Last hurrah

[3wbdriver]

Glad you got to do Little BigHorn. I think every person that lives in America should see it once in their lives.

And was I lying? When you stood on the ridge did not the hair on the back of your neck stand up?

Well, hair standing up might be a little strong, but I WAS moved. Or it may have been the Buffalo Burger..... It was a very touching memorial Blitz.

Don't miss Devils Tower. You are in the area and it should be high on the priority list.

NOT. Time warp Captain. That was on Sunday! If it's Tuesday this must be Belgium. Some people my age or older may recognize that reference! Lol

I ended up dropping the Tetons today also. I was 2 weeks too early for all the roads to open, and it was just going to make for an extra day to try and get to them. It's why I had to drop Cody also. I'll post some pics from Yellowstone soon. I'm currently in the town of Malad, Id, about 13 miles north of the Utah border.

 

[3wbdriver]

I woke up on my own at 6 this morning, so I started out from Billings at 7. Drove the 115 miles to Livingston and started south thru this cut in the mountains, and followed the Yellowstone river down a mountain valley.



53 miles later I arrived at the North Gate. And shortly after that I crossed into Wyoming before arriving at Mammoth Hot Springs, which is actually a community in the Park which was built on the location of the old Fort Yellowstone. They even have their own post office. A lot of the park workers also have housing in Mammoth.




Above Mammoth was the first 2 terraces of hot geysers. That is a dormant dome in the foreground, and there a small vent in the hill above and behind it. I took some short videos on anything that had movement, but those will have to wait until I get home to upload.




And this is looking down on Mammoth from the upper terrace.


Then there was a climb up into the Park along the western road. From the gate to Old Faithful along that road was 53 miles, with lots of interesting stops in the middle. It took me 3 1/2 hours to do the 53 miles because of so many stops.
This is looking down on the eastern road from Mammoth, which I assume was open for some distance from the town, but was closed before you could leave the park. This is how I would have come in if the route from Cody had been open.


I didn't even realize I was on a bridge until I got out on the other side to take pictures of the waterfall!




Then this was off one of the few side roads which was open. Pretty interesting formation.

 

[3wbdriver]

After passing through the Golden Gate I ran along a meadow with some really interesting colored flora. Don't ask me what it is, I just thought it had a weird coloring to it. It ran for about a mile and a half like this.


Then down in to a large open flat called Gardner's Hole with some buffalo feeding in it. It wasn't until I had crossed almost 2 miles of it that I realized it was a volcanic crater. I just looked at the map and realized I had Sheepeaters Cliff and Gardner's Hole backwards. Oh well.



DIRT!!!! This is the first dirt I got to run on since starting this trip! The western road was down to one lane and under major repair over several miles of its length. At this stop it was a long enough one lane they had pilot vehicles escorting convoys. While we were waiting I did spot these guys just off the road, and talked one of the other drivers into taking a picture since I didn't get to meet a T4R folks on this leg.



Beaver lake was still mostly ice, but it was nice enough in the mid 50's that I took my outer shirt off after a couple walks.


I believe these pictures were taken at the Norris geyser basin. It looked like it stretched about 1/2 mile long and maybe 1/4 across. We were well above 6,000' by this point and the slopes and stairs were playing hob with my wind. I was getting back up the hills sounding like the little engine that could! I never had to sit down, but man it was close a couple times.





This interesting little guy wasn't even on the map, but I spotted it just in time to stop and shoot a pic and 10 sec video. The little brown spot across the stream was percolating like a coffee pot.

 

[3wbdriver]

Then it was on over to Gibbons Falls before going on to Old Faithful.



I missed her blowing. She blows about every 90 minutes on average, and I got there right between spouts. I didn't feel like waiting 45 minutes with so much of the day gone already so I got a picture for posterity and left. She rated for her own mini Park within a park. There were several large buildings as well as a lodge on the Old Faithful location, and it was definitely the most developed area of the park I saw besides Mammoth.

