Utah High Desert DXpedition
Far Out National Parks Tour
Colorado National Monument, Arches, Canyonlands Island in the Sky,
Canyonlands The Needles, Valley of the Gods, Goblin Valley,
Canyonlands Maze & Horseshoe Canyon's The Gallery,
Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, North Rim & South Rim of Grand Canyon,
Canyon Du Chelly, and Monument Valley
...while Dry Camping 44 of 60 days
Featuring Guided Ranger Hikes
2007, Labor Day Weekend we will leave for the High Desert of Utah
"the Sky is Falling, the Sky is
falling,"
if Airstreaming
was easy, it would not be fun"
August 30, 2007 Day 1 & 2 at Chris & Jamie's, Mequon, Wisconsin
September 1, 2007 Day 3 & 4 ...head for Weyauwega in central Wisconsin's for cousin Kent's and our ring bearer's wedding and camp with the Guinea Hens @ Uncle Ray's, camped across the street by Uncle Ray's pole barn. Uncle Ray's house is across the street on the Waupaca river. ...Guinea Hens coming to play with Martha great camp site by the pole barn
Day 5 ...Little House on the
Prairie & the
Laura Ingles Wilder
Tour,
Burr Oak,
Iowa
hot weather in the 90's as we cross Iowa and Nebraska
Day 6
Winterset,
Iowa the birthplace of Actor John Wayne
& movie set of Bridges of Madison County.
Day 7 Kearney, Nebraska & the Great Platte River Archway Monument. A spectacular tour and a walk through time of settling the west.
Though never stated, it is clearly from the viewpoint of the Mormon church. Well worth the stop.
.
September 5 - 9, 2007 Day 7-10 ...Airstream Region 11 Old Thresher Rally, Yuma, Colorado
... we meet at the Airport & Airstream down Main street Yuma and enter the Old Thresher Rally together
interesting demonstrations throughout the day
pack Mule Seminar put on by the U.S. Forest Service
pack mules and Airstreams evening stroll through Old Thresher Park
evening of cowboy fiddles Martha's is equipped for the sand burrs
antique tractors mule team competition
herding dog competition
...we highly recommend the Airstream Special Event Old Threshers Rally
September 10, 2007 Day 10 ..enjoy the 104 degree Glenwood Hot Springs, Colorado
...Kathleen going from the 104 degree pool to the 94 degree pool
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Entering High Desert
September 10, 2007 Day 10 ... Colorado National Monument, Colorado
...Kathleen loves the 2,000 foot drop off with no guard rail on the climb to the camp ground
Camping on a spectacular cliff with a great view overlooking Grand Junction, Colorado. We stocked up on Groceries/refreshments etc. in Grand Junction on the way in here for an estimated 35 days in the high desert of Utah.
... we can see how we got up here from our camp
September 10, 2007 Sun rise @ Colorado National Monument
Kathleen's traveling bird feeder is found by
the mountain Blue Jays
the Mud on your shoes tells you where you have been
hike'n Colorado National Monument
we take scenic highway #128 down to Moab
Elevation 4,000 feet
September 12, 2007 Day 14 after plenty of preparation and anticipation we arrive @
Arches National Park, Utah
...main gate ...18 miles to the only campground
...home sweet home in Arches National Park
from our camp we hike Devils Garden Trail and Landscape Arch
...we are not here alone!
hikers place stones in the holes in the walls
I'm standing in the backside of Partition Arch smaller of the 2 Arches shown in to the right picture
over 2200 Arches in Arches National Park
September 15, 2007 DXpedition Day 17 We are not the first persons here. 2,000 year old Petraglyph's on the Delicate Arch Hike and a 100 yr. old cabin from a settler long ago preserved in the desert.
after a couple hours on the trail
Small World @
Delicate Arch,
After hiking up hill 1.5 miles to Delicate Arch, guess who I find standing on the on the side of the trail on the edge of a cliff just before your cross the ledge to see Delicate Arch, Dupage County Sheriff Police employee Barbara Finchom, someone I used to work with. Barb worked in the Radio Room & in the Records Section for many years. Her Husband Dave is a retired Dupage County Forest Preserve Police Sgt.. The last I saw them was 12 years ago and they both had big smiles as they were leaving for Utah with their horse to ranch in the mountains. Barbs is still smiling so it must of worked. Dave and Barb are involved with giving guided hikes and Mountain rescue work n the Moab area.
