Monday, April 28/2014

I awoke to sunshine today although the temperature says it is only 37F.  At that moment, there was no wind either!!   I had got up earlier to turn the heat on so that when I finally did crawl out from under the covers, it was warm and I could sit and drink my coffee in comfort.
Hogan, I think missed his sleeping buddy Kay last night as I had to get up three times to cover the poor bugger up.  He was cold.  Of course he didn't have this issue when Kay stayed with us because he simply buried himself under her covers!!
I enjoyed the morning coffee and then…I heard it……the bloody wind!!   Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  I actually had myself convinced that we just may be lucky enough today to travel without it….NOT!!!

heading out...

travelled through some interesting terrain again today

Coming out of Vernal, Utah, we knew we had a big climb ahead of us.  We have been this way before although the last time we were heading south.  There was a sign along the road that informed us that we were going to encounter 10 switchbacks over the next four miles and that the speed on the corners was 20mph.  It seemed like we were climbing over this Unitas Mountains for hours!!  The terrain was marked along the way as to what kind of fossils had been found in this area.   It was all very interesting.   The truck actually handled the long steady climb well and that included the 5-8% down grades.   We were 8428 feet at the summit and we did encounter a bit of snow at the top.  We saw two rather scruffy looking mule deer along the way.  They looked like they were losing their winter hair.

As we left Vernal, Utah there was a sign that warned us about
10 switchbacks and 4 miles of up hill climb.   Most of the
corners were posted at 20mph.

We were out of Utah once we climbed over the mountain and into Wyoming.  Here we travelled along the Flaming Gorge Reservoir.  There is a whole recreation area around the reservoir and I bet it is beautiful in the summer.  Not so much in the early Spring though!!

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

The bridge over the reservoir

The Reservoir Dam…..road construction ahead
Stop on Red

Go on Green

The highway….way down there

The terrain through this part of Wyoming was very mountainous and we encountered lots of blowing snow and steep grades up and down.  The first climb was 8119 feet at the summit.  It was through open range and was quite spectacular to see although it was very WINDY!!

Snow….What!!

Blowing Snow

At 7300 feet on our next climb there was more blowing snow.   Gosh, I thought it was Spring!!

Mini Blizzard

Definitely, snowing them there hills!!

miles of lonely open country

More blowing snow

The tallest summit we reached was 8470 feet and it felt like we have been climbing uphill all darn day.  We did manage to see several herds of antelope in the grasslands today and they are always nice to see. They truly are survivors in this harsh environment.

Tonight's Campsite - the fairgrounds at Shoshoni, Wyoming
(not sure how this pic would up out of place!!)

We found the fairgrounds at Shoshoni, Wyoming to be more than adequate for our night's stay.  We hoped that the wind would ease a bit but that was not to be the case.  It blew all night long!!
All in all, it was a good day of travel and we are getting closer to home.  Life is Good.

Flaming Gorge Dam

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Sunday, April 27/2014

The bloody wind is blowing again this morning.  Just once I would like to feel no wind on my face!!  Oh well, it isn't raining and that will make packing up a lot more pleasant.

Heading out…..

We packed up, loaded the quads and headed out.  Kay had left an hour earlier so was home long before we really had travelled too far.  It was horribly windy all day today and I must say this truck is probably not getting very good gas mileage!!  It was brutal and we were headed "uphill" for most of the day!!

Last pic of "nipple" mountain.  It looked
exactly like a big boob!!

The wild burros came to say goodbye

another awesome looking jeep

Our trip today was not without incredible scenery although being up hill on a very steep pass had us down to first gear and 25 miles per hour.   Gee, at one point I thought I might have to get out and push!!  The snow got thicker as we continued our journey to the heavens and at one point, was blowing off the evergreens.  The only good thing about this climb was that the pavement was dry.  We reached the summit at 9114 feet and I for one was glad that bit of nonsense was over.  We now had to deal with a very long 10% grade down!!   The engine braking on the truck motor is actually quite good so the downhill part of this journey was pretty cool.  There were lots of "watch out for the elk and deer" signs along the route but we didn't see a single creature.

heading up Indian Canyon on highway 191

There is snow up here

The summit recorded at 9114 feet

Tonight's camping spot - just outside of Vernal, Utah

We made camp tonight just outside of Vernal, Utah.  We have one more big steep climb to tackle tomorrow and then we will be in Wyoming and that much closer to home.  Oh ya…..I think there is a Walmart in Vernal if I remember correctly!!

