Really looking forward to this! Been over thirteen years since I have been down this road. After Jumpup divide we had so much fun driving in we never stopped until we had to. Jumpup! We were in one of those saddles last night. Fishtail Mesa and racetrack Knoll. Another one of my favorite shots. Day 6 161 Total miles 131 Dirt miles
Waking up at Jumpup was one of the best mornings so far this year. After a nice visit to Jumpup cabin. This shot made with the GPS. What a nice ride out towards Crazy Jug. You can see the San Francisco peaks through Muav saddle, Steamboat mountain in front of the mighty Powell plateau. We had a good amount of things to see today. Wirelessly transferring tracks in between the Garmins worked eighty percent of the time, during one of these stops Larry''s bike would not start, we tow started it and he headed back.
Alone again. With all the right numbers. Thinking over my options, I wanted to see if the back door to the park was open, it was not. So I turned it east. I have stayed here before. But Dave tells us of another option, thank you again! Day 7 154 Dirt miles
What more could you ask for first thing in the morning? I rolled back to the store for a few things. I thought I am four miles from the park entrance, the park opens today, I might be able to get a permit for Sublime tonight, man this sounds great! NNOOTTTTT! Needless to say I was back on dirt in less than fifteen minutes. Looking back at the knob where I slept last night. A lot of the country I just rode starting out by Saddle mt... Kaibab Plateau.... A piece of the Buckskin mts. and the Vermillions. I smashed through the wind across the reservation, and had the culture shock smash me. Mex hat, Moki dw, Bears ears. Day 8 306 Total miles 64 dirt miles Day 9 384 Total miles 61 dirt miles Trip Totals 1,896 Total miles 818 dirt miles I know I have just scratched the surface of this region!
Great report as always... Jumpup Point is one of my favorite places! We were privy to the Door Code for Jumpup Cabin and we took a look inside...
Great RRs! Thanks for taking the time to post. This area wasn't on my radar before, but it sure is now! So many great places...
Great job, enjoyed reading it and the pictures are great. I've never seen a line that long a the north rim entrance (thankfully).
Dave!!!! As usual you deliver on your RR!!! What little I did see in those 3 days of riding with you has me prepping to go back in the fall. Your prep and local knowledge always impressive!!!! Shit happens and this trip it landed on me
It is a big remote area. It was bad, but every where I go there are just more people wanting to be first (or at least to be ahead of me)! Thanks, Looking forward to the next one.
With April being the most unpredictable month for short range forecasting in the Rockies, I decided to truck the bike across the southern San Jaun's. A six vehicle pile up then a little later a car sitting ninety degrees to traffic with the driver's door ripped off! Now in the desert I can relax. Finished driving the next day. Secured the Lil Ford. Found dirt nine miles out of town. A little adjustment was necessary. The gradual break down of these routes to their terminous is profound in this vast region. The spectacle is priceless each time.
Second day of riding the weather was still inclement and building over the area I wanted to ride. I was rolling towards a mountain in that cloud, now heading back north on a new to me connecting route. Heading out of the hills on to the very windy flats. Navajo trail took me thru the cliffs. Virgin mountains socked in. Socked in where I was headed also, so an early evening in the Twist hills it was. Saw a Badger today. Very restful afternoon/evening.
Next morning it was absolutely clear skies like I have not seen in months. Made short work of Main street, Rode west of the SXS staging area (Mt. Trumble School house), to a junction I have only rode west from, now heading south. I rolled through Juniper and Pinon for a while before the views start to open. Very enjoyable riding with the normal anticipation of the spectacle. Nothing tough at all but utilized very little. Parashant Canyon is one of the big ones. The road down there is on the return list. Still have a ways to go. A totally random stop to photograph the lava flow on the east side of Whitmore, I stumble upon an old cowboy camp complete with half dozen what I think are condensed milk cans with the lead plug, several Prince Albert tins also.
Having anticipated this two pronged point for a year it did not disappoint! Parashant Canyon overlook. Kelly point far center left, Blue mountain far center right. Two for one point, Whitmore is just a mile away. Frog spring road down there, again on the return list. The lava flow that the Whitmore overlook road takes advantage of. And the big flow off of Mt Emma.
Back to the canyon overlook for lunch, happy hour, and sleep. Victor Davis Hanson Unbelievable sleep.
I had packed for four nights, still had plenty of food and booze when the third morning arrived. Acquiring fuel was priority today, the Bar/10 was twelve to fifteen miles from here with a lot of riding options after. Tightening the pipe side bag, the rack pulled right towards me, the upper bolt had sheared. I rigged it with a few straps and took it easy to the ranch. They were fueling ohvs so I got right in line, paid at the ranch and boogied back to Main st. Always gets me how big and real the miles are out here. Wonderful riding back towards the truck, some good sand right before the pavement. 321 total miles 297 dirt Retrieve the truck and roll wanting to get to the site I had a few days earlier. Unpacking I find what I did not want to experience out on "The Strip" May God Bless You this Easter Sunday
My fourth ride into this region was a quick exploratory of Frog springs route and confirmation of the elimination of the character of the Whitmore over look road. A long drive north to a point above Marble canyon resulted in a gorgeous morning.
After stashing the truck, the two wheeler knocked down the thirteen miles of pavement to rouche rd. That breaks down rather quickly. Once on the navajo trail Ihad to deal with these gate keepers. Dropped down towards main street. Looks promising. Absolutely perfect!