Dave and Barbara's Finchom's Rescue site Web Page gcsar.org
Delicate Arch, well worth the 3 miles round trip hike ...this pic taken by Barbara Finchom
Day 18 a spectacular 4WD trip across this valley off in the distance to the left to Tower Arch & Marching Men rocks. Probably the most enjoyable of all our hikes. The bad news is the during downloading the camera accidentally deleted all but these 2 above pics. Ouch!
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Day 19 The Fiery Furnace guided Ranger hike, by permit only. This is a guided tour because of the fragile vegetation and it is easy to get lost in these tall Sandstone Fins
..all up and down in the Fiery Furnace area
100 plus year old Cryptobiotic Soil Crust covers the sandy soil.
Surprise Arch in The Fiery Furnace area
...the "Sky is Falling Again" says Uncle Ray's Wisconsin Guinea Hen
We discover a Rock Slide that probably over night during a heavy thunder storm.
Directly across from the Wisconsin Guinea Hens beak, about a third of the way into the rock slide photo to the left is the long flat huge rock that fell from above the path on our Fiery Furnace Hike. It knocked out the access down out of Surprise Arch Fins area to the left of the fallen rock.
...after 3 hrs, time to head out of the Fiery Furnace
...after a rest took a 2nd hike on the north end of our camp today, Now we are tired
Day 20 Today's hike is Double Arch & the Windows area ... then we head for Moab, Utah for some pops
DXpedition Day 21 After 7 nights in the Arches National Park Camp Ground we move
down the road.
...every DXpedition needs an antenna in the side view mirror
October 19 ,2007 Hydrating in the High Desert of Utah @ Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah
6 mile mountain hike again today, 8 hikes, 8 days, tomorrow will be a rest day.
The Hike to Dead Horse Point & the Visitors Center is Spectacular. But we will only spend 1 night here. The campground is full of big Motorhome running noisy generators & Air Conditioners for no reason. I doubt if these people have ever been camping and or know how to enjoy nature.
Elevation 4,000 feet
September 20 Day 22 - 25 Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky, Utah
camp Canyonlands National Park, plenty of room for Martha to roam
...Solar Panels working great, 11.2 amps out of possible 13.9 amps, 235 watts
checking out the Visitors Center & a few look out points, tomorrow we resume the Hiking
Sunset in Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky Campground
Martha is getting a bit nervous with dusk approaching, something must be watching us
Sunset from the edge " on a cliff "
Day 23 Sunrise, start with our usual percolated pot of coffee & a home made Breakfast Burrito
Hike to Upheaval Dome over look
Hike to Mesa Arch ...you can see for hundreds of miles
...Bacon & Eggs ...from Canyonlands Mesa Arch
Day 25, we had some desert thunder storms during the night and the weather cooled from the high 80's 90's to the mid 60's. NOAA weather service tells of snow above 7K foot. ...a Raven checks out my High Sierra Antenna @ the Aztec Butte Granary Hike trail head, the Aztec Grainaries are supposed to be under the top ledge of the far side of this mountain. We will see.
