I traded in four wheels for two feet and a stick and am resting in one of Muddy Creek’s chutes. As you can see, I am sporting the latest in hiking apparel. Despite mid-90s temps and constant sun, I escaped with no burns!  My son says I looked like I was an old desert dweller. I think he meant it as a compliment.

I have returned! You might have noticed this already, but I didn’t use my computer for four and a half days. It’s been eleven years since I’ve gone that long without touching a computer. I suppose, technically speaking, I did use my phone for a couple days, but I’m just going to ignore that fact. I still have many emails to get through, so if I haven’t answered yet, either pester me or be patient.

Regular updates will begin tomorrow (Thursday morning). This morning, you get to read about my canyon adventure and why I learned that having to go to the bathroom with horseflies around isn’t much fun.

Our trip began Wednesday with a drive down to Twin Falls, Idaho. On our way, we stopped at the western foot of the Blue Hills for some refreshments. There, Ann insisted she get her photo with Big Foot. We even bought a “Believer” shirt that included a Big Foot illustration.

My beard is a bit thick, maybe she thought that was me??

On Thursday we reached Salt Lake City. Needing to kill some time before dinner, Karson suggested we hang out at Liberty Park, Salt Lake’s version of Central Park. While there, he wanted to show us how to walk a slack line. I quickly learned I lacked slack skills.

My youngest son Colter is laughing at me. I might have stayed up a total of 2 seconds.You can see my “Believer” shirt.

Ann gave it a try. I didn’t dare let her fall off.

We had a good time with Karson and Colter. My mother and Ann’s son Daniel joined us as well.

On Friday, Karson and I headed south for our camping trip. Our goal was to hike some of the chutes on Muddy Creek, a small river that winds through the San Rafael Swell not too far south of I-70. There is no cell-service or any other services. Just another out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-Utah place.

We arrived Friday afternoon. It was a beautiful drive to our starting point, near Tomisch Butte.

Driving West on road 1019.

We soon arrived at Tomisch Butte, which is located near the abandoned Tomisch Butte uranium mine (360 degree view). We parked at what looked like a scenic, remote spot. It even had shade.

Looks pretty bucolic, right? It was, until the horseflies set in.

With a shady place to park, we exited the jeep and began to prepare our packs when several horseflies started feasting on our legs and arms. It didn’t take us long to figure out that, despite the 95 degree temps, we had to put on jeans and long sleeve sweaters. I was so busy swatting bugs, that I forgot to pack any sun screen, so I slipped a t-shirt over my head, a bandana around my neck, and put on a wide-brimmed hat. There was no way I was returning to my wife with a sunburn; I would never hear the end of “why didn’t you wear sunscreen??”

Fully dressed with our anti-horsefly outfits, we began our march to find a campsite. Karson had picked out a possible place and thought it would take a couple hours to get there. What I didn’t know was that just five minutes into the hike we’d be trudging through Muddy Creek. In no time, my pants were drenched and shoes were filled with rocks, water, and mud. We hiked that way for the next two hours, before climbing up a dry canyon stream bed. Thankfully, we escape the horseflies.

Friday night was wonderful. Karson made camp and fixed dinner. We talked for hours. I could get use to this kind of backpacking!

That is me. Karson took the photo from the campsite.

Karson making dinner. There were no camping sites and we followed no trails. This was all backcountry.

The next morning was our big day. We planned to hike about 10 miles. We would hike three miles to the beginning of the chute, drop our packs, hike in a ways, return, pick up our packs, and then find another place to camp for the evening… at least that was the plan.

On Saturday morning, I was awaked at 5am by a large bee that buzzed the tent. He just buzzed and buzzed and buzzed. I was not amused. We arose an hour later and I headed to find a remote spot for a morning constitutional. That’s when I learned that my son packed so light that we maybe had twenty pieces of toilet paper. hmmmm. I rationed that as best I could, using only four.

