spring-adjacent in moab

Part of the reason our ski days have been so low this year is because we've been trying to get to Moab on a regular basis.  We've always wanted to see what it was like in the winter - during the "off-season" of November through February.  To be honest, though, this year Moab's winter has been an awful lot like northern Utah's winter: cold and wet.  We haven't even managed to time it well enough to see the glorious red rock and white snow in the sunshine scenery in person; it has pretty much been overcast and/or actively precipitating each time.

Sign at Slickrock Trailhead gives 

quickest route to the hospital lol

The wet weather has of course curtailed our outdoor exploration a bit.  Arches NP and Canyonlands NP have had to close a lot due to heavy snow and treacherous roads; even when they've been open, many of their trails have been closed because of icy conditions.

H and M out on the Slickrock Practice Loop

This last trip down, we felt like we were getting closer to springtime in the desert.  We left SLC just before 3 p.m. on Friday, skipping out ahead of some weather and getting over Soldier Summit without incident.  (Both H and I had been obsessively refreshing UDOT's traffic cams on the Spanish Fork - Soldier Summit - Price corridor all day.)

Looking down Grandstaff Canyon from the Practice Loop

We made it down fine and even made good enough time to have a couple of beers at the Moab Brewery before dinner.  After our recent winter forays, we were a little surprised at the bar tab until the bartender told us that the winter prices ($2.75/pint) had just ended the night before.  No doubt timed to coincide with Moab Thaw, tourist season prices ($5/pint) were now in effect.

Sneaking a photo of M enjoying the view

On Saturday, we took advantage of a break in the clouds to head up to the Sand Flats Recreation Area.  We bought a season pass (a bargain at $25) and headed out onto the Slickrock Trail's Practice Loop.  We were out for about 1.5 hours and saw only a few people: some dirt bikers, some MTBers and a few jeeps out in the distance.  The temperatures were in the low 50s, which was actually pretty pleasant as long as the wind didn't pick up.  M seemed to enjoy the hike, especially when a little squirrel ran across the rock ahead of us.  Exciting!

Colorado River from Moab Stairmaster trail

Sunday was supposed to be cloudier than Saturday (scarcely possible) but in the middle of the day, it was actually warmer and slightly sunny.  H and I drove down the Kane Creek Road to the Moab Rim Trail parking area.  We haven't done this trail since 2015 and were just out for some exercise.  We went up the hiking-only Stairmaster trail (looker's right on the way up), which definitely earns its name.  We didn't see anyone until we got to the top, and then only two MTBers and a trail runner on their way down.

Snow-covered LaSals across the Moab valley

We spent some time admiring the view of the Moab valley beneath us, trying to pick out town landmarks, then went back down via the jeep trail, which I still can't believe vehicles can go up - and I've seen them do it!  We had a couple of beers in the mostly empty parking lot, then headed out to collect M.  The clouds grew thicker and we drove through just a few flurries near Soldier Summit on the way home.  Surely the next time we go to Moab the sun will come out - and when it does, I think the desert will explode into spring flowers what with all the moisture this winter.  Hope we're there to see it.