Expedition Portal - Completed Adventures and Events http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/ Post Backcountry and Overland trip reports, events and training.Sponsored by MAXTRAX en Sat, 25 May 2013 09:00:57 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/images/misc/rss.png Expedition Portal - Completed Adventures and Events http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/ 1 week- 4 states- final destination Death Valley http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111421-1-week-4-states-final-destination-Death-Valley?goto=newpost Sat, 25 May 2013 04:39:37 GMT First off... this is going to be a long multiple part thread. Not to worry as there will be far more pictures than ramblings...

I've been thinking about a desert trip for a little while and now seamed like the right time to head out and explore.

So we left home on a slightly over cast day and headed for Port Angeles WA.

Truck all packed up and ready to go... it sank down about 3 inches





Filling out paper work for US customs




Official trip photographer and co-pilot




Hard to believe but she took over 2000 photos.. some were oh so random... this is just the beginning of the randomness





Like I mentioned slightly overcast





Leaving our home port behind










Welcome to Port Angeles




We didn't actually take any pics of PA city... but it was a very cool little city that has a certain oldie time type feel about it.

Since the ferry dropped us of around 5pm we hit the road pretty hard and ended up in Castle Rock WA for the first night. We pulled into a KOA campground at 8:07 ... unfortunately the campground office shut it's doors at 8:00.

We caught a lucky break and the staff that was cashing out let us check in for the night... no pics since we setup camp in a torrential down poor...Next up Day 2 ]]> Completed Adventures and Events 32vsnake http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111421-1-week-4-states-final-destination-Death-Valley Way Down Yonder in the Chattahoochee... http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111416-Way-Down-Yonder-in-the-Chattahoochee?goto=newpost Sat, 25 May 2013 03:00:05 GMT I hope this is the correct forum, i'm fairly new here.
My father and I went for a multi-day camping adventure in the Chattahochee National Forest. This is our report. Pardon any errors, if i missed them. I had a lot of fun, and wanted to share. Enjoy!
http://jeepcamping.blogspot.com/ ]]> Completed Adventures and Events mclovinal http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111416-Way-Down-Yonder-in-the-Chattahoochee A 2 Wheel Adventure...Riding the Price and the Swell http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111400-A-2-Wheel-Adventure-Riding-the-Price-and-the-Swell?goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 20:53:54 GMT My family left me for a few weeks...What to do? I called a former teaching colleague and we headed south. Everyone has heard of Moab and Fruita. But, what about Price and the San Rafael Swell? The BLM has allowed some of the sagebrush and mesas to be trail friendly. Trails are popping up all... My family left me for a few weeks...What to do? I called a former teaching colleague and we headed south. Everyone has heard of Moab and Fruita. But, what about Price and the San Rafael Swell? The BLM has allowed some of the sagebrush and mesas to be trail friendly. Trails are popping up all over. I ride a single speed, so I like to ride trails that are fast, twisty, and not with too many punishing climbs. The area around Price and the Swell fits the bill in dramatic fashion. Load the bikes and go...Here are few pictures that captured the weekend.

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Greeted with this on our first trail. Excitement building!

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The sage once enjoyed by cows was now enjoyed by us!

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These awesome trail markers pointed where to go.

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Someone made a wrong turn. My condolences..

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Made it to the Little Grand Canyon during magic hour!

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Always fun to pull out the slackline! Placed it closer to the edge for a little pucker factor.

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Barb enjoying the single track. Miles and miles of BIG views and desert single track.

