2024 Magical MOAB Meetup October 4 - 11

[mm1970]

Responded on WhatsApp, but I've got tent site G5, and I'll be there from the 7th-12th.  Taking 3 days to get there (Leave CA on Saturday the 5th, 5th in Vegas, 6th in Parowan, arrive 7th Moab).  2 days to get home (also staying in Vegas).

It's just me, there's probably room at the campsite.  I think I'm right next to group site again, my site should have power. @Purple_Crayon and I will only overlap for a few hours!

[Dicey]

We are officially in on the 3rd, out on the 10th. We will probably have to leave on the 9th, boo-hoo. We are locked in for Site 102.

[iluvzbeach]

I would love to go sometime but it won’t be this year and probably not next. Perhaps 2026?

[Log]

I’ll be solo, arriving the 4th, departing the 7th, staying in the Casa ☀️

[shadowmoss]

I haven't called the campground to cancel yet as I keep kinda waffling but I'm probably going to cancel.  I have too much travel in the next 3 months and something has to give.  A trip to Mexico to stay with friends is winning the draw so far.  I'm in G3 with electric.  I'll post when I cancel so if anyone wants to jump in and take it they can.

[Glenstache]

I'm still on the fence pending other factors. If I come, I'll bring geology info and a mountain bike.

[Embok]

DH and I are planning to come to Moab, provided he's feeling well enough.  We plan to arrive Friday Oct. 4 and leave Friday October 11.  Staying not at the campsite, but at Moab Rustic Inn (a nearby motel).

[2Birds1Stone]

I will be there all 7 days with DW (4-11th), don't remember our site number but we have a tent site.

Edited to add: G11

[NinjaSue]

My husband and I plan to attend Oct 4 - 11 in RV spot 81.
We tentatively would like to join the after party as well but are in a campervan/RV so hoping it works out.  I'll keep checking for openings in the campground.
We are traveling from southern CA and will likely travel thru Bryce, Capital Reef, and Goblin state parks on the way - please reach out if you're in the same areas. 

[shadowmoss]

I just cancelled site G3, a delux tent site with electricity and a shelter with picnic table.  Hopefully I'll see you guys next year.

[Dicey]

Hey peeps, it's time for me to start working on nametags. Per @lhamo's* suggestion, they'll be double sided this time. If you have attended in the last two years, I have your info.** If you are a first-timer, please PM me your Screen Name, IRL first name (because nobody answers to their screen name). Please provide the same for your guests. If your spouse/partner/friend/sibling is coming, I code them so they don't get inundated with forum convo. For example, I'm Dicey (duh). My husband has never looked at the forum, so his name tag says "Mr. Dicey". This helps everyone have better conversations. This information is confidential (meaning I don't share or publish the list - so don't answer here, send a PM) and your nametags are only for use in Moab.*** They are 100% optional and 100% useful.

*Even if lhamo can't attend, she'll be with us in spirit.

**Unless something has changed. If so, you know what to do.

***They are quite lovely (hee), so you may want to wear them elsewhere, but that is up to you.

One more thing: If you have a lanyard from previous meetups and want to re-use it, LMK. Not necessary if you don't know exactly where it is. I have plenty, I think.

[mm1970]

@Dicey, let me check.  I might actually still have mine in my car!!  I tried to save it in a safe place...

[10dollarsatatime]

Looks like we're not making it this year.  The bus is still at the mechanics and there's still a lot to do once I get her back to make her road-worthy.  Looking forward to next year, though!

[MrGreen]

I have cancelled our reservation. Cabin 89 is available.

[Tasse]

Hey everyone--seems I need to retract my RSVP. Paging @NinetyFour @314159 @BECABECA in particular as people who noted my previous post saying we'd be there.

We have had a crazy year already and are currently unpacking from a cross-country move, and DH says he needs more time to settle in before jetting off again. We are both disappointed to miss it!

[Dicey]

Time for a little more clarification, now that I've found a photo.

