Large group warning this weekend in the Swell

[EvergreenDean]

I have information from reliable sources that there will be a large group, possibly 60+, camped at Hidden Splendor in the Swell this weekend, from Thursday until Monday. Those looking for solitude may want to select another location.

[UtahAdventureGuide]

Crap, I'm headed down there this weekend. Any idea what canyons they will be doing and when?

[Bootboy]

Gross.

[deagol]

I would chose another spot.......

[Scott P]

I hope they have rented portapotties, etc.

[peakbaggers]

Crap, I'm headed down there this weekend. Any idea what canyons they will be doing and when?

I may be wrong, but I beleive this may be in part the MeetUp Western Slope Adventurers group and some others from the SLC area? Check out the calendar on the Western Slope Adventurers site. They are planning on Cable for Saturday and others nearby Sunday - possibly including Knotted Rope, Seegers Hole or Quandary.

[Scott P]

I may be wrong, but I beleive this may be in part the MeetUp Western Slope Adventurers group and some others from the SLC area?

It isn't. The meetup group is different one.

I'm starting to get the feeling that it's going to be a zoo down there. I'm also going to be there as well, but not with the other two groups. :facepalm1:

Hopefully the big groups take care of the place. SUWA usually has a gathering down there, but they also bring things like rented porta potties, etc.

[Bootboy]

This is the kind of stuff that gets areas shut, fees imposed, etc... I know it's not to that point yet but this is where it all starts. For the record, I think groups of this size in the wilderness are in bad taste. I just hope that if they are going to do it at all, that they at least clean up after themselves and don't leave toilet paper and beer cans everywhere.

[oldno7]

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/salt_lake_fo/recreation/camping.Par.17441.File.dat/lrg_grp_camping_handout.pdf

[EvergreenDean]

From what I know, the group has many quality folks and is well organized. I suspect they will treat the place well and stay out of trouble.

[Iceaxe]

So who exactly is this mystical group of canyon gods??? Or do I have to wait until Sunday night's news to watch the search and rescue to find out?


Tap'n on my Galaxy G3

[oldno7]

From what I know, the group has many quality folks and is well organized. I suspect they will treat the place well and stay out of trouble.

This must not be the group I've run into at Powell, mostly led by one individual.

[lofty]

Iceax...the big group I know of won't have any mystical canyon gods :nono:

[qedcook]

Any open spots for someone to join Thursday or Friday?

[Iceaxe]

Iceax...the big group I know of won't have any mystical canyon gods :nono:

Sorry... Godesses... :nod:

And I expect no SAR's coming from this talented group so the Sunday evening news will be a little slow.

[deagol]

This is the kind of stuff that gets areas shut, fees imposed, etc... I know it's not to that point yet but this is where it all starts. For the record, I think groups of this size in the wilderness are in bad taste. I just hope that if they are going to do it at all, that they at least clean up after themselves and don't leave toilet paper and beer cans everywhere.


This post brings up a sort-of related/non related topic. The group going to Hidden Splendor is NOT even closely related to the group I am talking about, but for the past few years a group based out of Austin Texas called Camp Gladiator (http://campgladiator.com/)has been coming to Colorado and trashing the wilderness (literally). To say this another way, Camp Gladiator isn't coming to trash the canyon country (yet?) but if a group like CG gets into canyoneering, then we better watch out. The group going to Hidden Splendor is responsible and ethical and competent, from what I know. I am not part of the group but know people who are.

The CG group did do exactly what Bootboy referenced (http://forums.backpacker.com/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=852107219;t=9991166556), and even worse.. They also violated group size limits and did not get a required permit for commercial trip on national forest land.

[deagol]

I may be wrong, but I beleive this may be in part the MeetUp Western Slope Adventurers group and some others from the SLC area? Check out the calendar on the Western Slope Adventurers site. They are planning on Cable for Saturday and others nearby Sunday - possibly including Knotted Rope, Seegers Hole or Quandary.

http://www.meetup.com/WesternSlopeAdventurers/events/127592562/

They want to do Cable first and the Squeeze the next day.

read the comments... This is what concerns me: "We are getting HUGE so we really do need some more people to step up as canyon leaders."

Clarification: the meetup group is IN ADDITION to the group Dean originally posted.

