Bag Night Challenge 2021

45 nights now...

A week+ in Arizona at Saguaro, Chricachua, Organ Pipe etc.
A second week+ in Death Valley and the Grand Canyon
Three days on the Central Coast in Cerro Alto:
Four days in Sequoia National Park.
Five days in Kings Canyon,
A four day trip into Buckeye Canyon in the Hoover Wilderness, complete with daily thunderstorms, lots of ticks, and amazing views
Three weeks in Yellowstone, Tetons, Rocky Mountain NP and the Rubies...

And now a short two day trip to Gibbs Lake, east of Yosemite in the Sierra

Here's a trip report with photos: (posted the text on these boards as well)

And a couple of shots for now:

1629641174138.png

1629641173652.png
 

Attachments

  • 1629641126790.png
    1629641126790.png
    3.1 MB · Views: 5
Total: 35 Nights

March 11-14 | Southern Nevada | 3 Nights
March 25-28 | Central Utah | 3 Nights
April 7-11 | Ruby-Horsethief and Westwater | 4 Nights
May 20-25 | Gates of Lodore | 5 Nights
July 10 | Flat Tops | 1 Night
July 14-16 | Flat Tops | 2 Nights
July 23-25 | Flat Tops | 2 Nights
July 30-Aug 2 | Henry Mountains | 3 Nights
August 2-6 | Urban Camping in Layton, UT | 4 Nights
August 6-9 | Flaming Gorge | 3 Nights
August 17 | McClure Pass | 1 Night
August 18 | Uncompahgre Plateau | 1 Night
August 19 | Dolores River | 1 Night
August 20 | Grand Turk San Juans | 1 Night
August 21 | Bisti Badlands | 1 Night (so far)

Spent the past week roaming around Colorado and into New Mexico with my brother. Settled in at Bisti Badlands now. Not sure where the next week will take me but living out of the truck is feeling great.
9FE032B5-74AE-4B5E-9B7A-C3CBC9627794.jpeg
 
August update time.

Total: 70 Nights

July 31 – August 1 | Crag Crest | 1 Night
August 6 – 8 | Lost Trail Creek & Splains Gulch | 2 Nights
August 14 – 15 | Powderhorn Lakes | 1 Night
August 17 – 21 | Cedar Springs Campground, Green River Lakes & Slide Lake | 4 Nights
August 27 – 29 | Parson Lake & Minnie Gulch | 2 Nights



Grand Mesa Morning
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Grand Mesa Overlook
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Marble Peak View
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Smoky Peaks
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Upper Powderhorn Lake
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


The Morning After
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Campsite #14
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Slide Lake Evening
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


California Mountain Ridge
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Silver Lake Cabin
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr
 
I got two more nights in this weekend, exploring some areas around Boulder Mountain and the Awapa Plateau. So far this year I haven't set up a tent or slept in my Jeep, all these nights were spent on a cot under the stars. These latest two are some of my favorite camp spots--close enough to some pretty interesting places, but remote enough that almost nobody goes there.

Total: 17 Nights

1/15/2021 - Dead Mountains, CA
1/16/2021 - Marl Spring, CA
1/17/2021 - Rock Tank, CA
1/18/2021 - Rock Tank, CA
2/26/2021 - Horse Canyon, UT
2/27/2021 - Horse Canyon, UT
3/26/2021 - Beaver Canyon, UT
3/27/2021 - Beaver Canyon, UT
4/30/2021 - West Tavaputs Plateau, UT
5/1/2021 - West Tavaputs Plateau, UT
6/25/2021 - Pine Creek, UT
6/26/2021 - Bone Flat, UT
7/8/2021 - Park's Pasture, UT
7/9/2021 - Park's Pasture, UT
7/10/2021 - Park's Pasture, UT
8/27/2021 - Pine Creek, UT
8/28/2021 - Park's Pasture, UT

Pine Creek
IMG_6449.JPG

Park's Pasture

IMG_6625.JPG
 
My total for the year is around 5 months (March 25 through yesterday, August 29). Towns/places I've camped near (too many places to list, so just doing areas):

Glenwood Springs, Redstone, CO
Rangely, Meeker, CO
Price, Huntington Cyn, Green River, Vernal, UT
Driggs, Alta, Swan Valley, ID
Tetons/Gros Ventre
Star Valley, Salt Creek, WY
Pony, MT

This will probably be the end of my bag nights because I sold my rig and am looking for a place to rent before winter hits.

