Spring 2012: Saturday (4/21) – Kanab, Lick Wash, Cliff Dwellers, & Lees Ferry

We got up and out the door this morning by 6AM in order to make the 70 mile drive to Kanab, UT to try for a place in the lottery for The Wave.  This is one of the most beautiful and most photographed canyons in the world.  They only allow 20 hikers a day – 10 by internet lottery and 10 by walk-in lottery.  Unfortunately we were not chosen so we decided to spend the day driving down another dirt road to another slot canyon.  Along the road we saw a mule deer, a jack rabbit, and a peregrine falcon.  We chose a hike called Lick Wash (no kidding) which was a fairly easy hike compared to past hikes – about 2 hours down a wash through a Navajo Sandstone canyon in 80 degree bright sun. 

Our way home brought us through Kanab, Cliff Dwellers, Vermillion Cliffs, Jacobs Lake, and Lees Ferry.  What an amazing country this is.  Spring is in bloom here finally – cactus and yucca are incredible.

This is in Southern Utah outside Kanab - a cattle drive on the side of the highway.

This is Navajo Sandstone in Lick Wash.

This is also Navajo Sandstone from Lick Wash - so incredible.

and here is Vaughan walking through the wash.

It is amazing how nature prevails - these tree roots found something to hang on to.

A slot canyon in Lick Wash.

Still in Lick Wash

Such a cool (and extremely hot) hike through here.

Another slot canyon in Lick Wash.

Here is our next home.  This is in Cliff Dwellers, AZ.  

Lots of these large rocks fell from the canyon wall above and the locals turned them into homes.

This balanced rock is in Lees Ferry, AZ.

This is the Colorado moving through Lees Ferry - the water was freezing cold but we waded in anyway.

Here is a blooming cactus.

and here is a blooming Yucca plant.  They stand at least 3 to 4 feet tall.

Spring 2012: Thursday (4/19) thru Friday (4/20) – Wire Pass & Buckskin Gulch

Thursday Vaughan worked for 16 hours straight so he could take part of Friday off.  We drove up to the Grand Staircase – Escalante area just over the border in Utah.  After a very long 8 mile ride down a dirt road we came to Wire Pass which is a 1 ½ mile hike through a slot canyon to Buckskin Gulch, another slot canyon.  Three hours of hiking took us through some of the most beautiful slots we’ve seen.  There were a few places that the rocks had fallen down to block the way and we had to climb over.  One spot was okay to crawl down but crawling back up was a challenge – it was as tall as I am with very little to grab on to.  I had to climb up on my belly and wiggle over – Vaughan said I looked like an inch worm (so flattering).  We finally made it back to town for a nice dinner at yet another Fiesta Mexicana – and of course a margarita.

Inside Wire Pass

deeper inside Wire Pass

and deeper yet in Wire Pass.

This is where Wire Pass meets Buckskin Gulch,

This is Buckskin Gulch.

and this is Buckskin Gulch.

This funnel is in Buckskin Gulch. 

You can't tell from the picture but I had to climb up about 4 feet to get into this tube.

Spring 2012: Tuesday (4/17) thru Wednesday (4/18) – Slickrock to Lake Powell

Tuesday was laundry, groceries, and clean-up to get ready to move to Page, AZ.  Vaughan did take some time to finally ride his bicycle on the Slickrock Trail before we leave Moab.  He didn’t get far before he realized that riding something with a motor was a lot less taxing on the body.

Wednesday we headed for Page, Arizona.  Our route took us through Mexican Hat, Monument Valley, past lots of roadside Navajo jewelry stands, and finally into Page.  We finally made it to the RV park only to find out they did not want to honor the monthly rate they quoted us.  After producing our email and utilizing the assertiveness training provided over the years at Bell Labs, they saw it my way and here we are.  We did take a quick drive through town and to the Glen Canyon Bridge and Dam. 

Vaughan's last ride on the Slickrock Trail.

This is Navajo Twin Rocks in Bluff Utah.  Not much of a town but the rocks were cool.

This is Mexican Hat.  I wonder how much longer they'll be able to call it that.

Monument Valley - on the Arizona border.

Glen Canyon Bridge in Page, AZ.  

It's hard to believe that this is built into the side of the cliffs without anything below.

Here is the Glen Canyon Dam holding back Lake Powell.

and here is a small portion of Lake Powell.

