Escalante, Utah

Had been to the Escalante, Utah area a couple of times over the past ten years or so but there was still some areas I wanted to explore.  Namely Hole in the Rock Road which leads out to the historic Hole in the Rock.  It's about 124 miles of beat up washboard dirt road out of Escalante.  After 62 miles of it going in you get to turn around and do it all over again to get out. Was so rough in fact after about 30 miles going in I said the hell with this pulled over and unloaded the motorcycle.  Felt like the truck was going to rattle itself apart if I kept on pounding down the road.   Was much easier and faster on the bike.  Came back to the camper late that evening and camped in the area prior to getting back to Escalante the following day. The historic Hole in the Rock is where the Mormon party, in 1880, literally cut through the rock ledge which allowed them access down to the Colorado River. Once access was gained they crossed and continued on to establish Mormon settlements in other areas in the southwest. When standing at the top and looking down at to what they did is amazing.  Not only the actual feat of cutting the path of over 600 feet down to the river but they lowered wagons and livestock down this.  I crawled down about 3/4 of the way to the river and could not wrap my mind over what they had accomplished!  Crawling down and back up this makes you realize just what a feat it was. If you're into western history it's a must do trip to view it.  If into hiking and the outdoors Escalante is paradise.  Sooooooooo much to explore out here.

Prior to Escalante, I took a side trip through Capitol Reef National Park.  Not a lot of pictures while in Capital Reef but managed a few.

Hole in the rock.  The picture below doesn't do it justice.  This is one of those areas you've got to experience in person to truly appreciate the scale and steepness of the grade going down.  Getting a wagon and livestock team down this would have been a "real" adventure.  

Dance Hall Rock.  Natural rock structure where the Mormon party staged on the way out to Hole in the Rock.  The party would spend weeks here while the work was being performed about another 20 miles at Hole in the Rock.  (Sorry for the poor picture quality on the next few photos.  Camera setting was off but wanted to show the area so I utilized them anyway).

Road leading in.

 Camp for the night was set up back next to the slick rock.

There are some side roads to explore wherein you can gain access to some trails leading to Peek-a-Boo and Spooky slot canyons. If you're claustrophobic these are not hikes you'll enjoy.  Removal of the backpack and literally sliding along is required in places.  If caught in here during a flash flood it would be one of those "oh shit moments."

After exploring the Hole in the Rock Road and side canyons I got back out to Escalante and camped a couple more nights.  View from a great campsite on a bluff looking back towards Capitol Reef.  Big storms would roll in each evening and put on quite a show.

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.