Saturday, April 26/2014

The wind blew all night and there was some mention of rain for today.  We had a smooth, easy trail planned for our final trip today but we awoke to rain and SNOW!!!    What!!!  
Guess there will be no ride today because I am not going to be freezing my arse off for one last ride.   I am quite happy to sit in the warm camper and read my kindle.
Something was amiss with the charging system in the camper so John was busy fixing that.  With that job finally done and the problem solved, it was well into the afternoon.
It finally quit raining and snowing and it was time for one last fire.  The wind was still being a bit of a pain but we persevered and sat outside all evening.
Being Saturday night, that meant it was steak night and they were cooked to perfection.  What an awesome way to finish off our last night in the San Rafael Swell - Good Friends and Good Food!!
Tomorrow, we are out of here headed back to Canada and Kay is headed back to Nephi where she has to get ready to start her job for the summer.

SNOW…..WHAT!!!!

Camp fire was started early to ward of the chill

Marie with the umbrella…ella, ella.   Trying to stay out
of the wind.

Gathering wood

Wrapped up against the wind.
Kay hates the wind!!

Friday, April 25/2014

We awoke to more wind today.  Gosh, I don't think the wind ever really stops blowing here!!
Today we are headed to Eagle Canyon and then off to check out the historic site of the Copper Globe Mine.
We dressed according to the wind and headed out.   Looks like there will be more wind burn to deal with.  Gosh…..the three of us just got over our windburn!!
We had about 10 miles of "fast" trail to do across the bench lands then,  accessed the trail that would once again take us past Swasey's Cabin.  Once we were on that trial, it was low gear and four wheel drive.  Much of today's ride was on this kind of rough trail.
We accessed Eagle's Canyon and found the arch that is displayed on all the trail signs around here so that was awesome.  Kay actually saw it and pointed it out.   John drove right past it!!  Kay and I of course stopped for a picture and while there, a dirt bike dude came by, stopped and asked us to take a pic of him as well.  With that done, we continued along the bottom of this picturesque canyon.  We were surrounded by tall sheer walls of rock.
We eventually caught up to John and continued on under the huge bridge that supports Interstate 70 across the canyon.  It was awesome to look up and see all the traffic on the bridge.
We continued on to the Copper Globe Mine site and checked out this historic site.  Man, I really do not think I would have been a very brave miner "back in the day".  Just from what is left at the site, I can only imagine the harshness that had to be endured.
We continued on towards the Lucky Strike Mine but the signage on the trails was sorely lacking and it was so very easy to get off on the wrong trail.  In this area all the wrong trails were dead ends, often ending on a very high, very windy mesa with no way down.  Well, you know me and ledges…..
Although we tried several trails, we never did find the right one.
We met another couple of riders also trying to find the mine and they too were confused.
Despite the wrong turns, we were once again blessed to see many of the wild horses that call this place their home.  There was a newborn with this herd and it was awesome to see.  I did a quick "google" of the wild horses here in the San Rafael Swell and learned that the Bureau of Land Management keeps the herd at about 125 animals as they feel that this environment can safely sustain this many.  Every few years or so, some are rounded up and sold so that the herd remains healthy.  They keep the burro count at around 70 animals as well.
Anyway, despite of lost wanderings, we managed to see one of the most incredible herds of wild horses.
We backtracked and soon were riding the trail that would eventually take us back to the underpass of I-70.  It has been a long day and we have been sandblasted all day!!   The wind never let up and the blowsand was unrelenting.  It is fine, fine sand that resembles icing sugar and it easily whipped around with the wind.  We will all have windburn again tonight.
We made it back to the arch that John had missed earlier in the day and I was able to get pics of him and the quad with it.  Once that was done, we head towards home.   Man, it was soooo good to finally get out of the damn wind.
We watched a bit of the Stanley Cup Finals then John made grilled cheese sandwiches and we soon all took our tired, whipped, windblown asses to bed!!    Man, what a day but….we saw the wild horses and that somehow made it all worth while.      Life is good!!

Eagle Canyon Arch

In the canyon

Support beams for I-70

Note the semi on top of the bridge

Narrow canyon trail

rocky, bumpy trail

once again, we are headed under I-70

Blow sand

the miner's house

a foundation for a long gone building

winter wood

the mine shaft

Inside the miner's cabin.   I had to duck!!

View from on top of one of the many dead end Mesas

A long forgotten piece of equipment

the wild horses

Holy Shit……that is a LONG way down

A closer look at the wild horses

John at the arch

John at the arch (minus the damn light!!)

Marie and Kay at the arch

The Icebox (often called Swasey's Office)

The path to the Icebox.

some sort of sluice??

Another old car left abandoned and lonely