Kathleen negotiates the steep slip rock climb
Hidden under the ledge on a steep cliff of
this Mountain we locate the Ancient Granaries of the Aztec's who would pass
through this area 20 thousand years ago to hunt and farm the valley. The
Aztec Peoples would store food in these hidden shelters for when they
return a year later.
notice the original wood over the door preserved in the desert climate
Whale Rock Hike ..Cairns (stacked rocks) mark the trails in the National Parks ...Kathleen's desert garden
Cryptobiotic Soil Crust that takes 100 plus years to start to grow covers the desert sands in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. This Crust is living and growing and a hair like structure that hold the sand together and keeps it in place. If stepped on, the Cryptobiotic Soil Crust dies, the sand erodes and the surrounding plants die. Stay on the trails.
September 24 Day
26 ...Following a Camp ground
Tip:
We come out the Mountains and make a quick stop in Moab, Utah for some fresh water at the Elks Club. No water National Parks in the High Desert so you fill up when you can. But we don't run out w/the extra jugs in the Ford F250 Super Duty.
We back track up Rt.128 ten miles into the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the night & camp @ mile marker 8, then dinner @ Red Cliff Ranch Resort w/ a Museum tour of all the Cowboy Movies that were made in the Arches / Canyonlands National Parks area. The Ranch's Restaurant lives up to its reputation as the best in the Moab, Utah.
September 25 Day 27 we spend the morning in Moab, Utah to wash cloths / groceries / misc. supplies
then head south for Canyonlands N. P. The Needles.
The Needles,
the southern area of this Canyonlands National Park south of Moab, Utah
we check out the National Park & the camp ground is full, not disappointed,
just out of the Park 4 miles from this campground is the BLM,
we will 4WD a few miles off the road & set up camp ...Now this is Cool & the reason we have a Airstream!
we go 4WD through a couple areas of washed out roads, the ground seems to be hard
with the flooded roads from the rains 2 days ago I go on foot to check out what is over the hill
while I am walking Kathleen notices a large paw print, probably of Mountain Lion
turns out to be the best camp of the trip Martha loves it, plenty of room to roam
Happy Hour baked potato, fresh carrots & Filet Mignon wrapped in bacon for dinner
...people always ask what you eat when you go camping, what ever we want
what's outside your front door? full moon appears in the east
Day 28 morning Paw Prints in front of the Ford F250 Super Duty in the BLM ...what is it ?
? I tracked these Paw Prints for a 1/4 mile ...some of the prints show claws & some don't ?
4 toes & a pad, tuck in claws when they walk = Mountain Lion
5 toes with claws = Bear
4 toes & claws is a Wolf
...It ain't Wilderness unless something out there can Eat You !
We 4WD & track the Paw Prints into Gulch
Mountain Lions, Bear, Wolf ???
Out BLM camp is 4 miles outside the National Park ...time for some National Park Hiking
until recently and for over 100 years local Cowboys used this camp kitchen under this ledge
for a place to stay during their cattle dries (later research tells us this bird is a Common Poorwill)
Pre Historic Pictographs over 1,000 years old
Pre Historic Granary to store crops left from Ancient Peoples
The name of this National Park is the Needles, the Needle like pillars shown above
September 27
Day 29
on the road leaving Canyonlands we stop and visit Newspaper Rock
Following the "Road of the Ancients," we visit Fort Bluff, a early Mormon settlement ...entering the Valley of the Gods
Medicine Hat, Utah
Medicine Hat, Utah
down in the 4 Corners Area
and across the San Juan river from the
Navajo Reservation ...just outside of town is the Mexican
Hat Rock Formation
Airstream
in Tow we
enter the Valley of the Gods that is managed by the BLM
& cross the some what dry Lime Creek,
As we set up camp, a off 4wd roader in a jeep comes by and asks if I am broke down, answer "No, I live here"
& Kathleen & Martha go for a Hike to a Mesa across a wash
living in the Valley of the Gods
enjoying the early morning WBCCI Amateur Radio Cub Rocky Mountain RV Service Net on 40 meters @ freq. 7263
September 28
Day 30
Martha stands guard in the Airstream & we visit the rest of our camp site on the 4WD Valley of the Gods 20 mile loop
How cool is that, we don't visit the "Valley of the Gods," we live here
on our 4wd tour we run across a Tent
Camper
who also lives here
W e break camp, stop for lunch in Medicine
Hat, head north and a it is time to continue
on the "Road of the Ancients," the black top road ends as we climb the Mesa on the on a old mining road
now this is what a Ford F250 V10, 5 speed stick shift 4wd is made for
...1st gear time ...no guard rails
looking back & Mexican Hat & the BLM
visit Natural bridges National
Monument
the camp ground is full so we will move on
50miles north we enter the
Farley Canyon in Glen Canyon National
Recreation Area & are just a few miles s/o Lake Power & the Colorado river.
