When the the trip to Coyote Gulch was first set up, it was in the wake of being denied a permit to the Grand Canyon. I was immensely disappointed by the setback. And was thrilled, when my friend Paul suggest the new location of Coyote Gulch, after I saw the gorgeous images of it online.

Packing for the trip was interesting because it was my first time backpacking and I am limited by my gluten intolerance. I assembled the best I could and bounced a few ideas off of others from the trip.

We flew out of Minneapolis at 530 in the morning in route to Las Vegas. Getting to the car rental office, my crew loaded up the gear in the high clearance, 4-wheel drive SUV and headed north for Escalante, Utah. The clouds hung low and the rain fell solidly for most of the drive. After a 7+ hour drive, on freeway, highway and an ending 30 mile stretch along a dirt road, we arrived at the Water Tank trailhead. The rain finally had let off enough that we were able to pitch our tents and make camp at the trailhead for the night.

My phone had lost service back in Escalante and I had made the decision before the trip that I was going to try to completely focus myself in the moment. I didn’t want any distractions. No distractions of planning the next trip to ireland or To-do lists for life. Just immersing myself 100% in the sights, sounds and smells of the trip. It was almost a relief that my phone wasn’t an option. And I placed it in my bag that was to be left behind.

As the evening fell that night we were all eager for the next day and the treasures to be found in the gulch.

-a wanderer-