Hoo-doos, Wildflowers, and Gorgeous Scenery...Amphitheater Loop

Gopher Flats
June 2, 2019
Moab, UT

About 23 miles east on Hwy 128 is a great hike that is fast becoming a "tradition".  We have enjoyed this easy trek for the past couple of years with spring being our favorite time. I love the wildflowers and this year with Mother Nature's delay of warmer weather, we waited until  the first of June to head that way. 

Parking for the hike is at Hittle Bottom Campground across the street form the trail. 

Amphitheater Loop is an easy 3 mile trek through a wash area before it climbs a 250 ft rock wall to the top of a ridge that circles back to the beginning.  The suggested route is counter-clockwise.  

Hoo-doos are typically a thin spire of rock that protrudes from a wash.  They consist of softer rock that easily erodes and topped by a harder rock that protects the spire. 

  

 A variety of wildflowers dot the desert along the trail, but our reason for waiting until June was so we would be sure to see the Showy 4 O'clocks.   These large clumps of purple flowers die back each winter and reappear the next spring.  

It is so cool that Navajo Indians boiled these flowers to make a light brown or purple color for dying wool.

















Some flowers don't grow in bunches, but are just as showy.

At the end of the wash, just before the rock climb, the amphitheater really comes into view.
Looking left...

to right.

Once on the ridge, gorgeous views of the Colorado River, Castle Valley and Fischer Towers come into view.



















































We didn't really have a spring here in Moab. Just like most of the country, we went from windy, cold, rainy days to quite warm and dry days.  On the home front we have settled into a nice routine which includes an early evening play time at the doggie park.  

So, until next time, take care and...

HAPPY TRAILS !

It's Almost July for Goodness Sake!

Gopher Flats
June 27, 2018
Moab, UT

I don't know about you, but I think June has flown by.  We have been busy and that's a good thing !  Tomorrow we will make our 4th trip to Grand Junction for a doctor appointment.  Joe has been seeing a corneal specialist there  from having had shingles in his right eye which started last September.  It's been quite an ordeal so I highly recommend the new shingles (Shingrix) vaccine that is 90% effective (unlike the old vaccine Zostavax that was only 60% effective) to prevent shingles.  I had the old shot and will be getting the new one.  We made another trip to GJ to have Belle (our MH) serviced at Cummins.  Joe was impressed with them last fall when they solved our overheating issue (a cracked manifold).   We have also been kitty sitting for Dee who is on the trip of a life time...an African Safari with her sister.  She returns home Thursday (the 28th) and I know for sure that 12 little paws will be waiting at the door excited to see her.  Sam is Dee's oldest kitty...going on 18...and he has been hungry and cuddly and so sweet.  We take him to the vet twice a week for fluids so he doesn't get dehydrated as he has kidney issues.  What a little champ he is.  

Sweet Sam

The two girls are pistols...  

Cleo and Jules are sisters.

always showing me where the food and bowls are and meowing...rather loudly...for me to hurry up.  

When Sam is cuddling in my lap after supper, Jules often joins us and snuggles up against my leg.  I was so happy when last week, Cleo decided to join us too.  Only she doesn't snuggle up next to me, she insists on being in my lap...usually right on top of Sam.  Since then, it has been a lap full of love.  These kitties have sure won my heart. 




Way back on June 9th, Moab Friends For Wheeling had a work day to clean LaSal Pass.  




With rather warm temps in the valley, a get away to the mountains was nice.  Our band of trail warriors included Jeff and Susan, Larry, Warren and Lydia, Chris and us.  Off we went with chain saws, trash bags, and snippers.

Warren and Jeff check out one of the chain saws just in case we needed it. 

Unlike last year, the mountains didn't get as much snow so clean-up was easy...just some trash along the way.  

The trail was lined with lots of colorful wildflowers.

Whites...

Large Chokecherry bushes

Tiny wild violet flowers

 Blues...

Lots of Larkspur

 Yellows...

Gorgeous Golden Peas

Heartleaf Arneca

Purples and pinks...

Columbine

Wild Roses

        
And splatters of reds...

Red Columbine

And there are the greens...

Pale greens on the evergreens 

Quaking Aspen...a delight to see and hear

  
The usual lunch spot is always the view of Mt. Peal.

L to R : us, Chris, Larry, Jeff and Susan, Warren and Lydia

Just look at that blue sky and imagine a nice cool breeze...ahhh !

Because there were no trees to cut, we made real good time on the scheduled work and because it was a beautiful day, Lydia, Jeff and I decided we would take the hike to Beaver Lake.

Back in the day, this was named Girl Friends Trail.  BLM changed it to be more politically correct.

The trail took us into the forrest.

Jeff and Lydia 

It's been so dry that Beaver Lake was not a lake. 
From here, we took the trail (about 1/4 of a mile) that led back to the road where we met everybody else in the jeeps.  

We haven't done any trails hiking or jeeping, since the 9th.  On Joe's last visit to the eye doctor, he had a diaphragm (looks like a contact)  put in his eye to speed up the healing.  It's about the size of a nickel with a band around it and uncomfortable.  No since in making it worse with dust and grit blowing in it and staying cool seemed to be the best option.  Tomorrow's visit is to remove the darn thing and hopefully we get a good...great report.

If all the stars align, Belle will be rolling north towards the Olympic Peninsula on Friday the 29th.  This is a trip we (ummm, I) have wanted to make for several years.  Fingers crossed ! 

So, until next time,

 

HAPPY TRAILS !