Utah Update #1
Summary page from email updates:
General Map of Moab Area Campsites - On this map you can see where the Ledge site is and where Upper Onion Creek is. All of the sites closer to Moab are booked. Trust me I tried! Upper Onion Creek should be pretty private since we will be the only ones there. It is on a section of the BDR route. See this track for details. Here’s the waypoint information for Upper Onion Creek,
Lat: 38.72096
Lon: -109.34385
Elevation: 1281 meters
Hello all!
We are only 2 months away from the Utah Border to Border 2015 adventure!
Most of you should have your login to the information portal by now. If you don’t please make sure you have completed the registration form. https://www.4xoverlandadventures.com/participant-registration/ I think only 2 have not completed that.
Some quick updates:
Payment for food and campsites:
If you are participating in the group meals. I will ask for payment by May 10th. Worst case we can do it via PayPal. Cash would be preferred but I won’t see all of you in person before the trip. Camping for 4-5 nights has been reserved. I will give a cost breakdown on each site as the date gets closer. The fees are very reasonable. Somewhere between $10-$15 per person per night. I will also collect that money prior to the trip. All fees have been paid by me in advanced with the exception of the Nine Mile Ranch.
Here’s a rough idea for the group meals - Lots of people with trailers and I am working on a possible fun idea for one of the group meals.
Day 1 - dinner Day 2 - breakfast dinner or dinner in Moab Day 3 - dinner or no meals (Moab trail run day) Day 4 - breakfast and dinner Day 5 - breakfast and dinner Day 6 - breakfast (If needed)
Day 0 Camping -
We have to get to the start to start if you know what I mean. We are now planning on camping in open land (free) near Mexican Hat. If we can scout something definitively before the actual day we will post it. Otherwise we will plan on meeting at the local steakhouse in Mexican Hat and can share the location via GroupMe as soon as we receive it.
GPX Tracks -
For those of you that use GAIA or similar application there are tracks available on the web site. Always subject to change based on actual road conditions.
Maintenance - Pre and Post Inspections
I am working with a local Toyota repair shop who is interested in helping with pre-run and post run inspections. Final details are being worked out. If you need no services the inspections would cost $75. This is for 30 minutes pre-run and 30 minutes post run. You will be able to go over the vehicle with the mechanic when it is on the lift. Discounted services like oil changes and differential service will also be offered. If you think you would like to take advantage of this please let me know.
Shirts and Stickers -
If you want a shirt please let me know. I will post a picture of the design on the web site soon. They will be around $15 a piece. While I can front the money for the purchase I can’t give them away for free. Mens will be a tan color and womens pistachio Yeah don’t ask me why I can’t get women shaped shirts in tan! I am also working on some stickers.
Can’t get enough! Well we are also doing Oregon Border to Border in late June. We are leaving Phoenix on June 20th and are combining the run with a visit to the NW Overland Rally. If you are interested in joining us let me know.
Utah BDR Movie - If you want to see the Backcountry Discovery Route movie it can be rented on Amazon for $1.99 (7 day viewing period) and Vimeo. Map are available at GO AZ Motorcycles in Scottsdale. $14.95 plus tax.
Update #2 -
First off I promise not to email all of you every time a thought pops into my head. With that said one significant change was made today. I moved our Moab area camp site to a better location. It is east of Moab vs west which may make Day 2 a bit longer. If we need to we can bypass a section of the backroads on day 2 to get to the camp site. Then we can loop back through it on day 3 when we experience the Moab area. The new site is called the Upper Onion Creek Campground. There are 2 groups sites and I have reserved both. That means it will only be US! The Ledge area had one group site, no shade and a bunch of single sites. It would have been pretty busy. There is also an active creek where we are and it is close to the Top of The World Trail. Here’ s a link to the area. https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/moab/recreation/campgrounds/group_campgrounds/onion_creek_reservable.html
There was some confusion on the $75 pre/post maintenance inspection. The $75.00 covers both the pre run and post run inspections. So $75.00 total. While they are primarily a Toyota shop they also work on Jeeps. The owner is an active off roader.
Annette, my wife, has worked hard on several shirt designs. I posted one of them on the Utah trip page.
I will ask for verbal commitments to the trip by April 15th and will have the ability to pay for the group meals and camp sites by April 25th. I need a final head count by the 15th so I can pay for the camp sites. Most require the number of people in the group. All are less than $10 per day per person. Group meals are $50 per adult and $25 per kid over 5.
Weekly planning sessions are taking place from now until the start of this adventure so you can just show up and have fun!