For a couple of years I have been keeping track of all my ‘bag nights’ and then posting the total at the end of the year on my microBLOG. A few years ago I decided to try changing things up by keeping a running total throughout the year posted on this page and I think it worked out pretty well, so I’m going to continue doing it.
If you are interested in checking out my previous year totals, you can find those below:
This friendly competition of keeping track of ‘bag nights’ started a number of years back on the forum at Backcountry Post, and I follow the very simple ground rules that were set up over there:
There are no official rules, but a bag night here is typically defined by a night out camping in some form. It doesn’t matter if you sleep on a tarp, in a tent, or in the back of your vehicle. It’s more of an attitude thing. If you are outside to enjoy nature, if it’s camping, then it’s a bag night.
Total Bag Nights: 76
| January 18 – 20 | | | Phantom Ranch | | | 2 Nights |
| January 26 – 28 | | | Indian Creek | | | 2 Nights |
| February 3 – 4 | | | Kings Bottom | | | 1 Night |
| February 15 – 19 | | | Pahranagat Valley | | | 4 Nights |
| February 24 – 25 | | | Sand Flats Recreation Area | | | 1 Night |
| March 1 – 2 | | | Cane Spring Desert | | | 1 Night |
| March 9 – 10 | | | Sand Flats Recreation Area | | | 1 Night |
| March 21 – 24 | | | Grand Gulch | | | 3 Nights |
| April 4 – 8 | | | Salt Creek Canyon | | | 4 Nights |
| April 12 – 14 | | | Slaughter Slopes & Rock Springs Bench | | | 2 Nights |
| April 27 – 28 | | | Montezuma Canyon | | | 1 Night |
| May 10 – 12 | | | Salvation Knoll | | | 2 Nights |
| May 17 – 19 | | | Cedar Mesa | | | 2 Nights |
| May 24 – 26 | | | Fruitland Mesa & Poison Spring Gulch | | | 2 Nights |
| May 31 – June 2 | | | Cataract Canyon | | | 2 Nights |
| June 7 – 9 | | | Temple Park & Carpenter Ridge | | | 2 Nights |
| June 18 – 19 | | | Warner Lake | | | 1 Night |
| June 21 – 22 | | | South Creek Ridge | | | 1 Night |
| July 4 – 5 | | | Black Mandall Lake | | | 1 Night |
| July 5 – 7 | | | Taylor Mesa & Bolam Pass | | | 2 Nights |
| July 12 – 14 | | | Velocity Basin & Imogene Basin | | | 2 Nights |
| July 19 – 21 | | | Reservation Ridge & Log Hollow | | | 2 Nights |
| July 27 – 28 | | | Geneva Lake | | | 1 Night |
| August 1 – 4 | | | Red Canyon & Lower Red Castle Lake | | | 3 Nights |
| August 9 – 11 | | | Chepeta Lake & Leidy Peak | | | 2 Nights |
| August 14 – 17 | | | Sylvan Lake State Park | | | 3 Nights |
| August 25 – 26 | | | Utah Launch Complex | | | 1 Night |
| Aug 30 – Sept 1 | | | Mount Dutton & Uinta Flat | | | 2 Nights |
| September 6 – 8 | | | Wager Gulch | | | 2 Nights |
| September 14 – 15 | | | Priest Lakes | | | 1 Night |
| September 20 – 21 | | | Burn Ridge / Elk River | | | 1 Night |
| September 23 – 27 | | | Canyon of Lodore & Green River | | | 4 Nights |
| September 28 – 30 | | | Kaibab Plateau & Point Sublime | | | 2 Nights |
| Sept 30 – Oct 4 | | | Arizona Strip | | | 4 Nights |
| October 11 – 12 | | | Hans Flats | | | 1 Night |
| October 25 – 27 | | | San Rafael Swell | | | 2 Nights |
| November 1 – 3 | | | Seep Flat & Cal Black Airport | | | 2 Nights |
| November 13 – 14 | | | Gleatherland Ranch | | | 1 Night |
| November 15 – 16 | | | Valley of Fires | | | 1 Night |
| November 22 – 24 | | | Recapture Creek & Cedar Mesa | | | 2 Nights |
Randy I certainly do enjoy your amazing trips and the wonderful photography. I absolutely enjoy Utah and have already been to many of the places you have shown.
Thanks Robert!
Hi, curious if you are sleeping in your Jeep or still going with the Tent Cot when car camping?
I don’t use the Tent Cot anymore (and haven’t for many years) since it’s just too big to carry around in my Jeep. When I am alone I typically sleep in my Jeep since I’m too lazy to set up a tent. If I don’t sleep in my Jeep I use a tent.