When I first visited Grand Gulch in 2007, I was quickly consumed by the mystery and beauty of such an amazing place. It was my first voyage into a canyon setting for an overnight backpacking trip and I knew that this place would be great for a Backwoods Adventures trip. The natural beauty is everywhere – 300 foot varnished sandstone walls, giant cottonwoods, yuccas and prickly pear cactus, a number of songbirds including juncos, canyon wrens, ravens, vireos and more. The canyon is also full of dwellings and wall art from the Anasazi dating back hundreds and hundreds of years and many of the sites and panels remain in great condition.

Fast forward to April 2010 and the desire to show others this unique place through a Backwoods Adventures trip is complete! The Backwoods Adventures group that traveled to Grand Gulch in early April included 6 team members and local guide Chris Barber, plus me. We started and finished the trip in Durango, CO with an excellent welcome dinner at Steamworks brewery, one of the local suds making establishments in town on our first night. The following morning we loaded packs and made the 3 hour trip to Utah and the Kane Gulch ranger station to obtain our permits and have a nice lunch at the trailhead before embarking on our 4 day 3 night journey from Kane Gulch, into Grand Gulch and then exiting via Bullet Canyon.

Over the next 4 days we travelled a total of about 23 miles through the canyons. On our first night we decided to camp on a long arm of sandstone above the Stimper Arch about 100 feet off the canyon floor with a great 180 degree view of the canyon laid out before us. Although the journey to the campsite is arduous and includes some bushwhacking the views from above are worth every drop of sweat!

The group also spent plenty of time exploring a number of ruins and art panels in the canyon including Turkey Pen, Split Level, Jailhouse, and Perfect Kiva. One of my favorite spots is the Green Mask ruin, which is a short side trip up Sheiks canyon. High on the wall is a very unique Green Mask whose paint pigments have been traced to other dwelling s and art in southern Arizona, hundreds of miles away!

It was great to show the team that a backpacking trip doesn’t mean that you have to eat a freeze dried meal every night. With dinners including pad Thai, cheese tortellini with veggies and red sauce, and tasty cheese quesadillas with rice and beans we kept everyone happy and full of plenty of calories for all of our hiking and exploring.

Throughout the trip it was awesome to see the group jelling and really enjoying each other’s company in such a wonderful outdoor setting. I could see that the team members who had not done quite as much backpacking as the others getting stronger and stronger and feeling more and more comfortable in the back country under the weight of their pack. Whether you want to learn more about backpacking and give it a try or, if you’re like me, and just want to explore a new location in the back country, the Backwoods Adventures Utah Canyons Backpacking Trip is a blast. Occurring over a long weekend each April, this trip is sure to be a staple in our trip line-up and could quickly become one of our most popular spots!

For more information on the Utah Canyons Backpacking Trip, please visit www.backwoodsadventures.com ! You can also give me a call at 316.200.5780 or shoot me an email at jkoehly@backwoodsadventures.com.

How many times have you returned from a day hike, a night on the town with friends, a weekend camping trip or a long vacation, and when someone asks you how it was, you start with a sigh or a laugh and say, “You had to be there!.” Of course, that quip summarizes the entire experience, but you inevitably launch into a detailed story about your latest adventure. Somehow, recapping our latest trip – whether it’s downtown or on the other side of the world– makes the excitement, relaxation, belly laughs and even the perils come to life, and we get to enjoy that experience all over again.

Well BACKWOODS fans, now’s your chance to relive and most importantly, TELL your favorite story … or four! This year, we are launching, you had to be there, a monthly contest where our BACKWOODS friends and customers can tell their favorite stories. Each month, we will give away a $300 prize for the winning story and a $1,000 grand prize at the end of the year.

So start thinking about your favorite stories and get writing. April’s theme is trail running. Did you find a new trail, a new product or just have a great day out running the trails? Tell us all about it by clicking here. Who knows a $300 prize pack and the joy of reliving that experience may be just a click away.

Top Five Ways to Save this Holiday Season…

 1. Save 50% off all Backwoods Collection Luggage…offer valid both in stores and online, from now until Thursday, December 17, 2009.

  2. FREE Osprey Transporter - Sign up for a BWA trip before December 31, 2009 and receive an Osprey Transporter 46 Duffel Bag for your trip.

  3. Save 25% on all apparel from the Backwoods Collection. Offer valid both online and in stores, while supplies last.

  4. Save 25% on Osprey Aether and Ariel packs…offer valid both in stores and online, from December 18 – 31, 2009.

  5. FREE Beanie from The North Face with any $75 (or more) TNF purchase from December 18 – 31, 2009. Offer valid in stores only and while supplies last.

'Tis the Season to be thinking of wonderful Holiday gifts and who's on your list...

Jennifer in Chamonix

Our CEO just turned 45…yikes! – and she’s sharing her “mid-life crisis” with you!  

Buy 4 items on our Backwoods website or at any Backwoods location and you’ll receive a 45% discount off your 5th (and/or lowest priced) item!

 Be sure to use the promo code: Jennifer

Visit www.backwoods.com/shop to start shopping now.

 Hurry, this exclusive Birthday Offer is only valid until 8pm on Thursday, December 3, 2009.

 Feel free to say Happy Birthday to Jennifer…follow her on Twitter at MuddyHandsBW.

Jennifer hiking in Colorado.