 

[3wbdriver]

Then I bid farewell to Yellowstone and struck out on the west entry road heading for Idaho, Mesa Falls and points south.


The upper falls.


The lower falls. Thankfully I didn't have to climb down there!


Tomorrow I invade Utah.

 

[3wbdriver]

[MENTION=49649]KidVermicious[/MENTION], [MENTION=96655]Wikki[/MENTION], [MENTION=122743]Mikey01[/MENTION], I've sent you all my contact info. If you want to meet or have ideas beyond what I put in there please give me a holler.

 

[3wbdriver]

OH! I forgot! I had to drive through some snow today! Dirt and snow in the same day. WAY COOL!!!!!

 

[wanderMT]

An FYI since you followed Yellowstone River 1/2 of day - it is longest free flowing river ( no dams) in continental US.


A worthwhile loop on way to Moab - instead of heading east at I70 intersection, continue south, go through Zion and back north to Panguitch and catch 70.

 

[KidVermicious]

[MENTION=49649]KidVermicious[/MENTION], [MENTION=96655]Wikki[/MENTION], [MENTION=122743]Mikey01[/MENTION], I've sent you all my contact info. Iy you want to meet or have ideas beyond what I put in there please give me a holler.

You make good time! Maybe I wasn't paying attention, I didn't expect you until summer.

So you're coming from the north and exiting - where? Assuming you're headed to Moab, take the exit for US6 at Spanish Fork instead of following I15 all the way down to I70. If you have time to burn a couple hours, head south at Price on Hwy 10 and go into the San Rafael Swell at Castledale. I don't have my maps on me at work tonight, but take the Green River Cutoff Rd east just before Castledale, hit the Wedge Overlook, then you can come back up and take the Buckhorn Draw road down over the bridge across the San Rafael River and see some beautiful country before you fetch I70. Look for the Buckhorn Wash pictograph panel and a killer sinkhole on the side of road as you go. If you've got a day or more to kill, go through Price and then head north at Wellington to tour Nine Mile Canyon, called the densest gallery of rock art in North America. Then when you're coming towards Moab, shoot past the Hwy 191 exit a little and look for Sego Canyon at the (almost) ghost town of Thompson. There's a road heading north into the canyon, a huge rock art site at the mouth, and then up near the top are the ruins of the ghost town of Sego, an old coal town. All three side trips are slightly off the beaten path and well worth your time.

San Rafael Swell Guide
Nine Mile Canyon - Know Before You Go
Sego Canyon

If you're headed south from Moab, I can recommend some more stuff. If you're exiting east, I'll hand you off to the Grand Junction guys, I don't know much about that area.

 

[KidVermicious]

Well, hair standing up might be a little strong, but I WAS moved. Or it may have been the Buffalo Burger.....

Buffalo burgers can be very moooooooooving.

 

[Wikki]

You make good time! Maybe I wasn't paying attention, I didn't expect you until summer.

So you're coming from the north and exiting - where? Assuming you're headed to Moab, take the exit for US6 at Spanish Fork instead of following I15 all the way down to I70. If you have time to burn a couple hours, head south at Price on Hwy 10 and go into the San Rafael Swell at Castledale. I don't have my maps on me at work tonight, but take the Green River Cutoff Rd east just before Castledale, hit the Wedge Overlook, then you can come back up and take the Buckhorn Draw road down over the bridge across the San Rafael River and see some beautiful country before you fetch I70. Look for the Buckhorn Wash pictograph panel and a killer sinkhole on the side of road as you go. If you've got a day or more to kill, go through Price and then head north at Wellington to tour Nine Mile Canyon, called the densest gallery of rock art in North America. Then when you're coming towards Moab, shoot past the Hwy 191 exit a little and look for Sego Canyon at the (almost) ghost town of Thompson. There's a road heading north into the canyon, a huge rock art site at the mouth, and then up near the top are the ruins of the ghost town of Sego, an old coal town. All three side trips are slightly off the beaten path and well worth your time.

