April 20 - May 4
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THE UTAH CHRONICLES April 20 - May 4 |
Tuesday, 20
For me this will be primarily a "been there, done that" excursion —
which is perfectly fine, because sharing my favorite haunts is its own reward.
Nevertheless, I might as well try for something new given the opportunity.
To that end, Eileen and I drove an extra 200 miles yesterday so as to have more time
for exploration today. A lesser bucket-list item is not far from the
main highway.
Well, that didn't take long at all. Having some extra time, I will treat us to a favorite local attraction just east of Crescent Junction.
After all this, we still are the first group to reach the new digs in Moab.
First dinner
Wednesday, 21
The default first choice of hiking trails happens to be the ultimate arch-walk;
there should be something up there for all eight of us.
Well, Dave's injury is terrible; but perhaps it won't incapacitate him for the duration. Time will tell.
Thursday, 22
It's Earth Day! To that end, I can think of no better way to celebrate than by visiting the most spectacular place in Utah that is not in a park.
Sunset at the house
Friday, 23
There are so many things to do in Arches Park; but we already have done our best with Devils Garden, and the exotic Fiery Furnace tour is currently inactive. The two remaining major sections of the park can easily be toured in a single day, so that's the plan.
T-Shirt at the Visitor Center
Saturday, 24
Having covered the most popular features of Arches Park, this seems like a good time
to drive up the hill for some variety. Although this outing rates to be primarily
a sight-seeing venture, I have a couple of shorter walks in mind as well.
Well, we ended up doing quite a bit walking after all — 6 miles.
T-shirt at the Arches Visitor Center
Sunday, 25
I am pleased that everyone is amenable to driving some extra mileage down to the Needles Region of Canyonlands Park, for its features are sufficienly unique to warrant any effort. Teri and Dave plan to explore a number of area attractions, leaving the rougher stuff to the others.
Those three who broke ranks and opted for a different walk ended up hiking 2½ miles farther up to the spectacular Druid Arch, but the Chesler Park loop offered just as much excitement and a prettier route overall.
It was something of a shame, though, to have been so close to the
one-of-a-kind Joint Trail and not included it; the mileage need not
have been that much greater.
Monday, 26
This morning, only the diehards Paul and Eileen will venture east of town
with me. That is something of shame as well, because Highway-128
east of Moab is one the most beautiful drives in the country.
This being our last day here, and needing to take care of some unfinished business, I sneak out and head downtown to satisfy a current obsession.
Tuesday, 27
After seven nights in Moab, it is moving day. Having long anticipated this
opportunity to detour to one my favorite places — namely, North America's
premier pictograph site — a non-stop rain scuttles any plans for
off-road activity. We must content ourselves with a stop at the local
tourist attraction in Hanksville.
In fact, by the time we get to Torrey, there already has been a snowfall in the area.
Overlooking town
The RV Park office
Wednesday, 28
This will be my one chance to tread new ground with the group —
a foray up into the cliffs overlooking the park center.
Thursday, 29
The local hike I would most like to repeat is not particularly difficult, but it
would necessitate a multi-mile car shuttle. Teri has volunteered
to assist in such a venture, but we can visit the most important feature on the route
with a simple out-and-back.
Our hike begins at the entrance to Grand Wash.
Well, the historical stuff was interesting, but I found the walking portion of Capitol Gorge to be something of a disappointment. Up in Grand Wash, a portion of the route is a real slot canyon, shady with high walls. I believe that we would have preferred that to the hot sun.
Friday, 30
Everyone who can read an area brochure knows about Lower Calf Creek Falls, and admittedly it might just be the prettiest spot in Utah. On the other hand, it's a 7½-mile walk, and there is a much shorter nearby option that I would prefer to share.
Well, the descent to the upper falls is much shorter, whereas the trail to the lower falls is virtually flat. I was delighted, however, to revisit my less crowded place, having done the other one twice.
Although Eileen and I did not venture over to the waterfall at Mossy Cave, apparently the others did; and kudos to them for that.
Saturday, 01
We have the shuttle tickets, and for some reason the Narrows is at the top of most people's lists; so off we go, seemingly with time to spare.
It is about now that Paul informs me that I have managed to leave a pair of eyeglasses, a cell phone, and a new $800 camera at the cabin in Torrey. What an idiot. The good news is that the items will be shipped to my home right away for a mere $12, plus a gratuity to the cleanup person for her honesty.
Sunday, 02
There is a choice of activities today, but I remain determined to save my 'surprise' outing until our last scheduled day on the tour. Also, it is expected to be cooler tomorrow, which will be good, because my special surprise is in the middle of a shadeless desert.
Perhaps we could have anticipated that the park would not deny entry to late arrivals; it turns out that just having a shuttle ticket was good enough.
Monday, 03
Today, Teri is heading for the St. George Airport, to pick up Ginny Curtis and Dennis Uthe for an adventure on Lake Powell. That involves a long drive westward, then a retracement through Kanab and on to Page.
For the rest of us, it is time for my advertised 'secret outing', about which I have shared little. I am delighted that all six others are game for the adventure.
There is no rush to get started, however; so Mary and Brenda have time for another visit to the BLM facility to try to get lucky in the lottery to visit The Wave tomorrow. By hook or by crook, they are successful! We now are in possession of permits for six hikers and two cars. One person will have to forgo the hike, however, and I don't like that; but I pretty much already know who it will be.
Well, we covered about half the main area. Nobody has said much about it;
perhaps they remain in shock at having spent much of the day on another planet.
Although I scored a number of new photographs for my collection, there still is much
unfinished business for me at West Clark Bench. One more 10-mile,
all-day outing might satisfy me.
Tuesday, 04
This is the day! Paul already has headed out in the rig to the agreed staging area. The rest of us must clean up and pack everything, because we will not be returning to the Kanab house.
The trailhead is not difficult to find, for it is just four miles farther down the road that we used yesterday. We are on the trail before 9 o'clock.
And the group tour is over. After a brief celebration consisting of ice tea
and good cheer, five of the group head eastward toward Monument Valley and ultimately
to Durango, Colorado. Eileen and I head for home, prudently stopping for the night
in Mesquite, Nevada, where we can anticipate the incredibly boring 10-hour
drive through Las Vegas and Bakersfield tomorrow.
CONCLUSION
Well, we walked in all five of Utah's national parks, two national monuments,
a wilderness area, and more. For various reasons, only three people participated
in all 18 group hikes — Eileen, Paul, and Ted. Of those three, Paul
was compelled to curtail his first outing at Devils Garden. I actually walked
farther than the others on the Day of the Narrows, but Eileen made that up by opting for
Druid Arch over Chesler Park down in the Needles. So by a slight margin, Eileen was
the group leader in terms of walking distance — about 77 miles.
I'm still working on all the missing flower identifications, but that will take a while.
My heartfelt thanks go to all for a wonderful trip, and especially to those who did the planning, cooking, and organizing . All I ever had to do was to suggest places to hike. What a deal.
We need to do this sort of thing more often. Eastern Sierra this summer, anyone? I know a couple of special spots.
UPDATE, MAY 16
I was wrong about identifying those white flowers as Desert Morning Glory; in fact, those were Pale Evening Primrose. Don't know how I got off track on that one.
