Thank you immensely John, this was trail magic at its finest! It was all over too soon though. I carried the IPA you gave me all the way to zion to celebrate my completion of the Hayduke on observation peak!hike along the Hayduke.
A few hundred miles drive solo across backroads of the Colorado plateau, motivated by the opportunity to see an old friend - might just be the best way to rekindle my love affair with the old 40 series.