July 16th 2019: Departed on my " 2019 Adventure". Itinerary this year was Priest Gulch (CO), Blanding (UT), Moab (UT), Mount Pleasant (UT), Brigham City (UT) and Marysvale (UT). My adventure lasted 52 days. I clocked in over 3 thousand miles with the motorhome and 1,300 miles with my RZR quad . Had a few challenging events (broken transmission cable on motorhome and going off the trail with my RZR) but I refuse to let it ruin my travels. All in all, it was another successful year of traveling. Spent time with good friends and saw a lot of what the US has to offer. I have included a lot of pictures, it tells my story of how beautiful the different areas are that I visited.
As expected, going over Snoqualmie Pass, Washington was
breath taking. The climb to 2,736 ft elevation is not easy, but worth it. Spent my 1st overnight in the Wildhorse Casino, Pendleton, Oregon parking lot. 2nd night was in Brigham City, Utah. Once again, the old 1996 Winnebago performed like a champ (so far)
1st time using my new Rugged Radio system. Works great, I can communicate with other rigs, passenger and best part is I can listen to music from my iPod via bluetooth.
Later that evening Greg and I decided to make a beer run just on the outskirts of the city limits. Blanding is a dry city. My RZR quad experienced a fuel leak and quit running. We hitched a ride back to the campground. There was no quad repair facilities available, however in talking to towns people we found a guy that was able to help us. Both units were repaired on Saturday. We decided to take a small ride on Sunday to test our units to make sure they were fully operational. My machine worked fine, however Greg's machine was still not running correctly. It needed a new clutch (upper & lower). Our next riding location was Moab, Utah; we decided to relocate early since Moab had a Polaris dealer where Greg could get his machine fixed.
July 29th 2019: Departed Blanding, headed for Moab Utah. Big change in landscape.
2019 Adventure summary Map
July 18th 2019: Arrived Priest Gulch RV Resort, just north of Dolores, Colorado, to meet up with my good friends Joe and Paula from Tucson, AZ . For the past few years Joe has invited me to his (Henrick & Harper) family reunion. Will also be meeting up with friends (Greg & Etta from Casa Grande, AZ) on the 22nd to start our off road riding adventure.
"Little History" Dolores (Spanish for " Sorrows" and named for the river on which it is located) is located at the mouth of the Dolores Valley and the upper reaches of McPhee Reservoir, approximately 40 miles from the Four Corners Monument. Established as a station on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, it replaced the earlier town, Big Bend, now covered by McPhee Reservoir. McPhee reservoir is named for a company town founded by a New Mexico Lumber Company, that is also covered by there reservoir. The town is confined to a narrow valley bottom along the Dolores River near the point where the river turns from flowing southward out of the San Juan Mountains to the north. https://www.townofdolores.com/History
My favorite spot, been reserving it since 2016
Joe & Paula. Greg & Etta
July 25th 2019: After a week of playing board games, card games, hiking and sitting around the camp fire visiting it was time to move on. Greg, Etta and I departed for Blanding (UT) to start our Off Road trail riding adventures.
Leaving the beautiful scenery of Colorado heading to Blanding, Utah.
Arrived Blanding, Utah. Just as we finished setting up camp in the Blanding RV Park, a huge thunder storm passed through. We didn't mind, the rain would help control the dust during our trail riding.
"Little History" Blanding is located near both the Navajo and White Mesa Ute Native American reservations. A significant percentage of Blanding's population has family ties to these nearby cultures. Blanding is nearby natural and archaeological resources such as The Dinosaur Museum, Natural Bridges National Monument, Monument Valley, the Four Corners area, Glen Canyon National Recreation area (Lake Powell), Cedar Mesa, San Juan River, Goosenecks State park, and Canyonlands National park. Blanding is located approximately 1 hour south of Moab and Arches National Park
I set up camp right next to a strange looking tree know as a Catalpa tree. The tree is also know as cigar tree or southern catalpa, and it originates from southeastern US but grown in Utah. The tree is famous for its long seed pods, which resemble beans or cigars. Despite the common name of " Bean Tree" it has no known edible uses, in fact it's roots are highly poisonous, but have medicinal teas have been made from its bark, seed and pods.
Blanding, Utah Ride map for the few days we were able to ride.
July 26th 2019: Our 1st ride was through Arch Canyon and along a 30-mile ridge. Wasn't much for vegetation, however the rock formation was beautiful. After reaching the city of Bluff, because of the time of day, we decided to take highway 191 back to Blanding instead of riding back on the trails. Good thing we did, Greg's quad had a major breakdown. We figured it was a belt failure. I gave them a ride back to the campground to get their motorhome to tow their quad back to the camp ground.
