein deficient breakfast (no eggs) we were off. The lack of protein was really catching up to me; I rode semi-bonked all day and never felt nourished. It was the hardest day if the trip with 6000 feet of climbing in just over 20 miles.
The dogs followed us all the way into the town of Paradox. We couldn't get them to leave us. As we started the 2000 foot climb up carpenter ridge they continued to tag along. We started to wonder if they weren't strays or lost. As we continued the climb turning around became less of an option. We decided to find someone at Buckeye Reservoir to take them.
There was a hang glider launch at the top of carpenter ridge. It was a beautiful sloping gravel ramp that dropped off a 300 foot cliff. Even though it was early morning, the wind was blowing straight in and the ridge was soarable. I took a minute to take in the scene and store it in my memory for a future hang gliding expedition.
We reached Buckeye Reservoir just as a massive thunderstorm rolled in. We were planning on swimming but the temperature dropped and the skies opened with torrential rain. Doug, Jo, Jean-Paul and I huddled under a survival blanket next to a vacant RV. John and Joni crawled underneath to stay dry. After about 45 minutes it was still raining hard and we were becoming hypothermic. We would need to build a survival fire. Everything was wet and all we had were waterproof matches. It took an hour, but John, John-Paul and I finally got it going enough to provide some heat.
After the storm passed we tried to leave the dogs with some locals from Moab, but only one would go. The other, who we named Pepe, was determined to stay with us. He did, climbing all 6000. My lack of training showed in my slow climbing. Jo and I were the last ones to Geyser Pass Hut, which was clear of the weather high in the La Sals. It was an epic day from the dramatic change in weather to the dramatic change of scenery. As we climbed the terrain went from high desert, to conifer forests, to aspen forests, to alpine meadows. Cooler temps and much needed eggs waited for us at the hut. It was my favorite hut of the trip. Here are my notes from the day:
The dogs followed us all the way into the town of Paradox. We couldn't get them to leave us. As we started the 2000 foot climb up carpenter ridge they continued to tag along. We started to wonder if they weren't strays or lost. As we continued the climb turning around became less of an option. We decided to find someone at Buckeye Reservoir to take them.
There was a hang glider launch at the top of carpenter ridge. It was a beautiful sloping gravel ramp that dropped off a 300 foot cliff. Even though it was early morning, the wind was blowing straight in and the ridge was soarable. I took a minute to take in the scene and store it in my memory for a future hang gliding expedition.
We reached Buckeye Reservoir just as a massive thunderstorm rolled in. We were planning on swimming but the temperature dropped and the skies opened with torrential rain. Doug, Jo, Jean-Paul and I huddled under a survival blanket next to a vacant RV. John and Joni crawled underneath to stay dry. After about 45 minutes it was still raining hard and we were becoming hypothermic. We would need to build a survival fire. Everything was wet and all we had were waterproof matches. It took an hour, but John, John-Paul and I finally got it going enough to provide some heat.
After the storm passed we tried to leave the dogs with some locals from Moab, but only one would go. The other, who we named Pepe, was determined to stay with us. He did, climbing all 6000. My lack of training showed in my slow climbing. Jo and I were the last ones to Geyser Pass Hut, which was clear of the weather high in the La Sals. It was an epic day from the dramatic change in weather to the dramatic change of scenery. As we climbed the terrain went from high desert, to conifer forests, to aspen forests, to alpine meadows. Cooler temps and much needed eggs waited for us at the hut. It was my favorite hut of the trip. Here are my notes from the day:
- Andrew gone when I woke up.
- No cereal for breakfast, just and apple and bar while riding.
- Two farm dogs outside of hut.
- Farms and Cattle in the Valley.
- Carpenter Ridge was super steep.
- Dogs would not leave.
Enter the Dogs
They Ran Strong
They Would Not Leave
- Huge Scorpion on the road.
- Paradox Valley beautiful from above.
- San Juans where we started in the distant south.
- Hang glider launch at top of the climb.
- Soarable the whole time I was there.
- Dogs still won't leave, must be strays.
Black Hairy Scorpion
Paradox Valley from Carpenter Ridge
Hang Glider Launch
It was Soarable
Jo Worried about the Dogs
- Split into 2 groups.
- Doug, Joni, John and Jean-Paul, Jo, Alex, & the Dogs.
- Literally climbed out of the desert into the forest.
- Storm clouds building.
Out of the Desert into the Forest
Towering Cumulus Cloud
Last View of Paradox Valley
Dogs Resting
Storm Clouds Building
- Storm hit at Buckeye Reservoir.
- Lighting strike very close.
- Walls of water falling from the sky.
- Found Doug, Joni, & John huddling next to vacant RV.
- Got very cold, rain did not stop.
- Huddled under survival blanket for 45 minutes.
- Sever cold.
- Needed to build fire, everything soaked.
- Took and hour.
- Heat was wonderful.
Following Doug's Arrows
The Storm Hit!
Huddling to Stay Warm
Building Survival Fire
Heat - Finally!
- Skies cleared, split up again.
- One dog stayed, the other came with, named him Pepe.
- Bummed a Pepsi - Bliss!
- Long climbing continued, getting high.
- Crossed into Utah.
- Left conifer forest for alpine meadows and aspen groves.
- Bonked near the top.
- Geyser Pass Hut a sign from heaven!
Utah State Line
More Climbing
Out of the Forest into the Aspen Groves
Beaver Dam
Bonked
Geyser Pass Hut
Geyser Pass Toilet
Food!
Haystack Mountain from the Hut
- Ate burritos and eggs for dinner, needed protein.
- Slept good at altitude.
You can all the pics from the day HERE
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