[UtahAdventureGuide]

It looks like the WSA group is camping on the back side and not at Hidden Splendor. I'll be camping at Hidden Splendor Friday - Sunday and believe me if that group does trash the place I will be turning license plate number over to the sheriffs department.

[Slot Machine]

I'll be camping at Hidden Splendor Friday - Sunday ...

Chivalrous.

[deagol]

the group Dean posted will still be at Hidden Splendor, though.

[msmnificent]

I'm part of the group this weekend. This is the group's 9th annual gathering, and we've got a proven track record of keeping our camps clean (including bringing our own groovers/poop buckets and packing all of our trash out), going to bed early, avoiding the need for S&R, having a rowdy good time on Sat night but being in bed by 10 or 11 (especially with cold weather like we're expecting this weekend), and keeping our groups in the canyons to reasonable sizes. Usually only about 2/3 of the people who say they're coming will actually show up. We did have 60 that initially signed up, but a number of people have posted that they can't make it after all, and I bet it'll probably actually be closer to 40 people in our group...the sign-up did start back in April so many people who signed up have since made other plans or have had scheduling conflicts come up which will prevent their intended attendance. In order to keep our affiliated group presence to under 12 people per canyon per day we will be spreading the group out in as many canyons in the area as possible, so expect to see small subsets of our group in any canyon in the area on any given day. Hopefully, though, you'll only see a group of 6-ish or a maximum of two groups of 6-ish and they'll be friendly and courteous, and let your smaller faster group (if you've caught up then that must be the case) pass with a smile!

As a group we are concerned about our size and impact on the area and on other users too. We love canyoneering and the canyon country resources, and will do what we can to minimize our impact. We will be at Hidden Splendor and will pick the best spot we can find for separating our group from others to provide privacy for our group and others. I hope this alleviates some of the concern. Have a great weekend!

-Malia

[msmnificent]

Hopefully, though, you'll only see a group of 6-ish or a maximum of two groups of 6-ish and they'll be friendly and courteous, and let your smaller faster group (if you've caught up then that must be the case) pass with a smile!

-Malia

We hope you'll do the same if a smaller faster group of ours catches a group of yours...! ;-)

[hesse15]

it is good to know that in case the other groups need S&R,they will know where to go to get the POWER to get them out safe and some really yummy food too!!




I'm part of the group this weekend. This is the group's 9th annual gathering, and we've got a proven track record of keeping our camps clean (including bringing our own groovers/poop buckets and packing all of our trash out), going to bed early, avoiding the need for S&R, having a rowdy good time on Sat night but being in bed by 10 or 11 (especially with cold weather like we're expecting this weekend), and keeping our groups in the canyons to reasonable sizes. Usually only about 2/3 of the people who say they're coming will actually show up. We did have 60 that initially signed up, but a number of people have posted that they can't make it after all, and I bet it'll probably actually be closer to 40 people in our group...the sign-up did start back in April so many people who signed up have since made other plans or have had scheduling conflicts come up which will prevent their intended attendance. In order to keep our affiliated group presence to under 12 people per canyon per day we will be spreading the group out in as many canyons in the area as possible, so expect to see small subsets of our group in any canyon in the area on any given day. Hopefully, though, you'll only see a group of 6-ish or a maximum of two groups of 6-ish and they'll be friendly and courteous, and let your smaller faster group (if you've caught up then that must be the case) pass with a smile!

As a group we are concerned about our size and impact on the area and on other users too. We love canyoneering and the canyon country resources, and will do what we can to minimize our impact. We will be at Hidden Splendor and will pick the best spot we can find for separating our group from others to provide privacy for our group and others. I hope this alleviates some of the concern. Have a great weekend!

-Malia

[Matt Lemke]

I am also going to be there friday-sunday but only have canyoneering partners for Sat-Sun.

I am interested in either Segers Hole, Segers Window, or Cable.

[Slot Machine]

Bro, did you just ask if you could join a ladies only gathering?

BRO! :nono:

:facepalm: :lol8:

[Scott P]

This is the group's 9th annual gathering, and we've got a proven track record of keeping our camps clean (including bringing our own groovers/poop buckets and packing all of our trash out), going to bed early, avoiding the need for S&R, having a rowdy good time on Sat night but being in bed by 10 or 11 (especially with cold weather like we're expecting this weekend), and keeping our groups in the canyons to reasonable sizes.

