May 27, 2021

We only had a permit to camp in the Canyonlands for one night, so we headed out that morning, trying back roads to exit out the back door…

But that meant exiting through Bobby’s Hole, an exit listed as impassable most of the year… but it was dry and we took our time.

No damage to either truck other than some rock rash on the rims, sliders and skid plates.

That took us on Ruin Park Road, and to see the ruins Storage, Farm House and Tower ruins on BLM land outside Cayonlands.

Pottery piece

The cactus were blooming

May 26, 2021

Newspaper Rock, a rock panel carved with one of the largest known collections of petroglyphs.

I loved the details – The first carvings at the Newspaper Rock site were made around 2,000 years ago, left by people from the Archaic, Anasazi, Fremont, Navajo, Anglo, and Pueblo cultures.

The site is the beginning of Canyonlands National Park and one of longest days of off-roading in my life.

The 4×4 trail to our campsite starts with Elephant Hill, a classic off-roading challenging and begins with steep switchbacks and long drops before slow and technical driving.

In 8 hours or so we traveled 17 miles, 1 mile of which was hiking.

The view from the Colorado River and Green River confluence.

We made it to camp without any damage to the trucks and decided to hike out to find Horsehoof Arch as the sun set, we never found the arch, but it was an amazing hike.

We beat the sunset back to camp

Camp at Bobby Jo –

May 25, 2021

The House on Fire in Mule Canyon. Each day as the sun moves across the canyon floor, the light reflects up to make this food storage ruin appear to be on fire, we waited 3 hours for it to happen today. Cedar Mesa, Utah

May 24, 2021

Travel day, time to move to new area. The path cross the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River in Page, AZ

new camp spot on BLM land that featured grazing cattle through the camp.

Sand Island Petroglyphs

Most of the petroglyphs are from the early Basketmaker through Pueblo III eras, which range in time from 2500 to 800 years old.

May 23, 2021

Dianas Throne slot canyon – May 23, 2021

We started today with Diane’s Throne Slot Canyon.

Dianas Throne slot canyon – May 23, 2021

It is a “technical” canyon, meaning it needs canyoning skills and ropes to complete… we will see about that!

Dianas Throne slot canyon – May 23, 2021

Once again an early start and not going to “popular” places meant we had the canyon to ourselves!

We were forced up and out of the canyon, and hiked along it’s rim looking for a new way back into it

Diana’s Throne slot canyon – May 23, 2021

But we didn’t make it to the end… just too many spots that required ropes, etc.

If you are in the area, Bryce NP is a must visit, it’s really just a scenic drive with side hikes, and was crowded

The hoodoos are cool to see.

Bryce even has a waterfall on the hike to Mossy Cave

I know everyone is missing seeing Pongo pictures, in front of hoodoos in Dixie National Forest

I ended the day with a bike ride along forest service roads outside Zion NP

May 22, 2021

Today was one goal, hike The Narrows in Zion NP – the process starts the day before at 5pm, signing on the lottery for shuttle passes the next day, secured, we waited our turn and started hiking up the Virgin River.

The hike is in the river, ankle to knee deep most of the 5 hours we hiked

The Zion Canyon has walls that are over a thousand feet tall in sections.

May 21, 2021

After dropping Deb at the SLC airport, I did the 5 hour drive back to Kanab and we decided to hike to the Indian Canyon Pictographs, the hike starts at the end of a fun and sandy 4wd track.

South Fork Canyon Indian Petrographs – May 21, 2021

The pictographs are from between 62 B.C. and A.D. 452

South Fork Canyon Indian Petrographs – May 21, 2021

South Fork Canyon Indian Petrographs – May 21, 2021

South Fork Canyon Indian Petrographs – May 21, 2021

That night it got windy and cold, so Beth and I cooked in the Flippac and we all ate inside.

May 20, 2021

First drive into Zion National Park, wow it is pretty, but crowded, luckily Beth found a hike for the Lower Clear Creek slot canyon via the Hobbit Hole. Perfect, we had the place to ourselves.

After the tight part of the slot ended, we hiked along the creek bed, Deb took pictures of patterns on rocks, and James, Beth and me created “content” for out YouTube channels (ie we hiked and shot too many videos)

Just can’t go wrong here…

Climbers on a multi-pitch route… we watched them as we ate lunch, the other view was the picture above.

The moon rises over Kolob Canyon in Zion NP

After a full day of hiking, exploring and wondering, Deb and I headed to Salt Lake City (5 hours away) for her morning flight home. We did stop for our first In-N-Out meal, no I didn’t get it Animal style.