Burrrrrr!

Gopher Flats
September  28 - October 11, 2019
Moab, UT

Wednesday it was 80 degrees and today it is 52 degrees and tonight it will be a chilly 22 degrees !  We made a stop at the storage unit to get some necessary items...the space heater, club jackets, gloves, toboggans and UGGS !  We have two club trail runs this week-end and Wile E doesn't have any windows.  Monday the weather should return to normal temps.

Jack loves lying in the sun...

Of course one of us dosen't have any trouble keeping warm...that is after the blanket is bunched up to perfection.

...or being under his blankie!

Last Saturday our club run was Poison Spider and Where Eagles Dare.  Poison Spider has nice memories...the first difficult trail we ever did in Pearl.

Pearl on the Wedgy (Poison Spider) in 2014

Wile E does the wedgy with a beautiful backdrop of the LaSals and Behind the Rocks area. 

Wile E exits the Wedgy...2019

And Where Eagles Dare was a lot more fun the second time around.  


 We had a great group of trail warriors...16 or 17 rigs of various makes, models and builds.  

The slickrock domes are humongous so if you are afraid of heights, this trail is not for you.  Whoever thought of the name Where Eagles Dare was spot on !



The rest of our week was tied up with appointments.  Joe and I both had our teeth cleaned, Jack had a vet appointment for a check-up and shots and Sally had a vet appointment for her check-up, shots and thyroid bloodwork.   Our only spare day, we decided to take Dover to Warner Lake.  

LaSal Loop Road near home.

Warner Lake, nestled in the LaSal Mountains, is about 20 miles from Gopher Flats.  







First we took the LaSal Loop Road for 15 or so miles...

Not much color yet at lower elevations.

then turned right on a well marked, well maintained forest road  for another 5 miles.  

Scrub oaks lined the forest road with lots more color in the mountains.

As we gained elevation, the scenery changed.

The forest road dead-ends at the campground and lake.  

There is parking for day use.

Warner Lake, at 9,400 ft. elevation, is a beautiful spot for camping, fishing, kayaking and hiking.

The backdrop is Haystack Mountain at 11,642 ft elevation.

 We think it is a great spot for Dover to run, play and explore.

The dense aspen forest provides not only shade but beautiful fall colors.  Sometimes called Quakies, these gorgeous trees have leaves that tremble in the lightest of breezes.  When it is quiet, it almost sounds like they are clapping.


 And did you know that the identifying white bark is unique?

The bark layer of quaking aspens carries out photosynthesis, a task usually reserved for the leaves.  In winter, aspens are able to keep producing sugar for energy.  Deer, moose, and elk consume bark, leaves, buds, and twigs throughout the year.  Nature is sooooo amazing !

We enjoyed a special time with Dover, a gorgeous sunny day, and the beauty all around us.

Until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS!

April Trails...So Far!

Gopher Flats
April, 2019
Moab, UT


Moab...after six long months we are finally settled in at our favorite place to be !

Our first sunrise here...

We love it here at Gopher Flats... 

Apple blossoms...

and the pups do to.

Jack waits patiently to play ball...

   

Sally is constantly looking for grasshoppers...

Dover naps...

The weather has been such a hodgepodge...warm, cold,  heavy downpours, snow, dreary grey clouds, bright blue skies, breezy, and gusty winds that shook the MH.  A local said yesterday that in Moab can you experience all four seasons in a single day.  I think maybe he was right ! 

Still, we have enjoy a few trail runs.

Kane Creek Canyon: 

Kane Creek is a fun trail.  The trail itself is about 14 miles of  of desert,

We were following Dee...

 riparian,

Jeff, followed by Duane, makes one of the several creek crossings...

 and switchbacks.

Dee took this picture of our hearty trail warriors.

Each landscape offers a lot of fun, challenges and gorgeous scenery.  My favorite section is the riparian just because we don't see that much water in the desert. The cottonwood trees line the creek for several miles.




This time of year the leaves are just beginning to pop out, but in the fall the colors glow.





Poison Spider:
I can't say enough about Poison Spider.  We first did Poison Spider in June, 2014. What a hoot that was to drive Pearl (our 2013 JK...back then it was on 33" tires).  That year, with Dee's help we climbed the waterfall, did a wedgy, and drove the fins.  Ever since that day, Poison Spider has always been a special trail for me.  Wile E. is a lot of fun on Poison Spider too...we can take a harder line adding to the excitement.  Our first Poison Spider run this year was especially fun since we were with Harold and Tareese (friends from Germany)...

Harold skillfully works his way down The Chute.

and Al and Linda (friends from Washington state).

Al's Samuri flexes its way up The Chute.

Poison Spider is what we call a lollipop trail.  The stick is a combination of rock ledges, a sandy flat canyon, some sandstone slick rock fins and one section known as High Speed Mesa.  The entire trail is non-stop beautiful scenery.

High Speed Mesa

 Lunch was at Little Arch.  You may have spotted this arch from Kane Springs Road.

Looking through Little Arch you can see the Colorado River, Kane Springs Road and the parking lot for Moab Rim.

My favorite part of this trail is the lollipop section with all the ups and downs as you drive along the slick rock fins.

There is mama pig and her piglets...

Cliffhanger:
Cliffhanger is just down right hard core excitement from beginning to end as it curves its way along high rocky cliffs.  Challenges are non-stop and the scenery is, once again, incredible.  This run is what is referred to as a "light" Cliffhanger as we did not do the Cliffhanger obstacle...you remember, the one right on the cliff edge.  We had several vehicles that had never done this trial and wanted a last day of fun before heading home after Easter Jeep Safari.  



Even so, the "light" run is a challenge and keeps us on our toes. 

Claret Cup Cactus blooms...stunning flowers!

There goes Dee!

The "light" run also has an overlook.  The Colorado River and Potash Road...

At the overlook you can see the Poison Spider parking lot and the switchbacks at the beginning of the trail.

Indian paintbrush with its vivid red color sure caught my eye.

There's Joe...the overlook was our lunch spot.

There's Dee...always taking pictures and helping!

 Well, I'll close for now.  There is more to write about but it will have to come later.  So, until next time... 

                                                                     HAPPY TRAILS !