IMG_0741.jpg
Teton Canyon, where the dogs fussed all night and wouldn't get out of the rig. I determined it was cattle (ironically, they're cow dogs). Later, when a bear came around and was only 10 feet from the rig, they slept like babies.

A7R022079511664336443934.jpg
This bear was was wondering what dog biscuits taste like (or maybe dogs, dunno). Yellowstone Lake.
 
Total 11 Nights

March 8-10 | Escalante Area | 2 Nights
May 4-6 | Bryce Canyon | 2 Nights
May 28-30 | Donnelly, ID | 2 Casita Nights
June 19-20 | Donnelly, ID | 1 Night
August 13-15 | Donnelly, ID | 2 Nights
August 24-26 | Yellowstone | 2 Nights

Spent two nights at Canyon Village in Yellowstone. I have now more than doubled my meager goal of 5 bag nights. I have to say I didn't enjoy the stay at Canyon Village as much as we did Grant Village last year. The site we had seemed like it was jammed between 2 other sites as an afterthought and our neighbors on one side were a tad inconsiderate with their music.

IMG_5126.jpg
 
1. Virgin Falls, TN
2. Sipsey Wilderness, AL
3. Big South Fork, KY
4. Savage Gulf, TN
5. Fiery Gizzard, TN
6. Big South Fork, TN
7-9. Canyonlands NP, UT
10. Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness, CO
11. Walls of Jericho, AL
12. Sipsey Wilderness, AL
13. Cheaha Wilderness, AL
14. Cohutta Wilderness, GA
15. Big South Fork, TN
16. Panthertown Valley, NC
17. Mountain Bridge Wilderness, SC
18. Daniel Boone NF, KY
19. Fiery Gizzard, TN

Got one for August, after all. Storms from Hurricane Ida had 70F highs and flash flood warnings in the forecasts, so I couldn't resist. They must have turned and just clipped the area, as it rained all day and night, but never got as bad as I expected. Things cleared up so quickly today, it was almost like nothing had happened.
The waterfalls were cranking pretty good, though...

1060971.jpg
20210901_075910.jpg

1060978.jpg

Then the wildlife came out today. Been a while since I'd seen a timber rattler!
20210901_140508_1.gif
 
47 nights now...

A week+ in Arizona at Saguaro, Chricachua, Organ Pipe etc.
A second week+ in Death Valley and the Grand Canyon
Three days on the Central Coast in Cerro Alto:
Four days in Sequoia National Park.
Five days in Kings Canyon,
A four day trip into Buckeye Canyon in the Hoover Wilderness
Three weeks in Yellowstone, Tetons, Rocky Mountain NP and the Rubies...
A short trip to Gibbs Lake, east of Yosemite in the Sierra
And since the Inyo NF (And others in the Sierra Nevada) closed on September 1 for two weeks because of fire dangers...we headed down to Santa Barbara and the Los Padres NF where the air was clean and there were a few pictographs we wanted to check out!

These are Chumash, from about 600 years ago.

1630763759306.png


The beach was nice, too!
1630763641227.png
It wasn't the Sierra,,,but it was open.
 

Attachments

  • 1630763560034.png
    1630763560034.png
    1.9 MB · Views: 6
  • 1630763708351.png
    1630763708351.png
    1.3 MB · Views: 3
My total for the year is around 5 months (March 25 through yesterday, August 29). Towns/places I've camped near (too many places to list, so just doing areas):

Glenwood Springs, Redstone, CO
Rangely, Meeker, CO
Price, Huntington Cyn, Green River, Vernal, UT
Driggs, Alta, Swan Valley, ID
Tetons/Gros Ventre
Star Valley, Salt Creek, WY
Pony, MT

This will probably be the end of my bag nights because I sold my rig and am looking for a place to rent before winter hits.

View attachment 101159
Teton Canyon, where the dogs fussed all night and wouldn't get out of the rig. I determined it was cattle (ironically, they're cow dogs). Later, when a bear came around and was only 10 feet from the rig, they slept like babies.

View attachment 101160
This bear was was wondering what dog biscuits taste like (or maybe dogs, dunno). Yellowstone Lake.

Did you suggest to the folks around Pony, MT, that they should rename the area to Mule? Sounds more grown up to me. :D

Nice bear shot by the way.
 
