The Car Wash and a Hike = Fun Labor Day Weekend

Moab, Ut
August 31/Sept.1, 2013

The car wash, ummm...not a fun thing to do on a holiday week-end. But Sunday (9/31) it was calling our name. This car wash is a little different from the norm. The water was dried up...thank goodness, there was only one person in front of us, and we didn't need any quarters. 

 This car wash is on Hell's Revenge. It is not the hardest obstacle on this trail, but the hardest for Pearl to date. It is an optional side route with a bypass. But not this day!

 Dee drove Roxanne thru first...down

 ...and up.

 Then it was Pearl's turn...the car wash is a large pot hole at the top of a narrow fin. Its easier to get in than it is to get out. Pearl performed flawlessly...no straps needed and she didn't even try to tip over!

              






My view going down...





and coming out!

 We took a breather at the River View...


the Colorado River,

 ...scenic Hwy 128,

...and Arches NP.

 This is Josh and Stephanie attempting The Escalator. This is also optional...lockers and lower gears are needed. Two of the things we plan to add next year...



Check out the tires...pretty cool!

 Josh backed out and tried a couple of times...then OOPS!

Stephanie strapped up the Jeep and Dee's winch straightened him back up...he slowly backed out and didn't try again. No damage was done to the Jeep. The dirt bikes didn't make it up The Escalator either.

 As we were leaving Hell's Revenge, Dee made another recovery...two in one day! This Jeep was hanging on by a thread...about an inch of tire thread that is...on the back passenger side. Front tire was completely off the trail.

Roxanne did her thing...pulled the Jeep back on the trail and after a few "Whew!"s and "Thank you!"s we were all on our way.

Hell's Revenge is described as... "dangerously steep climbs and descents over sandstone and ledges." I concur! Also recommended is "low gearing, good articulation, and lockers." The guide suggests "not for stock vehicles or novice drivers."

 

 

This was an awesome last trail ride in Moab for the year!

Pearl on the Dragon Tail.

 Bright and early Saturday (9/30) we revisited one of our favorite hikes...The Fisher Towers. Its a 4.6 round trip hike with amazing views and some challenges.

 The trail was harder to follow this time. We last did this hike on June 6th. The rains have washed out some places and the cairns were gone in some places.  

We were glad it was somewhat familiar and we only got lost once on the return.

The trail winds beneath the towers...

 

 ...and ends up on a ridge with a 360 degree panoramic view.

Sign says...Trail End

 We have had an awesome second visit to Moab. It has been hot in the afternoons, but afternoons are for naps! The mornings are for sunrises, playing with our pups, hiking, and Jeeping. The evenings have been pleasant as well...visiting with friends, grilling, and enjoying the stars.

 

Seed pods on Fisher Towers Trail

 

Sunrise at Portal RV Resort

 Dee pulled out Monday morning headed for the Rubicon Trail.

 Jan and Martin arrived Monday evening. 

 

We are spending the day preparing to leave in the morning. And tonight, its the Blue Pig with friends.We are excited about going to Durango, our next destination. We have never been there!

 

Take care! Until next time...

 

Be safe and enjoy the view!

Arches and Fins - It's Great to be Alive!

Moab, UT
August 27, 2013

 Tuesday morning promised  sunshine and a wee bit cooler temperatures. What do you do on a morning like that in Maob? Take a hike!

 I was glad to hear that Corona Arch was a must do on Judy's list. This hike certainly ranks among the top 5 of my favorite hikes here and was also on my list for a repeat.

Joe and I hitched a ride in the Jeep next door and off we went!

 I especially like this hike because it offers such a variety of terrain...sandy washes, rock scrambling,  slickrock...






...AND because the rocks and views are spectacular!

 This view is looking back towards a  slickrock canyon. 

This is the first view of Corona Arch on the hike...just after a second climb using a cable and small steps cut into the rock. Its the only picture I have of the whole arch at about 1/4 mile away.

 All the rain from Ivo sure "greened" things up.

I was very interested in the water trickling out of the rocks below Bowtie Arch. The colors, I guess from minerals, gave the rocks the most beautiful striations.

 And there were lots of tiny plants growing along the wall.

Joe spotted one tiny bloom...you can see it in the header photo towards the left. 

Bowtie Arch

Pam (from Travelin' in the Big E-Z) asked how I made the header picture look like a painting. Answer is "I don't know." It just looked like that. I did play alittle with the exposure, but I often times do that.

 Corona is one BIG arch...

Gary under the arch...

Judy under the arch...

Joe, Gary and Judy

 This hike is not a loop...in and out is almost 3 miles.

Judy has a great eye. She spotted this tiny toad...about the size of a quarter.



As best I can tell...it is a Red-Spotted Toad. They eat insects and prefer to live in deserts, and rocky areas.







Judy also pointed out this cactus. It's called a Many Headed Barrel or a Cottontop Cactus.




Then she saw a Large Spotted Leopard Lizard. The males are smaller than the females. They eat insects, small lizards, and some plant materials.



Joe and I sure enjoyed our time hiking to Corona...again! It was nice to be with friends and seeing the "WOW!" in their eyes!

Dee in Thumper...our leader.

Later in the day, we joined friends to do Fins and Things. We had done a portion of the trail back in May and to do the entire route was something we hoped to accomplish.

 A lot of this trail was steep, but relatively smooth.

 It does have its challenges with rocks and ledges to climb. What goes up, must come down...

And my favorite...sandy washes...a reward for all the "pucker" moments!

 The most dramatic part of Fins & Things was close to the end. First, there is a series of fins...steep and narrow. At the base of the first fin, we had to straddle a very thin rock bridge.

Narrow bridge...bottom left corner

My picture doesn't show it very well, but there is a huge drop off on both sides...




Second dramatic  part is Kenny's Climb. This picture is looking down after we did the climb...the only thing I saw going up was sky! It is very steep. Pearl performed flawlessly...straight up and I do mean straight up...she went!

The smile on my face says it all!

 Here we are at the end of another month...already! I so cant believe it is Labor Day Week-end.

Take care everyone...

'till next time.

Safe travels to Judy and Gary. They are headed to Colorado...have fun!