good-times-rollin

Friday, June 10, 2016

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 !

Monday, June 6, 2016

Delicate Arch...Arches NP

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
May 29, 2016

The trail to Delicate Arch is a 3 mile (round trip) in and out hike. What it lacks in length, it makes up for in aerobic workout. The hike in climbs a steep slick rock section that gets the heart pumping. Joe and I have enjoyed seeing Delicate Arch at least once during all our previous visits to Moab.

Being Memorial Day Weekend, we were up and out the door at 7:00 and happy to find NO line at the entrance and a parking spot at the trailhead. That is not to say that no one else had the same idea...we were among many other hikers moving at their own pace to this iconic and most recognizable arch in Utah.

A bit of history along the way describes the John Wesley Wolfe ranch which was built in 1888 and abandoned in 1910.

The small creek we crossed had definitely gone over it's bank during heavy spring rains.

Just past the bridge is a short loop to an excellent Ute petroglyph panel.
The horses and riders surrounded by the bighorn sheep with the dog figures were carved as early as 1650. Utah is named for the Ute Indians who moved into the area around 1300.

Then the fun begins...the first part of the trail is wide with ups, downs, and arounds that lead to a steep slick rock hill.

Four years ago, when Joe and I first did this hike we named a rock Potty Rock and every year since, we have seen it.

The climb up the slick rock offers pretty vistas to keep me busy with my camera (umm, that's my excuse for frequent stops and I am sticking to it) !

Once at the top, the trail levels out as it winds in between sandstone rocks...

...until you get to a small ledge that climbs up to Delicate Arch.

On the right there is a small arch called Frame Arch. It has that name because you can look through it to take a picture of Delicate Arch. Its a steep, short climb I have never attempted before so thought I would give it a try this year.

This 65 foot tall natural wonder was once called "the Schoolmarm's Bloomers" by local cowboys. It was given its current name in by Frank Beckwith, leader of the Arches National Monument Scientific Expedition, who explored the area in the winter of 1933-34.

On the hike back down the ledge if you look to the right, there is another arch (unnamed).

What another great day ! Since the end of May, the temps have soared to the low 100s...not sure how much more hiking we will get in this month. We have had several great trail rides and seen some awesome petroglyphs...more on that later.