We take a gamble & enter a 4wd gravel road and find a suitable camp 2 miles down
the road, the area is owned by the Department of the Interior, after the
big lunch we had in Mexican Hat it is Happy Hour followed by the left over Bar BQ Spare ribs from
the night before
break camp & heading back to the highway "Keep the Shiny Side Up"
Lake Powel Ranger Station on the Colorado River, the water level is 100 below norm & the boat access
is no longer in the water
...a view from across the Colorado River looking down
with a National Weather Service Sand Storm high wind advisory we take the 3 mile Hike to Goblin Valley
the trail is some what protected from the 20-50 mph wind storm
1/2 mile down the trail we meet some Goblins coming down into Goblin Valley
sand really starting to blow down in Goblin Valley
notice Kathleen's hair being blown back from the high winds & blowing sand ...the winds & blowing sand increase as the cold front approaches. Time to head back to camp and get out the wind.
Thunder Storm approaches on the way back to the Airstream, we pick up the pace. It will leave less than a few drops
...as evening approaches you can see the cold front leaving to the east, leaving a cold clear night
Sun rises, the winds are gone as a beautiful day begins w/ checking out the desert wild flowers,
September 30, 2007
Day 32 ...From the Goblin State Park Ranger Station
I call Canyonlands National Park Rangers to
check on road conditions going to
The Maze,
in particular
Horseshoe Canyon
that has been flooded from last weeks thunder storms & Flash Floods. The 31 mile gravel
road appears to be open but the last mile to the camp ground is hazardous & it
is recommended that I check it for myself when I get there. I have the
option to stay I the BLM land one mile from the top.
From the top of the Mesa at Horseshoe Canyon we will hike 7 miles to the Canyon floor and view The Great Gallery, Ghostly larger than life figures painted on the canyon walls over 2,000 years ago.
The Maze / Horseshoe Canyon area is described as the most rugged and the most difficult to access. It has been called one of the most remote and unreachable regions in the United States.
...The National Park Ranger left me with this comment. The Ranger "never heard of anyone taking a Trailer" up to Horseshoe Canyon, The Ranger supposes it could done!
Adventure Time ...we head down the 31 mile road to Horseshoe Canyon
Antelope check us out
After about 18 miles the road get a bit blown over with sand from yesterdays sand storm.
...time to lock the hubs & use 4 wd
continuing up
this is BLM land but ranchers us it as open range
Moving on for the most part 30+ MPH, a bit wash boardy is spots but not to bad, I took the antenna Whip off my Hi Sierra Antenna because in January @ Quartzite Arizona on a 4WD road I Lost a Whip in the desert.
nothing like an Airstream in the side view mirror
25 miles
& we make it to the first big step,
5 miles to go to the base of the Mesa
the last few miles the road has become more hazardous, we keep checking for places to turn around if needed but the road grader has mad a burm on the side of the road in most places
Decision time ? ...We are @ the last mile of 31. w/ first & second gear low transfer Four Wheel Drive
we creep up the hill stopping to seriously check out 4 -5 really bad areas.
