Quick Sand

Oh hi kid,

Note: I wrote this originally thinking that this was the first time you’d be hearing it...sorry for the extra drama now that you know.

There’s a meme going around on social media that says “When I was a kid, I thought quicksand would be a bigger part of my life.” With various images of cheesy 70’s tv shows of people trapped in really fake quicksand. I never thought it was real. Well, I’m hear to tell you Ben, quicksand, it’s real.

Let’s backup. As you know, we were on our way to the Swell on Monday. We did the standard Wedge, MK tunnels, Buckhorn Wash, petroglyph wall. It was a lovely day and we had the place to ourselves. We then went down south of I-70 to work our way to Swasey’s cabin. I had a plan to do the Eagle Canyon trail that starts near there...oh how I wish we had. 

We found a gorgeous off-grid camping spot about 6 miles past the freeway. It was around the side of a mesa, with ancient junipers and giant boulders for wind blocking. Uncle Aaron noticed some mining apparatus on the ledge above, but getting camp set and food in our gullets was our priority. We got the tent set up in record time. I also warmed up that incredibly delicious pasta with steak that you mom made for Mother’s Day. It was so satisfying and delicious. We got to bed about 11 and Joey watched half of Napoleon Dynamite. I have to say, in our exhausted state, it was hilarious.

I got up about an hour before everyone else. As my dad would say, “I just needed to get up to get some rest.” It was a crisp may morning in the Swell, which, as you know, is one of the best kinds of mornings. I hiked up to the shelf where the mine equipment was. It was only maybe 40’ above the surrounds, but it gave a nice view of our campsite. It looked like they had probably dynamited the overhanging rocks to close off the mine openings. All I found besides the the timber framed structures was an old oil filter. It was weathered and rusted through, but contemporary in design. It may have been a harbinger of what was to come.

As it was getting late, I pulled my Little Badger out and shot off a 22 round into the air to get your brothers up. Turns out they were about to come out if the tent anyway, but it added a little spark to the experience. We had bagels for breakfast and I was ready to suggest our trip to Eagle Arch trail. Uncle Aaron decided he wanted to go explore the mine and do a bit of rock climbing. If there’s anything I hate more on a trip than not having a plan is being too slavish to a plan, so your brothers and I just hung out...eventually doing a bit of target practice with the aforementioned firearm.

By the time we were done I deemed it a little late to start a major trail run without a plan for food or rout, so we decided to go to Goblin Valley. We then decide to eat lunch in Hanksville first, then come back to Goblin from the south past Factory Butte. The exact route that we took 4 years ago when we played in the water in our undies. 

Now, on a purely serious note, the day before about 5 to 10 miles closer to Goblin in Little Wild Horse canyon the had been a flash flood and two young sisters were washed away from their family...so sad.

So we get to that exact spot in the river as 4 years ago. The water seemed shallower than even that day. So after a bit of depth checking and discussions, I decided to go for it. I had regretted not doing it the last time. the last bit of courage came as I looked in my rear view and saw the Warn Winch on the front of Aarons’s Jeep. “What’s the worst that could happen? Get stuck?” Was my last thought.

Well, the embankment was steep, but the Jeep’s long wheelbase and short overhangs made that easy. We entered the water and started to cross as expected. As we approached the ether side I could feel a short shelf up the the opposite embankment. I didn’t have my lockers engaged, but I’m not sure that would have made a difference. So I gunned it to get over the shelf, that seems to have been about the time the mud under the Jeep dissolved into quicksand and no matter what I did the Jeep kept sinking, and so did my stomach.

Soon jacob let me know that water was getting in. My side sunk more than his and for a split second I thought it might barrel roll over, but not even close. Then I felt water on my feet, then ankles, then midway up my calf. Jacob was thinking about jumping out of the window, then he shouted that there was oil in the water. It was at that point I knew that I had killed my Jeep.

Now, just a quick paragraph regarding my feelings on this matter, so skip ahead as I know of you and your mother’s aversion to any kind of emotional expression. 

OH CRAP, OH CRAP, OH CRAP, !#@%&$*^##&£#€+$%#{($?@£¥=+^^(;{:/?... OH CRAP!!!

Embarrassingly, Jacob was a witness to at least a portion of that outburst.

So uncle Aaron finally figured out his winch and managed to get us out. I can’t even guess how heavy the Jeep was to tug out full of water like that, but he managed to do it. I couldn’t steer in that state so on the passengers side the approach was especially steep.

Once out, we drained the water and checked the oil. Milkshake on the dipstick. When gas and oil mixes in an engine, it froths up and looks just like a runny milkshake. @%&$*^##&£#€+$%#{($?@!

Then Aaron and Abi drove the 30 miles to Hanksville to check for help and get some oil. We Waited for two hours and the boys got in the water reminiscent of our trip 4 years ago. When they returned I drained the oil. When the plug came out clear fresh water drained out for a loooong time before the rest of the milkshake...@%&$*^##&£#€+$%#{($?@!

So uncle Aaron went back for another trip to Hanksville, this time to call a tow truck. We spent those two hours cleaning up the mess, playing UNO, and just waiting. When uncle Aaron got back, he pulled me several miles to meet the tow truck. The truck met us near Factory Butte where we piled into uncle Aaron’s Jeep and our sad and sorry Jeep got towed to Loa, near Capitol reef np.

We returned to our campsite an hour and a half away, most of our gear was there including grandmas leftover beef stew that warmed up delightfully. We got to be around 11, but your brothers and I were pretty restless due to the days events, none of us could sleep so we stayed up telling stories of our favorite outing till nearly 3 am.

The next morning we struck camp. We had to hide most of our stuff behind a rock where we could come pick it up later. I had managed to call mom the night before so she was aware, but when we got back into cell range that morning we verified and she left to meet us in Loa. I’ll summarize this last part by saying we covered the same 90 minute drive three time to get our gear before coming home. The tow bill was for $740...luckily, StateFarm insurance is covering this embarrassment under full comprehensive, or I would be in a bad spot. Ben, always go with State Farm, this is the second time this year they have saved us.

Yesterday uncle Tim and I drove down to Richfield where StateFarm is having the repairs made to go get all of my gear out of the Jeep, much if it soggy. In fact, there were still pools of water in it, but luckily I found the drain plugs for all the low points and drained the water. It didn’t even smell too bad.

Ben, I’m sure there’s a lesson in here for the enlightenment of smarter people. This isn’t even in the list of top 25 sketchy things I’ve done off road in my life, but it’s the one that stung me. While I do think I could have used better judgment and been a little more cautious, I also think that I may rather risk something like this than stop going or go “safer” routs or places. As you know, at any time or at any place our lives could be changed, by accident, illness, or even malice. I believe in caution and safety, I believe more in asking the Lord for protection, but I try not to believe in fear, or at least I try to fight it. All I know is we’ve come out of it so far ok. My biggest worry now is about the long-term viability and reliability of my Jeep. That seems pretty minor next to our safety. I’ll keep you posted as I hear back. I hope it’s not totaled as I’ve put so much time and money into that thing, probably too much. If it is I’ll be sad and probably frustrated. Mostly though, I’ll be glad that that was the worst thing that happened and our prayers were answered and we’re all together and okay.

Love you kid,

Pops