I hope this alleviates some of the concern.

:2thumbs:

[msmnificent]

Bro, did you just ask if you could join a ladies only gathering?

BRO! :nono:

:facepalm: :lol8:

It takes balls to ask to join a group you know nothing about... (pun intended) :wink:

[UtahAdventureGuide]

msmnificent (http://www.bogley.com/forum/member.php?18756-msmnificent) do you know where your group will be camping? I have a small group and would like to camp down by the river. we will be leaving really early and doing The Squeeze Saturday.

Thanks

[Sombeech]

Bro, did you just ask if you could join a ladies only gathering?

BRO! :nono:

:facepalm: :lol8:

I also support this effort

[EvergreenDean]

msmnificent (http://www.bogley.com/forum/member.php?18756-msmnificent) do you know where your group will be camping? I have a small group and would like to camp down by the river. we will be leaving really early and doing The Squeeze Saturday.

Thanks
Perhaps I can help. My wife is also in this group. I believe they plan to camp West of the airstrip in the big area but also discussed sites down by the river for overflow and/or folks who wants more space or privacy. With 20 or more vehicles going out, they will most likely dominate the entire area West of the airstrip. They are out there setting up today. Perhaps you could approach from Factory Butte? Or just take a site before the airstrip.

[UtahAdventureGuide]

I won't be changing my plans.

[ratagonia]

Perhaps I can help. My wife is also in this group. I believe they plan to camp West of the airstrip in the big area but also discussed sites down by the river for overflow and/or folks who wants more space or privacy. With 20 or more vehicles going out, they will most likely dominate the entire area West of the airstrip. They are out there setting up today. Perhaps you could approach from Factory Butte? Or just take a site before the airstrip.

There are three different camping areas at Hidden Splendor. Plenty of room for 100 or more.

Tom

[deagol]

I was also just informed that planes will be using the airstrip, so anything too close could be blown away.
I never posted that I was going to be there (in fact, I stated that I wasn't going to be), just that I knew a few people who would be....

So anyway, anyone reading this knows now- watch out for planes (I guess most people would do this anyway)

[deagol]

double post.

[Slot Machine]

Perhaps I can help... Perhaps you could approach from Factory Butte? Or just take a site before the airstrip.


I won't be changing my plans.

69577

[Iceaxe]

It takes balls to ask to join a group you know nothing about... (pun intended) :wink:

:roflol: :roflol: :roflol: :roflol:

This thread just keeps getting better....

69575

[Rob L]

I was also just informed that planes will be using the airstrip, so anything too close could be blown away. <snip>

What? Planes using an airstrip? Horror of horrors, whatever next? :roll:

You or your tent would have to be darn close to be "blown away" by a Supercub. They are renowned for being barely able to kill you. We're not talking jets. I don't think a sand-blown airstrip in Utah is quite likely to have this effect:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=LV28AL0k1kY

[deagol]

What? Planes using an airstrip? Horror of horrors, whatever next?…]



…… - watch out for planes (I guess most people would do this anyway)

This may have been too subtle on my part? I told the person who PM-ed this to me that I would pass it on, so I passed it on.

[Matt Lemke]

you guys are silly... I was just throwing a shout out for ANYONE who may have been looking for a partner for friday

[EvergreenDean]

I won't be changing my plans.
You asked so I assumed you were concerned. No one is asking you to change your plans. There is plenty of room as Tom says.

[MPH]

Funny. Saw 2 people there last weekend. Nice and quiet....sounds like things might change this weekend.

[Bootboy]

Just an update:

We were down there early this week to do the squeeze and while there was one other group, we saw no sign that there had been such a large group in the area. While gatherings of that size in such a place aren't my style, I was happy to see that that had apparently kept a clean camp. And left it as they found it. Well, done. I forgot how much room was really down there.

Also, the first evening we were there, the gnats were horrendous. In the short 5 minutes we stopped to talk to the other group, I got at least a dozen bites, most of them on my forehead. So we drove back just above the airstrip and didn't see another bug the whole time.