...No pics of the worst part of the road & when the Airstream wanted to tip over, photographer to busy driving
@ the last interesting hazardous high rocks
/
washed out area I
walk the rest of the way up the hill
finding a flattened off piece of land
on top of the Mesa. We had made it to Horseshoe Canyon National Park Primitive
Campground & Horseshoe Canyon Trailhead.
Possible the 1st Airstream ever to
make it to Horseshoe Canyon Trail Head,
we will spend the night and Hike the
Gallery in the Morning
camp on the edge of a cliff over
looking Canyonlands and the weather is
perfect
September 30, 2007 Day 32 ...with the National Weather Service putting out flash flood warning w/rain to cover the area starting late afternoon we hike to 750 feet to Horseshoe Canyon Floor.
Issues:
...rain in canyons causes flash floods
...we have an Airstream on top of a mountain on roads that wash out every rain
Mission:
...to see The Great Gallery
wild flowers blooming from the rain from last week
desert sheep hoof prints throughout the Horseshoe canyon floor ...hiking the canyon floor
a Cottonwood Tree struck by lightning & burned
we come across out 1st @ the High Gallery
100 yards up the Horseshoe Canyon we explore a 2,000 year living area of the Hunters & Gatherers who lived here
@ Horseshoe Shelter
1/2 mile up the Canyon The Alcove
closer look at The Alcove pictographs
head another hour up the Horseshoe Canyon to The Great Gallery
The Great Gallery ...Ghostly larger than life figures painted on the canyon walls over 2,000 years ago,
Spectacular, well worth the trip
the Sky darkens, a few rain drops,
time to get out of this canyon with the possibility of being trapped by flash floods
after 4 1/2 hours in the Canyon & a storm approaching we see our primitive the National Park Campground
mission accomplished photo at the trail head
we hook up and flee the Mountain before the roads wash out
We seem to have out run the storm as we camp in the BLM @ mile marker 3 on the road to Horseshoe Canyon. The mountain that we left is lost in the Clouds. ...Very Cool 2 day Adventure
October 2 - 6 Capital Reef National Park, Utah ...Capitol Dome, the cliffs to the south is a ancient Reef
Navajo Dome ...never alone in the desert
Chimney Rock
Camping in the 1850 Mormon Apple Orchards @ Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
nice walks and things to see right in the campground, plus great home made pies
...we pick our apples & Kathleen made apple crisp w/ our Ham Steak
interesting sites in the camp ground
this rock was used for class photo in this
one room school house
ancient history up close
Scenic road behind our camp leads to hiking trails
Capitol Gorge Hike
to the Tanks
heading down the canyon we find 2,000 year old Petraglyph's ... a bit further 150 year old signatures on the wall from the Mormons who settled this area.
then up the cliff we located the serious of Tanks, a natural water storage in the high desert
We get a surprise and locate a Natural Bridge near the Tanks
Day 37 October 5 Early signs of a winter storm approaching bringing snow to the mountains
...we head out anyway on the Old Wagon Road Loop Hike, 1,000 foot above the canyon floor.
half way up the sun goes away and
down comes the rain
As we leave the Canyon the Park Ranger Closed the road to the Canyon because of the risk Flash Floods
October 7 Clear weather & no chance of snow on 11,000 plus feet National Scenic Route 12 on Boulder Mountain
above the tree line ...last nights snow melted in the warm sun
Cattle Drives on the road in this open Range
Visiting the homes of Ancient Peoples
Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase - Escalante National
Monument
this mule deer panicked over the freshly painted
double yellow line on the road, he was trying to get away from my F250 but did not like the yellow line
October 8 - 11 Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
We take the Scenic drive through Bryce Canyon's Rim
Pronghorn often mistaken as Antelope
Camp Bryce Canyon
Dinner
@ Bryce Canyon Lodge
Just after Sun up a@ Sun up Point,
Hiking the Hoo Doo's in Thors Hammer / Two Bridges side of Navajo Loop
2 Bridges
Hiking the base of the Hoo Doo's
just climbed back up to the rim through "Wall Street"
the mud on your shoes tells you were you have
been
Day 43 October 11
Entering Arizona & we look back at all the national Parks we have been, and how we have followed he Colorado from central Colorado watching it build to its glory in the Grand Canyon
Heading up Route
SR 67,
elevation will rise above 8,000 foot making snow a reality
We find that the North Rim campground has gone to a 100 % reservation system so we head 16 miles south into the
Kaibab National Forest and Boon Dock the night. Great camp site on a fire road.