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Fun...Peddle, Stop, Enjoy the Views, Repeat!
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]]> Completed Adventures and Events mph http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111400-A-2-Wheel-Adventure-Riding-the-Price-and-the-Swell Caravaning back form the 2013 Overland Expo via Route 66 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111366-Caravaning-back-form-the-2013-Overland-Expo-via-Route-66?goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 04:44:46 GMT We took the long way back from Mormon Lake to Las Vegas Monday via Route 66 through Seligman and Hackberry. Here are a few shots... We took the long way back from Mormon Lake to Las Vegas Monday via Route 66 through Seligman and Hackberry. Here are a few shots...
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]]> Completed Adventures and Events LandRoverLasVegas http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111366-Caravaning-back-form-the-2013-Overland-Expo-via-Route-66 Northwest Maine wheelin and camping trip http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111349-Northwest-Maine-wheelin-and-camping-trip?goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 19:36:27 GMT So the kids and i went on our first spring trip. Were hoping to do some fishing but the lakes and streams were still frozen over. This was the 3rd weekend in April so there was still snow on the ground in our campsite. Covered about 120 miles in 3 days all offroad exploring and saw some moose, deer... So the kids and i went on our first spring trip. Were hoping to do some fishing but the lakes and streams were still frozen over. This was the 3rd weekend in April so there was still snow on the ground in our campsite. Covered about 120 miles in 3 days all offroad exploring and saw some moose, deer and wild turkeys. The mountains were still covered with snow so it made for some beautiful scenery. We had a great time. Heres some pics. ]]> Completed Adventures and Events xjman88 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111349-Northwest-Maine-wheelin-and-camping-trip Sheep Creek Canyon and Switchbacks in Colorado http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111340-Sheep-Creek-Canyon-and-Switchbacks-in-Colorado?goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 16:22:31 GMT We had a club 4x4 run on Saturday May 18 north of tiny Gateway, Colorado wheeling up and then wheeling back down the beautiful Sheep Creek Canyon Trail which leads into the southern end of the remote Dolores Triangle. Such a beautiful area with great views into extreme western Colorado and extreme... We had a club 4x4 run on Saturday May 18 north of tiny Gateway, Colorado wheeling up and then wheeling back down the beautiful Sheep Creek Canyon Trail which leads into the southern end of the remote Dolores Triangle. Such a beautiful area with great views into extreme western Colorado and extreme eastern Utah. The Dolores River flows through Gateway itself and then cuts deeply as it flows northwestward across the CO/UT state lines to it's confluence with the Colorado River near Dewey, Utah. Canyons, mesas, plateaus, the Dolores River Valley, and the snow topped La Sal Mountains in the distance to the west. Here are some pictures.
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]]> Completed Adventures and Events roverrocks http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111340-Sheep-Creek-Canyon-and-Switchbacks-in-Colorado Baxter: Lost Falls and The Other North Maine Woods http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111227-Baxter-Lost-Falls-and-The-Other-North-Maine-Woods?goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 21:45:04 GMT Went up to Baxter Sate Park for the weekend, right next to the NMW timber consortium area. Entered through the Matagamon gate and camped in the Trout Brook area. The 110 was left at the trail head and I hiked in, as is the way up there. Funny how camping out of a vehicle got me a bit spoiled, was a... Went up to Baxter Sate Park for the weekend, right next to the NMW timber consortium area. Entered through the Matagamon gate and camped in the Trout Brook area. The 110 was left at the trail head and I hiked in, as is the way up there. Funny how camping out of a vehicle got me a bit spoiled, was a little hazy on efficient backpacking, it's unfortunately been a while. On to the pictures, It's an amazing area.

Passing E of Mount Katahdin, all trails to the peak closed due to "conditions"


Hiked down a nice small trail to the pond




After setting up the tent, I bushwacked up the backdrop to camp. It's cool to check out these spots rarely travelled.


Top of the mountain looked old and tired, the view after the passing showers incredible imo.








Great lichen population too


Back down to cook up some gourmet mac and cheese next to a smudge fire to keep the blackflies at bay. Followed the outlet stream for a while then watched a beaver surveying its turf as darkness settled in.


I'm including this in an attempt to redeem the Chia seed after it's embarrassing debut in the 80's as the "chia pet" This stuff is a great lightweight backpacking breakfast, add juice of choice, some dried cranberries etc wait a bit and chow. So what if it looks like frog eggs. 15g's of protein and omega 3's, gotta love it...well maybe.


Wandered over to the other side of the lake, heard what sounded like a waterfall, went to have a look. Followed a stream for a while and found this trio of Carrion Scented Trillium and a few Painted's along with a series of small falls, but that wasn't what I was hearing.




From the other side of the lake a couple of interesting cliffs were visible on the S peak of "backdrop" mountain so bushwacked up the other end.


