Well, it was time to give the roof top tent another try. Last time over Thanksgiving a major storm sent us to an apartment in Prescott for the duration. We (I) had experienced some discomfort in the tent due to a thin mattress, so this time we added more padding. After a hotel night in St. George, we headed across the southern part of Utah on scenic Hwy 12. Familiar territory for us, but we planned on seeing new things.
Our first night in the tent didn't turn out as planned. We found and secluded camp just off of the Burr Trail within a stones throw of the Capitol Reef National Park boundary. A really nice spot in the Junipers, off the road enough to eliminate any noise, and no one around. After setting up camp, which was somewhat frustrating for me due to all the gear stuffed into the 4-Runner, we poured ourselves some wine and started to relax around the fire. You'd think we'd be happy, but we were joined by the masses of gnats. They were so thick that if they banded together, they could pick us up and deposit us where ever they desired. They were incessant and unrelenting. I damn near gave up right then and there when families of them took up residence in my ears.
As the sun set, they took the hint and went off to bed. That's when the mosquitoes took over. Needless to say the ate us up. Deet was just a before dinner cocktail for them. Luckily the new padding in the tent provided some comfort for us and we actually slept pretty well.
The next morning after coffee and breakfast, we broke camp before the gnats knew we were up, and headed down the Burr Trail Switchbacks. This is one of the few places where one can drive through the Waterpocket Fold, a uplift in the earth's crust extending for over 100 miles. The road, passable in most passenger cars, descends 800 feet in 1/2 mile giving one fantastic views of the road below. As we reached the bottom we came across Hanna.
We stopped just to say hello and ask if she was ok, I mean it was 50 miles from the nearest town. She asked for some water saying her last water source was dry. So we handed her a bottle of water, 12 oz. I asked where her next water source was and she said, "oh, it's just another 10 miles" and she thanked us for the water saying she would be fine. So off we went, and within a few minutes I got to thinking, 12 oz of water for 10 miles in 85 degree weather, I’m turning around. So we got back to her and filled up all her empty water containers. Turns out Hanna has been walking since March covering 1200 miles in the desert southwest. Starting in Grants, NM she is mostly traveling cross country and will be back at her home in Colorado in a few weeks.
We figured it was time for a hike, so we headed up Surprise Canyon, one of the many canyons that cut into the fold. Beautiful in the narrow canyon with it's towering walls and the lovely green plants that we walked through. Perhaps that's why it's called Surprise Canyon as the lovely green plants were Poison Oak. Surprise!!! Not knowing our surprise encounter until later in the day, we continued our exploitation of Capitol Reef heading north to Cathedral Canyon.
After fording the Fremont River we headed north on a loop of about 58 miles through Cathedral Valley and some really beautiful country. Mostly a 2-wheel drive road, with some exceptions when encountering some really deep fine silty dirt. You know, the kind that makes dust that gets into everything. Still worth the effort when you consider the scenery.
After fording the Fremont River we headed north on a loop of about 58 miles through Cathedral Valley and some really beautiful country. Mostly a 2-wheel drive road, with some exceptions when encountering some really deep fine silty dirt. You know, the kind that makes dust that gets into everything. Still worth the effort when you consider the scenery.
TEMPLE OF THE SUN AND TEMPLE OF THE MOON
We (I) decided that we weren't gonna share another campsite with all the biting critters, so we opted for a motel in Torrey. Still managed to have a camp dinner before the luxury of a shower and clean sheets. The weather report was telling us that a heat wave was going to be with us in day or two, so we decided that the next morning we would head north to cooler climes.
In the morning we were itching pretty good so we know a pharmacy was in order. But first a small detour to Black Dragon Canyon. Easily reached off of I-70 by turning right off the freeway at M.P. 147, through a gate and in short order we were in the canyon. The purpose of going here is the pictographs on the canyon wall. One that draws the most visitors is one that looks like a dragon. With a wing span of 9 feet, it's pretty impressive.
MAN AND DOG?
So, onward north to Dinosaur National Monument in the northeastern corner of the state. On the way we stopped for itch relief and the pharmacist told us about Fels Naptha Soap.
You wash both yourself and clothes with this soap and it is said helps elevate the itching caused by Poison Oak and Ivy. A great tip as we were mostly itch free for the rest of the trip.
We spent two nights in our camp, I mean hotel, in Vernal, Utah and spending one day checking out Echo Park in the monument. Another beautiful drive to a small campground on the Green River, across from the impressive Steamboat Rock. Campground was closed due to the pandemic, but the roads in the monument had just re-opened.
We spent the final couple of days camping out in our friend Kiki's cabin in the Unita Mountains. Beautiful country that we had not explored before. Just south of the Wyoming state line and the town of Evanston, her cabin sits at 9000 feet and was another beautiful campsite complete with clean sheets and our second steak dinner of the trip.
APPROACHING THE UNITAS
OUT FOR A WALK
Anyway, all in all it was another successful trip as no one got killed nor were any animals harmed in the making of the video. Enjoy the video, till next time......
