27 Attachment(s)
Road/hiking trip to Dinosaaur Nat Mon, the Wedge, Big Pocket & Moab area
Ok, this is more a report based on a trip of hikes from two bases (Vernal for the Dinosaur NM and Moab) than a continuous backpack report, but hey I’ll admit it’s an excuse to post my favourite photos. But hopefully you won’t mind, as picking the best means they’re of better quality than lots of the same hike & I’m sure they’re of more interest than my words. I really wanted to see Dinosaur after seeing some great photos of it & hoping it would be a little cooler than more southern areas of Utah for an August visit during my children’s vacation.
First we headed along the Yampa Bench Road, stopping at several incredible panoramic viewpoints on the rim of the Yampa river.
Attachment 82420
]Attachment 82419
Then I returned two days later hoping to reach the river but got down Red Rock Canyon to within a mile of it before surrendering to the increasingly dense vegetation.
So that afternoon we hiked to Ruple Ridge, but on returning to our tents just off the Yampa Bench Road we found rangers parked up and waiting for us. After a long conversation in which we were initially told we were being let off fines with a warning, we ended up with a fine after being told it was forbidden to camp or hike to where our tents had been left.
The next day we took this up at the visitor centre and not only was the fine rescinded but a more senior authority said I could hike to where I’d intended to go, something I did during two nights’ camping at the Echo Park Campground. As you can see, I was very glad I’d queried the decision, although unfortunately forest fires in California and Oregon meant the view was more hazy than normal.
Attachment 82421
Attachment 82444
For the next sunrise I got up to a great viewpoint taking in our campsite and Steamboat rock.
Attachment 82422
Attachment 82445
On the return to Vernal we took in the Harpers Corner Overlook trail where I took this pic, which I only appreciated after returning home. I love the colours, the geologist’s fantasy, and the fact it looks like my one year old has flicked green paint flecks over the picture.
Attachment 82423
Before leaving Vernal we took the opportunity to go to Fantasy Canyon & were alone there for sunset. It’s a weird place, and it’s lack of colour almost gives a surreal quality as the pictures look like they were taken in black & white apart from the clothing of my family.
Attachment 82424
The Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Attachment 82425
Our next little drama came on a visit to Flaming Gorge where after a puncture we followed it up with the misfortune of the light control dial falling through the dashboard. We were still on top of a mountain 50 miles from our Vernal motel with less than an hour to darkness and no headlights and two young kids in the back, so I think my “misunderstanding” of the speed limit was excusable to get us back before darkness just in time since we had no lights.
Flaming Gorge was beautiful - I can’t believe the ranger told me he’d never bothered coming to work an hour early to see this view at sunrise.
Attachment 82426
After a new vehicle was delivered from Salt Lake City and a slight detour to visit our friend ‘Glasterpiece’ Jack (check out his great glass works in SLC) and Antelope Island - sort of seen here
Attachment 82427
we travelled on to Moab via an overnight at The Wedge, again being alone there as we explore viewpoints along the rim of the San Rafael.
Attachment 82428
Attachment 82429
Jack then kindly took me for a night’s camping at Big Pocket Overlook which his vehicle was better suited to. Despite a violent storm in Moab surprisingly the road was passsable. By the morning there were breaks in the cloud which provided interesting skies and light.
Attachment 82430
Attachment 82431
Attachment 82432
Attachment 82433
Attachment 82434
Attachment 82435
The final few days were spent enjoying Negro Bill Canyon where we had Morning Glory Arch to ourselves for several hours,
Attachment 82436
Attachment 82437
then I went camera-clicking at sunset through Arches NP while my partner and 8-year made their first visit to Delicate Arch,
Attachment 82438
Attachment 82439
Attachment 82440
before a final day alone again for the afternoon with the family on a hike in Canyonlands
Attachment 82443
and again alone again hiking on Poison Spider Mesa. I’d always wanted to see the views of Behind the Rocks from there, but with no trail near the rim it was a question of trial and error as to which slickrock domes wouldn’t become too steep to halt my progress. It took much longer than I expected to finally get a a high point looking across the Colorado, which I managed just as the sun was setting. I probably should have left myself more than 3 hours to give myself time to try out more ways up on to the top of the domes (I had tried plotting way beforehand through Google Earth) as it would have nice to have been able to see down to the river as well as over the other side of it. But I really wanted to get that orange glow sunset shot, so once I’d found my reasonable place I may not have abandoned it anyway to gamble on testing others out - which may have led to more too steep ascents. I guess the answer is to spend the day looking around, and then return to the favourite vantage point for sunset. But to anyone going up there - there are virtually no footprints and lots of cryptobiotic soil so take care not to ruin a pristine area. I tried to follow tiny washes but that’s not always the shortest route.
Heading back to the parking lot there was the beautiful end-of-vacation shot of the river, although I’m kicking myself for not stopping a few minutes later to shoot a possibly even better bright full moon which had emerged just above the opposite rim, thinking that might be pushing the patience of a hungry and tired family in our car.
Attachment 82441
Attachment 82442