Trailing Arbutus, I crossed a few patches of this stuff, has a really sweet smell that I'd often notice before seeing it.


More tired old mountain. From up here I noticed something across the lake, couldn't make out what it was through the trees though.


Back over to find another stream that disappears underground about 200' before the lake, followed it up to this waterfall, at least 60' high. The stream isn't even on the map let alone the falls being marked, love finding stuff like that off the trail.






The NMW is an excellent area for motorized travel, no hiking trails per se and it's pretty apparent wherever you go you're in a working forest, that said, it has a lot to offer. Baxter provides a great alternative for the original, primitive style of overlanding, on foot through the woods of Northern Maine without the slash. Thanks for looking. ]]> Completed Adventures and Events gm13 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111227-Baxter-Lost-Falls-and-The-Other-North-Maine-Woods Utah Rovers 2013 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111216-Utah-Rovers-2013?goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 17:40:38 GMT The Utah Rovers BBS crew just finished the annual trip to Southern Utah. We covered over 1,000 miles together, most of them offroad. The trip really started for me four weeks ago when I picked my new truck up at the port in Houston, TX. Image:... The Utah Rovers BBS crew just finished the annual trip to Southern Utah. We covered over 1,000 miles together, most of them offroad.

The trip really started for me four weeks ago when I picked my new truck up at the port in Houston, TX.



I bought this truck from a government liquidator in the UK and imported it myself. Given all of the import-related drama that's been going down in the forums lately, I was taking a risk but my research paid off nicely. I got lucky and scored a great Ex-MOD 110.

Several days after retrieving the truck from the port, I drove it up to Colorado via the backroads. I would only have a couple of weeks to get the truck sorted for Utah and this was my shakedown run. In the end, I only had to fix a leaky clutch MC, a sticky transmission brake linkage, and add a little oil to the motor.



Once home in Colorado, I got busy with a few convenience and reliability modifications. First, I removed a lot of the MOD-specific equipment from the truck, including the FFR battery box, the 24V alternator, and the intercom boxes. I rebuilt the battery box with a JSQ-style setup, just like I had in my old D90. While I had the wiring out, I ran new Ancor leads to the starter and frame ground and a new 4 AWG lead between the alternator and starter.

I added a nice little 12V outlet box behind the passenger seat to power my phone charger and handheld radio, and another in the rear tub to run the Engel. I also added a simple cargo floor with tie-downs and another smaller one for the Engel slide-lock that tied in with the Tithonus tub strengthening trusses.

Though I had already driven my truck 1,200 cross-country miles, I was still not confident with the 2.5 NA motor when I set out for Utah. I decided to leave at night in order to cross Monarch Pass when there was little vehicle traffic. My fears of 2.5 failure were unwarranted and the little motor huffed and puffed its way up to 11,300'. At this altitude, the motor can only produce about 40 HP and I could only manage about 6-8mph on the steepest, highest sections. It took me a full hour to go up and over the Continental Divide, significantly slower than the riders on the Colorado Pro Cycling Challenge. I passed the time by doing power/weight ratio calculations in my head to compare a pro cyclist with a fully-laden Ex-MOD 110. I think the cyclist beats the 110.


Safely over Monarch, I stopped in Gunnison for the night. The next morning, I headed out for Utah. I made it to La Sal, where I met up with Ben and Jason who drove in from Salt Lake.



The three of us headed off to Cedar Mesa bound for one of our favorite little campsites, hidden deep within a canyon. I didn't take any photos of the drive in that night but it was challenging, especially in an unlocked long truck with no power steering. I was learning to wheel the 110 on the fly. We were exhausted from the long day and stayed up only long enough to get a campfire going.

We headed back out of the canyon the next day. As we were leaving, a massive thunderstorm passed over the upper reaches of the canyon behind us. We were driving very quickly in order to make it out before any flash flooding. This canyon is a bad place to be during heavy rain.






The afternoon was quite warm so we decided to head up into the Abajos for one of our favorite little spots.



I call this the Golf Green camp because it's completely flat and covered with a carpet of short, green grass that's perfect for walking around barefoot.



