Monday, August 31, 2015

Wrangler's Roost

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
August, 26 & 27, 2015

Oh what beauty! 





























We brought home several pieces of petrified wood. Exploring the hillsides was fun. 


Friday, August 28, 2015

Rainbow Terrace

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
August 26 & 27, 2015


Rainbow Rocks Rim is a beautiful area with a 4 wheel drive trail rated easy to moderate.  The trailhead is about 20 miles on the northwest side of Moab. 


We headed toward Tombstone Rock under gray clouds.

We followed Dee out Spring Canyon Point Road just past Tombstone Rock where we made a right turn at the trailhead. 


 This is not a frequently driven trail for some reason.

Even with dull skies, the rocks and scenery were breathtaking.
 The first part of the 12.6 mile trail is a terrace road following the base of Rainbow Rock.  It is mainly a twisty section of slickrock traversing around and between ginormous boulders 



The base of Rainbow Rock Rim 

We followed a fun sandy trail through open rangeland. The misty rain turned into droplets. 






We reached a T in the road and turned right onto Levi Well Road.  I guess now would be a good time to say this section of Levi Well Road is really a wash.  And by this time, the rain droplets were becoming big drops.  We accessed the situation, checked the radar, and decided we had plenty of time to traverse the 6 mile drive to our next turn onto Blue Hill Road. So off we went...


The trail very quickly, and I do mean QUICKLY turned from this......




to this.  Clearly it was now time to exit the wash 




to safely on higher ground!
 We were so close to the point where the road veered left out of the wash.  The picture below shows how the raging waters closed this exit to us..



Dee and Joe searching for a way out...



So what to do?  The rain came and went, several times before it finally cleared.  All the while we waited for the rushing water to subside.  During this five hour plus wait, Dee was constantly working on plans that would hopefully keep us from having to spend the night there stranded in our Jeeps.  She called our friends Steve and Jim to further explore possible options.  The resulting plan was no less than brilliant.  We were to hike approximately a mile and a half over muddy and rocky hills to a point on Dubinky Well Road where Steve and Jim were to pick us up.  Before we secured the Jeeps and began our hike out, Dee clearly marked her map "We are here", took a cell phone picture of it and sent it to Steve.  It was now 7:30 PM and time to begin our hike out.  We made it to the crest overlooking the desert floor with a very prominent bluff opposite us on the horizon.  Dee had me take a picture of the bluff making sure I captured the moon situated directly above it.  



The picture was attached to a text to Steve with a comment "this is directly opposite us".  In later discussions with him, he credited this photo for guiding them to reverse their westerly direction and head east for our rendezvous. 


Pearl and Thumper spent the night alone, thank goodness, at the location Dee has now dubbed Wrangler's Roost. Our hike out took us up, along the crest, and down the hills you see behind the jeeps.

As we were leaving, I looked back for a photo...



Yesterday, Steve, Jim, his wife Barbara, Dee and Joe recovered 2 very muddy jeeps...thank you so much Steve and Jim ! 


The now semi dry wash they crawled in and out of. Dee went first...


driving out of the wash with Steve looking on.


Jim stayed close by and coached Joe out.


 We loved everything about this adventure.  It combined elements of excitement related to driving challenges and uncertainty about the ultimate outcome.  Having said that, it would be seriously irresponsible for me to suggest we were not in a potentially dangerous situation.  Had we not been with Dee or another very experienced and competent trail leader, the outcome could have easily ended with lost Jeeps and/or bodily harm or worse. 

During the 5 hours we waited, we explored, climbed rocks, found petrified wood, and I was camera happy!  Pictures of Wrangler's Roost to follow on the next post.

I am most thankful for my wonderful husband and dear friends Dee, Steve and Jim. 

Until next time...




HAPPY TRAILS!

Monday, August 24, 2015

No News...

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
August...2015



 No news doesn't exactly mean we have not been busy. Yep, we have managed to have some lazy days, some work days, margaritas and burritos, a Lion's Back breakfast at the diner

 and some really fun days. 

Lazy days are filled with puppy play time early in the morning and at dusk, computer and reading, dinners grilled outside and oh yes, camera time...my favorite past time!




 We took a day to go back to Steel Bender to find an obstacle called The Wall and to prop up some fencing. It wasn't the best fix, but we figured at least the area looks routinely checked. 
A successful climb up The Wall and all smiles! (Photo by Dee) It's alot steeper that it looks in this picture.

Fencing looks much better.
 And look what we saw on the way out...a baby gold collard lizard. He was about 21/2 inches long and his green back had the prettiest shimmer!

Last Friday we had lunch at one of my favorite spots...Barney's. To get there we had to climb a waterfall, a wedgy and several fins. What a treat to go wheelin' with our friend Duane and his son Peter, DIL Denise and grandkids Gracie and Madison who were visiting from Colorado.


L to R: Denise, Gracie, Duane, Madison and Peter
Duane in his awesome jeep!

Pearl followed them up The Waterfall...



and up Wedgy... Our first time with no spotter! 


and across the rim...
to Little Arch...

and the cave where Gracie and Madison had fun exploring both.




A few fins later, and we were at Barney's...


Barney's Overlook...The air in Moab Valley has been thick and hazy due to the smoke from the wildfires.


This insect and I had a stare-down as I drank my smoothie! My what big eyes you have! I won as he reluctantly turned and crawled away.
The girls also found frogs. The ripples and shadows look like there is water here, but it was very dry. 

Last June Joe and I were invited to join in on the maiden trail run of Jim Horne's ( friend and owner of Outlaw Jeep Tours) race buggy. He built it himself and what a treat it was to see it for the first time in action. 

My what big feet you have!



Well, I said all that to say that this past Saturday, we were excited to go to Jim's first race. We rode with Dee to Grand Junction for the Dirt Riot Endurance Race. Totally amazing! Since June, his race buggy has doors and a nice purple touch. Steve Nantz (friend and co-owner of Moab 4X4 Outpost) was the co-pilot! Just as he was flyin' over this hill, we all heard a roadrunner "Beep, beep". Now how cool is that?


Dee's picture shows them flyin' perfectly over the first hill on the track right in front of us!
And with a perfect landing!


Not all of the other buggies were as graceful...




Thankfully the wind was blowing all that dust away from us. There were about 7 race buggies participating. 


Saturday night ended with a Moab Friends For Wheelin' potluck supper and club meeting. 





I forgot to mention Gracie did a dang good job driving 

and so did Madison!






We drove down Wedgy too! No pictures of us as I was too excited to get out and take them!

Until next time, let the good times roll and...




HAPPY TRAILS!