High Plateaus Ride

Introduction
Utah USA

The Colorado Plateau - this broad expanse of rugged, colorful tablelands encompassing much of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona (the 4-Corners area) is bounded by the Grand Canyon on the South and Uintah Basin on the North. To overlook the Canyonlands from Utah's High Plateaus is a remarkable experience where the phrase "I can see for two-hundred miles" is not a figure of speech, but a reality.

When summer's heat in the slickrock country becomes oppressive, the lure of glacial lakes and lush meadows beckons both horse and rider. These trail rides explore the plateau tops and canyons where the San Rafael Swell, Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase or the Escalante National Monument make their dramatic break towards the Colorado River.

From a deluxe base camp you'll make daily rides deeper into this alpine wilderness. Always a favorite feature of this ride are the lakes, wildflowers, elk, deer, and other wildlife, as well as the spectacular vistas of the 4-Corners region where ten or more National Parks and Monuments may be seen in a single panorama.  A truly breath-taking horseback adventure for those who long to be one with a trusty horse partner and the American wilderness.

Accomodation

Meals are provided beginning with lunch the 2nd day and ending with lunch the last day. Southwestern style cooking is featured and special diets are accommodated.

Camps
All trail rides utilize a base camp arrangement with daily forays to different points of interest. This allows us to spend less time packing and unpacking, and more time riding and seeing the country. Campsites are located in primitive, backcountry areas which we seldom use more than once or twice each season. Low- impact camping techniques are practiced. Tents provide our home away from home. Cook tent, dining tent, shower tent and latrine tent round out the facilities. Chairs are provided.

All trips feature deluxe provisions and complete outfitting. We strive to provide the highest level of comfort while practicing low impact on the environment, this is not primitive camping. Don't misunderstand us - we are not a white glove, tuck you into bed outfit. But we do provide camp chairs, primitive shower, sleeping cot or 6' pad, tent, fresh food, iced drinks, etc., to make the trip more pleasant and restful.  The rides explore many of the physiographic sections or landforms located in the Colorado Plateau west of the Colorado River and the Green River.
Trail conditions range from good to rugged, over rough and rocky terrain. Distance covered between camps usually range from 6 to 12 miles (3 to 6 hours in the saddle) although longer or shorter days do occur. We sometimes divide the group and approach camp from different trails, with one group going the rugged or longer route and the other taking the gentler way. Side rides from camp are customary on short days. Stops at scenic features and Indian rock art panels are common. Geology and history are emphasized. You may use your personal horse.

Meals are included from Lunch on Day 2 to Lunch on Day 6.

 CAMPING Trailrides Include:

*All taxes and land-use fees--nearly 14%.
*All ground transportation from Torrey, UT & return.
*First night motel lodging in Torrey.
*Four nights at a deluxe basecamp deep in the backcountry.
*All meals from lunch on day two through lunch on day six, including fresh produce, hot and iced drinks.
*Canvas tents for cooking, dining, showering and sleeping (single, double or family occupancy).
*Sleeping bag, cot and foam pad.
*Camp chairs, coolers and other camp amenities.
*Waterproof gear bags, water bottles, saddle bags and tack.
*Seasoned mountain horses.
*Guides/wranglers, cook, camp-jack and interpretative specialist.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive scenic Torrey, Utah and check into the Boulderview Inn. Torrey is a town of a little over 200 population which is located at the junction of highways 12 and 24 near the west entrance of Capitol Reef National Park. The Boulderview Inn is located on highway 24 at the west end of Torrey. At 8:00pm meet at the Boulderview Inn's lobby for an orientation and final packing session with your trip leader and the trip's interpretative specialist.