 

Spring 2012: Monday (4/16) – Gemini Bridges & Pasta Jays

Seeing we are only here for 2 more days Vaughan wanted to take his Honda on one last ride.  Gemini Bridges is the Jeep run that I did not like a few weeks ago.  Seeing it was such a beautiful clear day and most of the Jeeps are now gone it seemed like a good time to ride back in to see the bridges.  While his pit crew waited below he rode 17 miles up the cliff to the mesa to see these natural bridges.   Later we went to town to Pasta Jays for dinner.

By the way – last night we went to town to the movie theater to see Hunger Games.  It was the smallest theater we had ever been in (about 100 seats). 

There was a lot more snow on the mountains this morning.

Here he is about to ride up the side of the cliff you see behind him on the left.

This is the last I saw of him.

This is the Jeep road on the side of the cliff.

This is a picture Vaughan took of the Gemini Bridges (one is behind the other).

These are the two bridges from the top.

 

Spring 2012: Sunday (4/15) – Landscape Arch & Primitive Loop

The morning started out chilly but clear.  We drove back into Arches to walk the Primitive Loop through Devils Garden.  First you have to walk a mile back to see Landscape Arch that spans more than a football field.  We then followed a trail called Primitive Loop for about a 1 ½ miles through some beautiful desert-like landscape, down some slickrock, through an arroyo, and then back into some fins.  Once again, when the fins get too tough, Julie stays put while Vaughan continues on.  Once on top of the fin there was another arch (Private Arch).  A looming storm not to far off made us hurry back through.  You don’t want to be stuck in an arroyo in the rain.  It started sprinkling and then snowing lightly during our last mile back.

This is Navajo Arch in Devils Garden

Landscape Arch

Can you see the people on the left?

This is the climb up to see Navajo Arch (and others).

These are the fins along Primitive Loop.

  

Yes, we were walking through the desert - lots of sand, yucca, and cacti.

This is down in the arroyo.

This is the part I refused to do - I am sitting back in among the trees.

I had already climbed up about 40 feet to get to there.  I am not a goat!!

Private Arch as seen from the top of the fins

Another view of the LaSal Mountains from Devils Garden.

Spring 2012: Saturday (4/14) – LaSal Mountain Loop

Today turned out to be cold, windy, and with a potential of rain so we decided to take a drive.  The LaSal Mountain Loop is 60 miles that takes you through the Manti-La Sal National Forest and offers great views of the 12,000 foot plus peaks and the red rock canyons far below.  You are up in the hills surrounded by Aspens.  We managed to come up on a grouse the size of a turkey sleeping along the side of the road. We then came up on about a dozen actual turkeys in the middle of the road.  The route continued down through Castle Valley and back out along the Colorado.  After a nice lunch at the Moab Diner in town we settled in for a relaxing afternoon.

These are the LaSal Mountains from the loop road.

Here is that fat, sleepy grouse - she never moved an inch.

In town everything was already green but up here the Aspens hadn't even started to bud.

Here are some of the turkeys beside the road - no toms, only hens.

Here is why they call this area Castle Valley.

Spring 2012: Friday (4/13) – Portal Trail & Sovereign Trail

The Portal Trail is one of the tougher hikes in Moab.  It starts at the Colorado River and you gain about 1000 feet in elevation – over slickrock and sand.  The views were great – including a Golden Eagle teaching a young one to fly.  My cranky knee made me stop after about 1 ½ miles and 700 feet elevation change so I sat on a rock and waited for Vaughan to finish the climb.  I apparently made the right decision because the path got narrow and the cliffs were right along side.  Along this narrow path Vaughan passed a sign saying “Three bicyclists have died here – dismount now”.  Why would anyone ride a bike down this trail?

Later his “Pit Crew” (namely me) took him out to a mesa to ride his Honda on the Sovereign Trail.  This was just a long desert ride – lots of sand, scrub brush, and tumble weeds.  After an hour of this we came back, showered, and had a wonderful dinner at one of my favorite places in Moab – The Sunset Grill.  It is half way up a cliff above Moab and has a wonderful view.

Not an easy hike. This is about a third of the way up.

This is almost to the top.

This is near the top at the narrow part.

That is the town of Moab below.

I'm so glad I decided to stay put.

The Colorado River 

Here is Vaughan at the beginning of the Sovereign Trail.

We had to drive a mile back onto the mesa on this Jeep road to get to the start of the trail.