Zion Fest June 18 & 19 2011

It's official! :banana::banana::banana:

We've got a bunch of folks coming out to Zion for a Bogley Fest the weekend of June 18 & 19. Plus several of the local folks have already marked their calendars.

The big, don't-miss-it-or-we'll-write-about-you-in-rubbish-bin BBQ will be held on Sunday June 19 at the Watchman campground, group site E001.
:beer::rockit::party:

Anyone who would like to camp at the group site is welcome to do so (up to the max of 40 people). Unfortunately, I could not get any group sites for Saturday. But there are still some individual sites at Watchman available (check out Zion Campground Info or www.recreation.gov reservations

We can use this thread to figure out who is bringing what on Sunday. And to plan for some canyons/hikes or rides during the weekend or the days before or after. Pretty sure a few of us plan to make this a long weekend.

If anyone wants to volunteer to lead a canyon that would be greatly appreciated, I'm sure.

Also, help for securing permits for any of the canyons within the park would be very nice too. The lottery for June is closing soon as is the opening of reservations. Unfortunately, I'll be camping that day and probably unable to access the internet.

Check back here for more details and add to the thread to tell us you're coming and where you plan to stay.

I have to nail down a firm schedule but I'd like to get down there on the 16th and stay through the 21st or 22nd. I'll probably have the wife and son with me the 16th, 17th and 18th so I'll be focused on easier family friendly hikes those days. Then I'll be available for something more aggressive the 19th, 20th, 21st and maybe 22nd. I still need to look at permits for 19-22.
Since the wife and son will miss the Sunday night camp-dinner I hope we can plan a group dinner (camp or in town) for Friday and/or Saturday nights...?
I'll be talking to Cody and Josh and trying to drag them down too.
Looking forward to it. :2thumbs:

Woohoo! Looking forward to it.

Oh, and a message for the lurkers:
This is an OPEN-INVITATION group camp out! It's not a formal guided trip. There's not really anything formal about it; it's a bunch of people (who mainly just know each other 'cause we met on the interwebs) camping and hiking together. And YOU are welcome to come an join us! Plan your own campsite (or talk to Paul about joining the group site mentioned above, but that is only available one night) and plan your own day hikes (or bike rides) or use this thread to talk to other participants with whom you would like to camp or hike.
There's loads of good advice (and even more bad advice :haha:) on this site; jump in with the planning now and join us in Zion in June!

:clap:

Paul I don't know much about the lottery system in Zion but being in close proximity I would be willing to help out anyway I can with getting permits. Let me know what you need me to do.

I will be there! Timing could not have been more perfect.

Hoping I might be able to join in the fun, but too soon for me to tell?!!!!

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Originally Posted by blueeyes

Paul I don't know much about the lottery system in Zion but being in close proximity I would be willing to help out anyway I can with getting permits. Let me know what you need me to do.

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Where you live close you need to drop by the visitor center and watch the short film so you can use the online Zion Express System. It is the only way to get Zion permits.

Looking forward to that weekend i just hope i can find some decent camping now that Mosquito cove is closed

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Originally Posted by Pubalz

Looking forward to that weekend i just hope i can find some decent camping now that Mosquito cove is closed

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I have no personal knowledge, but someone mentioned to me the idea of camping up around Gooseberry Mesa. Of course, Sunday you can always stay at the group site.

Seeing I missed last year, I'm going to try to be there this year. :-)

Added the event to the New "Calendar" feature, in the red navigation bar at the top. Check it out! BTW, tell me if anyone is able to edit it? If not, give me the details and I'll fill in the rest.

I'm dying to go but just can't swing the airfare. Not many affordable flights options to choose from Jacksonville to Vegas that time of year. Have fun everyone!

Tangent: I did find dirt cheap airfare into Denver in late July and will be trying to convince my Denver buddy to get out further East in Utah with me then. If anyone around that side of the Utah is interested, pm me and we'll keep in touch!

"Mosquito cove is closed" ?

That is too bad. What happened? What is this mesa camping the someone mentioned? Planning to get there also, just have to confirm that one June trip (planned earlier) doesn't conflict. Checking on that now.

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Originally Posted by Erik

"Mosquito cove is closed" ?

That is too bad. What happened? What is this mesa camping the someone mentioned? Planning to get there also, just have to confirm that one June trip (planned earlier) doesn't conflict. Checking on that now.

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Yeah, it Was closed down by the BLM due to the flooding a month ago. I talked to the BLM in St. George back in March and the latest word is that there is no ETA for reopening this year.

I believe the Mesa they are referring to is Smith Mesa which is before the town of Virgin on the North side. Im not sure exactly where from there however...

I thought Chere was talking about camping near Gooseberry Mesa? But I'm worthless in this regard; I know no mesas in the STG/Springdale area, and my camping in Zion has been either backcountry or Watchmans.

But, while I'm posting: I wanted to remind that I have slots available for Subway on Sunday.

I'm also pondering a trip down Orderville for Saturday. Either as a Birch finish or just by itself. Anybody interested in doing either of these?

We'll be sticking around Mon/Tue and maybe Wed as well. Considering Fat Man's as an overnight or *maybe* 3 days in Right Fork. But I think the later may be pushing it with my family depending on how much other stuff we do on the weekend.

I was talking about Gooseberry.... if Aaron wants to ride the mesa that is. Great camping spots up there. I don't know anything about Smith Mesa. I won't be camping with the rest of you I have house guests that weekend. But still plan on hiking Subway. Maybe something else depending on what is going on.