Day 2  After breakfast, you'll travel a short distance down the road to headquarters. Transfers will be provided as needed. We'll pack your gear in the camp 4X4, meet the remainder of the crew and your horse, then depart (9:00am) for the Slickrock Trail southeast of Torrey, or the Great Western Trail two miles north of Torrey. he Slickrock Trail leads to Happy Valley, Golden Throne overlook, Wildcat Gorge then to your basecamp on Pleasant Creek. The Great Western Trail will take you up Sand Creek to the Velvet Ridge, then to Hells Hole, Sand Creek Falls and your camp at Wiff's Pasture.

Day 3 After breakfast and preparing lunch, from the Pleasant Creek basecamp you'll ride to Meeks Lake, Pleasant Creek meadows and the Boulder Top at Behunin Point before returning to a hot shower
and cold drinks. From the Wiff's Pasture camp you'll ride to Snow Lake and the Flat Top on Thousand Lakes Mountain where the views of the canyonlands are indescribable. As always, you'll return to camp in time to relax and enjoy hors d'oeuvres before dinner.

Day 4  Riders at the Pleasant Creek camp will follow Keller's Trail to the breath taking vista on Chokecherry Point, then across the Terrace to Pleasant Creek Falls. After a hearty breakfast, riders at the Wiff's Pasture camp will spend their final full day on the Saddle Pass Trail with it's stunning views of Hell's Hole, Sand Creek Gorge and the Fremont River Valley.

Day 5  Departure day. After packing personal gear and breaking camp, Pleasant Creek campers will use a different access back to the Slickrock Trail and return among the multihued Navajo sandstone
domes littered with volcanic boulders where you'll exchange your saddle seat for the short drive back to headquarters. From the Wiff's camp you'll take the Sulfur Basin trail to Torrey Knoll and the Bingo and Torrey town overlooks. After a short drive you'll arrive Torrey late afternoon.


**Subject to changes

April 21-25 & April 28-May 2
San Rafael Swell & Hondoo Country
-- Wild Horses at Muddy River Gorge & Red Canyon

May 4-9
San Rafael Swell & Sid's Mountain Wilderness
-- Explore Slickrock Canyons populated with Bighorn Sheep

May 12-16
Capitol Reef National Park
-- Springtime in the slickrock country.

May 20-24
Escalante Canyons National Monument
-- Spring Wildflowers in Slickrock Canyons

May 29-June 2 & June 6-10
Capitol Reef National Park
-- Pleasant Creek Rockart or Cathedral Valley

June 14-18 & June 22-26
Escalante Canyons National Monument
-- Headwaters of Escalante River with Monument & Arizona views

July 2-6
Capitol Reef National Park
-- Along America's "Great Western Trail"

July 11-15 & July 21-25 & Aug. 1-5
High Plateaus of Boulder, Henry or 1000Lakes Mtns.
-- Alpine Lakes, Wildlife & Views of the Canyonlands, Northern Arizona & 4 Corners

Aug. 10-14
High Plateaus - Escalante National Monument
-- Headwaters of Escalante High altitude Arizona views

Aug. 19-23
High Plateaus - Capitol Reef
-- Explore the breaks of Waterpocket Fold at altitude

Aug 27-Aug 31 & Sept. 3-7
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Rockart & Bighorn Sheep in the Slickrock

Sept. 11-15
Capitol Reef National Park
Experience the breaks above Capitol Reef

Sept. 19-23
Escalante Canyons National Monument
-- Fall Foliage & Redrock Canyons in the Escalante drainage

Sept. 26-Sept. 30 & Oct. 3-7
High Plateaus of 1000 Lakes or Boulder Mtns.
-- Fall Foliage and Vistas over 100 miles

Oct. 12-16 & Oct. 21-25
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Wild Horses & FALL FOLIAGE in Redrock Country

RIDES FEATURING ROCK ART:

May 29-June 2
Capitol Reef National Park
-- Petroglyphs and Pictographs on Pleasant Creek Gorge

Aug 27-Aug 31
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Petroglyphs and Pictographs in Bighorn Sheep country

RIDES FEATURING WILDLIFE:

