Spring 2012: White Rim - Fisher Towers - Hells Revenge

Saturday (3/24) – Fisher Towers & Hells Revenge

So instead of camping/jeeping today we went to the Fisher Towers Trail.  If you have seen the Citibank commercial with the girl standing on top of the pinnacle talking about new nylons, shoes, and a big rock, that is where we were.  The trail was about 5 miles round trip with lots of crazy people climbing up that rock and a few others.  It was a very strenuous trail (for me) but what a treat to see these climbers.  There were lots more cliffs and a ladder involved but we did it.  We even saw one dog that refused to go further on the trail.  Vaughan decided later that day to take his Honda back to Hells Revenge and do the entire ride, not just the first hill.  Dinner was at the Branding Iron across the street from our RV (amazing fry bread and prime rib).

More Desert Bighorns up on the side of the road. 

This is Fisher Towers. The high peak on the right is the one the climbers love. 

Here is one of many climbers we saw make it to the top. Totally insane if you ask me. 

Other peaks in Fisher Towers. Magnificent.  We had to climb up quite a ways to see these fully. 

I was able to take a video of Vaughan riding up Hells Revenge but did not post it.  Here however is a link to a youtube video of someone else on the Hells Revenge.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCltV2S_X_Q

Friday (3/23) – White Rim Trail Camping(?) Trip

Today started out at dawn with a drive up to Island in the Sky to start the White Rim Trail in our rented Jeep.  The ranger we spoke to said it would take about 5 hours to get to our first designated campsite.  The first 6 miles were called the Shaffer Trail switchbacks – extremely steep and next to the canyon edge.  As you may guess, I was not pleased – especially when 3 bighorn sheep jumped out in front of us.  The next 13 miles were full of bumps, climbs, scary canyon edges, and some of the most beautiful landscape you’ll ever see.  We made it to our campsite in 2 ½ hours (10:30AM). It took about a ½ hour to set up camp and then we sat in the hot sun for about an hour with no shade to be found.  We giggled at each other, decided this was not for us and headed back out.  We found a different route out (Potash Rd) which was a lot tougher as far as bumps go but at least not on the rim of cliffs.  We made it home by 6:00PM and slept in a nice bed.

Here are the switch backs we drove down.

This is almost to the bottom.

Here is a short video on the drive through the switchbacks. (I hope you can see this).

Here are the friendly Desert Bighorn Sheep that nearly ran into us on the way.

Here I am in one piece.  

The top of the mountain is where this journey started.

Vaughan being daring and crossing Musselman Arch.

Our beautiful campsite.

The other side of the road was another cliff down to the Colorado River.

A spectacular view.