Here's what I try to convey in a small amount of space:

For Forumites -

Forum Member's Screen Name
Forum Member's name that they will actually answer to, typically their IRL first name.

For Guests who are not on the Forum -

The name of the Forumite they're here with + a modifier. This can be Mr/Mrs/Ms, or SO, pal, friend, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin. No one's brought a grandparent yet, but I'm up for that if anyone does.

Some Forumite's partners also have screen names. In that case, I use that name and their first name.

Some super-cool couples are both on the forum, in which case they get their own screen names and IRL first names.

The naming system has to be concise so I can make the font large enough to actually be useful.

Betcha didn't know what a system we have going behind the scenes. We hope it makes meeting so many new people at once a little easier.

[Dicey]

One more thing, if you're on the fence about coming. This kind of movement/plans changing as the date nears is fairly typical. We all have busy lives and plans change. Rest assured that there will still be plenty of cool people to hang out with. The first meetup Mr. Dicey and I went to, we couldn't be there at the beginning. By the time we arrived, there were only six people, including us. We had a blast and I <3 <3 <3 every one of them to this day.

Whether we end up being a group of 10 or 100, we'll have a blast.

[oldtoyota]

Hello all!

It's not likely I'll make it this year. I'll keep the event on the radar for the future. The location is a long haul by plane and then another long drive from the closest main airport. I'd be more likely to attend if Spouse can attend with me to share the travel adventures, yet that's not possible this time around.

This event sounds like it'll be a blast! I'll miss meeting you all and might try the Cincy meet up -- letting you know in case any of you decide to do both!

Have a fun time, all!

[314159]

Here is the status of La Casa as far as I know. If your name is below and I've got something wrong, please let me know.

@314159 (yours truly): 2 people, Oct 4-11
@Log: 1 person, Oct 4-7
@SnakesintheGrass: cancelled
@Tasse: cancelled
@mm1970: Will be in Moab at the main campground, not La Casa
@BECABECA: 2 people, Oct 4-11
@Chaplin: Still a maybe, depends how fast he bikes. 1 person, not sure of dates?
@oneday: Still a maybe, 1 person, not sure of dates?
@Holocene: Still a maybe, 1 person, maybe the whole week?

That works out to 5 people for Oct 4-7 and 4 people for the remainder of the week. I'll charge folks a fixed rate per person per night, dividing the total cost of the rental by the total number of person-nights. If we don't get any more takers, I'll consider asking the hostel if we can possibly downsize to a smaller shared house (La Casa is one of a few) in order to save some cash.

If your name is not above but you'd like to join us and our amenities (a roof! Beds with mattresses and bedding! Probably a private bedroom (not guaranteed)! Multiple bathrooms! A FULL KITCHEN!), we still have plenty of room. Just say the word!

[Dicey]

Hi All--
[Snip]
Looking forward to seeing all of you next month in beautiful Moab!!!

@techwiz
@Adventine * (If you're both coming, I have your info)
@SmartyCat
@Glenstache
@meadow lark * (Are you guys a maybe? Hope so!)
@Purple_Crayon *
@NotJen
@Ladychips
@soobs
@dangbe
@arebelspy * (Are you coming. Bringing a guest?)
@RWD
@Holocene
@spartana
@ToTheMoon *
@J.P. MoreGains

Dicey here. I'm pulling together the spreadsheet so I can start making nametags.

Thanks to everyone who's messaged me so far.

If you're on this list, please LMK if you're coming asap, and PM me your details.

If you have an asterisk, I have partial into, but need more.

If you're on this list and bringing guests, please send me their info, so no one gets left out.

If you're still wobbling, but are at least a Strong Maybe, I'll make your nametag, just in case.

We are going to CO before Moab, so I need to get this done early. Don't be left off the list!

Thanks!

PS - If you've been lurking and not on the radar: Do it! Moab's a blast and the Mustachian folks and friends you'll meet are great! 😎

[MaybeBabyMustache]

I can't make it this year, but just got back from Moab on Thursday, and it was incredible! Had such, such a wonderful time & will definitely try to plan to make it for another MMM get together in another year.

