Soloing the Hayduke
Editor's Note: Mike sent his latest post by letter, mailed from the trail. Needless to say, the envelope was a bit dusty!
Hey MountainZoners!
Finally, on the Hayduke Trail! It's now my third day out - sort of. I began a day later than hoped, so I simply eliminated the first 15 miles or so, starting in Arches National Park and walking through Courthouse Wash right to my house, which is coincidentally on the Hayduke Trail.
Day two involved a 20 mile mountain bike mission, leaving this long-ago biker with one bruised tush! At least the ThermaRest is soft! My neighbor, Ron Thomas, met me with my pack and supplies, taking the bike back and sending me on my way, setting up a 13.5 mile day.
The winds have been howling the last two days, adding to the strain on my not quite toned legs. I’ve already seen three bighorn sheep, one large bull snake, a wild turkey and two skydivers.
It’s now day six and I am already almost done with section two! I’ve walked hard the last few days, and can feel it in my fatigued muscles. Today’s hike, one of my “shorter” days, left me exhausted. I began the day by Indian Creek, climbing out of the gorge out to the “top.” It was a test of sorts, as it’s tough navigation – one wrong turn and you’re in deep, deep desolation and deep shit! It was immensely satisfying to “pop-out” right where I both hoped and expected to.
As I slowly get past the mechanics – configuring the pack and load, getting the body in shape, and getting used to breaking camp each morning and setting up each night - I’m finding myself both intimidated at the prospect of soloing for such a challenging journey as well as exhilarated at the idea of depending so greatly on, well, me! (It makes me wonder when our society became such a dependent bunch: so much for “Yankee know how,” now it’s TVs and ATVs)
So far, only two small issues: one, my pan has a pinhole leak, no big deal really, hopefully it’ll get replaced at my re-supply meeting tomorrow; two, the zero degree bag is roasting! A week ago, it would have been fine. The light bag better show up with the pan!
One thing I’ve noticed on my short time out is a lack of coyotes – no prints, no scat, no night-time chorus. I have seen cat poop, but again, no tracks. All seemingly replaced by cow-trampled, overgrazed areas plastered with manure. Let’s see – we give the deserts to the cattle and oil industries, we’ll allow exhaust belching machines to trample the rest, unless it’s so spectacular that we close it off as a national park and charge people to visit. WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
How did we become so detached from the land that supports our very existence? How is it that the fat slob who rarely leaves the couch in a 1,000 square foot home, except to drive to work in a gas-guzzling SUV can claim any type of superiority, moral or otherwise, over any other creature – mammal or plant? Tunnel vision with a mirror at the end of the tunnel? Our rate of consumption is killing us and our planet. A super-sized fast food meal has more calories than my daily menu, yet I’ve got enough energy to haul my pack through this amazing place. Again, how did we become so detached? Oh well, rant over!
I’m sure there will be more as I continue to find more degradation. I’ll close this post with one last thought: WWHD? What Would Hayduke Do? Would he allow himself to be bullied by the corporate hacks? Or would he stand up and fight for what he cares for?
Keep it wild,
Mike Coronella on the HT
Hey MountainZoners!
Finally, on the Hayduke Trail! It's now my third day out - sort of. I began a day later than hoped, so I simply eliminated the first 15 miles or so, starting in Arches National Park and walking through Courthouse Wash right to my house, which is coincidentally on the Hayduke Trail.
Day two involved a 20 mile mountain bike mission, leaving this long-ago biker with one bruised tush! At least the ThermaRest is soft! My neighbor, Ron Thomas, met me with my pack and supplies, taking the bike back and sending me on my way, setting up a 13.5 mile day.
The winds have been howling the last two days, adding to the strain on my not quite toned legs. I’ve already seen three bighorn sheep, one large bull snake, a wild turkey and two skydivers.
It’s now day six and I am already almost done with section two! I’ve walked hard the last few days, and can feel it in my fatigued muscles. Today’s hike, one of my “shorter” days, left me exhausted. I began the day by Indian Creek, climbing out of the gorge out to the “top.” It was a test of sorts, as it’s tough navigation – one wrong turn and you’re in deep, deep desolation and deep shit! It was immensely satisfying to “pop-out” right where I both hoped and expected to.
As I slowly get past the mechanics – configuring the pack and load, getting the body in shape, and getting used to breaking camp each morning and setting up each night - I’m finding myself both intimidated at the prospect of soloing for such a challenging journey as well as exhilarated at the idea of depending so greatly on, well, me! (It makes me wonder when our society became such a dependent bunch: so much for “Yankee know how,” now it’s TVs and ATVs)
So far, only two small issues: one, my pan has a pinhole leak, no big deal really, hopefully it’ll get replaced at my re-supply meeting tomorrow; two, the zero degree bag is roasting! A week ago, it would have been fine. The light bag better show up with the pan!
One thing I’ve noticed on my short time out is a lack of coyotes – no prints, no scat, no night-time chorus. I have seen cat poop, but again, no tracks. All seemingly replaced by cow-trampled, overgrazed areas plastered with manure. Let’s see – we give the deserts to the cattle and oil industries, we’ll allow exhaust belching machines to trample the rest, unless it’s so spectacular that we close it off as a national park and charge people to visit. WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
How did we become so detached from the land that supports our very existence? How is it that the fat slob who rarely leaves the couch in a 1,000 square foot home, except to drive to work in a gas-guzzling SUV can claim any type of superiority, moral or otherwise, over any other creature – mammal or plant? Tunnel vision with a mirror at the end of the tunnel? Our rate of consumption is killing us and our planet. A super-sized fast food meal has more calories than my daily menu, yet I’ve got enough energy to haul my pack through this amazing place. Again, how did we become so detached? Oh well, rant over!
I’m sure there will be more as I continue to find more degradation. I’ll close this post with one last thought: WWHD? What Would Hayduke Do? Would he allow himself to be bullied by the corporate hacks? Or would he stand up and fight for what he cares for?
Keep it wild,
Mike Coronella on the HT
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5 Comments:
He would stand up and stand tall. I totally agree Mike, we are so eager to maximize revenue that we are consuming the earth beneath our feet and soon won't have anything to stand on or endearingly call home. Good rant...hope you brought the athletic tape, your dogs are gonna need it!
"What would Hayduke Do?"
Now there's a bumper sticker!
Mike
If anyone in your support team gets a chance, I'd like to see your gear list for the trip.
Do you have an ETA for the North Rim?
Keep it wild,
JD
Rant away, you are 100% correct.
Hey Mike,
Not that I want to split hairs man, but 1,000 ft. is not that big.
I agree with your rant.
Bro in law
Waynr
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