April 21-25 & April 28-May 2 & May 4-8
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Wild Horses or Bighorn Sheep at Muddy River Gorge or Sid's Mountain Wilderness

June 22-26
High Plateaus of Wasatch or Boulder
-- Wildflowers with Elk & Birds-of-prey

July 21-25
High Plateaus/Henry Mountains
-- Buffalo with Views of Canyonlands & 4-Corners area

Sept. 3-7
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Bighorn Sheep in Slickrock & Slot Canyons

Oct. 12-16 & Oct. 21-25
San Rafael Swell Wilderness
-- Wild Horses & FALL FOLIAGE in a Maze of Redrock Canyons

Rates and Dates for High Plateaus Ride

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Torrey at 8 PM in the common area of your lodge
Airport: Moab, Utah or Las Vegas, Nevada
Transfer: Moab, Utah - flight

Climate:

Utah's portion of the Colorado Plateau region is a semi-arid tableland or steppe ranging in elevation between 3,800 ft. and 11,500 ft. with vegetation classified as upper-Sonoran to Alpine. This landscape is famous for it's dynamic elevation changes with hundreds, even thousands, of feet change literally in one step.
The key word in this description, as far as weather is concerned, is semi-arid. It is generally dry with most precipitation falling as snow in the winter and occasional thunder storms during the summer. Higher elevations are cooler and receive more moisture than lower environs. Hondoo's trips explore the lower, slickrock and pinyon-juniper forested areas on spring and fall trailrides. In the heat of the summer, ponderosa-pine or aspen-spruce forests form the backdrop for experiencing the canyonlands. Trip temperatures rarely exceed 90 degrees daytime or 40 degrees at night. With warm days and cool nights, it is best to layer your clothing to maintain comfort and you should always pack rain gear just in case.

GENERAL CLIMATIC FEATURES

Essentially, Utah's climate is determined by its distance from the equator; its elevation above sea level; the location of the State with respect to the average storm paths over the Inter-mountain Region; and its distance from the principal moisture sources of the area, namely, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Also, the mountain ranges over the western United States, particularly the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges and the Rocky Mountains, have a marked influence on the climate of the State. Pacific storms, before reaching Utah, must first cross the Sierras or Cascades. As the moist air is forced to rise over these high mountains, a large portion of the original moisture falls as precipitation. Thus, the prevailing westerly air currents reaching Utah are comparatively dry, resulting in light precipitation over most of the State.

TEMPERATURE

There are definite variations in temperature with altitude and with latitude. Naturally, the mountains and the elevated valleys have the cooler climates, with the lower areas of the State having the higher temperatures. There is about a 3° F decrease in mean annual temperature for each 1,000-foot increase in altitude, and approximately 1.5 to 2° F decrease in average yearly temperature for each one degree increase in latitude. Thus, weather stations in the southern counties generally have average annual temperatures 6 to 8 degrees higher than those at similar altitudes over the northern counties.

PRECIPITATION

Precipitation varies greatly, from an average of less than five inches annually over the Great Salt Lake Desert (west of Great Salt Lake), to more than 40 inches in some parts of the Wasatch Mountains. The average annual precipitation in the leading agricultural areas is between 10 to 15 inches, necessitating irrigation for the economic production of most crops. However, the mountains, where winter snows form the chief reservoirs of moisture, are conveniently adjacent to practically all farming areas, and there is usually sufficient water for most land under irrigation. The areas of the State below an elevation of 4,000 feet, all in the southern part, generally receive less than 10 inches of moisture annually.

Additional expenses:
State of Utah sales tax, airfare, rental car, personal items and alcoholic beverages. You should note that trip prices have been discounted to reflect the added expense for car rental incurred in reaching Torrey. In the final analysis, the cost for this quality trip make it one of the best buys in the adventure travel market. Also, for those participants who appreciate a cold beer after an eventful day or relaxing around the campfire with a cocktail, enjoy, but bring spirits in unbreakable containers if possible.