Dawn at Gooseberry camp

What I failed to mention on the day one post is there are no crowds! The National Park Service limits the numbers of visitors. You have to have a permit to be on the White Rim Trail (Island in the Sky District). That really adds to the allure. Occasionally we saw some 4x4s, a motorcycle or two, and one group of mostly young singlespeeders bikepacking, but for the most part we had it all to ourselves.

We actually had two guitar players on the trip. Tony was the other one. He borrowed Golightly’s guitar and played a song while Golightly played the harmonica. Then he did a Son Volt song. After that I called out “Blister in the Sun.” And amazingly enough he knew that Violent Femmes song and started jamming it. All the girls went nuts.

On day one our guide Bryan said to me, “I think I’ve seen you on the trail?” I said, “Maybe, how about Navajo Rocks or Rodeo?” We compared dates and it wasn’t those trails. He said he was guiding a private group of e-bikers. I thought nothing of it. Then on day two it hit me. I saw the dude on the Klondike trails. He was with two other e-bikers at the top of one of the trails. I was chatting them up. The three of them seemed like they could take a joke, or at least I thought so. I told them about the bumper stickers I made. IT’S OKAY TO RIDE AN E-BIKE, BUT YOU CAN’T HAVE ANY BEER!  They didn’t think it was that funny. That’s why Bryan remembered me. I am the smart aleck on the trail!

Day Two Stats

• 27.44 miles
• 1967 ft elevation gain
• More smiles than miles!

Myself, Tony, Dianni, and Amelia

Can you see the Keyhole?

Golightly peeking over the edge

Chris and the never ending view.

Mare soaking it all in

The trudge up Murhpy Hogback.

Like a lizard

Tony waiting for the call that lunch is ready.

Side story: We’ve seen a lot of camp hosts in my day but none of them compare to Sandy at the Horsethief campground. Our campsite was right across from hers. She greeted us and chatted us up. When people were arriving to look for a spot in this first come first served campground she was in the road giving them info. If the campground was full she tried to help them out with alternative ideas. You did not drive the wrong way on the one way road on her watch. And if you were speeding there would be hell to pay. All of this is great, but put us in a predicament. The kiosk where you check in and pay clearly states the campsite must be occupied. Ours was going to be unoccupied for two nights. After much talking bewteen the three parties that were camping we all decided to go with the approach of asking for forgiveness instead of permission. Here we were on our second day, we had just finished the climb up Murphy’s Hogback and three hikers are walking by. The first three hikers we had seen all trip. Wouldn’t you know it, one was Sandy!! Amelia recognized her and Sandy said, “Busted!” Then we all laughed our asses off. She’s the coolest of the cool.

Sandy is the best!

The lunch sites and campsites had pit toilets with artwork from the local high school students.

The Green River

Mare leaping over the Black Crack with Bill and Chris watching. It’s not much of a leap but still scary as hell. You do not want to fall into the crack. It is a 65-foot-deep fissure.

Dianni and Drew talking up a storm. Bill and Mare taking a picture of Candlestick glowing. Candlestick camp is where we spent the second night.

What a magnificent sunset!

The White Rim Singers