snow in the desert, part two

Now knowing that the Moab area dirt roads had a solid coating of snow on them, we decided to stick closer to home for Sunday's hike and go up to the Sand Flats Recreation Area to do the Slickrock trail.  Actually, we had plans to do part of the Slickrock trail, out to the portal overlook, and then take an alternate route back, stopping to check out a notorious 4x4 feature, Mickey's Hot Tub.  There was no line to get in - there wasn't even a ranger at the entrance - and only a couple other vehicles at the trailhead.

South-facing

The difference between the south-facing and the north-facing slopes was evident immediately, the former bare of snow and the latter completely snow-covered, often to a depth of several inches.  We noticed some bike tracks careening down some very steep snowy sections and couldn't decide if that would be fun or terrifying.  A bit of both, most likely.

North-facing

There were a few other people out on the trail - this is one of the most popular/iconic trails in Moab, after all - but just a few.  There were three trail runners with two dogs who started just before we did, plus a handful of other hikers; we saw three dirtbikers, no more than five MTBers, one side-by-side and two white jeeps.  More on them later.

H and M at the portal overlook

We went clockwise on the main Slickrock trail, heading for the alternate spur at the northwest end of the loop that would take us to an overlook.  As we came down through the big intersection by the Abyss overlook, we paused to watch two white jeeps with Texas plates creeping cautiously down the snow-covered rock.  It didn't look like much fun to me: when the slickrock is dry, there's tire grip for days but with a coating of snow, which packed down and iced up quickly when anyone drove - or even walked - over it, would make for challenging off-roading.  There are far too many spots on this trail that could have major consequences if you, or your MTB, or your jeep, just started sliding downhill.  Later, we walked past them as they were trying to go up an icy dome.  As we watched, they gave up and turned around, trying to get out the way they came in.  We hoped they'd make it - in high season, there would have been plenty of other vehicles around to help them but not so much this time of year.

The boys looking into Mickey's Hot Tub

We got out to the overlook (putting M back on the leash for bit since there were ravens roosting on the cliff edge) with its view of the Moab valley and the portal where the Colorado River continues on its way out of town.  From there, we planned to follow an alternate route that would cut off some mileage in addition to bringing us to Mickey's Hot Tub.  We had to do some route finding in a couple of spots, actually, because the snow covered the trail's blazes.

That's me on the far/lower lip of the Hot Tub

Mickey's Hot Tub - go ahead, I'll wait while you google it and watch a bunch of insane videos - is a big, deep, steep-sided pothole on the Hell's Revenge trail, named for local Dan Mick who was the first to drive it.  The rock around it is stained black from all the scrambling, screaming tires trying to fight their way out.  

Peekaboo

When we got back to the trailhead parking lot, we hung out for a little while, talking to a guy we'd seen on his electric MTB out on the trail.  Milton also took the opportunity to meet some dogs: two French bulldogs puppies, whom he found overwhelming because of all the barking; and an Australian shepherd-ish mix that he ran all the way across the parking lot to go see.  There's fun for everyone on the Slickrock trail (unless you're the driver of a white jeep from Texas).

Hike stats: 7.89 miles; moving time 2:59 / speed 2.6 m.p.h.; overall 3:35 / 2.2; 1,660 feet of elevation