Again, Karson took over the kitchen, whipping up some breakfast gruel, some oatmeal that included a slight bit of sand, but it still tasted good. After we ate, we packed up. As I put on my pack, I wondered if I should go to the bathroom once more, but then I thought about the remaining 16 pieces of toilet paper and figured I’d just go later. This proved to be a mistake ….

Overlook looking northeast. That’s Muddy Creek flowing at us.

Overlook looking south. That’s also Muddy Creek. We’d be following that river in that direction for a few hours.

Breaking camp, we headed south, only to find ourselves at an overlook. The view was beautiful, but the hundred foot drop did not make for a safe route, so we backtracked a half mile until we found a rockslide to climb down. We were thankful not to find any rattler’s as we made our way to the river bottom.

Clamoring down big rocks.

Moments before the horseflies returned in earnest. You can tell by the short sleeves.

Once we made it to the river bottom, we took a couple photos. Quickly, the horseflies rallied the troops and descended upon us. Occasionally, they even bit through my jeans. I put back on my sweatshirt, heat be damned, and it helped protect from bites.

Having dropped off our packs, I head toward the creek’s northern chute.

Once we finally got into the chute, the horseflies disappeared and we enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the river.

That’s Karson ahead of me.

Here’s a different angle. You can see that the river is the trail.

Here I am in a shallower portion of the river. Karson was up to his chest at one point.

A closeup of the desert dweller’s duds.

Around noon we found a perfect place to eat some lunch. It was shady and relaxing. I tried to take a nap, but wasn’t quite that tired yet. Still, if felt good to close my eyes.

After our siesta, we began our trek back up the river. It was about this time that I was getting that urge for a bathroom break. The problem was, our toilet paper was in the packs and the packs were still an hour away. Still, the walk back up the stream was great. During our river trek, we didn’t encounter anyone else.

By the time we reached our packs, it was in the mid 90s again. I wasn’t too hot, despite my outfit, probably because I was thinking more about the bathroom then the heat. I grabbed some toilet paper and found a remote spot, only to be swarmed by flies. There was no way I was baring my bare bottom for them to dine on, so I quickly changed my mind. I figured I could wait a little longer.

Over the next couple of hours we walked in and along side the river. We’d gone about 3 miles and had yet to lose the bugs. About this time, I tried to blow some snot out of my nose, but instead caused my nose to bleed. So, now I’m hiking with a pack, trying to hold my head up to stop my nose bleed, while trying to keep my head down to see where I am walking, while trying to ignore my potty urge, while trying to ignore the constant horseflies.

Eventually, the potty urge became more urgent. I told Karson I had to head up a nearby hill to see if I could avoid the bugs and go to the bathroom. I set down my pack, then, scampered up the hill as best I could. I made it up the hill half way before my body had had enough. It was ready for expellation. Unfortunately, the horseflies were at the ready as well.

Having no choice, I dropped my drawers. Those flies were on me like bees to honey. Without going into particulars, let’s just say I wasted little time…. I didn’t even bother wiping.

I raced back down the hill, put on my pack, and renewed our trek. We didn’t go far before I suggested we needed to turn off from the river to return to our campsite of the previous night, which we knew wouldn’t have bugs. He was less sure my suggestion was correct. So, we followed the river for another hour. As we rounded one particular bend, we realized that we should have taken the earlier cut. Now, we were as close to the jeep as we were to the campground.

Given we’d accomplished our mission and given the harassment of the horseflies remained unabated, we decided to give up camping the second night and return back to the Jeep. Unable to get organized when we got back, due to the flies, we threw our packs into it, jumped in the front seats, and drove about a mile. We were free of the bugs! Even better, I could finally get myself cleaned up.

For all the deprivations I went through on Saturday afternoon, I’d do it again in a heartbeat to spend time with my son. Now that we understand the area a bit better, we think a day trip to hike all 15 miles of the chute (we didn’t see all the cool narrows) is in order. However, we won’t try to camp next time, not with those horseflies awaiting our return visit.