Wild, Wonderful Whites of the West: MORE MOAB

Moab, Utah August 1-3

Well, we are still in Moab!!! As we were planning the last month of our Wild, Wonderful West trip, we had only two more places we wanted to visit: the Royal Gorge in Colorado and Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. When we started making the plans, we realized that we would arrive in South Dakota in the Black Hills during the biggest Harley Davidson rally of the year at Sturgis. Partying motorcyclists is not my idea of fun, plus everything is booked so we had to rearrange our plans. Basically, we could leave Moab and skip Mt. Rushmore and come home early OR just stay in Moab for about 12 more days and be able to see Mt. Rushmore. That was an easy decision because of the multitude of activities here as well as Dee who has been our personal tour guide for Moab, including all things four-wheeling! More fun than Disney World. With the great Rec center that I've visited every day, the wide range of restaurants, and all our new plans, we knew the rest of our time in Moab would be packed. This entry covers what we did the first few days of August (how did August get here?..I don't understand!!)

AUGUST 1st - Kane Creek Road, Hurrah Pass

Moab was formed by a HUGE earthquake about 300 million years ago, so it sits below and between mesas that have surprising geographical secrets. When in Moab, I can see up the sides of cliff faces and think there is nothing on the top but desert. Although the desert is up there, there is WAY more than you could ever imagine. Hidden canyons, caves, rivers...the list goes on and on, but there are also roads. Some easy to navigate in a stock Jeep like our Liberty. Some are so extreme (like Rusty Nail, one of our excursions) that the road doesn't even have an entry in the trail guide book because it is the ultimate, dangerous off-road track!!

Dee thought Dad would enjoy testing his driving rock skills with the Liberty, so on the first day, we headed out of town on Kane Creek Road. This is one of those two lane paved roads that eventually turns into a dirt road. The gravel trail winds all through the back country but is actually defined as a county road. I road with Dee in her definitely not stock Rubicon and Dad followed. Shortly after we got onto the dirt road, we saw houses carved into the rock!! What is this?? Apparently, many of the polygamist sects build their houses into the rock to be close but not part of the town; however, they do come into town to work and do interact fairly regularly with society. I didn't take any pictures because I thought it would be intrusive, but I have never seen anything like that before. We also passed huge holes in the rock that led to old mines as Moab used to mine incredible amounts of uranium.

We stopped to "air down" our tires for a smoother ride and increased traction, but also to check out an amazing rock with ancient writings on it called "Birthing Rock". Its name comes from the sketch of a woman giving birth. I was so surprised to see that there was no place on the rock that had been de-faced by silly teenagers.

Airing down the tires on Kane Creek Road for a better ride. Dad now likes to tell people that the tire is in case we roll over and it will soften the blow. HA!

Birthing rock

Here is a close up on the drawings on the rock

It is hard to see the drop off from the road, but let me tell you - it dropped right off! This road keeps climbing for a while with multiple views straight down into the valley below. This type of road is called shelf road.

This is the scenery on Kane Creek Road after it turns into a dirt road. This was an "easy" trail with some rocky areas, but no obstacles; however, plenty of places to fall of the mountain if the driver is not paying attention.

Kane Creek Road becomes the summit of Hurrah Pass. Here, there was plenty of space to pull off and look into the valley below. Also, a great place to test your skills of hiding behind tiny bushes while using nature.

This is a picture of the evaporation ponds for potash. Potash is an ingredient in many products including fertilizer. You can also see the Colorado River.

Along Hurrah Pass is a lodge called "Base Camp" which is an adventure centered destination for those who like to seriously get away from it all. The lodge has seven rooms or so with many outdoor activities for adventure seekers. There is a security animal, a turtle, yes, a turtle, so we had to keep a look out for him when we arrived. We didn't take any pictures because it was like taking a picture of someone's home and we also didn't see the turtle unfortunately. Dad checked out the website which detailed how to get to Base Camp and how the whole place was set up. Pretty honest with some humor: Base Camp Information

After visiting Base Camp, there was some confusion on where the road went, and I quickly learned how easily casual explorers could get lost out here. You think you know where you are and in reality everything looks alike. We read a sign somewhere that the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) suggests to "hug a rock" if you get lost. However, no need for us to worry and we kept on driving until we reached the catacombs. These are caves that have been eroded from sandstone. The erosion was unpredictable. Although fun to climb around, I would hate to be there when a boulder eroded just enough to fall on my head.

The red sandstone has eroded to form these structures.

Caves that have formed from erosion. Because there were big rains recently, there were hardly any foot prints. Dee told us there was a chance to find an arrow head, but no luck for us. I am guessing the majority of those have been found since this area is not too difficult to access.

A view inside the dark as night cave. With the help of the flash, you can see the different levels of rock that formed millions of years ago.

View from the inside of the cave out

Horizontal view out of the cave with a butte on the upper right part of the framed vista

On this trip, I bet I have logged about 20 minutes total driving. And that may be a stretch, so I was VERY excited when Dee offered to let me drive her Jeep back down Hurrah Pass to Kane Creek Road. Lucky for me, I will now be able to see the ledges drop off from the driver side. Maybe I'll just keep my eyes on the road....

As you can tell, I have to heave ho myself into her Jeep...fairly hilarious to see.

Super thrilled to take over! And no, I didn't drive it off the mountain, fortunately. What a great feeling to be in control. I have missed it.

At the base of Hurrah Pass, there is a cliff face with a thin space where a ladder has been built for access. This area was either first used by the Indians to reach their dwellings or by John Wayne for a movie set. Take your pick. Anyway, I was way too short to get up past the first part of the ladder, so I have no idea what was at the top.