Now as for myself, have been camping out since I left my housing here in Jackson, Wy. at the end of May, guess now over three months. No photos for live without a camera. First birded all over here in Jackson and the area, then up to Alaska, and now back here to Jackson. Then starting probably tomorrow biking to Rexburg for a Primitive Skills Gathering, then biking to Southern Utah, Arizona, and wherever life takes me. Since am now retired, it is all hiking, biking, and birding. There is soooooo much to see and experience in life. Yes since leaving my housing at the end of May, have not slept in a bed anywhere for not even a single night. Every night it is in the tent and sleeping bag somewhere. And with the way it looks, it could stay this way for days, weeks, and months to come. Have to get out and see the sun with everyday being a new adventure.
 
Total 14 Nights

March 8-10 | Escalante Area | 2 Nights
May 4-6 | Bryce Canyon | 2 Nights
May 28-30 | Donnelly, ID | 2 Casita Nights
June 19-20 | Donnelly, ID | 1 Night
August 13-15 | Donnelly, ID | 2 Nights
August 24-26 | Yellowstone | 2 Nights
September 3-6 | Donnelly, ID | 3 Casita Nights

Spent Labor Day weekend in Donnelly with Kim's parents. We made this a non-working weekend, even though her Dad kept trying to find work to do on their lots whenever we gave him the chance. We did some fishing, paddle boarding, walking around Cascade Lake, and driving around exploring. I forgot pictures of the camp and I really wish I had taken pictures of the Salmon spawning on the South Fork of the Salmon River. It made fishing hard because you aren't allowed to fish for them so if you see any you have to pack up, but it was fun to watch them in the water.

I did catch this gorgeous little brook trout at horsethief reservoir on a size 18 sparkle dun when they started rising for mayflies. Surprised to catch this there since it is primarily stocked rainbows and a few wild browns.

IMG_5131.JPG
 
Total: 51 Nights

March 11-14 | Southern Nevada | 3 Nights
March 25-28 | Central Utah | 3 Nights
April 7-11 | Ruby-Horsethief and Westwater | 4 Nights
May 20-25 | Gates of Lodore | 5 Nights
July 10 | Flat Tops | 1 Night
July 14-16 | Flat Tops | 2 Nights
July 23-25 | Flat Tops | 2 Nights
July 30-Aug 2 | Henry Mountains | 3 Nights
August 2, 3, 4, 5 | Fernwood Hollow moochdocking in Layton | 4 Nights
August 6, 7, 8 | Flaming Gorge | 3 Nights
August 17 | McClure Pass | 1 Night
August 18 | Uncompahgre Plateau | 1 Night
August 19 | Dolores River | 1 Night
August 20 | Grand Turk San Juans | 1 Night
August 21, 22 | Bisti Badlands | 2 Nights
August 23 | San Juans, Lime Creek | 1 Night
Aug 25, 26, 27 | Fernwood Hollow moochdocking in Layton | 3 Nights
Aug 28 | Driveway moochdocking in SLC | 1 Night
Aug 29 | Buckhorn Rim in the Swell | 1 Night
Aug 30, 31 | Flat Tops | 2 Night
Sept 1 | Flat Tops | 1 Nights
Sept 2 | Uncompahgre Plateau | 1 Night
Sept 3 | Rim of Dolores Canyon | 1 Night
Sept 4, 5 | La Sal Mountains | 2 Nights
Sept 6, 7 | Knowles Overlook | 2 Nights

Update time. I like living outside.

0B01C6C5-5660-4113-855B-804946AABA8C.jpeg
 
1. Virgin Falls, TN
2. Sipsey Wilderness, AL
3. Big South Fork, KY
4. Savage Gulf, TN
5. Fiery Gizzard, TN
6. Big South Fork, TN
7-9. Canyonlands NP, UT
10. Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness, CO
11. Walls of Jericho, AL
12. Sipsey Wilderness, AL
13. Cheaha Wilderness, AL
14. Cohutta Wilderness, GA
15. Big South Fork, TN
16. Panthertown Valley, NC
17. Mountain Bridge Wilderness, SC
18. Daniel Boone NF, KY
19. Fiery Gizzard, TN
20-24. High Uintas Wilderness

