Re: Utah Day 4

sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:

After hiking the day before, it was off-roading again in the Grand
Staircase National Monument.
 
<https://outsidersutah.com/big-water-to-escalante-trail/>
 
If you look at the track in the image below the yellow route is the one
we took this day, and the green track was the out and back to the Hole
In the Wall on day 2.  As you can see it is completely different
geography with today's being more rugged.
 
<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lbkknqvpqxq88b2hr2uus/Off-Road-Track-Escxalante-to-Big-Water.jpg?rlkey=85ptdjv85171mgs6fpodbu4mt&dl=0>
 
At 77.5 miles one way and taking almost 6 hours to do that, we decided
to take US 89 back to UT 12 so we weren't in the middle of nowhere in
the dark at the end of the day.  Of course, that was a beautiful ride too.
 
Once you leave Escalante heading south, you see this is going to be
different than the other day with the road being narrower and though
still somewhat maintained for the cattle men, a bit more rugged.  This
was exactly what we wanted and we saw hardly anyone else on this day.
 
<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pdjgjkjbbz0vl08knm49u/beginning.JPG?rlkey=zmclaktf3f13rbb7k3k4t0bpg&dl=0>
 
It was mile after twisting miles through the wonderful landscape.  We
stopped a few times for a snack and to take some pictures.  This is
about midway.
 
<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fkmf30tsdywjxighr7ucc/midway.JPG?rlkey=7gg7g3xrvgh8smx5unen89lhs&dl=0>
 
<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/b9qpjh0uf7xtstxs1757e/road-below.JPG?rlkey=h6glhhwa9fxdlk2dx2lnz4ox9&dl=0>
 
If you zoom in you can see the road meandering through the hills.
 
<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s5at97sv557qetrkwprtl/rolling-zoom-in.JPG?rlkey=6h878o0jbsbnolihix6sgtvlj&dl=0>
 
I still had the fear of canyon switchbacks, but I was certainly gaining
confidence the more I drove the Bronco.  Wonderfully capable 4x4 truck.
After we passed about 2/3 of the way and realizing how long it was
taking us, I remarked that if there was any hairy spots I was going to
have to get over it and just do it because it would take too long to get
back if we turned around and it would be night.
 
Shortly after that, we came upon a place that's known as Kelly's Grade.
For us it was a descent going from an elevation of 5,700 feet down to
about 4,000 feet.  First is a picture from the top and then there's an
elevation topo with the spot marked where I took the picture from the
top.  On the third pic if you zoom in on the picture you can see some of
the road going down the canyon.
 
<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0lded409hk9q78ggxkkqe/top-of-Kelly-Grade.JPG?rlkey=rjjnnceypxzipvnkzxuh1ts3i&dl=0>
 
<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wmf7uo6jxbism6eyaaqtk/elevation-map.PNG?rlkey=0ovkl473azq5qa1eaw3c8bkuy&dl=0>
 
<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7t6dgvrbg0f4en0m4u9k5/Kelly-Grade-zoom-in-to-see.JPG?rlkey=9hrk7qbxllh1qjlgc3kkl0l6g&dl=0>
 
I didn't let the uneasiness of heights I have take over and just moved
on and got down without much stress at all.  I felt pretty good about
that and know it would have been scarier in my F-150, though it would
have been able to do it, just not quite as sure footed.
 
Once you get to the bottom of it heading toward Big Water, the scenery
changes completely.  This is where we started seeing boondockers and
many tracks of OHV's playing in the sandy like soil.  The area opens up
with mesa's around and big flat spots.
 
<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/c5g18t7fw9h2axc4dp5m2/Colors-south-end.JPG?rlkey=qrlzk4hbqywx5u7urrqor7gnb&dl=0>
 
<https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lpuogguw8c0l34r23ft5h/nearing-the-south-end.JPG?rlkey=6z7sn9umyf8n1d958xz8rztur&dl=0>
 
Easy day on the knees, with brats and beans and a good campfire to end
the day.  Back to hiking tomorrow in Kodachrome State Park, a wonderful
place!
 
 
 

Did any of those roads take you to the old Paria movie set? Parts of that
drive about took away my breath… not the road conditions but the amazing
scenery. I went right around sunset and the colors in those hills were
amazing.  By the way, ditto on Kodachrome Basin.