2020 Adventure Map Summary
July 7th and 8th 2020: Spent my first night at the KOA Campground in Spokane, WA , next night was in Missoula, MT KOA, both places provided plenty of aminities to spend the evening relaxing after driving all day.
Driving along the ST Regis River, Montana. (35 miles of amazing scenery)
Bridge to nowhere Up ahead - Black Mountain Summit
July 8th 2020: Arrived Island Park, Idaho just south of West Yellowstone enterance. Met up with my good friends from Casa Grande, AZ. Drive from Oak Harbor, WA was uneventful , great scenery, only had a few hills registering 7% grade. Our boondocking (dry camping) camp site was along Island Park Reservoir in Harriman State Park. Beautiful location. Drive in from the highway was a 9 mile dusty rough dirt road. After setting up camp we did some routine maintenance on our quads (tire check, oil, air filter and general maintenance). Had a few issues with my motorhome, water pump and refrigerator would not work (not a good thing when you don't have city facilities. Finally got everything to work properly, must of been the rough ride in from the highway.
July 9th 2020: Spent the next few days riding in the Caribou Targhee National Forest. The trails ware well maintained, however they were extremely dusty. Was able to catch some amazing scenery while climbing to the summit of Sawtell Mountain.
July 11th 2020: From Sawtell Mountain summit we got views (from afar) of
Henrys lake, Idaho
Madison Valley Range
https://www.google.com/search?q=Madison%20Range...
Centennial Valley , Montana
https://www.greatfallstribune.com/.../centenn.../3771286002/
I was able to envision what these locations looked like because I have visited them previously in my annual adventures. Was pretty cool to see them from 100s of miles away
July 13th 2020: Departed Island Lake, headed to Moab, UT. Big change in scenery . We had an overnight stay in Brigham City. After setting up, I noticed that my main air conditioner was not working, not a good thing if you are headed too Moab, with average daily temperature of 104. Good thing the bedroom one was still working so I was able to keep cool at night.
July 14th 2020: Arrived Moab, Utah. Was able to contact a Mobile RV Repair business, he was actually doing repair on an RV a few spaces away from me. He immediately ordered a new Coleman 13,500 BTU unit. His son got up early the next day, drove 350 miles to pick up the unit and I was back on line that afternoon. While my rig was being repaired I smelled what I though was an electrical overheating, it was Greg's 50amp plug to city power. It was burning up, good thing the repair guy had a spare. That's excellent service. As I have said before, crap happens, life is good.
July 15th 2020: Greg was amazed I was able to get my unit fixed so quick.
July 16th 2020: Motorhome all repaired, hitting the trails today. Sand Flats Recreation Area towards Castle Valley was our target location. Scenery was not disappointing, we even got the opportunity to play around climbing sand stone fins and rocks.
July 17th 2020: We decided to challenge ourselves today. We hit the Sand Flats again and Porcupine Rim was our target of choice. It's an area that constantly changes because of water erosion from year to year. We both experienced the Rim back in May 2017 when we attended the Rally on the Rocks event. The Rim proved to be too much for my RZR. My tires are only 14 inches with 9 inched of clearance before I bottom out. Greg's quad was able to crawl up the rocks with his bigger tires and 14 inches of clearance. He still bottomed out. No Matter we still had a great day of riding.
July 19th 2020: Left Moab Utah, headed to Priest Gulch Colorado to meet up my friends Joe and Paula Henrick from Tucson, Arizona. Joe invites me to his Henrick/Harper family reunion every year. I met Joe and Paula Henrick in 2015 on a Habitat for Huminirty build in Bayfield Colorado. To this day we remain good friends.
July 25th 2020: Departed Priest Gulch Colorado, spent 1 night in Moab, Utah on our way to Meeker Colorado to ride trails in the White River National Forest. Big change in landscape and much cooler temperature, more to my liking.
July 26th 2020: Arrived Meeker Colorado. Once we set up camp, I contacted the Meeker Wagon Wheel OHV trails Club. I had previously made arrangements to have the club provide us a guide. The Meeker chamber of Commerce in coordination with the local Meeker Wagon Wheel OHV club established a program to provide free trail guides to visiting quad riders. We were fortunate to have a guide who grew up in Meeker and was retired from the Forest Service. He spent 2 days guiding us. It was a great to learn about the local history.
July 27th 2020: First day on the trail, explored Hay Flats to Miller Creek Loop. Encountered cowboys herding cattle and sheep herders tending to sheep in addition to some amazing scenery.
Abandoned Cowboy Camp
Doesn't get any better then this.
Current Cowboy Camp
Sheep herder portable camp
Dogs tending the sheep.
July 28th 2020: Today Greg and I explored the Miller Creek Mountain Trail on our own. Clocked in 56 miles at an average speed of 9 MPH. Covered a variety of trails, river crossings, rock climbing, country roads and 2 track trails, Achieved an elevation of over 9,000 feet (Meeker at the 6,400 foot level). Weather conditions varied, sun, rain, thunderstorm and hail.
