2023: The Bittersweet End

The next morning, we scouted along LDH for better camp sites and found one for future use.  We topped off our water at a natural spring, then moseyed to Ouray to be tourists.  We spent too much money, ate fabulous burgers and decided to go back to site we found earlier.  It was warm this day.  The sun was high, and the breeze light.  We tucked into the birches, showered and enjoyed the mountain views all afternoon.  

We knew this was our last night in Colorado and it was bittersweet.  This trip was so incredibly needed and soul cleansing, but life doesn’t wait for you forever.  Bills have to be paid.  Families tended to.  Jobs demanding time.  But one more night in the wilderness of Arizona was on the docket.

The next morning, we packed up camp, intending to camp in the pines of Flagstaff that night.  But mother nature had other plans.  By the time we made it to Cameron, we knew our plans were shattered.  Massive lightning storms were engulfing the entire state.  It would’ve been unwise and downright unsafe to camp in those conditions.  Tails tucked, we came home a day early.  

We’ve been home for a few days and tomorrow we go back to work.  Back to the grind.  Reality sucks.     

2023: Change of Plans

During our morning pack up, we noticed the rear bumper was pushing into the tail gate when it was down.  Another trail mishap.  Tools came out, body weight was utilized and the bumper was secured.  After a tiring day prior, we were planning to tourist in Ouray, but discovered the truck seemed unhappy climbing.  So we pushed through Ouray, me with altitude sickness, to Montrose for parts.  Mike replaced the idler pulley and fan pulley.  But we think the fan clutch is toast.  That repair will have to wait.  At this point, we were in between Ouray and Grand Mesa.  So we, of course, altered plans and continued north to Grand Mesa for the night.  We found a camp spot in the pines, along a lake.  

Relaxed and enjoyed the night.  The next day we drove through the remainder of the park, along a beautiful yellow canyon where we saw a mountain goat walking along the road.  

Mike broke one of our camp chairs so we had to pit stop in Grand Junction for a new set from REI before heading back south. Instead of heading back to Silverton, we turned off at Ridgeway and camped off the Last Dollar Highway.  This was our highest campsite of the trip at 10,500 ft.  Tucked in the pines, barely breathing.  

2023: High Altitude Misadventures

Today was trail day.  We packed up, gassed up in Silverton and headed out on 550 towards Red Mountain.  A trip to Silverton has always encompassed Red Mountain.  Driving up mine tiling, avalanche debris and past mining camps to 12,000ft passes is a must. 

Dark clouds hung over Ouray and Red Mountain.  Corkscrew Pass was foreboding. 

We descended into the valley for a sunny spot near a water crossing for a quick lunch before cruising back up to Hurricane Pass.  

We descended towards the lake before climbing towards Poughkeepsie.  

We only ran Poughkeepsie once prior.  About 10 years ago.  In the Jeep.  From the opposite direction.  But Mike wanted to try the trail in his full size truck.  We started the trail and it was instantly difficult.  Rocky, with steep inclines, drops and steps.  

We only saw one Jeep and one bike, both headed in the opposite direction as us.  The bike stopped and chatted, mentioning how chewed up the trail appeared to be compared to years prior.  But we motored down towards “The Wall”.  Upon surveying the situation we knew we made a poor choice.  There was no safe way down the wall.  Not alone.  But traveling back the way we came also came with consequences.  The truck was already damaged (rear bed) from descending the trail.  We were tired.  We were stressed.  We were over 12,000 ft.  

Slowly, we ground our way back up the trail.  The second to last obstacle finally did us in.  We got stuck.  

Short of breath, we got the winch out and managed to get it around a boulder.  With little confidence, the winch pulled.  And the strap slipped off the rock.  Exhausted, we got the strap around the rock again, and I stood on it.  Winching 101 says NOT to do that.  I didn’t care.  My meager weight on the strap kept it on the rock enough for the winch to pull the Powerwagon free from the obstacle.  Thankfully, we successfully made it off the trail.  Stupidly, we took on a black diamond trail in a full size truck, alone.  

Elated having survived our own stupidity, we climbed California Pass and headed into Animas Forks.  

By this time, the sun was getting low and we were smoked.  All camping spots in the valley were full and we crossed our fingers that our “secret spot” was still opened.  The stars smiled upon us and it was.  After a quick dinner we were in bed.  

2023: Respite in the Woods

After leaving Utah, we motored hard towards Silverton.  Stopping only briefly off 550 at Lime Creek to water the dogs and stretch our legs.  In Downton Silverton, we stopped at our favorite - Golden Block Brewery for pizza and beer.  Afterwards we jetted to our “secret” camping spot along a creek and settled in for the night.  And got rained on.  Hard.  The night was cold and damp.  We spent lots of time in camp that morning, allowing the tent and awning to dry out.

2023: Solace in the Desert

It’s been a minute since I’ve written in this journal.  We’ve been on plenty of adventures and trips.  But the spark wasn’t there to write.  Life.  Life is complicated. It has been full of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.  I don’t know what changed in the last few years but the lows have been dominating.  I hate losing to my demons, but they’ve been dominating my time and it is getting old.  I’ve refocused on myself recently.  Started a workout regime.  Incorporated meditation before bed.  Boy do I suck at mediation.  But falling isn’t an option.  There is too much to be grateful for.  Too much to look forward to.  

In the midst of a spiral, we went away.  It was the best medicine.  We’ve been building vehicles non-stop since 2016.  Racing.  Vacationing.  In 2018 we bought a RV project.  In 2020, we sold the teardrop. In 2021, we sold the RV project.  In 2022, we decided to build out our Scout for a camping rig.  2023 has been consumed with that project.  But its not done.  So FB marketplace to the rescue, and we put the RTT for the Scout onto the Powerwagon and left.  

Mike planned the trip.  We started in Petrified National Forest.  Neither of us had high expectations of the place.  Those expectations were shattered.  I’m a rock nerd.  Love them.  Collect them.  Obsess over colors and patterns.  Mike was a geology major.  This place was incredible.  We spent far more time there than we expected.  The weather was just cool enough to walk the dogs on a few trails. 

After the park, we motored north to Valley of the Gods.  This place owns my soul.  We go almost every year.  We ate burgers at sunset, watched the stars at moonrise and slept until dawn.  

Up before the sun, we packed up, ate breakfast and headed north.  

We stopped to survey the San Juan river in Mexican Hat before leaving to see if that would be a viable camping spot but the river was full of sediment from the hurricane that soaked the desert just prior.  Yes a hurricane.  We might not have shorelines, but hurricane remnants routinely traverse north through the desert, providing much needed water.