5 from the Uintas. Should have been 6, but I had some ongoing foot issues, and can't tolerate wearing any of my hiking shoes any more.
Hiked from Uintah Lake around Rock Creek Basin to over Dead Horse Pass and back to nearby Ledge Lake, then from there back to Hayden Pass via the Highline, Jack and Jill Lakes, and some more crosscountry through the burn in that area-all in my Xero sandals. Before that, I'd also hiked offtrail in them from East Red Castle Lake to the smaller lake below Upper Red Castle Lake(where I rejoined the trail the rest of the way up).
VideoCapture_20210914-225955.jpg
Had Upper Red Castle all to myself, and camped near the outlet, so I could sleep to the sound of running water.
1070124.jpg
After hiking out from Red Castle, I drove around to the Mirror Lake Parkway, and went up the Whiskey Creek Trail to camp at Bourbon Lake.
1070138.jpg
The next morning, I hiked out Whiskey Creek, and in the UHT at Hayden Pass.
Just over Rocky Sea Pass, my extremely anti-social self unexpectedly took on a part-time job as a goatherder with some goatpackers I met. Well, 6 of 7 were women, which is the difference for me between having near infinite patience and zero(for men). They invited me to join them, since they were circumnavigating the Rock Creek Basin, as I'd been thinking of doing. I had no idea how much fun hanging with them for the rest of the day was going to be! We also saw about a dozen total of "real" mountain goats along the way.
1070241.jpg
From our camp at Uintah Lake.
20210911_072036.jpg
In the morning, I struck out in my sandals for Dead Horse Pass and beyond.
1070325.jpg
^^That was as far as I went. Halfway down the other side of the pass, I said "screw this, I'm done"(every painful step forward was another added to the return trip, after all), turned around and went back to Ledge Lake, where my new goatpacker friends were camping that night.
Meanwhile, storms had been rolling through like waves, and while only one settled in and lasted very long, I thought it was notable that it rained TEN different times in the same day.
From Ledge Lake, I hiked out to Hayden Pass, then drove to Evanston.

My feet actually did better and better the longer I hiked in the sandals, and the next day were ready to go again.
For whatever reason, I had a pair of Xero shoes that I use for working out in my luggage, and wore them to cap things off with the Lofty Lake Loop and Cuberant Lake, where I spent the last night of my trip. Much better with more stability and protection!
20210913_181707.jpg
I guess I'm hiking in "barefoot shoes" from now on? How bizarre...
 
1. Virgin Falls, TN
2. Sipsey Wilderness, AL
3. Big South Fork, KY
4. Savage Gulf, TN
5. Fiery Gizzard, TN
6. Big South Fork, TN
7-9. Canyonlands NP, UT
10. Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness, CO
11. Walls of Jericho, AL
12. Sipsey Wilderness, AL
13. Cheaha Wilderness, AL
14. Cohutta Wilderness, GA
15. Big South Fork, TN
16. Panthertown Valley, NC
17. Mountain Bridge Wilderness, SC
18. Daniel Boone NF, KY
19. Fiery Gizzard, TN
20-24. High Uintas Wilderness

5 from the Uintas. Should have been 6, but I had some ongoing foot issues, and can't tolerate wearing any of my hiking shoes any more.
Hiked from Uintah Lake around Rock Creek Basin to over Dead Horse Pass and back to nearby Ledge Lake, then from there back to Hayden Pass via the Highline, Jack and Jill Lakes, and some more crosscountry through the burn in that area-all in my Xero sandals. Before that, I'd also hiked offtrail in them from East Red Castle Lake to the smaller lake below Upper Red Castle Lake(where I rejoined the trail the rest of the way up).
View attachment 101652
Had Upper Red Castle all to myself, and camped near the outlet, so I could sleep to the sound of running water.
View attachment 101651
After hiking out from Red Castle, I drove around to the Mirror Lake Parkway, and went up the Whiskey Creek Trail to camp at Bourbon Lake.
View attachment 101653
The next morning, I hiked out Whiskey Creek, and in the UHT at Hayden Pass.
Just over Rocky Sea Pass, my extremely anti-social self unexpectedly took on a part-time job as a goatherder with some goatpackers I met. Well, 6 of 7 were women, which is the difference for me between having near infinite patience and zero(for men). They invited me to join them, since they were circumnavigating the Rock Creek Basin, as I'd been thinking of doing. I had no idea how much fun hanging with them for the rest of the day was going to be! We also saw about a dozen total of "real" mountain goats along the way.
View attachment 101656
From our camp at Uintah Lake.
View attachment 101654
In the morning, I struck out in my sandals for Dead Horse Pass and beyond.
View attachment 101655
^^That was as far as I went. Halfway down the other side of the pass, I said "screw this, I'm done"(every painful step forward was another added to the return trip, after all), turned around and went back to Ledge Lake, where my new goatpacker friends were camping that night.
Meanwhile, storms had been rolling through like waves, and while only one settled in and lasted very long, I thought it was notable that it rained TEN different times in the same day.
From Ledge Lake, I hiked out to Hayden Pass, then drove to Evanston.

