November/December 2009

To Swell and Back

By Jeremy Green

I tried to go to work.
I tried to pay attention. I tried to be productive but all I saw when I looked at my computer screen was red sand and slickrock. My mind was distracted with thoughts of my first ever Cruise Moab just hours away—and more specifically, the Overnighter in the San Rafael Swell. Enough was enough. There was simply no reason for me to stay at work any longer so I snuck out the door, fired up my 1993 FZJ80 and headed south. As Salt Lake City slowly faded in my rear view mirror, I was overcome with a content feeling that comes with the knowledge that the next few days would be devoid of pavement, stoplights, computers, cell phones and crowds of annoying people. This was going to be a great trip.

In a matter of hours, I was pulling off of I70 just west of Green River, Utah. The San Rafael Swell was under my tires and my Cruise Moab experience had officially started. A few other members of the Wasatch Cruisers were already at the campsite—we had all been planning for this event for a few months and it was exciting to see it finally happening! Jimmy Paige was unloading and stacking firewood, Kurt Williams was organizing vehicle inspection forms and Brian Passey was setting up a HAM radio antenna high on the sandstone bordering our campsite.
I’ve camped at the Lone Warrior campsite (so named for the stoic Lone Warrior pictograph nearby) a few times in the past and was excited that the Wasatch Cruisers decided to set up base camp there. The obvious advantage was its location close to the trails we planned to explore but beyond that, it has the advantage of being quite close and accessible to I70. Tucked into a semi-circle of sandstone bluffs, the campsite is protected—and virtually invisible—even from the dirt road one quarter of a mile away.

Throughout the afternoon, more and more Toyotas arrived at our Lone Warrior base camp. Although there was nothing planned for the day, the campsite was quite busy with inspections, pitching of tents, introductions and even a game of horseshoes. Eventually the sun set over the sandstone and a campfire was started. I was taken aback by how all of these strangers that had never met before were immediately good friends, as stories were passed back and forth around the campfire. As I leaned back in my camp chair, I thought to myself, “So this is Cruise Moab? This is going to be great!” Eventually I retired to my sleeping bag and drifted off to sleep, anticipating the day to come...

Trail leader Kurt Williams introduces the group to the epic scenery of the San Rafael Swell.
Photo by Jeremy Green

The To Swell and Back crew poses for a photo on the Eva Conner Trail.
Photo by Jeremy Green