Some Revenge and A Little Poison

Gopher Flats
Moab, UT
May 6, 2018

So it's been a little over a week since we last posted.  It's been busy around here.  

Last Wednesday, our sweet Sally had surgery to remove bladder stones.  She was very droopy the first three days, but seems to be feeling more like her old self.  She has always been a model patient and so appreciative.  

We have also been busy wheeling some of our favorite trails...ok, I know I say that about every trail we run, but we just love this place !  Hell's Revenge, Moab's iconic trail, is usually at the top of everyone's list when visiting Moab.  We have done it twice in the past week.  First we joined Rory, Dee, David and Erica, and Chris.  Rory entertained us by driving up Escalator, driving down Escalator, and for the grand finale he backed up Escalator.  Rory and his buggy are legendary !

David drives up Escalator as Rory follows backing up it.

David played going up and down and Rory spotted Chris on her first successful climb on Escalator.  Dee  hasn't been happy with her past several runs up but was quite pleased Blanche performed flawlessly on this day !  We took a pass and I don't mean the flirty kind... Joe trusted his inner voice that said today was not the day for our first attempt.    

Rory spots Chris up Escalator...a personal goal for her.  Chris has a well built 2-door Rubicon and never shies away from a challenge. 

 After Hells, we headed over to Potato Salad Hill...a first for us.  Rory spotted us all up this ledgy hill that is notorious for rollovers.  Thanks to Rory we all made successful climbs !

Dee makes Potato Salad Hill look easy as Rory stands at the top giving her a spot. 

David (on the right) drives up Potato Salad Hill while Rory backs down it. 

Next up was Poison Spider trail.  We joined Dee, Chris and Canadians Robert and Karen.  With just the four of us we made quick time enjoying the beautiful day and scenery.  

Trail Warriors

 

Chris begins her climb on The Waterfall.

Robert and Karen climb a ledgy section just past the chute.

 

Yucca lined the trail...

The Havasu 4 Wheelers were here for a week and we had the great pleasure to join them on Hells.
Glen led them through the trail. There were about 7 jeeps of all sizes in the Havasu group...all excited and eager and up for the challenge !  Every jeep in the group did Hell's Gate and Escalator.  And Chris' dad, Howard even tried Mickey's Hot Tub, it was so close, but in the end he needed a strap.  I am way excited to post that Joe drove Escalator and Mickey's Hot Tub for the first time with Glen's expert spotting !  We can now say we have driven everything Hells has to offer ! 

The drop into Hell's Gate is amazing.

Below Glen drives the line. 





 These obstacles force you to pay close attention to what you are doing no matter how many times you have done them before.  Below one of the Havasu wheelers gets a passenger wheel lift and on top of that he drives a manual and his jeep went dead.  He did an awesome job of managing the clutch, brake, and gas to drive himself out.  

Mickey's Hot Tub was up next.  After Glen and Joe drove it, Howard gave it a try.

Glen did a great job of describing The Escalator and telling everyone what to expect. 

What a great day with old and new friends !  Until next time...

  HAPPY TRAILS !

Up next...creek crossings, a pinch, ledge crawling acrobats, and nerves of steel ! 

Richardson Amphitheater Loop Hike

Gopher Flats
April 24, 2018
Moab, UT

The Amphitheater Loop is about 22 miles from the intersection of Hwy 191 and SR 128.   

The trailhead is located across the street from Hittle Bottom Recreation Site.  

 Hittle Bottom RA includes a campground, facilities, and access to the Colorado River.  Back in the early 1900s, it was the home of the Tom Kitsen family.  

Tom carried the mail with his team of horses from the Cisco Post Office to the Castleton PO.  He used this place as a halfway stop to change his teams.  All that remains today is the rock walled dug-out. 

Tom's mother was buried here.

 A few years later, Frank Hittle and his family settled onto the property.  Their plans to farm and make a home here only lasted a few years as the barren desert won over their efforts to provide for themselves.  When reading about the historic site, I read that Frank's daughter visited the old homestead in 1988 with her children and grandchildren.

After parking and soaking in a little history, we were set to explore the 3 mile loop through the valley known as " The Richardson Amphitheater".  

The loop begins shortly after crossing the street.  Going counter-clockwise allows for climbing up the one short steep section which is easier (at least for us) than sliding down it.

Right from the get-go, the  Castle Valley and Fisher Towers rock formations capture your attention.  

Before you realize it, the trail leads right up to some really cool and very old rock formations.  These Moenkopi formations are hundreds of millions of years old.  And we are about to have an up close and personal look.   

From here, the trail slowly descends into a wash.  Sometimes it was hard to find our way in the wash.  We kept an eye out for cairns (piles of rocks) as the Moenkopi and Cutler sandstone walls grew taller and taller.

 

 I was easily entertained by the wildflowers.

Whipple's Fishhook Cacti are just beginning to bloom. 

Tufted Evening Primrose

Lots and lots of Four O'Clocks full of buds...we were a few days to early. 

The Cliff Rose smelled so nice.

 I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

The wash dead ends at the short steep climb mentioned at the beginning of the post.   It's a bit of a rock scramble and challenge to find the best way for short legs...mine that is. 

The rock scramble changes to a steep climb where footing is key to avoid the marbles...those small rocks that can a slide under your feet and send you back to start all over. 

 Then a slight turn right... 

and there we were...the sweeping views part of the trail.  Its absolutely gorgeous as you meander the curved path that lead us from one side of the mesa to the other. 

The trail meanders the left side of the mesa...

...and winds around to the right side.

And then there is the beautiful view behind me...

 In addition to all the cool rocks, sweeping views and wildflowers we did not see a single person on the trail.  We both agreed on the ride home it was a mighty fine way to spend a few hours.  

So until next time, take care and...

 HAPPY TRAILS !