Moab Spring Break 2013

Like many other families suffering from the long, cold, dreary days of winter, we prescribed ourselves with a week in warm and sunny Moab, Utah.

This has become somewhat of a ritual over the past few years. The kids love going down there and Britt and I certainly enjoy the break from work/home/domestication/blah, blah, blah. It's good for the soul.

Getting the hell out of Dodge

Prior to the trip, I spent the past couple months modifying our utility trailer so that we could store most of our camping gear and toys in it. The funny thing is, like backpacking, the bigger the backpack, the more you tend to take. However, it was pretty awesome using Jeff's big camp stove and dutch oven all week. Let's just say we all ate very well!

Our itinerary went as follows:

Monday: Long drive. Numerous potty breaks (both for the humans and canine). Pigging out at Aloha Grindz in Spanish Fork (you have to be from Hawaii to appreciate this). Arrive in Moab with newly modified trailer intact.

Madi in Arches Natl. Park

Tuesday: Attempt Delicate Arch but decide on other trail(s) due to ENORMOUS overcrowding at parking lot/trailhead (seriously, I counted at least 300 vehicles!). Afterwards, mom and kids go to the big sand hill where Madi gets revenge on her brother (sand attack!), dad goes mountain biking (North 40 trail, fun!).

 

Matt & Britt in Arches.

Hiking to the lower Delicate Arch viewpoint.

Poolside at the campground.

Wednesday: Morning hike to Corona Arch. A repeat of previous year but such a cool feature...and we can take Izzy dog on the hike. Afternoon bike ride along the Colorado River. More swimming, then dutch oven dinner at camp. Marvel at the number of Canadians in the campground, as well as BYU afficionados.

Izzy, the Almighty at Corona Arch.

Madi & Ethan under the towering Corona Arch.

Britt soaking up the vitamin D at Corona Arch.

Izzy cooling off in the Colorado after Corona Arch hike.

Biking along the scenic Colorado River.

Thursday: Dad does dawn patrol mountain bike ride at Sovereign Trail while family sleeps in. Enormous lunch of bacon, eggs and fried potato/hashbrowns. Half-assed hike up Negro Bill Canyon before turning around and heading back to camp and the pool. The TeNgaio's eat out tonight. Burly ghost stories follow around the campfire.

Panorama along the Sovereign Trail.

Britt's view, poolside.

Ethan cooling off after a hike.

No caption needed.

Friday: Up at 6:00 a.m. and haul ass to Aches Nat. Park and Delicate Arch. Kids do an awesome job making the short ascent to the kick ass feature, followed by more kick ass hiking in the park. Back to camp. Kids and mom swim, dad goes mtn. biking at the M.O.A.B. trail system and has a smile on his face. Facing brief storm sweeping through, family goes out to eat again and mom and dad both comment on the fact that Moab doesn't have that great of food, despite the numerous eateries. Weather drastically improves and the last night is spent with more s'mores, ghost stories around the campfire.

 

The Westside TeNgaios beneath the impressive Delicate Arch.

Near the end of the trail to Delicate Arch.

Saturday: Break down camp as dad stresses out over lost keys. Find keys and leave Moab. Uneventful drive until Ogden, where a tire blows out on the trailer. Dad is relieved he bought a spare before the trip. Arrive in Pocatello at dinner time and gorge themselves at Red Lobster. Finally reach Idaho Falls at 9:45 p.m. with crew, trailer and dog intact.

Thanks for the fun times, Moab!