Miller Creek Mountain was a solid 2,800 foot climb with a variety of challenges, river crossings, steep rocky switchbacks and narrow off camber trail. Once we committed to going up, there is no turning back, trail was narrow with steep drop off so there wasn't room to turn around.
July 30th 2020: We traveled with our guide today. He took us to Dead Horse Creek. We were exposed to some amazing breathtaking scenery. Weather was perfect.
Never get enough of the wilderness landscape.
Amazing place to stop for lunch
Fawn Creek
July 31st 2020: No guide today we were on our own. Wells Ridge & Coutie Mesa was on the menu today. We were not disappointed, had beautiful weather and amazing scenery.
My good friends Greg & Etta from Casa Grande, AZ
August 1st 2020: Today is our last day of riding White River National Forest at Meeker, Colorado. Oak Ridge & Miller Creek was our destination. Had to do a little repair to my RZR this morning, the skid plate broke loose in the rear, so I had to reattach it.
Been riding in lots of narrow steep rocky trails to get to the 10,000-foor-level. Skid plate can only take so much abuse.
Guess who owns the road, darn cow would not budge.
Little history of Meeker and the Ute Indians. Amazing story.
August 3rd 2020: Departed Meeker, Colorado headed to Marysvale, Utah. Didn't take long for the scenery to completely change.
Upon arrival at the South Forty RV Resort, it was time to do laundry and clean and disinfect the motorhome. Took a few days to relax and catch up on some reading. We plan to hit the Paiute trails on Thursday the 6th.
August 9th 2020: After much discussion, we decided that we had never been to the top of Deer Trail Mountain, elevation 10,236. We ended up going through areas (Pine Creek, Hennessy Point, Edna Peak and Alunite Ridge) from some of our previous trips, not matter, Deer Trail Mountain was well worth it. Had a variety of trails, some were frequently traveled, some were primitive. Over all it was a challenge to reach the top. Photos tell a better story.
August 25th 2020: Leaving Moab, Utah, looking at 1,200 miles to get to Oak harbor, which equates to driving 7 to 8 hours a day or until I get tired. For convenience , I use trucks stops for overnight stays because all the services I need are easily accessible. 
August 31st 2020: Departed for Columbus Montana. Experienced outstanding weather, drove all the way with the top down on my Z4. Enjoyed the visit with my brother and his wife Becky. Was pleased to have Becky's kids and grandkids come for a visit. It's such a pleasure to be around them. Only spent a few days, then it was back to Oak Harbor, and the end of my 2020 Adventure.
Etta
August 6th 2020: We took a few days off. Marysvale was holding their annual Paiute Trail Jamboree. Marysvale has a population of approximately 400, this weekend it went as high as 1,500. I would rather ride when there isn't 100's of folks out on the trails at one time (to many folks don't know how to control their speed). We stayed in Marysvale for 2 week, so plenty of time to ride when there was less people. After evaluating the trail traffic, we decided to go riding after all. We departed 2 hours after all of the Jamboree folks, only saw a few folks on the trails. Started out in the Sevier River Valley, climbed to the top of Monroe Flats through Lower Box Canyon & Manning Meadows. Been on the route many times, it never gets boring.
August 7th 2020: We headed north of Marysvale, up the mountains to Joseph Peak. Our journey started with a stiff climb from Dry Hollow up to Little Grass Valley. Of course, once reaching the 9000-foot-level, the geography was breathtaking. Passed by multiple cattle herds with attending cowboys and some wildlife. Found a beautiful meadow to have lunch. On the way back we went through some interesting named areas, (Pine Rose Hollow, Chokecherry Hollow, Bald Hill, Indian Flat, Indian Hill and of course Joseph Peak. Final stretch was a fast ride on Poverty Flat trail back to South Forty RV resort. Another 80-mile trip worth taking.
Maximum dust protection
August 11th 2020: We didn't have any set route for today. Hopped on Dry Creek Canyon trail, turned east towards Six Patch Draw , north past Burnt Flat Reservoir. Worked our way north towards the city of Monroe through Mud Spring Flat, finally ended up on road 24 which is a fast way back to South Forty RV Resort. Was a long day, but again well worth it.
August 12th 2020: Headed northwest towards Fremont Indian State Park. Trailed past Silver King Mine, contained through Lower & Upper Kimberly, past Whiterock hump, turned west at Maple Spring Hollow and returned via Sevier Canyon trail. Most enjoyable day.
