IntrepidXJ
06-19-2011, 05:30 PM
Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2008
Amanda head to work, but I headed out and did a little local exploring for a few hours today. I started out by driving north out of Fruita towards the Book Cliffs and into Coal Gulch. Then I ended up climbing out of Coal Gulch onto Ross Ridge.
I had initially passed the turnoff for Coal Gulch and went up the wrong canyon a little ways before figuring out my mistake and turning around, but I did find a side trail in that area that I am going to have to research and check out some other time. After finding the right road I continued climbing up into the Book Cliffs. The trail started out easy and got rougher the higher you climbed. Once I made it to Ross Ridge, the trail got very rough, steep and narrow. The trail eventually dead-ends at a nice overlook of the Grand Valley. Here's a few pictures from my day...
One of the side trails I will have to get back to in the future.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120440-1/IMG_4386.JPG
Climbing out of Coal Gulch.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120468-1/IMG_4400.JPG
The Book Cliffs
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120483-1/IMG_4408.JPG
Very steep, narrow and rutted out
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120507-1/IMG_4421.JPG
The trail down into Hunter Canyon (Also known as 21 Road)
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120519-1/IMG_4427.JPG
Coal mine
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120529-1/IMG_4432.JPG
Amanda head to work, but I headed out and did a little local exploring for a few hours today. I started out by driving north out of Fruita towards the Book Cliffs and into Coal Gulch. Then I ended up climbing out of Coal Gulch onto Ross Ridge.
I had initially passed the turnoff for Coal Gulch and went up the wrong canyon a little ways before figuring out my mistake and turning around, but I did find a side trail in that area that I am going to have to research and check out some other time. After finding the right road I continued climbing up into the Book Cliffs. The trail started out easy and got rougher the higher you climbed. Once I made it to Ross Ridge, the trail got very rough, steep and narrow. The trail eventually dead-ends at a nice overlook of the Grand Valley. Here's a few pictures from my day...
One of the side trails I will have to get back to in the future.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120440-1/IMG_4386.JPG
Climbing out of Coal Gulch.
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120468-1/IMG_4400.JPG
The Book Cliffs
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120483-1/IMG_4408.JPG
Very steep, narrow and rutted out
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120507-1/IMG_4421.JPG
The trail down into Hunter Canyon (Also known as 21 Road)
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120519-1/IMG_4427.JPG
Coal mine
http://myxj.net/g2/d/120529-1/IMG_4432.JPG