2016-03-30: Canyonlands

03-30-2016 (Thursday) - Vaughan and Brooks wanted to ride Lockhart Basin Trail from Canyonlands back thru Chicken Corners, & Harrah Pass.  In order to get to the start of the trail we had to load the bikes and drive close to 80 miles south and into Canyonlands.  I had to drive Brooks’ truck back to Moab while they road trails around the back-country into Moab (about 75 miles).

This was the last I saw of them.

Lots of horses - 

Free range - they actually came up to the truck to say hello.

Newspaper Rock - 

A baby arch - 

2016-03-29 to 3-30: Snow/Rain/Wind and Arches

3/29 (Tuesday) – Last night the wind started up around 8PM with gusts around 35mph – enough to make us pull in the slides on the RV.  Then the rain started sometime after midnight and went through the morning.  Up in the mountains around us there was a lot of snow.  We started to drive up through but the slush and ice forced us to turn around. 

You normally can see the LaSals over the top of this ridge but not today.

3/30 (Wednesday) – Vaughan and Brooks dirt biked to the Top of the World & Kokopelli.  I drove out through Arches to visit some of my favorites – The Windows, Double Arch, and Park Avenue.  It snowed a little but not enough to spoil my pictures.

North Window Arch

South Window Arch

Turret Arch

Double Arch (I asked a Swedish girl to take my picture).

This view is from me lying on my back looking up - I stayed there for a while.  It was so peaceful and beautiful.

Garden of Eden

Balanced Rock - snows coming in.

Park Avenue

2016-03-28: Hey Joe Canyon

3/28 (Monday) - Vaughan and his friend Brooks decided to bike Hey Joe Canyon today (I went shopping).  Here is a short video of their descent - not for the faint of heart.


https://youtu.be/cfFJYlpJLR0

2016-03-27: Mill Rd to Steel Bender

3/27 (Sunday) – Happy Easter from Moab, UT.   Drove out Mill Rd to Steel Bender trail.  Just a quick ride seeing Vaughan has a friend arriving from Dallas to ride motorcycles with this week.

2016-03-26: Kane Creek, Hurrah Pass, and Chicken Corners

3/26 (Saturday) – Jeep Safari parade was this morning – all runs line up in town and they close the streets until all runs have left.  There were 30 trails with 25 Jeeps each = 750 Jeeps in the parade. 

We went out on our own to Jeep Kane Creek, Hurrah Pass, and part of Chicken Corners. 

Kane Creek

This is where we went – we crossed around the right side of the base of the middle spire and around and down the other side to the Chicken Corners trail.  The large rock structure on the left is Anticline Outlook where we were the other day looking down on Hurrah Pass.

Here is the picture we took a few days back looking down on Hurrah Pass from Anticline,

The ride down Hurrah Pass to Chicken Corners – a "lovely" cliff ride.

View down other side of Hurrah Pass to Chicken Corners.

Finally down at the bottom on the other side near the bottom at Colorado River

Lunch spot

Spring is finally coming. 

Rock climbers.

Birthing rock - one of my favorite Anasazi petroglyphs.

 

2016-03-24 to 3/25: Jeep Safari Vendor Show and Hidden Valley Hike

3/24 (Thursday) – 3/25 (Friday) - Jeep Safari Vendor Days has begun.  We came home with 33 t-shirts, 12 ball caps, coffee insulated tumblers, coffee mugs, decks of playing cards, Jeep canteens, Jeep collapsible water bottles, Jeep coasters, belt buckles, flashlights, key chains, winch warning straps, sunscreens, lip balms, lighters, zipper pulls, packages of zip ties, multi-tools, handkerchiefs, carabiners, buffs, sunglasses, can cozies, calendars, pens, tire pressure gauges, insulated red solo cups, lots of RockStars and bottles of water, and food until we are about to burst.  So much for our diets.  We also won a Rampage portable WiFi camera, an Oakley jacket, a Currie hoodie in a few raffles.  However we did not win anything in the main raffle in which they gave away $213k in tires, wheels, lifts, winches, seats, etc.

Here is a picture of all we did get - everyone we know should expect to see these items as Christmas presents.

We also did a very tough hike up the hill behind our RV – Hidden Valley Trail – 840 feet elevation change in a one-mile uphill climb. You wind up on top at a nice mesa with a great view of the mountains.  We had to do something to work off all the calories recently.

And here is a picture from our friends, Anton & Loro, from their trip yesterday on the Top of the World Jeep trail.  Crazy!!

2016-03-23: Moab - Deadmans Point Jeep Trail

3/23 (Wednesday) – Jeep Safari Run to Deadman’s Point.  Long ride out on the mesa (sand and slickrock) to two amazing Green River overlooks.  We had a few ledge climbs but only bottomed out once – luckily we have a skid plate so no damage done. 

This was the easy part - 

One of the overlooks to the Green River -

Our sweet ride - 

Some steep drops - at least this one was fairly smooth - no steps or tire-cutters

At the second overlook - some of this was a little too close to the cliff edge for me

,,, but the view was spectacular.

He just can't resist living life on the edge.

For dinner we attended the Moab 4x4 Outpost Jeep Party and then, back at the RV park, Dana Corp was hosting a BBQ right behind us.  We are happy, full, and also well dressed with all the hats & t-shirt giveaways.  Tomorrow is the big vendor show at the Arena with tons more goodies. 

2016-03-22: Moab - Arches National Park - Landscape Arch

3/22 (Tuesday) – Relatively easy day today.  Drove through Arches National Park to Devils Garden to hike to Landscape Arch (one of my favorites).  The plan was to hike up past Double O Arch and around the back side on Primitive Trail.  The hike used to be much easier 10 years ago when we first did it.  There was a path along the base of the canyon to another arch (Wall Arch) that was much easier. It collapsed back in 2008 making the trail impassable.  Now you have to climb up the side of a fin (slickrock with steep sides). I did this back in 2010 but today a fear of heights, my knee, and strong winds contributed to my unwillingness to try this today.  Still got some nice pics.

Driving through an area called the Courthouse.

Fiery Furnace – slickrock fins

Landscape Arch

The fin that stopped me – this was taken about 3/4 of the way.  I made it to the base of the rock where you see the guy standing and said “No More!”.   Rock climbing with a bad knee - not a good idea. The split on the right was a very deep crevice.