Syncro Solstice 2016, May 19-22

[Love My Westy]

Just got back from Baja yesterday and I am trying to register. When I click on registration to add it to the cart it says "Out of Stock" and will not add my registration to the cart. Any suggestions?

[Classicvibe]

[Love My Westy]

It worked. I'm now registered. Syncro Solstice here I come, WahHoo!!!

[mtbiker62]

Just in case anyone is interested in a run down Cataract Canyon either before or after SS this year, they're expecting highest flows mid May thru mid June up to 50,000CFM. Read here: https://www.oars.com/blog/best-whitewater-rafting-2016/

[raoul mitgong]

I have to share a story from SS 2 years ago.
My friend Tom and I had a big day of biking. We paid for a shuttle to the top of Porcupine Rim (actually started a couple or three sections uphill of the standard start). Wore us out. Took a nap in a park. Then tried to ride slickrock. Only made it to the loop and turned around. We aren't beginners and have both ridden these trails before but thought we did pretty good.

At camp, we stopped to talk to a guy with a sweet hightop/poptop Syncro. After admiring his rig, I noticed he had a bike there as well. We asked what he rode. He says, "Porcupine Rim."
"Oh, us too! Where did you start?"
He replies, "Here."
I did't think he understood so I repeat my question.
"Here."

Turns out this guy started at the F'in campground, peddled to town, peddled what we shuttled, peddled Porcupine, then peddled back to camp! Camp is a long way from town! The shuttle took us an hour in an E350!

Some people just don't know how to have fun.

-d
_________________
84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim))

[mtbiker62]

-d,
Hope to see you back this year. I think you'll enjoy both the number/variety and accessibility of all the new trails right at Lone Mesa, our campground.
Bob

[shadetreetim]

Just registered. Website was simple to navigate. This will be our first Syncro Solstice and first time visiting Moab. I plan on getting our 2wd very dusty. Going to be epic...

I do need some advise though. We are considering leaving our 2 Dobermans at home, even though they normally camp with us. The challenge is what to do with them if we go hiking. If we can see the cool sights from the windshield it would be fine. But when we went to Zion, the best sights were seen on foot. Zion wasn't a place to take a dog.

Moab looks like it lends itself to windshield tours. What about Arches and Canyonlands?
_________________
Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

[mtbiker62]

There were 26 dogs there last year, so volks found ways to do the spectacular scenic drives (which there are lots of) and the hiking destination hikes. You may have already gotten this but I'll insert a Discover Moab link to hiking advice:
http://www.discovermoab.com/hiking.htm
Notice the "Pet Friendly Trails" notes on the right side of that page, just down from the top. Notice that none of those trails are in Arches NP.
I think lots of people were able to leave their animals either at one of the covered dining table areas (5, one at each of the 5 designated campgrounds on Lone Mesa), and others at their vehicles, restrained, with water, the vehicle for shade, as long as their jaunt wasn't very long.
Almost all of the spectacular trail drives we have gone on are of the windshield type, but all have good views at break spots, where people let their animals out for "breaks".

[mtbiker62]

By the way Tim, all those dogs (most of them) were off leash at the campground. They seem to find their "pecking order" in about 5-10 minutes, then the aggressive, barking, nipping stops and they play/run like there is no tomorrow. I think walking them around to the various other dogs and making intro's is probably helpful.

[Sodo]

[Farfrumwork]

[shadetreetim]

[newfisher]

It was Kwilks first time last year. She left her dogs ( normally takes them everywhere like us) and the first thing she said when she returned and was asked about the trip " I should have brought the dogs, there were like 40 of them and they were having a ball"!

[hans j]

Please just be mindful of where your dog poops. Nothing less awesome than stepping in something and then getting in your van...

And remember the camp parking lot is gravel, you might want some dog booties. Also make sure they have plenty of water and shade!
_________________
1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[Syncro Jael]

We always bring our dogs wherever we can, they are part of our family, but we are very mindful of those who are not "Dog" people. We camped near some on other trips and were reminded that dogs must be leashed in BLM campgrounds.

It might be a good thing for us to at least keep track of our pets so other Syncro Solstice patrons, and their kids, do not have all the random playful visits.

I too agree that cleaning up after our pets in a public place is good dog owner etiquette.

Here is some good info to keep our pets safe:

http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/moab/recreation/dogs.html
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Hightop - NAHT
Subaru EJ25 Forged Frankenmotor, Triple Knob.
Jael = (Mountain Goat)

[newfisher]

I wish my neighbors kids were as behaved as my dogs.

[Love My Westy]

Last year we brought our cat, but since she doesn't like being around all the dogs, my wife camped with her up at Horsetheif CG, just up the road a couple of miles. She's a great camp cat, just spent two and a half months in Baja with us.

[Classicvibe]

Wow. The event this year is looking incredible! We will fill the campground again. Lots of new trails and adventures and incredible planning from Hans, Jarnecke and Teerlink.

More and more people are proposing new trips they want to lead out into the desert this year, which is rad. We have so many incredible Vanagon folks that come year after year, each of them venturing farther out to new places. The collective area and trail knowledge is just amazing, always expanding...it seems to grow exponentially. This will be a big, big year for exploring new trails, canyons, and afternoon delights, including rocks, dinosaurs, wine, arches, caves, sand dunes, buttes, mesas, great food and the most wonderful folks you can imagine.

Submitting final numbers for swag items by the end of the week. Please get your registration in by Thursday night to make sure you have a spot, and the cool swag that comes with it. I can't order any items besides shirts and hoodies after Friday morning. So whether or not you have cool items included in your registration is purely guesswork after that. OK, back to the planning board...see you all soon.
_________________
On a mission, the destination is just an excuse.

Syncro Solstice 2022...see you there!

1986.5 Wolfsburg Syncro Westfalia Poptop Weekender Transporter

[shadetreetim]

[mtbiker62]

It won't be the only Ferd there if he decides to attend.