[lhamo]

Sadly just wrote to the office to cancel my tent site -- G14 should be opening up soon.

Hope y'all have a wonderful gathering and that I can come in 2025...

[Ladychips]

I'm not gonna make it this year. But it's still on my bucket list for the future!!

[Holocene]

Sorry @NinetyFour for the late response.  I've been offline lately, starting my traveling.  I'm in CO so getting closer and still plan to make it for the meetup!  I should be there the whole time, Oct 4-11.  Traveling solo.  Staying in La Casa.

@314159 - I'm still in for La Casa or whatever shared house you can get for the whole week.  I'd prefer my own bedroom and would pay accordingly for it.

[Dicey]

Hey Frank, I don't see you on the list. Are you coming to Moab? Bringing Her Highness? Here comes a batsignal @Exflyboy.

[Dicey]

@soobs, will you please re-send me your info via PM? I think you might have changed your user name and I can't find the original message. Thanks!

[Exflyboy]

@Dicey.. Heck yeah I'm coming!..:)

HRH is planning on travelling with me by Amtrak to Green River, but will then be travelling on to Denver to be with her Mom.

Speaking of which.. I am planning to arrive in GR at around 7am on the Friday so I'm hoping someone can swing by the train station in GR if they are coming down from the North.. Otherwise its a 40 mile walk..:)

Amtrak is notoriously late so once we have all the folks on Whatasapp I am hoping to provide arrival updates to hopefully connect with someone coming through roughly when I arrive.

Actual ETA  in Green River is 7:44am October 4th (Friday)

[ToTheMoon]

@Dicey  I don't think we will make it this year, but if we do, we will figure it out! 😀

[the_hobbitish]

I did get an email back from Arches. There is overflow parking at the campground arena and they allow off road vehicles in the group area.

[RWD]

Are you attending?
[...]
@RWD

I will not be coming. Maybe some future year.

[MrGreen]

So, I'm actually thinking about flying out for a few days solo. My wife has given me the all clear. I think my knee is in a place where I could enjoy Moab for a few days on my own and I really wanted to see the group again. I'll rent a car and I can always drive through Canyonlands or check out the parts of Arches that don't require a bunch of walking depending on how my knee feels.

I would fly into either Denver or Salt Lake City. There's not a big difference in total travel time. Denver is a 5.5 hr flight for me. SLC is 6.5-7. Denver has two extra hours of drive time but I would get that beautiful drive through the Rockies. The big variable is traffic on I-70. The last thing I want is to get caught in bad traffic and it's 7 hours to Moab from Denver instead of 5.5. Does anyone know if Denver is a bad idea? I know 70 up into the mountains from Denver can get pretty bad at times.

I'd travel pretty light. I still have my backpacking tent from my AT thru-hike attempt and down gear. I'll fly out with that stuff. Think it would be problematic finding a place to pitch my tent for the night if I didn't reserve a campsite ahead of time?

[NinetyFour]

Thought I would post the packing list from 2022...

Obviously, your needs will vary depending on the accommodations you chose and your method of travel.

Water bottle/hydration system (I can’t stress enough how important it will be for you to stay hydrated, especially if you are coming from a lower elevation (Moab is at about 4000 feet))

Various sorts of clothes—mid-October Moab weather can be hot, cool, wet, windy!  Right now, things are looking very nice out there!

Towels

Headlamp

National Park Pass if you have one

Swimsuit

If you plan to go on the river, you should have a PFD (ask me how I know)

Hiking hat (the sun can be fierce, so you might want to protect your head and face)

Charger(s) for your electronics

Sunscreen

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ll be bringing flip flops to wear in the campground shower

Coffee/tea travel mug

Ear plugs

Sunglasses

Power strip for charging multiple things


I will be bringing 2 extra camp chairs, extra camping lights, my camp stove and fuel canisters (if anyone needs this), extra utensils, and an axe and a hatchet for chopping firewood.

