Hayduke Day 1 - Bella becomes a film director

 Hayduke Day One is actually here. I got up early to go drop the last two caches, one on the edge of town and a water cache towards Hurrah Pass. Drop those and head back to the hotel to see how Shandee and Bella are doing. They are getting ready to go. We hit the City Market and Gearheads for last minute purchases. I eat breakfast at the Jailhouse Cafe (chorizo scramble, it's amazing). After those errands, we realize there is nothing else keeping us in town and we may as well head out to trailhead. 

We weren't procrastinating per se as I was wanting a midday start since I wasn't going far that day. Arches National Park has instituted a moratorium on all overnight backcountry use. It's been at least a decade since they have updated their Backcountry Management Plan, and since the last update, there has been a 500% increase in backcountry use. While they figure out how to deal with the all the people in the backcountry, they've said, "No people in the backcountry." At least not overnight. So I won't spend the night in Arches. 

 

At the trailhead, which is actually just the park boundary in Salt Valley, the wind is ripping! I repack my pack with the last minute stuff. I change into my hiking clothes. I've gone over my car's quirks with Shandee. We watch Bella walk down the road for a while. Now everything is ready and there is nothing keeping me from waking. EXCEPT! Bella has decided that she should shoot a video of me starting the trip. As we're saying goodbyes, Bella is giving direction as to how far she wants me to walk before I turn to face the camera. How to wave. How to hold my head. When to turn around and keep walking. She says she'll add sad music later. I execute Bella's directions. After filming is done, we yell final goodbyes. I'm walking into the park, Shandee and Bella are headed back to Springdale. 

Everything you hear about the Hayduke is all found in the first day of the hike. There's road walking, there's sandy road walking, there are sandy washes, there's navigating. No water or exposure yet though. 

 

And this is actually a pretty nice section. 

I find a spot for the night outside the park. As the sun is setting in a most spectacular show of color, the wind settles down. I throw up my tent anyways because you never know when the Moab Spring Wind will strike! Eat dinner, get in the tent, read, go to sleep.