Later that evening Greg and I decided to make a beer run just on the outskirts of the city limits. Blanding is a dry city. My RZR quad experienced a fuel leak and quit running. We hitched a ride back to the campground. There was no quad repair facilities available, however in talking to towns people we found a guy that was able to help us. Both units were repaired on Saturday. We decided to take a small ride on Sunday to test our units to make sure they were fully operational. My machine worked fine, however Greg's machine was still not running correctly. It needed a new clutch (upper & lower). Our next riding location was Moab, Utah; we decided to relocate early since Moab had a Polaris dealer where Greg could get his machine fixed.
Route for Sundays test run along the river through various ranches.
July 29th 2019: Departed Blanding, headed for Moab Utah. Big change in landscape.
Blanding, Utah
Entering Moab
"Little History" During the period between 1829 and the early 1050s, the area around what is now Moab served as the Colorado River crossing along the Old Spanish Trail. Latter-day-Saint settlers attempted to establish a trading fort at the river crossing called Elk Mountain in April 1855 to trade with travelers attempting to cross the river. Forty men were called on this mission There were repeated Indian attacks, including on September 23, 1855, in which James Hunt was shot and killed by a Native American. After this attack, the fort was abandoned. A new group of settlers from Rich County, let by Randolph Hockaday Stewart, established a permanent settlement in 1878 under the direction of Brigham Young. Moab was incorporated as a town on December 20 1902.
July 29th 2019: Upon entering Moab, we found a quad repair facilities and dropped off Greg's machine and was told it would be ready Thursday. Set up camp at the Portal RV Resort. Didn't take long for Etta to get in the relaxing mode. Hit the pool immediately after camp was set up. Spent the week playing card games and taking dips in the pool. Average tempature was approximately 103.
August 2nd 2019: Time to hit the trails. During our time in Moab we were able to hit the following areas:
August 2nd -Hurrah Pass
August 3th: -Picture Frame Arch
August 5nd: -Gemini Bridges
August 7th: -Hells Revenge, Fins & Things, Kane Creek canyon and Jackson Hole.
Hurrah Pass
Picture Frame Arch
Behind the rock
Sand Dunes
My good friend Greg
Gemini Bridges
Potash ponds
Hell's Revenge
How is he going to explain this to his wife?
Fins & Things
Jackson Hole
Kane Creek Canyon
Army Reserve doing some rough terrain training.
Spent an amazing 10 days in Moab. Resting, riding and enjoying the local scenery was on the daily menu. This makes my 4th visit to Moab. Time to move to our next city, Mount Pleasant, Utah.
August 8th 2019: Arrived Mount pleasant, Utah. Set up camp and spent time planning our ride schedule for the next 6 days.
"Little History" After taking lumber out of Pleasant reek canyon in late 1851, a band of Mormon colonists from Manti, Utah led by Madison D Hambleton returned in the spring of 1852 to establish the Hambleton Settlement near the present site of Mount Pleasant. During the Walkara Indian War, the small group of settlers relocated to Spring City and later to Manti for protection. The old settlement was burned down by local Native Americans, so when a large colonizing party from Ephraim and Manti returned to the area in 1859, a new, permanent townsite was laid out in it's present location.
August 9th 2019: Headed out to explore the Skyline Drive Trail to Huntington Reservoir and the South Fork of North Creek along with a few side trails. Clocked in 58 dirt miles and had a change of elevation of 5,350 ft. Scenery and weather was totally different from what we experienced in Moab.
Mount Pleasant Ride map
North Skyway. South Skyway
Sheep Herder Wagon camp
August 9th 2019: Tried to ride to the top of Reeder Ridge, however we had to terminate out route because of huge rocks that had slide down from the ridge. Was too dangerous to try and sneak past the rocks, plus the ridge was only about 200 yards up the hill. We decided to explore Reader Canyon instead. Reached an elevation of 11,230 feet.
August 12th 2019: We had a full day of exploring the following areas:
Cotton Wood Canyon
South Twin Circle
Indian Creek.
Another Sheep Herder wagon camp
August 13th 2019: Took us 10 hours to accomplish our goal of riding to Potters Canyon and Joe's Valley reservoir. It was so worth it, amazing scenery.
Potters Canyon
Time to remove some of the dirt
August 14th 2019: Easy short day of riding today, explored White Hill Wild life Management area & had lunch in Spring City.
Took some time to relax, play some card games and Molkky.
August 15th 2019: Time to head to Brigham City. Etta is attending a 4 day USAPA Skill 3 Pickleball event. Greg and I figured we could find some place to experience some Off-Road riding.
