Turkey in the Desert

The view from the campsite

My friends out west invited me to come along for a bit of a Thanksgiving tradition they've had going for the past 4 years or so. Hiking in the high desert of Utah. This also comes along with some cold weather camping. I forgot how much I enjoy off season camping. The fire is a necessity not just entertainment. Sleep is work and the predawn coffee can never be too hot. I've had cold summer nights out in the open but not since my teenage years have I intentionally crawled into a seeping bag for a night of below freezing temps. It makes you earn the experience. Of course if I hadn't borrowed a 15 degree bag my musings might have been a different story. There's a saying "there is no bad weather, only bad clothing" and I'll put a whole bunch of stock in that. The earned experience was one that I won't soon forget. Mostly due to the people it was shared with, even though the setting was second to none. I have yet to meet an Iowan I didn't like. This trip was no different. 4 top notch boys from Iowa, a gentleman born in Japan but seems to have grown up all over the States, and one of the coolest girls I've met who is super sweet and from Colorful Colorado. The seven of us set out on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to Canyonlands National Park just south of Moab, Utah. We pulled in to the best campsite the Needles District had to offer. After listening to Alice's Restaurant on Thanksgiving day we set out on a mild hike to Confluence Overlook. We got back early enough to start on our own Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat, complete with a 12 pound turkey cooked in a cast iron Dutch Oven pot with all the fixins'.
On Friday 4 of us set out to climb a desert tower called South Sixshooter however time was not on our side so after some bouldering and backseat driving on for the climbers ahead of us we bailed as not to hike out in the cold darkness. The second night in a row I ate better in the great outdoors than I do in my apartment. Our final hike was Saturday and about 15 miles out to Chesler Park. Our last night at camp was spent burning all the wood and exchanging stories of our misadventures, with great hilarity I'll add.

The crew

Cryptobiotic Soil. Don't bust the crust, Don't hurt the dirt.

I believe this is Confluence Overlook

Sunset over the Needles

Magic Hour

Mushroom Tops

Balancing Rocks

Sunrise the morning we hit the road for home.

It was a damn fine vacation with some excellent travel mates. I'm glad I didn't miss it this year. Being Thanksgiving and all I'd like to say thanks for the invite and picking an Illinoian up and dropping off him off at the airport over the busiest travel weekend of the year. Thanks guys.