Moab Trails with New Friends

Gopher Flats
May 3 & 5, 2019
Moab, UT

When we were stranded in Tuba City waiting for a part so Joe could fix our MH, we met the family next door.  The Johnsons...Kjersti and Erich and their four smart, curious, and polite and lovely children (Asia, Jake, River and Micah) and their well-behaved Irish Setter (Cooper).  Erich is a traveling nurse and presently has a contract in Tuba City.  It's a good location for them to take excursions on his 4 days off.  When we mentioned we were headed to Moab, Kjersti said it was there next destination.  We offered to go off-roading and hiking with them.  They arrived on Thursday, May 4, and our first adventure on the following day was to go to Secret Spire and Dellenbaugh Tunnel.  There is a cool pour-off on the way to the tunnel.  

This is the view of Spring Canyon from the pour-off.  The pour-off is just beneath the little clump of flowers on the right side of the picture below.  This is where Spring Canyon ends or begins...not sure which.

It's a short hike over slick rock to get to the other side of the canyon.  

From here we headed to Dellenbaugh Tunnel.  It's not like me, but I don't have any pictures of the tunnel.  It was a fun stop for the kids and a nice place to have lunch !

Our last stop for the day was Secret Spire.  The area around the spire is mostly slick rock with a few little patches of flora.  

Firecracker Penstemon

A small patch of blooming Whipple's Fishhook Cacti

 It was fun watching the Johnsons explore and enjoy the spire and surrounding domes.

On Sunday we were up and out the door by 7:15 to meet the Johnsons.  The days adventure was a hike to Corona Arch.  It was a beautiful day and we even had a nice breeze.  Being early is good to beat the crowds on this very popular hike.  It is also doggie friendly so Cooper joined us.  I found myself in camera overload watching Asia, Jake, River and Micah enjoying the day, nature, and just life !  Not one time did either of them complain or fuss and in fact all had lots of fun.  

And Micah, who will be 3 in August, walked the whole 3 miles with the exception of a few steep places. 

  

Micah climbs the ladder...all by himself!

Asia heads up to Bowtie Arch.

River enjoying the shade.

Jake and Cooper take in the view.

There are actually two arches to explore on this hike.  After climbing the Moki steps (carved by Ancient Pueblo Indians into the near-vertical sandstone surfaces) and a ladder installed by the BLM, the trail leads you on top of a large bench of slickrock with sheer drop-offs as the trail takes you under Bowtie Arch.  

Bowtie Arch is a pothole Arch.





















I was happy to see water seeping down the red rock.  I love the color and design and hanging gardens.

 From Bowtie Arch, the trail continues along the slickrock to the base of Corona Arch.

Corona Arch measures 140 X 105 feet wide.  A local bush pilot flew his plane through the arch back in the 80s. 

 It is incredible to tilt your head back and gaze up at the streamer of red rock towering above you with only clear blue sky in the background.

A happy band of trail warriors...

Back row  L to R : Joe, me, Micah, River
Front row L to R : Asia, Cooper, Erich, Jake and Kjersti

We sure enjoyed our time with this awesome family and hope our paths cross again.  So until next time, 

Prince's Plume

Jake, Micah and River taking a break.

Harriman's Yucca

Asia, Jake and River

Stemless Woolybase ( or, Perky Sue )

Asia

Jake leads the way followed by River, Joe and Asia

HAPPY TRAILS !

It's 105 Degrees for Crying Out Loud!

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
June 18, 2015

Yep, the temps in Moab are unseasonably warm this June. So what do you do when the forecast calls for temps "Hotter than Hades"? Joe III and Jena get up at the break of dawn to get in a 5 mile run/bike ride along the Colorado River...

Warming up for a run as they leave the resort

 ...then you go on a hike!

Joe and I had several hikes in mind for the week with Corona Arch at the top of the list and a close second being Delicate Arch. The hot temps put a damper on our hiking so this was the only one we did. The kids enjoyed it and got a small taste of the ginormous size and space of the area.

Our next stop was Barlow's Adventures to pick up a rental 2-door Rubi for the kids. Our ride the night before had sparked their interest to try their hand at some off-roading. Yippe!


So late that afternoon, we headed out to Chicken Corners...

an easy to moderate trail on the south side of town. This was Joe III's first time to drive a jeep! 

Joe III rode saddle with us leading and Ronnie and Carol as tail-gunner.


He did a great job absorbing all the information he received, asked lots of good questions, and felt pretty confident as we pointed the jeeps toward home. 


The afternoon glow made for a spectacular ride...

Let the good times roll...

HAPPY TRAILS!

Up next...some revenge!