Let's pick a day for an AM ride on Gooseberry, Chere. Is Saturday your only option for that, or are you available to ride on Fri or Mon?

Fri or Mon work

Mosquito Cove was full of campers last weekend, gate still locked but they parked and hiked in.

Win

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Win

Mosquito Cove was full of campers last weekend, gate still locked but they parked and hiked in.

Win

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Hopefully the thiefs do not show up this year.

Enjoy everyone. I will catch another one. Its still baseball season and I need so show up to the weekend tournament with my son! :nod:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Win

Mosquito Cove was full of campers last weekend, gate still locked but they parked and hiked in.

Win

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I'll say, not from personal experience necessarily, that it's really easy to climb over the fence into Mosquito Cove. Just sayin'.

A bit late as usual, but I'm working on getting things together. Paul -- any spots left on permits? If no, np especially since I didn't get my act together in time to register for some myself. *sigh!*. How easy is it to go to the required presentation to sign up for the Zion Express Permit thing? I'd like to do that while I'm there if possible.

Is there still any space at the group site for Sunday? Open/flexible for Saturday, either camping at that mesa or maybe a room in town (if that entices my wife to come along and I hurry).

Still many available slots on my Subway permit for Sunday. Also no problem camping at the group site that night. Not sure what we'll do on Saturday yet. Maybe some folks doing a MTB ride on Gooseberry in the AM and then taking some kids through Keyhole. I should be around on Fri, Mon and Tue as well. For grins, I picked up an Orderville permit for Mon thinking maybe Birch with an Orderville finish. Also I'm considering doing Fat Man's start to a 2 night backpack through Paranweep starting Mon. Lot's of options! I hope your wife can come too, the more the merrier.

Awesome, I will definitely be there, and plan to camp at the group site on Saturday. Would like to join for Subway also. Will figure out Saturday as we go along. I could probably stay and do something Monday, should know soon (depends on Kathi's schedule, if she is going, etc).

Excellent! Note, the group site used for the BBQ and available for anyone who wants to camp there is reserved for Sunday 6/19, NOT Saturday.

I think the folks doing Subway on 6/19 are:

1. Paul (me)
2. Robin
3. Aaron
4. Jon (friend from Santa Cruz)
5. Jack (Jon's son)
6. Chere
7. Alison
8. Nick
9. Erik
10. Don
11. Pubalz
12. Pubalz's Daughter

PERMIT FULL

Looks like Kathi's family reunion is the same weekend. Fortunately I'm being allowed to escape that and come to Zion instead :) So probably I'm in for something Monday also.

I was thinking your subway plan was for the 19th...
I need to get Kyla to make a committment to this trip, but will you add me to the subway list for the 18th? I'll likely drop out if Kyla and E are still around on the 19th but that seems unlikely at this point so I want a spot on your trip...

Sent you a PM Don.

Ugh. Yes it is for 6/19 Sunday. Same day as the BBQ. I just fixed the post. Sorry. Don, I think that makes it even more likely for you to be able to attend?

Yeah, I'd like to do the subway with you on the 19th! :cool2:

No reservation permits available but I'd like to do Das Boot as well. If we can get the walk-up permit it'll only be for 6 people and they will have to be on the Subway permit in order to do both. Maybe a few of us could split off, or leave earlier, and do Das Boot and meet the rest of the group at the intersection to hike the Subway together... Assuming we can get a permit, any interest?

I would be up (or down?) with splitting up. But we need to make sure we have the timing right and if folks leave the TH separately they are confident in route finding and know where to meet up with us again. Sounds doable though.

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Originally Posted by ststephen

I would be up (or down?) with splitting up. But we need to make sure we have the timing right and if folks leave the TH separately they are confident in route finding and know where to meet up with us again. Sounds doable though.

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The subway trail is pretty straight forward, as long as the main party can get down to where the trail enters the water they would just wait for us there. If we leave earlier we could be there waiting for them...
Assuming we can get the walk-up permit I would guess that Aaron and Erik would want to be on the Das Boot list...?

Aaron might want to stick with his friend, we'll figure it out. We will want to start early to make sure we get back for festing at the BBQ :cool2:

I'd be down for the boot.

Hey Paul If theres any subway spots left my daughter and I would like to take them,Don ill see what i can do about Das boot permits Ill stand in line if i have to i want to do Das Boot also :nod:

Hi all, my friend & I are hoping to get out there but due to odd work schedules our timing will be Sun-Fri, with Sun & Fri being travel days. I'd love to meet folks, share good times around the campfire & barbeque, and share canyon time with anyone who's still around. I have a decent amount of experience & my partner is an enthusiastic newbie who wants to see what's up with all this cool slot canyon stuff I keep going on about. Greetings from MI & we hope to meet you out there,

Wayne & Laura

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Originally Posted by The Good Cop

Hi all, my friend & I are hoping to get out there but due to odd work schedules our timing will be Sun-Fri, with Sun & Fri being travel days. I'd love to meet folks, share good times around the campfire & barbeque, and share canyon time with anyone who's still around. I have a decent amount of experience & my partner is an enthusiastic newbie who wants to see what's up with all this cool slot canyon stuff I keep going on about. Greetings from MI & we hope to meet you out there,

Wayne & Laura

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You'll be around Sunday the 12th through Friday the 17th or Sunday the 19th through Friday the 24th?

There should still be people around Sunday the 19th and a few of us will be around for the first couple days of that week (I hope to stay through the 21st or 22nd). Hit Paul (ststephen) with a PM and I'll bet you could share the group site he has reserved for the 19th...

New people are always welcome! :2thumbs: