2015-03-31 Tusher Tunnel, Dino Trail & Onion Creek

The road to Tusher Tunnel was fairly simple - long stretched of rocky road and then long stretches of deep sand road.  At the end we were rewarded with this awesome tunnel.  It was just tall enough to stand up but long enough so that when you got to the middle it was fairly dark.  

This is just inside the entry.

and a little further in with a camera flash ,,,

then without the flash nearing the opening.

Finally at the very end

Here is what the other side looks like.

This is what the entry looked like heading back through.

Our next drive was called Dino Trail.  A short hike along rock walls shows you numerous dinosaur bones embedded in the rock.  They believe this was a tail vertebrae.  I took lots of other pictures but don't want to bore you too badly.  They are more impressive in person.

Off in the distance the spires in the middle of the photo are called Determination Towers.

We then drove out to Onion Creek.

This is Fisher Towers - this spot is famous for rock climbing.  

You cross the creek 33 times through this canyon.  

Vaughan hates getting the Jeep muddy (first thing back in town was a car wash)

I am always amazed at the rock formations - how do these stand?

It was a beautiful canyon - still cliffs in spots but I guess I'm getting used to that by now.

Once back to town, and after the car wash we drove south of Moab to Hole in the Rock.

Notice the Jeep on top.  I have no idea how they got it up there.  

I bet it's easier to get it down if you don't care about the condition.

2015-03-30 Gemini Bridges

No Kidding!!  I think it would be easier to put signs in places that don't have cliffs around here.

The road to Gemini Bridges

Once you get to the top of the cliffs you drive through this peaceful mesa.  

Eventually you reach Gemini Bridges. 

Here is a view across the canyon. 

and then one of Vaughan standing on one of the bridges.

and there I am sitting up under a tree 

On our way back to the highway we passed Monitor & Merrimac

and made a new friend.

2015-03-29 Moab - Kane Creek, Chicken Corners, and Arches

What can I say...  more rock pictures, mores cliff pictures, more petroglyph pictures.  If you're bored turn back now.

First cliff was Kane Creek Road.

Then we started driving Chicken Corners.  The photo below shows where would be climbing to.  Yes, there is a road all the way up to the base of the rock cliff, around the end of it, and over the other side.  The top portion is called Hurrah Pass.

This is what it looks like about half way up.

Still a way to go ...

A view from the top looking out the other side from Hurrah Pass.

and heading back down.

On our way out we met some young guys along the road with hang gliders.  At the top right point of this rock face is their friend about to jump off.  I know you can't see him but I put this picture in here to show you where he started from.

He did a few flips on his way (incredible) and landed safely in a field of cactus (ouch).

Heading back out Kane Creek we stopped at a petroglyph called The Birthing Rock.  

Look at the figure on the top left.

These were on the backside.

We also passed these Jeeps crawling up Moab Rim. 

Later we drove through one of our favorite parks - Arches.

Travelling the Salt Valley Road was fine through the dessert until we met with the rock climb.

This is where we decided to stop.  Yes, this is a road. 

2015-03-28 Moab - Jeep Week - Long Canyon Road

We left Green River this morning for Moab and Jeep Week 2015.  Arriving in town was like driving through a sea of Jeeps and it is only going to get worse.

After settling in we took a drive out Potash Road to Long Canyon Rd.

Long Canyon starts down by the Colorado River.  It’s hard to believe there is a road that winds its way up to the top of the far mountain you see below in the distance, but it does and only with a few switch backs.  Of course that means steep, bumpy, sandy climbs with some steep cliffs.  It is 4-wheel drive only road and very few places to allow anyone to pass.  Luckily we didn't meet a lot of traffic.

And then you come to this large boulder which allows just enough room to drive under.

The view gets better and better the further up you go.

This portion is called Pucker Pass.

and then you drive back down.  I have videos but they may have to wait (internet here is not enough to load them to youtube).

Back down on Potash Road is this arch - Jug Handle Arch. Kinda cool!

Along Potash there are a number of places where climbers train.  This girl was amazing!