Corkscrew Gulch and SNOW!

This morning was...interesting.  First thing the dogs did was run to the Jeep and sniff under it.  I thought nothing of it.  Fast forward an hour and while Mike was checking on the new King Shocks we installed just prior to the trip, he noticed some wires were chewed up.  Upon closer inspection, I noticed porcupine quills under the Jeep.  Then I saw the tail.  We had a porcupine occupying the engine compartment of the JK.

And it wouldn't come out.  I grabbed leashes and walked the dogs to the edge of camp while Mike tried in vain to extricate it.  No luck.  It skittered into the skid plates and hunkered down.  Mike started the Jeep and drove off, and finally it dislodged itself from its hiding spot.  Poor dude.  

After ensuring that no permanent damage was done by teeth or quills, we headed off for Corkscrew Gulch.

Up the mountain we went.  Through pines and mining desolation.

And through winter's most recent avalanche site.

We stopped in Corkscrew Gulch and let Rommel play in the snow while we waited for our adventure friends.  One of the kids felt car sick, so they stopped for a while.

Here we are at 10,000 feet or so, playing in the snow in t-shirts.  The sun is extremely hot, to the point where Elly just walked into the shade and laid in the snow while Rommel played.

Our friends caught up and we started the climb to the top.

Once at the top, we found a pool of ice water with bergs in it that, of course, Rommel thought he needed to get into.  We dissuaded him with snow. 

Family Photo <3

 

After the snowball fight, the boys consulted the WORST MAP BOOK EVER.  We thought we were in one pass, but later on the way down the mountain spoke with another Jeeper who showed us a far superior trail map.  Oh well.  

We headed into Silverton proper for a mediocre but expensive lunch and some shopping.  From there, back to camp for the evening.  We played some dominos, had dinner and lounged for the rest of the evening.  

Any day in the mountains is a good day.

Onwards to Silverton!

Its summer so the sun sets too late and rises too early.  That didn't bother Elly, who barely slept the night before but was in full lizard hunting mode come morning.

And after an ample struggle, we managed to get four adults, two kids and two dogs still long enough for one photo.

Bye Valley of the Gods!

We blazed through Utah, through Bluff and the Reservation.

And into Colorado, through Durango and onwards east.  The final destination of this journey is Colorado Springs.  Why?  Because we haven't been there.  But first, a stop off in Silverton because A) we love the place and B) its a mid point.

Mineral Springs.  If it aint broke, don't fix it.  Stick with what you know and seek out a camp spot.

This trip was planned a month earlier than usual, for reasons I can no longer remember.  There was a lot more snow on the ground than usual and the waterfalls and creeks were full and raging.  We also hit a small snag.  The Jeep just couldn't get itself and the trailer over this small snow block.  FJ to the rescue!

Hey, I'm not ashamed we got stuck and needed help.  We're hauling a fat bottomed girl, and have lower ground clearance than the FJ.  We wouldn't have anymore issues with this spot since the sun and vehicles were shrink it down for us. 

We pushed through and down into the valley at the end of Mineral Springs.

While camp was erected, I let Rommel briefly play in the creek.  Briefly because it is so cold, your toes begin to burn after a few seconds.  He would play himself into hypothermia if I let him.  So just a few minutes of blissful play with the added benefit of washing away the red dirt from Utah.

To encourage K9 dry time and to stretch our legs, Mike and I ventured around.

After our hike, Mike and Pete played horseshoes while Mandy and I prepared dinner.  I want to say we enjoyed potato soup tonight but I'm not 100% sure.  The June sun is blazing in Colorado, but the second the sun moves behind the mountain, we were chilled to the bone.

Warm showers were enjoyed, lounging commenced and eventually we all tucked in for a restful night soothed by the sounds of Mineral Creek.

Vacation or BUST!

It's that time of year again: mountain time.  I feel like our trip to California was eons ago.  This past year has been busy, at times stressful and without enough adventure.  Work invaded personal time, project cars ate up valuable adventure time and we were beyond ready to escape.

We opted for Colorado again.  Why? Because it always provides ample dirt roads, cool mountain air and the ever necessary flowing water.  But before lush Colorado mountains, we needed to push through hours and hours of barren desert.  So of course, we stopped in Mexican Hat for our first night of camping.

Valley of the Gods called to us.  This place is very special to Mike and I.  It was our first bit of dirt we hit on our honeymoon and we've been enamored with this place since.  We had our hearts set on a specific spot with slight elevation over the valley and most importantly afternoon shade.  While we escaped record temperatures in southern Arizona (it hit 118 at home), it was still in the high 90's in Valley of the Gods.  Shade was crucial. We lucked out!

Mike and I set up camp pretty quickly.  We parked.  HA! We wandered around while our camping companions set up their roof top tents.

We settled in, the boys conversed over frosty beverages and Mandy and I started on dinner.  We discovered freeze dried food at the Overland Expo (West).  We ordered a bunch from Thrive Life and were thoroughly impressed with how tasty and easy it was.  I'm still not convinced its cost effective, but it saved space (both fridge and dry food), weight and mess.  Mandy made a log of which meals we ate.  If she actually blogs this year I will link to it at some point.  

The sun set.  The (almost) full moon rose.  The night remained warm and we left the doors to the teardrop open.  Elly was dramatically hot all night and kept us both unfortunately conscious.  But it was a good first day on the road and the week had just begun.

Monument Valley

This morning, we had breakfast at the cafe and walked to the San Juan river. 

A quick jaunt down the highway brought us to Monument Valley. 

It is a Navajo Nation park and only $20 a car.  With the exception of the 3 iconic spires, you can drive all through the park.  It was $20 well spent.  We spent hours there and it was needed.  With as spacious as the park is, I never felt over crowded.  I did marvel at how rushed the international tourists were.  Why would you speed through something as magnificent as Monument Valley? 

Yesterday my mom fussed at me for standing at the edge.  Today, a little old French man fussed at me.  I didn't understand a word he was saying, but panic is international.  

Look closely, horseback riders.

Mike was telling my dad about a plane crash site he found.

I handed Mike the camera.  He asked why.  I said because I'm about to piss you off and proceeded to jump on a boulder.

We loaded back into the truck and made our way back to the visitors center.

It was a wonderful short trip.  The painted desert will always be my favorite.  Can't wait to go back. Next time, I think we'll drag Mike's parents along.