Vistas, A Well, and Pictographs

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
June 2 & 4, 2016

Last week while Joe was at Moab 4X4 Outpost, he met Red.  Red and Dolly (from So Cal) have been visiting Moab and riding trails for 30+ years. Red invited us to join them the next day for a Jax Trax/Cameo Cliffs run.  

Located on the south side of town this combo trail offers great views of the LaSal and Henry Mountains and everything in between.



Always something beautiful around every corner.

We saw lots of sego lilies. This beauty was named the Utah state flower in 1911.








We also met Puff, Red and Dolly's 10 month old Shar-Pei. She is full of energy and love and oh so cute !

Two days later we joined them again for a Rainbow Terrace/3D trail ride. On the way, we made a stop at Dubinsky Well.  

 





The stone work to construct the holding tank for water is amazing...huge stones precisely placed in a large circle perfectly straight on the outside and slanted towards the center on the inside.  

the outside wall...

the inside wall...

We then circled back and headed for Rainbow Terrace and a view of the meadow below it.  Lighting does not show the purples that we have seen in the terrace before.  It's especially pretty wet. 

striations in the terrace

the meadow below

 Our lunch spot on one of the lookouts on 3D trail was gorgeous.  We even had a breeze !

Looking right towards Hwy 313... 

 straight ahead toward Bartlett Wash... 

and left toward Hidden Canyon. 

The highlight, other than the great company, for me was seeing two unique pictographs.  The first is known as Bartlett Pictograph Panel.  

The green alien...

A small area for parking with a kiosk is provided at the trail head.  Its a short walk to an alcove where the "green alien" (although faded, it is green) along with a collection of other pictographs is located.

and other figures.

 A short drive to and on Hwy 313 we found the "intestine man" also a pictograph.  We have driven by this spot many times and never knew it was there. Parking is along the road with a short walk to the panel which appears to be an interesting story.

 It is thought that the drawing on the right is a bear claw. 

The up-close picture below shows a man, the man fatally attacked and an angel.

A short walk away is a panel of petroglyphs.  It depicts a man, a trail, and very fat big horn sheep.  

We enjoyed meeting Red and Dolly and appreciate them letting us join in on these adventures.  Two awesome trails and adventures.

  

Until next time, happy days...

and, HAPPY TRAILS ! 

Metal Masher

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
April 17, 2015

To say we have been busy having fun would be an understatement.  My how time flies. 





Metal Masher was a scheduled ride by Moab Friends For Wheeling for April 17.  What fun it is to spend the day with these great people.  To get there, follow Gemini Bridges Road for 6.1 miles, then make  a right turn on the well-marked trail.  The loop (almost 12 miles) is rated difficult.  

Mirror Gulch, the obstacle below, is a tight squeeze and requires the Moab bump.    

Arths Rim is a narrow ledgy rim ride with spectacular views.  The beginning of the rim ride faces Hwy 191 with views of the LaSals and the valley.  The overlook below is always a favorite stopping spot. 

 Once the trail drops down the ledges in the picture below,  it sorta parallels Hyw 313 (which goes to Canyonlands NP). 

If you look closely, you can see 313 right/center in the photo below.  Its one of those WOW rides...twisty, ledgy, and beautiful vistas.

We love watching the big jeeps/buggies play.  Here Glen makes a smooth, effortless climb up Rock Chucker.

And Dee makes Widow Maker look like a simple drive on a country road.

 Thanks to Glen, we got up Widow Maker just fine...

Our lunch with a view...


















And a peaceful ride through Arths Pasture admiring the clouds, the LaSals, Behind the Rocks, and the very green desert to end the day.

Until next time, happy days and...

 HAPPY TRAILS!

Saturday Night Moonshine!

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
August, 29, 2015

Saturday, we had an awesome night run with the moon lighting our way. There were 20+ jeeps in our group and folks of all ages...the youngest being 5 and the oldest being 91! The trail of choice was 7 Mile Rim. It's a trail we have done many times and several different ways. Our destination for this excursion was the slickrock area between the Monitor and the Merrimac where we enjoyed good company, a campfire and s'mores, and the night sky.

The picture below was taken on our first ride (following Dee in Thumper) between the Monitor and the Merrimac back on August 16, 2013. 

Our destination for Saturday night's ride was the sandstone between these huge buttes.

This picture taken at the trailhead where we all aired down. The first two friends on the right (the lady in the pink shirt and the gentleman in the light tan shirt) are Ber and Charlotte. They just turned 91. 

While we were having the trail meeting, the moon peeked behind the mountains. 

Loaded and ready to pull out...

The moon was climbing...

and so were we!

The campfire was lit. We sat, we ate, we talked, we enjoyed the quiet, we walked, we made shadows, and we awed at the endless stars.

The snacks didn't last long. JoAnn's brownies were yummy! The kids (little ones and big ones) roasted marshmallows on sticks while lots of stories and laughter were heard around the campfire.

Umm...who ate all the brownies?

The moon slowly made its way from behind the Merrimac.

Have to admit, it was the best moonshine we have had in quite awhile...well, since last August anyway.

Until next time, let the good times roll!

HAPPY TRAILS!

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!