Between Moab and Capitol Reef National Park we’ve enjoyed so much this lovely state has to offer, yet we’ve barely scratched the surface. While so very dry and dusty (one local said it hadn’t rained her for seven months!) this land’s austere beauty would be diminished without those harsh limitations.
We’re sharing a few photo-logs (PLOGS?) of what we saw and did in some pretty cool places here in Utah lately. Here’s the second installment.
Just out the door from our first true boondocking camp, and down the road our new friends of Exploring 509 braved with their beefy off-road RV, we decided to try biking this rugged off-road trail to get a closer look at the massive monolith we’d admired from afar.
Like our ascent at Marshall Pass, there was a lot of up, but we made it to the base of the that monolithic barcalounger. We brought hiking gear with us in case we wanted to try summiting the lower portion, but to be honest, we were just too worn out from the 1200 foot elevation gain on those primitive, loose rock-strewn ATV roads that we decided instead to admire it from afar before beginning our cliff-hugging, bone-rattling downhill thrill ride back to camp.
This quick video shows the smoothest portion of road we had that day – plus the amazing vistas!
Another view from the summit toward our camp far down below. We could just make out Libbie from here.
Glenn's excited to go DOWN for a change!
The beginning of our trek started harmlessly enough. Check out the "hang ten" sign from that cool boulder next to the road.
Before the big climb up, we found this weird old collection of cars near the remains of a wooden building foundation. We had fun concocting stories about an elusive band of bootleggers who thwarted Mormon dry laws by supplying illicit hooch to the tourists at nearby Lake Powell.
The canyon arc where we discovered how quickly we would be climbing to visit Jacob's Chair. If you look closely, you can trace the road that starts at the lower left and took us all the way to the top right in very short order (we estimated a ~20% grade in spots).
Oooooh! A mine? what it it??
Close to the top now.
Another view from the summit toward our camp far down below.
Before the big climb up, we found this weird old collection of cars near the remains of a wooden building foundation. We had fun concocting stories about an elusive band of bootleggers who thwarted Mormon dry laws by supplying illicit hooch to the tourists at nearby Lake Powell.
Going down...?
We found another hole in the cliff wall - this one also looked man-made.
Before the big climb up, we found this weird old collection of cars near the remains of a wooden building foundation. We had fun concocting stories about an elusive band of bootleggers who thwarted Mormon dry laws by supplying illicit hooch to the tourists at nearby Lake Powell.
Before the big climb up, we found this weird old collection of cars near the remains of a wooden building foundation. We had fun concocting stories about an elusive band of bootleggers who thwarted Mormon dry laws by supplying illicit hooch to the tourists at nearby Lake Powell.
Glenn for scale of the weird mine entrance we spotted along the way.
Still climbing. The drop-off on the edge of the road started getting "exciting" - prompting us to hug the opposite side of the ATV trail.
Rachel pushing her way uphill.
The steep incline along the ATV route toward Jacob's Chair.
Still climbing - but there's Jacob's Chair, closer than it was before.
Evening sets in with pinks and yellows.
The cinnamon-brown dust that coats EVERYTHING here.
The closest we came to the formation of Jacob's Chair. We had designs on hiking and possibly making up to the first ledge, but we were too pooped from the ride up to go for it.
Jacob's Chair
Cheese! Here we are sporting helmet hair at the base of Jacob's Chair.
The view from the summit. Our camp is down there waaaaay off in the distance.