Other campers pass by but we are in the Forest by ourselves. ...Very cool!
Sunrise, what's outside your front door?
heading out of the Kaibab National Forest
back to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona
Day 44 October 12 Camp North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona
w/Trip Hike #23 we head for the National Park Lodge
North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Lodge @ North Rim
Bright Angel Point Trail ...thousands of foot drop on both sides of this side walk
Lodge overlook to the South Rim
Kaibab White tailed Squirrel
view from the North Rim
Breakfast in the Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge ...mountain Blue Jay
It has turned Autumn on the North Rim and @ higher elevations ...last year this area was snow covered
zoom pic of the Grand Canyon Delta from the North Rim ...Ancient peoples lived & farmed the Delta
...over 50 sites have been excavated
one of the over looks on the scenic drive
Kathleen walks over the Arch to the left
looking down Fall is in the Air
...we left in Wheaton, Illinois in August, now the Mountain Aspens are turning color
because the North Rim Camp has gone to 100 % reservations, this is our third camp on the North Rim
Kaibab White tailed Squirrel
eating the pine cones
Pine cone factory for the Kaibab White tailed Squirrel
Day 46 October 14 Leaving the North Rim of the Grand Canyon we head 225 miles to the South Rim of the
Grand Canyon Rim and the landscape turns Red as we are on the edge of Monument Valley
& pass through the Navajo Reservation
Visitors Center @ Navajo Bridges, old & new @ Lees Ferry
this area is considered the beginning of the Grand Canyon & used to measure distances in the Canyon
Cameron Tourist Trap, a kind of Wall Drug of Arizona ..heading into the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Entering the
South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Some Tourists take the antique train form Williams Arizona to the Grand Canyon
...they walk around in white shoes that tell where they have been
South Rim gives you a different view of the Canyon
Phantom Ranch below
...zoom pic of Phantom Ranch, a Rustic lodge and camp used only by hikers or by mule
hard to see the
Phantom Ranch
Foot
Bridge
across the Colorado River near Phantom Ranch on the Canyon Floor
Some hikers hike Rim to Rim , we chose the 225 plus mile drive to go Rim to Rim
Elk herds in Mather Campground
The South Rim is a huge Tourists Trap with stores and 4-5 Lodges,
the hustle & bustle of the Tourist areas make the Campground a very pleasant place at the end of the day
Day 48 October 16 Leaving Grand Canyon and passing the numerous Navaho Indian Road Side Stands
Tuba, Arizona & the Navaho Historic Trading Post & Interpretive Navaho Museum,
a pleasant stop on the Reservation
Canyon De Chelly National Monument & Martha meets her Indian Dog friend while we check out the Visitors Center
Martha goes back to Boots in that the ground is full of Sand Burrs
Traveling the Reservation the towns and the people give you a South of the Boarder Mexico feeling,
stores & houses have iron bars on the windows. Signs in the National Monument warn of thefts.
