Colorado,  Hikes,  National Parks,  Off Road Trips,  Trips

Colorado and Utah 2012 – In a 2 Door XJ -Monday

Another hot day out here, which found us putting another 154 miles on the ole XJ today. So far the silly thing is ticking happily along, but the lack of A/C in the thing makes for some warm times while riding around (I swear that we’ve managed to melt our shoes a little bit from the heat coming off the floor!). I’ve put over another 200 photos in that top link from today’s adventures.

Daily Travel:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

My wife decided at 4:30 this morning, that today would be a good day to get up and go see the sunrise at Arches. I love my wife, be we don’t always agree on some things when sleep is involved. Needless to say, I went to Arches this morning before sunrise :
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

In a true photographer’s frenzy, I played chauffer as I hauled my wife throughout the park trying to find the ‘best’ shots:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

After that funny stuff was over, we hiked to Pine Tree Ach, ,and Tunnel Arch:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Then we moved on to Sand Dune Arch:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

After that fun we cruised back through Moab to Sand Flats OHV area to run Fins and Things. This is the area that has some of the notable ‘Moab’ Trails like Hells Revenge, and plenty of slick rock to play on.

Slick rock is retarded fun to goof around on compared to the stuff we play on around the Midwest. There is just so much traction its unreal, which allows for even stock-ish rigs to go places they’d never make it in a similar situation out west (well, not without beating on them a lot).

While Fins and Things is considered to be a pretty mild trail, I must have done something right as I nearly managed to take out the back glass climbing up on one fin, and tried to let my rockers get ate on several others. All in all, it was a blast!
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Lots of steep climbs:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

On one of the loops, I turned my wife loose. She made me proud (Click for vid):

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

That fun was followed by a late lunch at Milts and a nap! This heat takes quite a bit out of ya if you’re not used to it (pro tip – Drink way more water than you normally would when you’re out here!).

We hiked Negro Bill Canyon after dinner:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

After our quick hike, we headed out to Mineral Point for some sunset photos. It’s an easy trip through the desert, and those sandy roads made me understand why people like to do the high speed stuff on the sandy roads The trip back through the desert at night was awesome as well:
Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Sara L.: UT/CO Trip - Ben &emdash;

Our next stop is Capitol Reef, which means the end of our ability to have the internet. So it’ll be a few days before the next update comes though.

Pushing on to Tuesday

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