Eventually I made it to canyon lands. I had done white rim the year prior, so I didn't really feel the need to run it again, when there are so many other places I haven't had a chance to explore near Moab. The reason I bring this up:
I didn't top up off on the way to labrynth. In any rate, the idea was to just camp at labrythn with my buddy (Tacoma) and his friend (dirtbike), who were coming from CO and running the trail that morning. Then head out together and do some stuff around moab.
But things didn't go according to plan.
As those of you who've done white rim know – there's a BLM road that gets you out to white rim proper (and labrynth). It also happens to be quite fun for “spirited” driving, but I digress. On the way in, I stumbled upon two dirtbikers on that road. One had run out of a fuel, so out went my Jerry can, and after filling him up, off our separate ways we went.
By the time I had descended the switchbacks and made it to labrynth, it was sometime around 7-7:30. Well past when I normally eat dinner, and I was beat from a day of pavement pounding. My friends were supposed to make it to camp by 3-4 or so. Only,
I arrived to a very desolate labrynth.
I hang out there for a couple minutes, and figured I'd continue along the trail, in hopes to find them behind schedule, heading towards camp. The weather was pretty ****ty, and I was worried something bad has happened. After checking in at the other campsites, and driving about a third of the trail, I finally ran into a guy who said he'd seem them at the start of the day and said that the one on the bike had broke, and was pushing it along the trail. He was able to confirm that no one was hurt, which was my bigger concern. He also said that a forest service truck was not far behind them on the trial, and heading towards them.
At that point I didn't know what to think. My friend had a truck, so I couldn't figure out why they didn't just throw the bike in his truck if it broke. And if the bike ended up in the FS truck and they bailed, then why hadn't I heard from them?
My gut was telling me to continue along and try to find them. The guy I ran into suggested not to. And he was right. It was nearly dark, I was exhausted, it was drizzling, I wasn't sure if they were even still on white rim, running the whole trail was going to be cutting it close on fuel, and the campsite reservation was for labrynth. If they were still at the start of the trail, then I certainly didn't have enough fuel to make it back to labrynth that night. So, I headed back to camp, with the optimistic hope that I'd done the right thing, they were fine, and going to show up to camp at any minute, where I'd have cold beer waiting from them.
It was a cold, lonely night on labrynth. And the storm I'd driven through earlier that day came through later that night.
The eerie fog, the next morning.
2015-04-17-UT_DV-047 copy by
at olw, on Flickr
Beauty amidst a somber mood
2015-04-17-UT_DV-004 copy by
at olw, on Flickr
With zero comms and not enough fuel to run the trail, I figured the best approach was to head to Moab, fuel up, and reassess.
Evidence of the storm the night before.
2015-04-17-UT_DV-009 copy by
at olw, on Flickr
That same BLM road.
2015-04-17-UT_DV-005 copy by
at olw, on Flickr
Along the way to Moab.
2015-04-17-UT_DV-011 copy by
at olw, on Flickr
After fueling up, grabbing groceries and countless calls-straight-voicemail I figured it was time to check in with the rangers, and see if they'd heard anything (like from the alleged truck behind them on the trail). No one had, but they were nice enough to radio down to the ranger down there, and have him check it out. I eventually got word the ranger had seem them towards the end of the trail that morning, and they were moving along just fine.
A sigh of serious relief. And a big thank you to the FS for taking the time to look into it, and getting back to me. As I learned later the issue was exhaustion (coupled with getting snowed on), and nothing mechanical with the bike. They bum'd a campsite with a school trip who fed them tacos. So, they were doing just fine.