Martha is Full speed ahead w/her
Sand Burr Boots
...I park my Truck for the night hours in the South of the Border Combat position
w /my Hi Sierra Truck Antenna Parked next to my bed
Canyon Floor
Traveling the scenic over looks into Canyon De Chelly
We hike 3 miles into the Canyon to view the White House Ruins
going down into the Canyon
hiking the narrow ledges
ledges & tunnels
This is on the Navaho Reservation and Navaho live in the canyon, herding sheep & farming
White House Ruins
from 1200 AD
Spider Rock overlook
life on the Navaho Reservation
This area of Cliff Dwellings was the place of a Navaho Indian Massacre, Spanish Troops from another canyon rim
shot old men, women & Children while the Navaho warriors were out hunting
07:30hrs National Park Ranger 3 mile Hike into the Canyon to Hike to First Ruins
...this is private property thus guided Ranger tours only
Our Navaho Guide Park Ranger leads the way past the place he grew up in.
the wash in the Canyon floor is full of broken pieces of pottery from ancient peoples who lived here,
pictographs on the Canyon wall are small but show the same type of figures as we seen in the Gallery
in Horseshoe Canyon weeks earlier
broken pieces of pottery
our destination, First Ruins from 1200 AD
hiking back to the trail head a squirrel sits on the oldest cotton wood in the Canyon
life on the Navajo Reservation
Navajo road side stands
Day 50 October 18 Monument Valley, Arizona
dry camp on the Navajo Reservation in Monument Valley
a couple tent campers will join us in the evening
we have to watch Martha because of the Navaho dogs that come to visit
on the Reservation I park my truck in a combat mode,
motion detecting lights & putting my High Sierra Antenna right outside my bed room window
Sun down & Sun up in Monument Valley
Monument Valley 17 mile self guided dirt road tour
enjoying the Valley, you need to get out and feel & enjoy
...the Navaho's live in Monument Valley
we head back through Mexican Hat, Utah and check out Goosenecks on the San Juan River
Day 51 October 19 Shiprock just e/o Farmington ...Farmington, New Mexico VFW
October 19 I view the pic of Vietnam Veteran & Hero Charlie Nassif (on the left). ...Vietnam 1969
Charlie & I served in Vietnam together. He was the Commander of this Farmington, New Mexico Post in 1985 - 86
before he moved to Salt Lake City. Charlie died in June 10, 2003 in Montego Bay Jamaica
Then have a couple Pops w/Charlie's Friends.
See memorial at the bottom of
Gun Club
Day 52 October 20 leaving Farmington, New Mexico we visit Aztec National Monument Ruins,
...pass through Durango, Colorado w/ reports of 50 mph plus winds starting by noon.
...we will have to visit this place another time
12,000 foot
Wolf pass
14 miles up to the summit w/second gear @ 2,500 rpm's
w/60
mph winds we get a camp about 100
miles s/o
Colorado Springs. Across from a very cool Texas Bar BQ. We wake up to NOAA weather
service reports of snow & high winds that is supposed to increase as the day goes on.
NOAA weather was right, hear comes the snow ...with a bit of a break in the clouds
we head w/o Colorado Springs for Cripple Creek (10,000 ft. elevation)
not a good idea, temps head back below freezing & the road is coming snow covered,
we head back to Colorado Springs
in search of Historic Sacred Heart Parish
in Colorado's Old Town for Sunday Mass
Day 53 October 21 we seek shelter from the high winds & snow at the Colorado Springs Elks Lodge
...Martha is not sure of this place, but a great Pop Stand
Day 54 October 22 the Rest of Buffalo Bill Cody can't pass up a Pony express stop
Day 55
October 23
Camped @ Fort Kearny, Nebraska
Day 57
October 25
after only 20 miles we develop
a bearing issue on the Ford F250 & spend the night in Council Bluffs Ford Dealer parking lot waiting for parts.
...I ask the Service Mgr., 'is this Heaven," the answer was simple. "No, Iowa"
Day 58 -59
October 26 - 28
WBCCI Airstream Thanksgiving Rally Amboy, Illinois
Day 60 October , 2001 Home back in Wheaton, Illinois. (Chicagoland) The place where we keep our stuff.
49
Portable & Mobile Amateur Radio High Frequency contacts this DXpedition
to date
28
High Desert Hikes
1 Mountain
Hot Spring
1 Hit
by Basketball Hoops
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