Grand Gulch Area of Utah

I forced myself to leave the Moab area as I really enjoy it and the surrounding area.  Decided to head about a 100 miles to the south and check out a little town called Bluff.  I had read about an area outside Bluff called Comb Ridge and I wanted to spend some time camping and hiking in the area. The area has a lot of Ancient Pueblo Indian ruins and petroglyphs to check out. Tilted at an angle of almost 20 degrees, the ridge is an ancient rock formation tapered along the desert landscape of southeastern Utah.  A linear north to south monocline, this immense sandstone formation is nearly one hundred and twenty miles long.  In the Navajo tongue, this cataclysmic upheaval is translated "Rock Extends in the Form of Narrow Edge."  This blunt rock extension occurred nearly 65 million years ago when tectonic plateds deep in the earth slipped, leaving a rugged scar across the face of the once smooth stone. I really liked the area because it is remote and nothing is really marked.  You simply go out and explore on your own to find the ruins and art work.  Very unlike a national park where every trail has signage, maps, warnings, etc., etc.  Here, you're on your own to go wherever you want. Additionally, Valley of the Gods is nearby and I personally like it much better than Monument Valley.  After spending a couple of nights in Bluff catching up on laundry and other matters I headed out to the Grand Gulch and Valley of the Gods for a few nights.

Road leading into Valley of the Gods

Some photo work from camp 

Hiking in the Comb Ridge area is really good.  You simply pick out a wash or canyon area and take off.  Nothing is really marked and you kind of just go out and explore.  Hiked into this big cave high above the canyon below and hung out for the afternoon.

Some rock art found in the back end of the cave.

Camp in the Valley of the Gods

Night shot

Some ancient Indian dwellings in the area

Some riding from camp one afternoon

Moki Dugway near Bluff

San Juan River near Bluff

Hanging out w/Petey waiting for the light conditions to improve

Moab

Had planned on spending some more time in the New Mexico area but had a good friend of mine, Kurt, who was going to be in Moab with his wife for a week so I cut New Mexico short and headed back to the north.  We both love to take pictures so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to hang out with him for a few days. Kurt is an outstanding photographer and I always seem to learn something from him when we're out shooting.    We were both in Moab at this same time last year doing a motorcycle trip on the White Rim Trail so it's the Second Annual Moab gathering.  Kurt was in his Springer van so were able to camp and had perfect weather while there. Ended up spending three days with Kurt and his wife but I ended up staying in Moab for eight nights total.  Moab and the surrounding area is a photographers paradise. We've now decided that we need to make it an annual event.

Camp outside of town.

Quick drive back into Moab for some coffee with Petey.

One of the highlights of the trip was our hike on the False Kiva Trail in Canyonland National Park.  I had seen pictures of this over the years and had always wanted to do it.  The park service does not advertise it or place it on their maps but won't tell you that you can't go.  We saw one other photographer on the trail and basically had the kiva area to ourselves.

 Kurt in action at the Kiva Cave area and on a hike up Hunter Canyon.

We spent time in Arches and Canyonlands National Park.  After Kurt left for home I ended up camping a few more nights up in Arches National Park and in the Kane Creek area where I also got some riding in over Hurrah Pass and the surrounding area.

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.

  Riding over Hurrah Pass west of Moab.

More general pics during my stay in Moab.  Beautiful area!

Canyon De Chelly & New Mexico

After leaving the Gila Box area I decided to head north to check out Canyon De Chelly and the surrounding area.  Had never been to to the area and I was close so it was a go. No riding and limited hiking in the park itself as it's on the Navajo Reservation and they control it pretty tight.  The views from the north and south rim however are worth the drive.  If you want to go down in the canyon to explore you have to do so with an approved guide and it's not cheap.  There is one trail which you can take down but are not allowed to go any further once you reach the canyon floor.  The Navajo are still allowed use of the land within the park itself so they restrict where one can go if you aren't Navajo. The Navajo have quite a bit of control here and the park allows them to set up trinket sales at the overlooks and a ranger told me they have a lot of car break-ins and littering by the Navajo youth. Based on the number of disposed beer cans it's apparent that there is a major drinking problem here as well.  Certainly takes away from the beauty of the area. Signs everywhere reminding one to lock up all your valuables.  Shame, as it certainly doesn't appear to me, that they appreciate the beauty of the land they own and live on.  Pretty views but doubtful I'd go out of my way to come back here.  

En-route to the canyon went up through Clinton, Az where they have a huge copper mine operation. Had stopped to go on a tour but wasn't anything scheduled for the day.   Size of these rigs is impressive.

Some ruins in Canyon De Chelly

Worked my way over in New Mexico for a little while and explored some back roads but only stayed  for a couple of days.  I'll need to get back out this way in order to spend some more time.  Lots to explore from the little I saw.  Had a friend who was coming out to Utah for a week so decided to cut it short  and work my way up towards Moab.

Lots of petroglyphs throughout the region.  When roaming around on back roads one just needs to be on the lookout and you'll probably come across some.

Gila Box

Had met a guy while in Baja who told me about a place called The Gila Box in Arizona.  I had never heard of it before and I had lived in Arizona many years ago.  He swore it was the best kept secret in Arizona if one was into the outdoor scene.  After leaving Tombstone I headed north to the town of Safford.  The Gila Box is located just to the north of this town.  Dry camped outside of Safford for a couple of nights to explore the area prior to going to "The Box".   Range outside of Safford goes up to over 10,000 feet in elevation so I did some riding and hiking with Petey in the area.

Of course, Petey is always checking out where we are headed for the day.

Above picture was taken while on the bike at 9300 feet. 

While in the Gila Box area I saw one other couple in two days.  Great camping, riding and plenty of solitude.