If you have any other requests, please let me know soon.

In case you are wondering, there are electrical outlets at the G tent sites (1 through 6, I think).  Also, the cabins have electricity, and I bet those staying in cabins wouldn’t mind if you wanted to use one of their outlets for occasional charging.

If you are driving, and if you have room, please consider bringing an extra camp chair or two.  I’m pretty sure we will need them.  Thanks!

Any other questions, please ask!  :)

Also--veterans of previous Moab meetups--feel free to chime in with additions to this list!  Thanks!

[NinetyFour]

So, I'm actually thinking about flying out for a few days solo. My wife has given me the all clear. I think my knee is in a place where I could enjoy Moab for a few days on my own and I really wanted to see the group again. I'll rent a car and I can always drive through Canyonlands or check out the parts of Arches that don't require a bunch of walking depending on how my knee feels.

I would fly into either Denver or Salt Lake City. There's not a big difference in total travel time. Denver is a 5.5 hr flight for me. SLC is 6.5-7. Denver has two extra hours of drive time but I would get that beautiful drive through the Rockies. The big variable is traffic on I-70. The last thing I want is to get caught in bad traffic and it's 7 hours to Moab from Denver instead of 5.5. Does anyone know if Denver is a bad idea? I know 70 up into the mountains from Denver can get pretty bad at times.

I'd travel pretty light. I still have my backpacking tent from my AT thru-hike attempt and down gear. I'll fly out with that stuff. Think it would be problematic finding a place to pitch my tent for the night if I didn't reserve a campsite ahead of time?

It would be great if you could make it!!  (Though, we will miss seeing your wife and daughter again, but we'll hope for next year.)

If you want me to bring any camping gear for you, I'd be glad to.  Full sized pillow, headlamp?  And you are welcome to use my camp stove if you'd like.

The drive through the rockies could be nice, but like you said, could be busy with traffic.  You could also encounter snow.  You might consider flying into Grand Junction.  You'd have a much shorter drive.

Hard to say where you could pitch a tent.  I'd offer up part of my spot, but I'm already sharing with another camper.  I would think that, if nothing else, you could get a tent site down by the creek.

In any case, I hope you can make it!!

[NinetyFour]

Reposting this from near the top of this thread...with a few minor edits.....

This meetup is almost completely unstructured.  This means:

* Even though the meetup will be scheduled for a week, you may arrive at/depart the meetup at any time.
* There are no organized "sessions".  Everyone is free to hike, bike, float, jetboat, canoe (eek), go 4 wheeling, nap, knit, be social, recover from being social, etc. every day.
* Most evenings, we will have a campfire at the "extra" campsite (G6).  All are invited, but it is definitely not mandatory.  I even skipped it twice last year, choosing an early bedtime instead.  We all enjoy the campfire.  Please help to keep it going by buying some firewood if it looks like we're running low.  It is sold at the campground.  Thanks!
* The quiet hours at the campground start at 10pm, so we should keep that in mind.
* On a typical day, small or medium sized groups of people might do a sunrise hike, or do a mid morning hike, or do a full day hike, or do a mid-day float (tubes, pack rafts, SUPs, etc.), or visit the dinosaur tracks and ancient rock art, or do some insane 4 wheeling, or browse the downtown shops, or do a mountain bike ride, or go out to lunch together, or cook a meal together at a campsite.
* We have organized a WhatsApp group chat.  Please use it, as it has been a great way for folks to make plans for hikes, meals, car pooling, etc.
* Folks are free to do whatever they'd like to do for meals.  Some will want to buy groceries for the week (City Market is a 3 minute walk from the campground) and do meal prep at their campsite; some will want to visit some of the numerous restaurants, food trucks, and breweries; some might offer to host a pot luck at their site, cabin, etc.  RumoUr has it that there might be an ice cream sundae event at some point.

