Tag: utah

Our neighbors really did leave early, before the dogs woke us up, and so quietly that we didn’t realize they’d left. Originally our trip plan was to get back by Saturday so we could have Sunday to recoup. When we woke up on Friday, April 18th, the weather radio again prompted us to change our plans. Storms were expected at least by the next day. Not wanting to travel in the rain and wind, we decided to go ahead and head home via Comb Wash Road – Aneth – back to where we’d crossed into Utah at Ismay Trading Post and on to McElmo Canyon.

   

You can see my map of the overall route on google maps.

Comb Wash Road offered the last of our spectacular views. The drive home was HOT, and we stopped to dip our feet in McElmo Creek. When we got home, the dogs we’d left behind hardly even noticed our arrival. It had been a fun and relaxing trip, and we’re already thinking about areas we missed and may explore next year.

By Thursday, April 17th, we’d hit most of our highlights and were trying to decide what else we should do on the way back home. Knowing it would be too warm to sit in the canyon with the dogs that day, we packed up and headed to Natural Bridges National Monument. Since we did still have the dogs, we didn’t take any hikes—although the helpful Ranger at the station let us know where our dogs were allowed, but we did drive through the park and pull over at each vista, taking in the Owachomo, Sipapu, and Kachina Bridges.

   

It seemed a large number of the tourists that day were European. In fact, after getting in our bus at the first overlook, an enthusiastic man—who I assumed was German—stopped us for a quick photo op. Once we’d made the loop, we headed up Deer Flats to find a camping spot. We were surprised at the number of campers, but not too far up, found a pretty large space with lots of shade to allow the dogs to explore.

Right before we were ready to test out our new solar shower, a caravan of  three cars pulled into our site. They parked a little ways away and introduced themselves. They let us know there was a trailhead into the canyon from this site. Their plan was to hike it this evening, camp and get out early in the morning. Even though Pakak made friends with the newcomers—who offered her some of their roast chicken—and we were invited to their fire, we turned in after a shower and dinner. It seemed they turned in pretty early as well.

  

You can see my map of the overall route on google maps.

Wednesday, April 16th we toyed with the idea of staying at the Cathedral Valley campground one more day, but listening to the weather radio, it sounded like it was going to be cold and snowy.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Then it was highways to Hanksville for gas and beer, and back down south to the Glen Canyon Rec Area. We had hoped the White Canyon road would take us closer to a finger of the lake and a more established campground that was marked on the gazetteer; but with Lake Powell so low, we were still miles from any water when we picked this campsite. It was much warmer, and we spent the afternoon sun bathing and exploring.

• 

• 

• 

• 

As I took in the red rocks and salt cedars in the wash and thought about the bridge we’d just crossed again near Hite, all I could think of was Edward Abbey.

“What once was a mighty river. Now a ghost. Spirits of sea gulls and pelicans wing above the desiccated delta a thousand miles to seaward. Spirits of beaver nose upstream through the silt-gold surface…Deer walked the canyon shores. Snowy egrets in the tamarisk, plumes waving in the river breeze…”

Tuesday, April 15th was our layover day in the Cathedral Valley campground. We spent a lazy day drinking margaritas and baking biscuits in the dutch oven. Our neighbors went out for a hike so we took the opportunity to walk the dogs around the campground, and I picked my mandolin. We were visited by a park ranger, and took every opportunity to walk to the edge and take in the view.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The winds were a little calmer when we woke Monday, April 14th in Cedar Mesa Campground in Capitol Reef National Park. We packed up and took Notom Road north to the park headquarters. I didn’t get any pictures, but the orchards in Fruita were just beginning to bloom.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Back on the road, the rock changed from white to red, and spires began to march out of the mesas. At the end of the valley, we climbed the hill to the campground. The first ones there, we chose the spot with the best views.

• 

• 

• 

Before dark, a car from New Mexico, joined us in the campground. They were quiet campers who kept to themselves, so we worked to keep the dogs leashed and quiet as well.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Unfortunately we missed the lunar eclipse. I remember waking up to realize the light was weird—darker than it had been with a little bit of an eerie glow that was not the sunrise. The moon had risen directly over the bus, and I was too tired to wake everybody up for a view. In the morning, Chris said he too noticed the occurrence of the eclipse, but decided to stay in bed.