San Rafael Swell Guide
Nine Mile Canyon - Know Before You Go
Sego Canyon

If you're headed south from Moab, I can recommend some more stuff. If you're exiting east, I'll hand you off to the Grand Junction guys, I don't know much about that area.

South of price mainly til you get to the I70 exit to head towards Moab definitely watch your speed as well. Bound to always be cops on that straightaway... lol Yes this is from experience as well haha

 

[KidVermicious]

Get you a first gen and you won't have to worry about breaking the speed limit.

 

[1engineer]

You make good time! Maybe I wasn't paying attention, I didn't expect you until summer.

So you're coming from the north and exiting - where? Assuming you're headed to Moab, take the exit for US6 at Spanish Fork instead of following I15 all the way down to I70. If you have time to burn a couple hours, head south at Price on Hwy 10 and go into the San Rafael Swell at Castledale. I don't have my maps on me at work tonight, but take the Green River Cutoff Rd east just before Castledale, hit the Wedge Overlook, then you can come back up and take the Buckhorn Draw road down over the bridge across the San Rafael River and see some beautiful country before you fetch I70. Look for the Buckhorn Wash pictograph panel and a killer sinkhole on the side of road as you go. If you've got a day or more to kill, go through Price and then head north at Wellington to tour Nine Mile Canyon, called the densest gallery of rock art in North America. Then when you're coming towards Moab, shoot past the Hwy 191 exit a little and look for Sego Canyon at the (almost) ghost town of Thompson. There's a road heading north into the canyon, a huge rock art site at the mouth, and then up near the top are the ruins of the ghost town of Sego, an old coal town. All three side trips are slightly off the beaten path and well worth your time.

San Rafael Swell Guide
Nine Mile Canyon - Know Before You Go
Sego Canyon

If you're headed south from Moab, I can recommend some more stuff. If you're exiting east, I'll hand you off to the Grand Junction guys, I don't know much about that area.

Those are good areas! I have wheeled those areas (100 years ago) and also over towards Helper and back up Soldier's Summit out towards the ghost town. Dinosaur dig anyone?

 

[3wbdriver]

Thanks for the recommendations. I think I'll just be meandering around today, so I'll look into at least some of those. I didn't realize until I got here that all of the parks I want to see are down south. I thought I'd be able to work my way down park by park to the south, or get a central location and spend time going in different directions each day.

These are the ones I had on my plan. Bryce Canyon Park, Monument Valley, Moab, and Arches.

And I know showing up in the middle of the week is going to throw a wrench in being able to meet some of you, but it is what it is.

 

[USKTog]

Thanks for the recommendations. I think I'll just be meandering around today, so I'll look into at least some of those. I didn't realize until I got here that all of the parks I want to see are down south. I thought I'd be able to work my way down park by park to the south, or get a central location and spend time going in different directions each day.

These are the ones I had on my plan. Bryce Canyon Park, Monument Valley, Moab, and Arches.

And I know showing up in the middle of the week is going to throw a wrench in being able to meet some of you, but it is what it is.

Looks like your plan has you working your way to Moab, then into CO.

Might look at doing the route via Zion N.P, up US-89 to UT-12. Hit Bryce Canyon N.P. then continue on UT-12 to UT-24 Capitol Reef N.P. then on to I-70. Pick up US-191 down to Arches & Moab.

From there...you have options into CO. UT-128 back to I-70 or down US-191 to UT-46/CO-145...

When you hit Denver, I'm sure there's a slew of us that would love to meet up with ya.

 

[3wbdriver]

Ok. I've looked at the map, and I think I'll follow your recommended route for today. Then I think I'll hit Bryce Canyon and Zion later today and tomorrow. Then I'll go do my Arizona leg, and hit Monument Valley on the way back up to Moab and Arches enroute to Pike's Peak. So. I may yet be up for some Moab running this weekend if anyone is interested.

 

[KidVermicious]

Thanks for the recommendations. I think I'll just be meandering around today, so I'll look into at least some of those. I didn't realize until I got here that all of the parks I want to see are down south. I thought I'd be able to work my way down park by park to the south, or get a central location and spend time going in different directions each day.