My feet actually did better and better the longer I hiked in the sandals, and the next day were ready to go again.
For whatever reason, I had a pair of Xero shoes that I use for working out in my luggage, and wore them to cap things off with the Lofty Lake Loop and Cuberant Lake, where I spent the last night of my trip. Much better with more stability and protection!
View attachment 101650
That comment would make a great standalone trip report, honestly! Haha.
 
Thanks. Sometimes my bag night posts are substitutes for not doing trip reports!
 
Total: 45 nights

3/14/21: Zion Wilderness | 1 night |
2/28/21: Zion Wilderness | 1 night |
4/8/21: La Verkin Creek, Zion | 1 night |
4/14-4/18/21: Escalante area |4 nights|
7/10-7/12/21: Arrowhead CG, Umpqua NF, OR |2 nights|
7/12-7/23/21: Mount St. Helens, WA | 12 nights|
7/23 -7/26/21: Columbia River Gorge, OR |3 nights|
8/7 -8/11/21: Lake Powell |4 nights|
8/30/21: Great Basin NP |1 night|
8/31/21: Craters of the Moon NM |1 night|
9/1 -9/16/21: Yellowstone NP |15 nights|

white%20dome%20geyser%20at%20night%20copy-XL.jpg


Hayden%20Valley%20sunset%20copy-XL.jpg


yellowstone%20river%20sunset-XL.jpg
 
49 nights now...

A week+ in Arizona at Saguaro, Chricachua, Organ Pipe etc.
A second week+ in Death Valley and the Grand Canyon
Three days on the Central Coast in Cerro Alto:
Four days in Sequoia National Park.
Five days in Kings Canyon,
A four day trip into Buckeye Canyon in the Hoover Wilderness
Three weeks in Yellowstone, Tetons, Rocky Mountain NP and the Rubies...
A short trip to Gibbs Lake, east of Yosemite in the Sierra
Santa Barbara and the Los Padres NF where the air was clean
A quick trip to Tuolumne Meadows and the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne--smoky, but still spectacular

1632003468341.png

1632003543165.png
 
Total: 45 nights

3/14/21: Zion Wilderness | 1 night |
2/28/21: Zion Wilderness | 1 night |
4/8/21: La Verkin Creek, Zion | 1 night |
4/14-4/18/21: Escalante area |4 nights|
7/10-7/12/21: Arrowhead CG, Umpqua NF, OR |2 nights|
7/12-7/23/21: Mount St. Helens, WA | 12 nights|
7/23 -7/26/21: Columbia River Gorge, OR |3 nights|
8/7 -8/11/21: Lake Powell |4 nights|
8/30/21: Great Basin NP |1 night|
8/31/21: Craters of the Moon NM |1 night|
9/1 -9/16/21: Yellowstone NP |15 nights|

white%20dome%20geyser%20at%20night%20copy-XL.jpg


Hayden%20Valley%20sunset%20copy-XL.jpg


yellowstone%20river%20sunset-XL.jpg

Great pictures! It seems the smoke cleared up a little when you were there.
 
That's all for September...


Total: 80 Nights

September 1 - 2 | Freidlein Prairie | 1 Night
September 2 - 3 | San Mateo Mountain | 1 Night
September 3 - 4 | Williams Lake | 1 Night
September 4 - 5 | Horseshoe Lake | 1 Night
September 11 - 12 | Middle Fork South Arkansas River & Tomichi Pass | 2 Nights
September 18 - 21 | Crook Campground, Big Pine II & Swallow Canyon | 3 Nights
September 24 - 25 | Goodenough Reservoir | 1 Night




Humphreys Peak Summit
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


La Mosca Lookout Tower
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Mount Taylor Summit
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Williams Lake
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Wheeler Peak Summit
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Spread Eagle Peak
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Rito Alto Peak Flag
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Southern Sawatch Morning
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Chris in Red Canyon
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


Swallow Island Camp
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr


High Peaks of the Grand Mesa
by Randy Langstraat, on Flickr
 
Back
Top