good-times-rollin

Thursday, May 26, 2016

A Lazy Sunday Drive on Thursday!

Portal Rv Resort
Moab, UT
May 19, 2016

What a treat it was to join in on a pre-run to Polar Mesa that the Red Rock 4 Wheelers were doing. John and Carol, led our group of 5 jeeps, followed by Ber, us, Dee, and Mike and Joanne, the tail gunners for the day. It was like a lazy Sunday drive only it was Thursday! Joe and I have driven Onion Creek and Thompson Canyon several times, but had never gone as far as Polar Mesa (You will love this Ronnie and Carol.). We clocked a total of nearly 75 miles round trip.

Onion Creek continues to be one of my favorite rides if for no other reason, it is the first trail Joe and I ever drove when we were in Moab for the first time 4 years ago. Right from the get go, there are creek crossings. Mike counted 32 crossings. I tried once to count them, but the "wows" and camera action took precedence.

My favorite section of Onion Creek is Gypsum Squeeze. It is colorful and sometimes a little stinky (thus the name Onion Creek) from all the sulphur.

Just as we turned onto Onion Creek, I attempted to take pictures with my Nikon. Sadly, I discovered I had left its SD memory card at home plugged into our laptop. So all our memory shots are taken with my iPhone.

We spotted several Chukars, a beautiful bird in the partridge family, along the creek side.

Onion Creek and the trail cut through Fisher Canyon so if you have never seen the towers, its a great way to get an up close look. Climbing out of the canyon is a jaw dropping experience...well at least for me it is. A narrow shelf road adds to the excitement.

Onion Creek dead ends. You can turn around or take a left hand turn and follow the Thompson Canyon trail. There is a gate at the top of the ridge before you drop down scenic switchbacks. Rules are, leave the gate as you find it. The wildflowers were unbelievably gorgeous covering the banks with yellows, purples, reds, whites and pinks. There is a spur trail to Hideout Campground, but signage for the main trail is clear.

Most of Thompson Canyon trail is gravel/rocks with one steep, narrow climb. When you get to a "T" in the road, turn left for Polar Mesa. Polar Mesa is mostly a dirt trail with continuing spectacular scenery around every curve. The mix of dark grey clouds, blue skies and shadows added to the beauty.

Our lunch spot was on top of Polar Mesa at the derrick left behind from the mining days.

L-R : Mike and Joanne, Joe, John and Carol and Dee

We thoroughly enjoyed the stories Ber (in the red jacket) shared about his dad traveling these same roads in a hauling truck back in the early 1900s. Ber is amazing and fast becoming one our heroes.

Our route from there made a loop on a less traveled trail, but very legal, back to the mail trail...

...and down we went and crossed the meadow with the open range cattle.

This section of our ride took us through a Ponderosa Pine forest.

Then we turned right onto Castletown-Gateway Road #207. The aspens in the LaSals are just beginning to leaf out.

Shortly after the pavement begins, there is a look-out stop with a vault toilet. Mike showed us the designated path through a new gate, which led to dinosaur tracks.

While there Ber and Dee checked under Ber's jeep. He said it just wasn't running right. No worries...he made it home just fine.

The views of Castle Valley as we drive down the mountain...

If you ever find yourself in Moab and want a quiet, peaceful drive through breathtaking scenery, this is the one. Onion Creek and Thompson Canyon/Polar Mesa are listed under the easy trails in the Charles Wells book Guide to Moab,UT Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails.

Until next time, happy days and...

HAPPY TRAILS!

Monday, May 23, 2016

Devil's Garden...Arches National Park

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
May 18, 2016

The name Devil's Garden doesn't exactly conjure up images of beauty and fun...but beauty and fun is exactly what we found. In May 2013 Joe and I took the "primitive" route counter clockwise. A huge mistake for newbies to hiking. There was one really scary spot where I froze and if it had not been for the help of a couple from Idaho I would probably still be there. Anyhow, we haven't been back to Devil's Garden until now. As you might have guessed, we did not take the primitive loop. Instead, we chose the in and out to Dark Angel. Much more to our liking...a round trip of about 7 miles with several spur trails to arches.

We were up and out the door by 8:30 to beat the crowds. But when we arrived, the parking lot was nearly full. Thank goodness, most people take the .9 mile walk to Landscape Arch and turn around.

A very well maintained section of trail takes you to Landscape Arch.

This is an amazing arch. Landscape Arch is an arc natural arch. These are considered old and near the end of their lifecycle...any day, any year, any century this arch could collapse. In its thinnest section, the arch is only 6 feet deep yet it supports a span of rock 290 feet long.

As we were standing there admiring this stunning piece of nature's art, something caught our eye.

I see you!

This little guy was enjoying breakfast...

From here the real hiking begins. Immediately there is a steep climb up a narrow fin and the Double O Arch hike begins. This was the first of many tall, narrow fins we climbed. So much fun and the most awesome views. All the time knowing we would be enjoying them on the way out too!

The trail isn't all slick rock and fins. There is lots of desert to traverse as well. This time of year and with all the rain we have had, it was lined with lots and lots of yellow and green...

and a few other colors too.

A short side spur took us to Black Arch.

From the Double O Arch trailhead, it's about 2 miles to the arches.

And from there it's a half mile to Dark Angel. This was our goal for the day. We never made it here the first time. Dark Angel is a 150 foot sand stone tower. It sits atop a short hill above Devil's Garden standing as sentinel over the arches and fins.

This is one of the prettiest lunch spots we have ever had.

Wonderful views of Salt Valley...