Nate O Taylor

Food, Fishing, and Outdoor Adventures

Late Summer Day in the Gorge

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Welcome

It has been some years since I went down the Gunnison Gorge. In that time I feel as though I’ve matured (slightly) and am generally much more prepared to tackle logistical problems that places like the Gorge present. For instance, I’ve learned that the sun is hot on the Chukar Trail, and to leave early, so as to do your hike in the cool morning air, void of the relentless summer sun.

The Gear Going Down

My partner and I arrived at the trail, and despite the fact that we planned accordingly, we failed to take into account the cumbersome anatomy of your standard rowing frame. So while the first trip down was uneventful, the second trip proved to nearly break our spirits. In hindsight, those mules look like a heck of deal.

The Heavy Stuff

Campsites are a premium, and while you may have your pick if you’re early enough, experience is the only way to know which ones offer the best accommodations. This issue was of further importance to us as we had elected to use our hammocks once again. The Gunnison Gorge, while gorgeous isn’t exactly a thicket of pine trees, but rather a collection of small Juniper trees that can easily be mistaken for shrubbery. That being said, we picked the best option that we determined based on some Google Earth images. I get ahead of myself however, there was much that had to happen before we slept for the evening.

Someone Beat Us Down

 

 

The Put In

In an effort to curb the weight on our backs we only brought 2 beers and enough ice for cold cocktails at camp. After that hike that beer tasted so good.

Cold Smoke

Just Some Fishin’

We meandered through the upper canyon, this section is mellow in comparison to the lower half and allows for a more relaxing day of cocktails sight seeing. While the entire run is only 14 miles it is easily broken into a 2 or 3 day jaunt. Just due to the fact you have to carry your equipment down the mountain means you are investing almost half a day worth of effort to get started. Point being, don’t do it as a day trip as there is so much to see and do on the relatively short stretch down there.

Camp was pitched in the early evening, and our selection turned out to be fortuitous. Mature Juniper trees offered several hanging options, and a makeshift bench served as our table to prepare our freeze dried food selection.

Kitchen

Hammocks

Remember how we didn’t bring beer in order to save weight? Instead we put some ice in a Hydroflask to make some bourbon and cokes that evening. Best idea ever. Nothing like a cold drink after a long day in the woods.

Cocktail Hour

Sunset at Camp

Weekend Ephiphany

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A Friday off of work, and enough water to float the canyon seemed like an omen.

Lower it Down

Ready to Launch

Since we were camping we could afford to be the last boat down the river that day, take our time and have all the privacy that we could want. Drakes and stones were popping off and the fish were looking up. While we didn’t break a tape measure we certainly had our fair share of takes, breaks, and even a few fish to hand.

Lots of These

We pulled into camp and unloaded our gear, among that gear was a new piece of sleeping equipment. For years I’d read about hammocks, reluctant and skeptical I had yet to purchase one. My colleague on this adventure however felt they warranted a try and so we set up his new Warbonnet Ridgerunner bridge style hammock. Oh and Coldsmoke, always at least a single Coldsmoke for a night outdoors.

 

Pulled up to Camp

A Single Coldsmoke

Warbonnet Ridgerunner

 

For those of you who haven’t picked up on this hammock camping thing, get on it. Incredibly light, easy to set up, and most of all it was the most comfortable thing in the entire world. This has changed the way I will look at camping for the rest of my life. I will never sleep on a pad or cot again if I don’t have to. These things pack down into nothing, weigh nothing, and are incredibly comfortable to boot. This was worlds better than the thermarest, cot, and even the JPW silverback foam Paco Pad that I’ve used.

Pulled Pork Sliders

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Sliders may be a time honored tradition for a variety of occasions but they don’t have to be hard and they certainly should be memorable, after all we’re all out to impress people. These are sure to blow your mind, make some and you will understand. Things you need:

Kings Hawaiian Rolls

Ranch Dressing Packet

Stick o’Butter

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Colby Jack or other cheese slices quartered

Pulled Pork/Brisket/Burger… etc

Oven at 350

 

Prepare your meat, preferably something more adventurous than grocery store ground round but whatever you want to do I suppose.

 

Rub Applied

For me its pork, rub applied and ready to cook.

May the Cook Begin

This usually takes over 12 hours to cook the way I want it to so plan accordingly. I put this on the night before with the idea that we would be eating by 3pm the next day.

Done

So over 12 hours later and this thing is done, temp brought up close to 200 and it will be foiled and set aside to rest for a few hours so that we can do the easy part.

The Frosting

So take that stick o’butter, a 1/4 cup or so of the parmesan, and then a tablespoon or two of the ranch dressing seasoning. Set this aside for the frosting later. When we need it just nuke it for a minute and get a brush out to drizzle it on, but we will get back to that.

Specialization of Labor

Now don’t do anything stupid here, just take the entire package of rolls and cut the top off of all of them at once. Lay them out on a baking sheet like you see above. Now take those slices of cheese and cut them into quarters, lay one each on the open faced rolls for now. If you want to get really creative you can add whatever else you want around this time.

The Meat on This Roll

Now take your meat choice and spread it over your genius creation. It is beginning to take form and create anxiety in the room.

Top with Frosting

Now reapply the top of your sliders that we previously cut off. Take your frosting and nuke that for a minute and brush on the super secret flavor boosting frosting material. You will get some clumpy parmesan cheese but it doesn’t matter, it will all bake in during the final step.

Take those sliders and put them in the oven at 350 for about 10 minutes so everything just congeals together into one bite sized portion of melted diabetic coma. Thats it, you’re now done and have become everyones best friend and the champion of the party. Relish in your glory.