Since the inception of the Global Rescue XRedRocks four years ago it has always been our dream to send our athletes out into the “Swell”, the desert to East of the Wasatch Plateau that encompasses some of Utah’s most incredible and famous natural wonders. Think Capital Reef, Goblin Valley, Escalante, and Canyonlands. It was Edward Abbey’s favorite playground and anyone who’s read Desert Solitaire knows how special a place this vast area is. At the end of day 1 we began with a forecast that looked really on the edge of reasonable wind to head east with significantly strong west winds above 12,000′, but by the next morning the forecasts had really backed off and the task committee felt like we should give it a try. We set the Adventure and Pro goal at the same place on the I-70 corridor at nothing more than a view point called “Salt Wash.” It probably doesn’t sound too thrilling, but have a look at some of these images captured by Matt Beechinor, who flew the task with the competitors and decide for yourself. Many pilots got very close to our airspace limit of 17,999 feet, but Sam Inouye ACTUALLY hit 17,999′! One foot short of a zero for the day! Well played sir! It was just a stunning, magnificent day, capped off with 6 pilots (including one of our Adventure pilots Patrick Cannon) all arriving goal within seconds of one another and a whole bunch more very smiling people coming in short order afterwards. It was probably the most brilliant task in the history of the Global Rescue XRedRocks.
