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Getting Lost in Utah's Moist Cracks


LOST IN UTAH’s Moist Cracks with Logan and Sedona

Meet: Saturday 7 am @ Shack

Return: Saturday afternoon (3/16)

Member: $271 Non member: $339

Participant Driver (2): $155

Participant drivers will also have all gas reimbursed!

Activity: Roadtripping, hiking, backpacking, camping, sightseeing, swimming, exploring

Difficulty: (6.5/10) Hard Distance (miles): 30 miles (total), max 10 miles in one day Elevation (ft): variable, max 2000 ft

Recommended Prior Experience: hiking/camping experience

Location of Trip: UTAH (and a lil bit of Nevada and Arizona)

Native Land: Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) , Nuwuvi (Southern Paiute) Pueblos

Pre-Trip Meeting: This is a biiiiig trip, so we will be having TWO trip meetings, you should attend both but you MUST attend one. Time and location will be sent to you!

** Please note that this this trip requires an application. Fill out this form by Saturday, February 24th at 11:59 pm if you are interested in coming on this trip: Participant Application***

HEYYYY MOIST CRACK EXPLORERSSS. We’re going to be taking a tour of cracks, canyons, rivers, and gulches across Utah! We’ll be visiting three national parks, slot canyons, hot springs, and more on this epic southwest roadtrip. 

ITINERARY:

*This itinerary is subject to change based on seasonal conditions, closures, road changes, or just if we all feel like doing something different!*

Day 1, we’ll be setting out from Shack Saturday morning and making the loooong drive up to Bryce Canyon (with a classic Utah soda store and food on the way) and camping among the pine trees and some of the darkest skies in the wooorld. Next morning, Day 2, we’ll be taking our first hike into the canyon for some incredible views of the dopest hoodoos iiin theee wooooooooorld. Then, we’ll drive up to hit National Park #2 at Capitol Reef, camp the night and tell spooky stories before Day 3 incredible SUNRISE views hiking and driving to explore Capitol Reef’s red rocks and spires, and then a lil bit more driving to camp the night before we descend into Coyote Gulch at Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Day 4 we’ll wake up in coyote gulch and embark on a sendy, 2-day 10 mile backpacking loop complete with beautiful natural arches and waterfalls. We’ll explore deeep in the canyon and there will be plenty of opportunities for rock scrambling and getting moist in the cracks. Day 5, we’ll hike out the gulch and make the short drive to Zebra Canyon - a top notch slot with some tighttt rocks. Then we’ll drive out the the famous oasis in the desert: Zion National Park. On day 6 we’ll do a 7 mile hike up to Observation Point in Zion to experience some insane views of even moister cracks than ever before. Day 7 we make our way back towards Nevada to Ringbolt Hotsprings, which is on the Arizona border (4 states in one trip hell yeah). We’ll finish off our trip with a relaxing dip in the springs, and camp that night in the Mojave desert before we drive back home on day 8. 

Contact the Guides:

Sedona Silva: slsilva@usc.edu

Logan Decker: lgdecker@usc.edu

What to Bring:

*REMINDER (overnights only) : if you do not have a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpacking pack, or other technical gear (non-clothing), do not panic, SC Outfitters has these items for you! Your guides will send out a gear-request form the week of your trip where you’ll let them know what gear you need!

  • * is optional but recommended

    ** is SCO provided if you let us know in that form thing we sent

    A general note on packing: we WILL be crammed in two cars with limited space for the majority of the trip, we will also be carrying what we have on our backs for the backpacking portion. DO bring the things on this list, DON’T bring a full sized pillow and comforter set. Feel free to drop us a line if you have questions, always super stoked to help!


    • Backpacking backpack (big boy kind with hip straps) **

    • Sleeping bag **

    • Sleeping pad **

    • Water storage (4L minimum, plastic preferred cuz lighter)

    • Mess kit (plate / bowl and fork / spoon) 

    • Toiletries (toofbrush, paaaste, deodorant etc)

    • Medications (don’t forget your pills and potions!)

    • Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen cuz skin cancer sucks)

    • Hiking shoes/boots (good tread, durable, comfortable)

    • Camp shoes (flip flops, chacos, bonus points for CROCS)*

    • Headlamp

    • Warm weather clothes x2

      • Shirt/tank top

      • Shorts

    • Cold weather clothes x1

      • Pants

      • Fleece/sweatshirt/jacket

      • Rain/wind repellent coat/jacket

    • Warm, cozy, stay warm in the piercing cold of night kine clothes x1

      • BASE LAYERS

        • Leggings/long underwear, sweats

        • Long sleeve shirt/light sweatshirt

      • Head warmth (beanie/hat/balaclava)

      • Gloves

    • Underwear and socks

    • Swimsuit

    • Smol towel*

    • Very smol pillow*

    • Water friendly shoes (bonus points if these are your camp shoes)*

    • Reading material*

    • Camera*

    • Little bit of cash for souvenirs, a slimy gas station hotdog, etc

Price of the trip includes (and we will provide):

  • Snacks

  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided when a trip occurs during meal-times

  • Any technical gear required (ie. kayaks, snowshoes, snorkels, backpacking packs, sleeping bags, fishing rods, etc.)

  • All group / shared gear (tents, stoves, bear cans, first aid kit, etc.)

  • Any permits or campsite reservations needed

  • Cost of gas reimbursed for participant drivers

  • Amazing guides who love the outdoors and do this for free!

Please Review Our Cancellation and Refund Policy:

All SC Outfitters trips have a no-refund policy unless a substitute participant can be found. In the event your trip requires added reporting measures of participants (plane tickets, external providers, rental services, etc.) dropping the trip close to the date of the trip will not allow for the spot to be re-filled. See the details on trip pages for specific deadlines and reference our complete cancellation/refund policy here.


TRIP DIFFICULTY RATING SYSTEM

  • Difficulty rating for trips

    • 1: No physical activity.

    • 2: Leisurely walk.

    • 3: 2-5 miles less than 1000 ft of total elevation gain on well maintained trails. About 2-3 hours continuous activity

    • 4: 4-6 miles, about 1000 ft of elevation gain, well maintained trails. About 3 hours of continuous activity.

    • 5: 6-8 miles, about 1500ft of elevation gain on maintained trials. 4-5 hours continuous activity

    • 6: 8-10 miles, about 2000 ft of elevation gain, well maintained trails. 4-6 hours of continuous activity.

    • 7: 10-14 miles, over 2500 ft of elevation gain, variable trail conditions possible. Full day of continuous activity.

    • 8: At high altitude. 12-16 total miles, over 3000 ft of elevation gain, variable trail conditions possible. Full day of continuous activity.

    • 9: Technical skills may be necessary. At high altitude with physical elevation gain. Scrambling over rocks likely involved.

    • 10: u gunna die

**If you have any questions or concerns about the physical activity, recommended prior experience, or gear needed on any kind of trip please contact the guides as soon as possible!!

Earlier Event: March 8
HORNY FOR HAWAI'I
Later Event: March 17
(Al)pining For a Snowshoeing Trip