Regarding the campground....it can be noisy, as it is in downtown Moab.  There will be 4WD vehicles of all sorts, dirt bikes, motorcycles, nearby car washes, early morning garbage trucks, and sporting events at the nearby (very nearby) high school.  However, we keep basing the meetup at this campground because of its convenient location.  Also, it just mostly works for most of us pretty well.  Keep in mind that the campground does have a few cabins, which provide some barrier between you and the various noises outside.  (Last year, this campground had a Black Friday sale.....if I see that that will happen this year, I will post the info here.)

You are totally welcome to make plans to stay elsewhere (Moab has LOTS of hotels), although I personally like the idea of most folks sharing the togetherness at the campground.  Not everyone wants to stay in a tent, or shower in a bath house, though, so feel free to stay wherever you are comfortable.

Let me know if you have any questions--see you soon!!!  :)

[Exflyboy]

Hi all,

I am so looking forward to Moab 24. Last year I brought my monsterously hedonistic SUV (so I had somewhere to sleep). This year I am travelling from Oregon to Green River Utah by Amtrak because (I am stupid/its an adventure/always fancied being a  vagabond).. Anyway. I have a ride arranged (Green River to Moab) from NinjaSue and Mike for somehwere between noon and 2pm on Friday 4th.

Because Amtrak is notoriously unreliable (but scheuled to arrive at 7:44AM), I might be arriving at anytime (Maybe even the next day).. So. most of us keep an eye on the Whatasapp group and I will be posting my train's progress as we get closer. So if you are driving down from the North on Friday the 4th (and have space for 1 guy with a backpack), please take a look at the map. There is a good chance you will be passing very close to Green River.. If you think you will passing through shortly after my arrival I would appreciate a ride..Beer might be provided by way of repayment..:).

Thanks in advance..:)

Frank.. English guy with a previously smashed in face!

[Dicey]

While we're in prep mode, please, please, please PM me your info if you haven't done so. We are leaving CA well in advance of the meetup, so I need to get the name tags done. If you're a repeat offender, I know who you are. You're off the hook, @MrGreen, but the rest of ya, chop chop.

[NinetyFour]

I did get an email back from Arches. There is overflow parking at the campground arena and they allow off road vehicles in the group area.

Great news!!  Thank you so much for your efforts to get this info.

[mm1970]

I need to go back to see what I packed last year.  I took my bike helmet (didn't use it) and a PFD (ditto, but I donated it to the cause, so I know someone used it!)

If you plan to pitch a tent and you are driving, bring a hammer.  My husband always keeps our spare hammer in with our tent, lucky me.

@MrGreen I'm in G5, right next to the group site.  I have a 4 person tent, but there's probably room for a second tent, esp if I loan the picnic table to the group site nextdoor.  I don't have a reservation until the 7th, but I'm there until the 12th.  You can probably park in overflow parking?

[NinetyFour]

So.....

Who is in for the After Party at the Arches NP campground?  I have the Juniper Basin group site reserved Oct 13 - 17. 

I am supposed to have a minimum of 11 people for that site, so I may have to cancel it if I don't have enough.  A few of my friends are planning to join us, but they will only provide a handful of extra bodies.

Please let me know ASAP if you plan to join in the fun.  Thanks!!

[MrGreen]

I had a 4 hour training for Election Officials today. Basically 4 hours of sitting with a 10 minute break in between. I forget how much sitting still sucks for my knee because I don't do it much. So stiff. It's a reality check. My travel time to Moab is 10.5 hours each way, 6.5 flying and 4 driving. I want to. I really want to. But my inner voice is telling me it's not a good idea. Grr. If it was just the plane ride I would do it. If it was longer than a few days I'd do it. Le sigh. This is one of those times to listen to the head, not the heart. I hope the weather is stellar and the views are epic for everyone.

[techwiz]

Sorry I will not be going this year, maybe next year.....

