Moab rafting and rock climbing, Open for Business!

Well that's it. Winter's over.

It might be snowing where you are and admittedly is cold here but winter's over.

Our first booked trip is for March 31st which means that the 2009 rafting season starts in only a few weeks. To be ready for the 31st means that we start NOW!

Getting boats out, cleaning gear, making changes and improvements all the things that have to be done behind the scenes start now.

I know I keep saying it but this summer should be good. March 1st numbers are above average, 115% of normal, and with more snow predicted water levels should be great.

Reservations are ahead of last year and we've already sold out several dates in June and July.

With new rock climbing and canyoneering options guided by the same great people that take you rafting there's no need to look anywhere else for Moab Adventure.

Moab rafting is going to be good.

The February snow pack numbers are in and things are looking great. The Colorado River basin is 123% of normal above Moab. Combine this with the fact the reservoirs are about 1oo% of average as well and we are virtually assured that the water levels on Fisher Towers and Cataract Canyon will be great, making for truly exciting Moab rafting trips.

The Dolores River basin is 116% of normal and reservoirs storage is 105% of normal. This is more than enough to count on this amazing river section to run at great levels in 2009.

It's early but this is great for Moab rafting.

I just got the Colorado River basin Forecast report for January.
The mountains up stream of Moab are at 125% of normal snowpack. This is fantastic.
I know that we've got plenty of time for it to stop snowing or for it to get warm and for the snowpack to go away but for now it's more snow on Jnauary 1st. than any time since 1997.

Moab rafting is gona be good, let's hope.

Utah Rock Climbing, it won't snow I'm going climbing.

I had the pleasure of seeing these climbers on Little Cottonwood Canyon's Coffin Crack, 5.9 while driving down from Alta yesterday.
Winter is holding off so folks are getting out and climbing in the sun.

Pray for snow!!!!!

December 1st. That was a quick month or so.
The posting of the "obs" thread may have been a bit too early. I sit writing this as our snowpack continues to melt, rot and evaporate. The Park City resorts have opened but are skiing man made snow.
Why so much about skiing?

Well we love it and more importantly the snow we slide on in winter becomes the river we run in the summer.

The good news is that the Colorado Mountians up stream of our Moab Rafting headquaters are getting more snow than the Wasatch outside SLC.

Off the the mountains.
Pray for snow.

Leaves turn and the 08-09 telemark.com thread

There are certain things that happen each year that mark the changing of the seasons. Flowers bloom, leaves change, the temps drop, folks around town start wearing bennies, the first flakes fly and one of my personal favorites WOW starts the new "obs" thread on Telemark.com.

WOW, as he is know, is a person. Bob Athey or the Wizard of the Wasatch has for years started the unofficial/official depository of backcountry trip reports and observations for the Wasatch.

Well the leaves have changed, I've indeed got to put on a beenie and the thread has been started.

Pray for snow!!!!!

How long does it take?

I'm often asked, how long does it take to get from place to place. LA to Moab, Las Vegas to Moab, etc. To be honest I don't know. When I'm on vacation I drive slowly, get sidetracked easily and generally tend to wander around. So when folks ask I usually let Google give me the answers, everyone should. Google maps is great. Type in the town you're leaving from and going to and bam you've got total milage, a map and a guesstimate of the time it will take to drive it.

This time estimate is, of course, the actual time it takes to drive the route not stop and pee or get lost, read those roadside interp signs, sight see or eat. These can all add alot of time to a trip.

Well a Friend of mine just reset the bar on how long it takes.

He, over the Labor day weekend, drove from Trenton, NJ to Park City, Utah in 2 days. This is a journey that, back in the days of the 55 MPH speed limit, would take my dad 5 days to cover as we headed west on our family vacations.

He left at 7:30 AM on Saturday and arrived Park City at 8PM on Sunday. 2 days, 2142 miles and I can't imagine that there was any stopping for any of the things that I mentioned along the way.

So next time your wondering how long it takes check out Google Maps and know that it is possible to roll through 1071 miles in a day.