August 14th 2020: Our last day of riding the Paiute trail system before we travel to Springerville, AZ. We decided to go visit Forshea Mountain & Lookout Point (9700 ft level). Day started out pretty normal. Stopped for lunch below the bluffs just south of Little Cottonwood canyon. After lunch I continued on Paiute Trail 01 towards trail 073. After turning left from trail Paiute Trail 01, I stopped for a potty break and waited for Greg to catch up to me, he was a ways behind. I waited for about 20 minutes, decided to backtrack (about 15 miles) to make sure Greg had not crashed, we were traveling through some fairly steep cliffs and switchbacks. No Greg, so I went back to where I had original pulled over, waited over an hour because I figured he must of not noticed the turn off and maybe he will come back my way. There was no cell service so we did not have any communications. I have a radio, Greg does not. I went up to the 9000-foot level in order to pick up cell service, sent him a text to let him know I was ok (knowing he was probably worried about me) and to just head back to South Forty RV. Upon turning around to head back down from the mountain, I lost my brakes, the caliper and hydraulic cylinder had detached and the fluid had all drained out. I ended up driving back the 40 miles in low gear (My RZR only has 2 gears, Low and High). Was a long ride back. Greg was back before me, he had received my text. Repair was out of the question, 2 weeks wait for parts, we were leaving in a few days.
August 17th 2020: Now I had to decide, do I continue to Springerville, AZ to participate in the White Mountain Jamboree event, rent a quad or just head back to Oak Harbor, WA. Etta decide she was not interested in riding the trails at Springerville so I could copilot with Greg. So Springerville, here we come. We were going to tour the Meteor Crater (AZ) and make a stop in Winslow, AZ.
Meteor Crater RV Park
August 18th 2020: Visit to the Meteor Crater was well worth it. I had no idea is was there or what took place there.
Greg was determined to go to visit Winslow, AZ ( Standing on the Corner). Sounded ok to me, again another new adventure.
August 18th: Arrived Springerville RV mid Afternoon, set up camp, had some adult beverages, had dinner, discussed plans for the next few days.
August 19th 2020: Participated In the Jamboree corn-hole event. Team name was AZWA. Greg was my partner. He was disappointed we lost. I think I told him I was fairly good at corn-hole, which I'm not.
August 20th 2020: Getting ready to participate in the " Blind Man Guided by Woman" obstacle course event. Since my RZR was broken, Greg let me use his quad, also Etta was my guide. Out of 26 teams, Etta and I placed 7th.
August 21st 2020: Day 1 was the Grizzly Bear Ride, not sure why it was called that. Trail was extremely dusty. We had in excess of 20 rigs. Had to leave a lot of distance between each rig as to not eat a lot of dust. When the guide took a break, by the time the last rig reached the group, it was time to proceed. 90% off the ride was on county roads, moving at an average speed of 45. Grizzly Bear ride did not impress me. 
August 22nd 2020: Day 2 was no better. Ride was called Ryan's Secret Ride. I know why, because he had no idea where he was taking us. Again 90% of the ride was on county roads ( more dust) and about 40 miles was covered on the previous day. Most of the folks did not take a lunch because we were suppose to go to a local restaurant to have lunch, well Ryan decided to not do that. Somehow we ended up in New Mexico, was not listed as a planned trail. We were constantly stopping because Ryan liked to hear himself talk about how great of a guide he was.
The whole event was not very well planned. People working the event participated in the events. Some events were won by either event workers or close friends of the event coordinator. Springerville Jamboree was a total bust, I will never attend an event held by AZOP again. Best part of the Springerville Event was spending time with my good friends Greg and Etta.
August 24th 2020: Leaving Arizona, my original itinerary was to go visit my brother in Columbus, MT, however on my way to Moab, Utah to spend the night I had a blowout on my rear duel tires just 4 miles outside of Moab. Called AAA for road service, they brought me 2 new tires within 1/2 hour. I played it safe and purchased 4 additional tires for the remainder of the motorhome. While having dinner that night, I reflected back on the repairs I had experienced so far. I decided to modify my mod of transportation. New plan, take the motorhome and quad back to Oak Harbor and take my Z4 for a road trip to Columbus Montana to visit my brother.
I consider myself lucky, this poor guy lost his truck and camper, I only lost a few tires.
Great place to spend the night
Snoqualmie Pass, only 2 1/2 hours to Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, Washington
August 27th 2020: Back on the Martin Homestead, time to unpack and clean the motorhome (takes a few days).
August 31st 2020: Departed for Columbus Montana. Experienced outstanding weather, drove all the way with the top down on my Z4. Enjoyed the visit with my brother and his wife Becky. Was pleased to have Becky's kids and grandkids come for a visit. It's such a pleasure to be around them. Only spent a few days, then it was back to Oak Harbor, and the end of my 2020 Adventure.
Yep, " Big Sky" Country
Guy gave me a drive by tour of the Stillwater Mine and the local mountains
Spotted this old barn on the Montana plains. Love old barns.
As with prior years, had an amazing adventure. Looking forward to next year (2021).
What a great trip you had - even in the midst of COVID! Glad you made it home safe and sound. It's really neat that you can head out knowing you have good equipment, good friends and good driving skills. Not bad for 70 years!
ReplyDeleteBet on horse racing and win big at the Betfair Casino
ReplyDeleteBet on horse racing and win big at the Betfair Casino · Bet £10 get £40 in free bets · Make the £20 offer (min £10) stake $5 or more and receive a £20 luckyclub
Your comment has nothing to do with my post.
ReplyDelete