Road Trip: Capitol Reef, Escalante, San Rafael Swell
Dazed and confused after 2 weeks of being sick, I managed to pull out of the driveway and head, once again, across the state on I-70 to canyon country. All thanks to Rachel, of course, and her logistical skills getting things packed.
We headed past the usual turn offs for Moab and instead drove a full 8 hours to get 20 odd miles down Notom Road in Capitol Reef NP. Talk about washboarded tracks. And then, to cap off the eve, the remote little campground down in the middle of the remote end of the park, was full! A bit of a surporse, that. But out there, it really doesn't matter. We crashed below the Waterpocket Fold, ready for an early morning drive up the Burr Trail's switchbacks. Such a cool area!
We ate breakie near the Upper Muley Twist trailhead then biked the 3 miles to the actual trailhead. The 9 mile loop is just amazing. Half of it is along the crest of the Fold with amazing views of the eroding mesas and washes leading up to the base of the Henry Mountains to the east.
Next up: a drive along the Burr Trail to Boulder and then another 20 miles of washboard down the Hole in the Rock Road to the Peekaboo trailhead. Where a SARS was just ramping up for lost 15-year old (he was found the next day, late in the eve, 20 miles down the canyon!). The SARS folks kicked us out of our intended trailhead camp spot so we found an even better, totally cool spot just below the 50 Mile Cliff to the west. Beauty. Seclusion. A few stray cows.
In the morning, due to the SARS, we headed back north on the washboard and hit the Upper Harris Wash to go explore Zebra and Tunnel Slot, 2 really nice slots cut into the Navajo slickrock. We had fun taking a big shortcut across the open rock to get back to the return trail instead of tramping through the sandy wash.
On the road again, up and over the mountains to the north and east of Boulder to Torrey and on to the Swell. For the first time, we drove behind the Swell and camped in the Sinbad area right behind the main Wild Horse, Crack, and Chute canyons. What a sweet spot. A bit busy with motocross and ATV folks but awesome landscape.
Monday's venture was down Crack Canyon, past the 3 main drops, then back up again by 2 for the 7-hour drive home. In daylight this time, good for soaking in the beauty of the greening desert and the freshly coated white of the Rockies.
We headed past the usual turn offs for Moab and instead drove a full 8 hours to get 20 odd miles down Notom Road in Capitol Reef NP. Talk about washboarded tracks. And then, to cap off the eve, the remote little campground down in the middle of the remote end of the park, was full! A bit of a surporse, that. But out there, it really doesn't matter. We crashed below the Waterpocket Fold, ready for an early morning drive up the Burr Trail's switchbacks. Such a cool area!
We ate breakie near the Upper Muley Twist trailhead then biked the 3 miles to the actual trailhead. The 9 mile loop is just amazing. Half of it is along the crest of the Fold with amazing views of the eroding mesas and washes leading up to the base of the Henry Mountains to the east.
Next up: a drive along the Burr Trail to Boulder and then another 20 miles of washboard down the Hole in the Rock Road to the Peekaboo trailhead. Where a SARS was just ramping up for lost 15-year old (he was found the next day, late in the eve, 20 miles down the canyon!). The SARS folks kicked us out of our intended trailhead camp spot so we found an even better, totally cool spot just below the 50 Mile Cliff to the west. Beauty. Seclusion. A few stray cows.
In the morning, due to the SARS, we headed back north on the washboard and hit the Upper Harris Wash to go explore Zebra and Tunnel Slot, 2 really nice slots cut into the Navajo slickrock. We had fun taking a big shortcut across the open rock to get back to the return trail instead of tramping through the sandy wash.
On the road again, up and over the mountains to the north and east of Boulder to Torrey and on to the Swell. For the first time, we drove behind the Swell and camped in the Sinbad area right behind the main Wild Horse, Crack, and Chute canyons. What a sweet spot. A bit busy with motocross and ATV folks but awesome landscape.
Monday's venture was down Crack Canyon, past the 3 main drops, then back up again by 2 for the 7-hour drive home. In daylight this time, good for soaking in the beauty of the greening desert and the freshly coated white of the Rockies.