Major challenge: On the way to Brigham City, Utah the gear shift cable on my motorhome broke. I noticed it when I stopped to get gas. I was unable to take the rig out of drive. I figured if I turned off the engine I would be stuck because it will not start in gear, needs to be in Park. I pointed it towards an open field, left it in gear, applied the hand (hoping it would not take off on me) and filled up. After arriving at the Golden Spike RV Resort, Brigham City I was finally able to turn off the engine. Upon investigation I noticed the gear shift cable had shattered. The only way to put the rig in Park was to crawl underneath and shift the gears directly from the transmission. A little dangerous, but it worked. On Friday I located a transmission repair facilities not too far from the RV park. Fortunately I was able to apply pull pressure on the cable to get it into drive, it only malfunctioned when I applied push pressure. So each time I turned off the engine, I just went underneath and shifted it by hand. While I was trying to locate a new cable the repair facility was able to jury-rig the old cable so I could continue on my way. During my attempt to purchase a new cable I found out the part was discontinued, (after all my Motorhome is 23 years old). I got on the internet and found an aftermarket place in North Carolina that had the cable I needed so I had them ship 2 ( figured it was good idea to have spare) to my home address so I could do a final repair when I got home.
In between fixing my Motorhome and watching the Pickle ball event Greg and I took some time to explore Willard Basin.
August 22nd 2019: Time to move on to our next and final location for this year, Marysvale, Utah. The Paiute trail System has plenty to offer. This will make my 5th consecutive year and the 9th time I have visited Marysvale.
"Little History" A Post office called Marysvale has been in operations since 1872. In the late 1960s, silver ore was discovered in the Volcanic Series of Bullion Canyon and Mount Belknap, west of Marysvale in the Tushar Mountains. In 1889, gold was discovered. Then in 1949,, uranium was discovered, prompting the United States Atomic Energy Commission to establish an ore purchasing station and field office in Marysvale.
http://www.marysvale.org/history.htm
August 23rd 2019: Jones Mine
South Forty RV Resort
Fishlake National Forest off-road map. Location of the Paiute ATV Trail System. "Paiute Trail System History"
August 24th 2019: Edna Peak
August 25th 2019: Big John Flates
August 26th 2019: South Forty RV Resort provides a 360° mountainous view of the Paiute Trail system. Since we look at the White Hills mining area from our RV's, we decided to go explore the old mines. In some areas we had to make our own trails.
White Hills mining area
South view of Marysvale and the South Forty RV resort from White Hills mine area
August 28th 2019: I have ridden the Manning Meadows trails numerous times, and I discover new scenery every time. It's absolutely beautiful. It's got to all, great trails (manicured and rocky), high elevation, lots of wildlife, cattle ranching, lakes, rock formation massive vegetation acreage.
My traveling companions since 2014. Greg and Etta from Casa Grande, AZ.
August 30th 2019: Puffer Lake, Three Creek Lakes, Round Flats, Crash
Puffer Lake
Crash site, headed back to the RV park via Paiute Trail 1 about 5 miles west of Indian Hollow. While riding through the switchbacks to achieve higher elevation, my front left tire hit a rock. My RZR took a sharp jolt to the left towards the drop-off to the lower switchback. For a few seconds I traveled on the edge of the road, when I felt the rig starting to tip over towards the lower switchback, I made the decision to make a sharp turn to the left and try to ride it out. 40 feet later I had the machine stopped, however, I was in a 4 foot ditch sitting a little lop sided. Did a quick inspection, no damage, just stuck. My friends went to the lower switchback and worked their way up to me. Hooked up Gary's wench. Immediate problem, he was unable to pull me out without his rig sliding down the hill. Luckly the was another vehicle up on the trail. He had a long strap, which we used to secure Gary's rig. Problem solved, pulled me out, and I contained to find my way to the lower switchback. I made the correct call by driving down the hill instead of rolling (even though I'm completely strapped in with a 4 point seatbelt).
September 1st 2019: Our adventure today will take us through Marysvale Canyon, Deer Creek Trail, Upper /Lower Kimberly, Fremont Indian State Park and Sevier Mine.
Visiting the Fremont Indian State park museum
September 2nd and 3rd 2019: Decided to take a few days to relax before I start on my 1,100 mile trip back to Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, Washington.
September 4th. 2019: Early morning departure for Oak harbor, Washington.
Snoqualmie Pass, Washington almost home, only a few hours left.
September 6th. 2019: Back on the Martin Homestead
Time to reflect on the last few months, while enjoying the fire pit and some adult beverages.
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