[lhamo]

I had a 4 hour training for Election Officials today. Basically 4 hours of sitting with a 10 minute break in between. I forget how much sitting still sucks for my knee because I don't do it much. So stiff. It's a reality check. My travel time to Moab is 10.5 hours each way, 6.5 flying and 4 driving. I want to. I really want to. But my inner voice is telling me it's not a good idea. Grr. If it was just the plane ride I would do it. If it was longer than a few days I'd do it. Le sigh. This is one of those times to listen to the head, not the heart. I hope the weather is stellar and the views are epic for everyone.

You could fly into the Moab airport directly, you know.  You have the money for a slightly more expensive flight that would make things easier on your body....

[MrGreen]

I had a 4 hour training for Election Officials today. Basically 4 hours of sitting with a 10 minute break in between. I forget how much sitting still sucks for my knee because I don't do it much. So stiff. It's a reality check. My travel time to Moab is 10.5 hours each way, 6.5 flying and 4 driving. I want to. I really want to. But my inner voice is telling me it's not a good idea. Grr. If it was just the plane ride I would do it. If it was longer than a few days I'd do it. Le sigh. This is one of those times to listen to the head, not the heart. I hope the weather is stellar and the views are epic for everyone.

You could fly into the Moab airport directly, you know.  You have the money for a slightly more expensive flight that would make things easier on your body....

You know I know somebody mentioned that up thread (possibly you) but for some reason my brain just completely skipped over it! Going to take a look at flights and see what that looks like.

[J.P. MoreGains]

Not going to make it but maybe if there is a Spring Moab trip or a Fall Moab trip next year.

Have fun y'all!

[mm1970]

I don't know why I didn't consider Durango as an option.  It's <3 hour drive.

For funsies, I looked up flying into Moab.  Last time I checked, there were only options that involved 12-23 hour layovers, or 30 mins, in PHX.

This time, there are 2-3 hour layovers, making the full trip only $524 round trip, and about 7 hours travel.  Nice.  I'm going to file that in my brain for next time.

[Log]

I’m flying in and out of CNY with ~2 hour layovers in Phoenix. Should be a breeze!

Is there a link to join the Whatsapp group? (That might be the best place for me to beg for a ride from the airport 😁)

[NinetyFour]

I’m flying in and out of CNY with ~2 hour layovers in Phoenix. Should be a breeze!

Is there a link to join the Whatsapp group? (That might be the best place for me to beg for a ride from the airport 😁)

PM sent!  :)

[NinetyFour]

I had a 4 hour training for Election Officials today. Basically 4 hours of sitting with a 10 minute break in between. I forget how much sitting still sucks for my knee because I don't do it much. So stiff. It's a reality check. My travel time to Moab is 10.5 hours each way, 6.5 flying and 4 driving. I want to. I really want to. But my inner voice is telling me it's not a good idea. Grr. If it was just the plane ride I would do it. If it was longer than a few days I'd do it. Le sigh. This is one of those times to listen to the head, not the heart. I hope the weather is stellar and the views are epic for everyone.

You could fly into the Moab airport directly, you know.  You have the money for a slightly more expensive flight that would make things easier on your body....

You know I know somebody mentioned that up thread (possibly you) but for some reason my brain just completely skipped over it! Going to take a look at flights and see what that looks like.

Grand Junction, CO might also be a good choice.  Especially if you want to rent a car.

[NinetyFour]

I don't know why I didn't consider Durango as an option.  It's <3 hour drive.

For funsies, I looked up flying into Moab.  Last time I checked, there were only options that involved 12-23 hour layovers, or 30 mins, in PHX.

This time, there are 2-3 hour layovers, making the full trip only $524 round trip, and about 7 hours travel.  Nice.  I'm going to file that in my brain for next time.

Can confirm that Durango is always a nice option.  :)

[NinetyFour]

So far, for the After Party, I have heard from these folks in the affirmative:

Ninja Sue +1
the_hobbitish +1
soobs
NinetyFour + 2

Anyone else??