These are the ones I had on my plan. Bryce Canyon Park, Monument Valley, Moab, and Arches.

And I know showing up in the middle of the week is going to throw a wrench in being able to meet some of you, but it is what it is.

So which way are you leaving Utah? Bryce and Zion are way down south near the Arizona border, Arches and Canyonlands are near the eastern border with Colorado, and Monument Valley is literally on the Arizona border, but towards the New Mexico side.

I would take US6 and one or more of the side trips above and try and end up in Green River or Moab tonight. Then Arches and whatever else (you have to at least drive Fins and Things if you haven't, you can't go to Moab from swamp country and not drive Fins and Things), then stay on 191 south (I highly recommend a side trip into Needles district, stop at Newspaper Rock, drive the Colorado Overlook trail and hike the Cave Springs trail, it's mostly old-guy friendly). I can recommend fifty bajillion more things to do between Moab and Bluff if you want, or just head to Bluff and the turnoff for Monument Valley. Lots of the stuff you're going to want to see in MV are guided-tour-only, and you may need reservations, so call ahead. From MV you've got two options - my preference, and the more scenic/adventurous would be to wend north on 261then 276, catch the ferry across Lake Powell, then get on the (dirt) Notom-Bullfrog road and drive it north along the Waterpocket Fold. Take the switchbacks up the Burr Trail so you can drive Upper Muley Twist to the Strike Valley overlook, it'll blow your mind. Then come out the Burr Trail to pavement in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, then out to Boulder on Hwy 12. Hwy 12 will take you straight to Bryce Canyon, and then you can continue on to Zion if you want.

Anyway, that's how I'd do it. The boring-but-quicker way would be to drop into Arizona and cross the Colorado at Page, then Cottonwood Canyon north to Kodachrome Basin and then Bryce. Definitely some good scenery that way too. But those are the two options I'd consider if I was trying to visit all the parks you listed.

Edit - oh, you're leaving into Colorado? Reverse everything I just said . Jam down I15 to Cedar City tonight. Tomorrow cut across to Bryce, and then Escalante to Boulder and the Burr Trail, then Notom-Bullfrog to the Marina, then the ferry crossing, etc.

 

[3wbdriver]

Go to bed! You're supposed to be buying me lunch in a few hours!!! J/K, Lol

 

[3wbdriver]

Well I figured out today that Utah is WAY bigger than I thought! I got on the road and went over to the San Raphael Swell per Kidvermicious's destructions, and spent about 3 1/2 hours cruising all the way down to I-70. Once I hit I-70 I was lost so I had to stop and break out a map to figure out where to go next. I am currently in Panguitch, Ut, just outside of Bryce Canyon NP. Now the plan is to take in BC in the morning, get over to Zion after, and then see how far I can get toward Monument Valley with what's left in the day. I'll try to make Monument Valley and Moab a same day trip, then do Arches the next morning before starting for Pike's Peak. This is still flexible depending on how tomorrow goes.


I am throwing the Arizona stuff completely off the route, as much as I hate to. That's an 800 mile loop I just ain't up to. I badly underestimated how far south I needed to go looking at an atlas. I'll just have to hope to see those on another less ambitious trip. Sorry ur2ez22. I was looking forward to a trail ride until I saw that distance.

Time to upload some pics and make a post or 2. This is going to be difficult because I was as impressed with that little jaunt today as I was with the Badlands and Little Bighorn last week. And I had never even heard of that area.

 

[winston70]

Really enjoyed the Yellowstone and Montana/Wyoming pics! I can't believe it has been 30 years since I have been there. As a kid we camped all over southwestern MT and I have probably been to Yellowstone a half a dozen times. Hope you enjoyed the route from Livingston down to Yellowstone. I can still remember playing Livingston in junior high school baseball and as the centerfielder watching the Yellowstone river flow by just beyond the outfield fence when our pitcher wasn't throwing strikes.

Good luck on the rest of your trip and keep sending the pictures for all of us work stiffs.