Escape
To Moab
The 2016 Summer Kickoff Story
Not exactly roughing it
Some adventures can rightfully be called epic — the kind of trips where blistered feet, rough weather, and fear-inducing situations are par for the course. Our escape to Moab was no such thing. Looking to unplug and kick off summer, we opted for the plushest camping experience we've ever had, enjoying the sun-drenched landscape with a cold drink in hand.
Chapter One
Sunrise
Under Canvas
Waking up to new vistas is an experience
that never gets old.
If we learned anything, it's that camping doesn't have to be synonymous with roughing it. The experience at Moab Under Canvas—a camp situated on 40 beautiful acres just north of Moab—is certainly more glam than grit. And with just a few days to relax and unwind from the daily grind, a little glam is exactly what we needed.
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Arriving past dark and weary from a long day of travel, we stoked the wood stove in the tent and drifted to sleep in soft beds under canvas. Peeking out at sunrise, we watched the colors of the desert come to life. The snowcapped La Sal Mountains were bathed in a purple glow; the towers of Castle Valley went orange, followed by the bright red sandstone formations of Arches National Park. Waking up in a wild new destination to discover the landscape for the first time is an experience we'll never grow tired of.



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Chapter Two
Colorado River
Rafting
Because there's no better way to see
the sights of Castle Valley.
At first glance, it can be easy to forget the incredible power of Colorado River. The color of chocolate milk, this river is the literal lifeblood of the entire Southwest and it's responsible for carving out the immense cavity that is the Grand Canyon. Known more for its scenery than whitewater, the stretch of river just east of Moab was the perfect way to see the sights of Castle Valley and cool off on a hot summer day.
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For the trip we teamed up with Sheri Griffith Expeditions, who've been guiding Colorado River trips for over thirty years. Along the way our guides pointed out the red rock towers—monoliths with names like Castleton, the Priest, and the Rectory. The scene is truly an icon of the American West. Since the 1940s Castle Valley has been the backdrop for dozens of Hollywood films ranging from classic John Wayne westerns to sci-fi flicks.



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Chapter Three
Local
Color
Ancient art, lush canyons, hidden gems—
it's all just a few minutes from Moab's main drag.
Dotted with cafes, shops, and galleries, Moab's main drag offers plenty of diversions. But for a little adventure, we took to exploring the canyons just outside of town. Filled with water and lush plant life, each is an oasis in the desert—and not just for modern hikers. Mysterious images pecked into the rock walls bear witness to the native tribes who wandered these canyons thousands of years ago.
In Kane Creek Canyon we viewed the ‘birthing scene' petroglyph, and later in the afternoon, while cooling off in Mill Creek Canyon's swimming holes, we discovered a petroglyph panel with images of bighorn sheep and winged human forms. These ancient works of art generated as much awe and wonder as any big-city gallery.


On our way back to camp we made sure to pull off at Lin Ottinger's Rock Shop on the north end of town. Millions of years in the making, Utah's deserts are a rock hound's paradise. With hundreds of different minerals and fossils on display, there was something for everyone to discover at Lin's. After all, a big crystal or a hunk of petrified wood makes for a hell of a souvenir.



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Chapter Four
Dinner With
a View
A great meal shared outdoors is the
perfect finish to any summer escape.
After a full day outside, food always seems to taste better. As Edward Abbey put it, "the best of all sauces is hunger." While that's true, we didn't let it stop us from pulling out all the stops and cooking a top-notch camp meal. The grill was fired up, the cocktails were bottomless, and the Dutch ovens were filled with tasty dishes—including a freshly baked loaf of bread.

Discovering a large slab of sandstone near our tent with unobstructed desert views, we decided to forgo the table and chairs, spreading out wool blankets and arranging place settings. No restaurant reservation could have rivaled the vibe.
The mere sight of wilderness has a way of realigning perspective; the built-up tension of the daily routine simply falls away, leaving behind the things that really matter. Surrounded by the wild desert and good friends, the feeling of the moment was clear: we had escaped, and that's exactly what we came for.




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Amy Rohman