As far as I could climb. No more.

This girl is on her way to the top, but my legs just weren't going to let it happen.

So our first extra day of many in Moab was a great success as we were able to see even more of this incredible area of landscape. I know Dad really enjoyed driving the Liberty and getting better at driving on such different terrains.

AUGUST 2 - Sand Flats Road and Castle Valley Lookout

Just on the edge of Moab is a protected BLM (the Bureau of Land Management) area called the Sand Flats Recreation Area. Here there are four wheel roads, bike trails, hiking, camping, and everything else adventurous. This area is, of course, VERY busy during the spring and fall "in" seasons in Moab, but in the middle of the summer not so much. Dee took her Jeep and Dad drove in the Liberty out this road to the Castle Valley overlook. Sand Flats road is an easy drive on unpaved road that is actually a loop down into the Castle Valley but that part is under construction. Castle Valley is an area about 20 miles from Moab where those who like to be away from the bustling area of town have homes.

Sand Flats Recreation Area

The turn off to the Castle Valley Overlook. The left turn onto this road is a blind turn and without that sign it would have been hard to see.

The absolutely incredible view of the Castle Valley area. The rock formation just to the right of that tree on the left of the picture is the Castle Rock itself...how the valley got its name. From here it was a good 6 seconds before we heard the rocks hit the ground below after we tossed them off. Hope there were no houses (or people) down there.

There are houses in the valley and the great view of the sweeping land into the valley.

The view to the right of Castle Valley. These are the La Sal Mountains and on some there is a distinct line where the trees stop.

Dee and I on top of the overlook. I think she's standing a tad too close to the edge!

Dad and I at the overlook. Notice we are not that close to the edge.

The Castle Rock with the Priest and Nuns formations.

Looking at just a few rocky spots on the Sand Flats road.

The one lane part of the road with rocks shooting up from both sides of the road.

This is the map of the Sand Flats Road. Castle Valley is in the upper right hand corner of the map.

One of my favorite pictures of the trip!! Loving this adventure so far.

It is hot, hot, hot here, and we have been outside quite a bit but making sure we always have plenty of sunscreen. The days have been so long (mainly because I have been working out every morning) but SO wonderful.

AUGUST 3 - Hell's Revenge Trail

Picture of the Hell's Revenge Trail in Sand Flats Recreation Area. Although the flash got in the way, there are short cuts but for Search and Rescue Vehicles only.

Entrance to Hell's Revenge

When I told Beverly, the dear lady at the front desk of the Rec center that we were wheeling on Hell's Revenge that day, she told me she was going to leave a note at the desk that said if I didn't show up the next day to send out the rescue!! Hell's Revenge is one of the most popular trails in the area. It is heavily traveled by many of the tour companies from Moab. The trail is described as having "dangerously steep climbs and descents over sandstone domes and ledges." It is like a roller-coaster in the Jeep on these structures called "fins" that really do look like fins. Duane Stewart (from the Rusty Nail trail) and his wife, Betsy, came with us along with Danny Grimes who also goes by "Grandpa." The entrance to Hell's Revenge is called "Chicken Fin," and I definitely understand why. While going over the fin there are drop offs to both sides so it would be a multiple roll if your vehicle went over the edge. Also, it is sandstone so it appears as if there is no traction, but there is because I am here writing this and not in the hospital! I can't explain how much more intense it is than these pictures illustrate. I was looking through them and skipping many because I thought they weren't that impressive myself. It's scary. VERY scary!!!!

Chicken Fin. You can see on Grandpa's Jeep how the fin is shaped and how we absolutely have to stay on the tire marks!

The drop off.....

Dee says to take a mental picture of the last thing you see before all you see is sky. Dad wants to know if that's in case it's the last thing you ever see....funny!!

All sky

More fins. All trails are marked with various markers whether it is signs or small lines of spray paint; however, almost all the time the tire marks give a great indication of the trail to follow especially out here with all the
sandstone.

How I spent the majority of the day. I think this says it all. There is often lots of chatting over the radio and Grandpa was chatting about all of these things and then said "There will be a quiz at the end!" And with my head buried in the seat I came back with "I hope it's not about the scenery!" which tickled everyone!!

Climbing fins

There were obstacles on Hell's Revenge - it was not only fins. I don't know if I am in this picture or not....hard to tell when I spent most of the day gripping the backseat with my head in my hands.

Grandpa making it look easy...and he has air conditioning!

The Sand Flats Recreation Area is beautiful and extends for miles and miles. It's a place that can become dangerous very quickly.

What a great lunch set up!!!

Thanks Duane for the brat lunch and shade!!!

Practicing our gymnastic landings at an overlook of the Colorado River. Perfect 10.

Colorado River. The BLM fines $$$ if you bring a vehicle out here.

Dinosaur print! Really amazing to see something like this from SO long ago.

There are obstacles on Hell's Revenge that are VERY famous and VERY difficult to handle. None of the drivers were feeling up to doing "Hell's Gate" which is a common obstacles for Jeeps to do cartwheels...flip, flip, flip...over, over, over.

This is Hell's Gate. Jeeps approach from the base and come up.

Hell's Gate and why we didn't do it... (you may want to turn your sound down as there is a lot of screaming!)

There are three hot tubs on this trail, and Dee, Duane, and Grandpa did one; however it was not this one which is the largest. It is labeled incorrectly and is acutally called "Mickey's"