We unloaded our gear and Ben prepared filet for dinner.













Jason broke out the whiskey after dinner and we built a huge fire and drank into the night.







I slept better than I'd ever slept on a camping trip. With the Pelicans cleared out, I layed a Thermarest on top of the cargo floor of the 110 and shut the door. The fiberglass top keeps out the rain and it's really quiet and cozy inside.



The next morning, we awoke and discovered that a visitor had snuck into our camp during the night.



This girl was wearing three radio/GPS collars and a standard leather collar. She looked like one of those Burmese women with the stretched necks. She was very friendly but looked skinny and a little lost. Her tags showed her as belonging to a man in Blanding. We were headed in the opposite direction and weren't entirely sure that she was actually lost so we left her with some water, a bowl of oatmeal and a leftover filet.

We had to be in Boulder the following day so we loaded up and headed west for the Waterpocket Fold. The original plan was to take the ferry across Lake Powell but the ferry was closed supposedly because they were waiting for a part that would allow them to operate in the low water conditions. When we got to Hite, we saw how bad the situation really was. Up here, the lake was empty. The Colorado flowed through a channel in the center but the rest of the lake was a massive, hot dust bowl. After fueling up, we pressed on over the Henry Mountains and camped for the night.






]]> Completed Adventures and Events chris snell http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111216-Utah-Rovers-2013 Oregon Liquid Sunshine and Waterfalls – May 18th, 2013 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111101-Oregon-Liquid-Sunshine-and-Waterfalls-–-May-18th-2013?goto=newpost Sun, 19 May 2013 18:03:52 GMT Lead a group of 5 vehicles, 9 people and 4 dogs into the North Willamette NF and Santian SF for some waterfall viewing and exploring. Saturday turn out to be a rainy, foggy day, not ideal conditions, but still a nice day. With the rain, I didn’t take as many pictures as normal.



We start by heading into the French creek drainage area above Detroit. After introductions we headed to our first stop Marten Buttes falls. It is about a 1/3 mile hike up 175, off 2207.

Then we head back down and took 2223 up the main French Creek drainage



We made a few stops at viewing points.





Next started heading for Knutson Saddle but ran into snow pretty quick. The first snow crossing was easy, but the next one was on an up hill climb so we decide to turn around and took a break for the dogs and kids a play a while.

Then we headed back to Hwy 22 and down to Sardine creek. With the rain, we headed straight to the first creek crossing which has a falls without stopping to explore the creek like normal.

After a lunch break, we continued up valley to the second creek crossing. This stretch has a rocky climb with one minor obstacle, a rock poised at door height on the down hill side and a step on the up hill side. Everyone made it through fine. At the second creek crossing, part of the group hung out while a few went to take a quick look on the other side. After regrouping, we called it a day and headed back down. The rain let up some, so I made a stop on the way down for some pictures.



Here is a more detailed post on Sardine Creek ]]> Completed Adventures and Events compactcamping http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111101-Oregon-Liquid-Sunshine-and-Waterfalls-–-May-18th-2013 Desert Scablands, Sego Lilies, and the Like http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110993-Desert-Scablands-Sego-Lilies-and-the-Like?goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 00:52:32 GMT Western Colorado desert scablands near Delta,Colorado and an afternoon day trip Sego Lilyfest/Wildflowerfest on May 16.Attachment 161715 (http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=161715)Attachment 161716... Western Colorado desert scablands near Delta,Colorado and an afternoon day trip Sego Lilyfest/Wildflowerfest on May 16.DesertWFnear Delta5-16-2013 049.jpgDesertWFnear Delta5-16-2013 057.jpgDesertWFnear Delta5-16-2013 060.jpgDesertWFnear Delta5-16-2013 066.jpgDesertWFnear Delta5-16-2013 067 (1280x960).jpgDesertWFnear Delta5-16-2013 106.jpgDesertWFnear Delta5-16-2013 121.jpgDesertWFnear Delta5-16-2013 131.jpg
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]]> Completed Adventures and Events roverrocks http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110993-Desert-Scablands-Sego-Lilies-and-the-Like My Jeep Pilgrimage to the Promised Land....Moab. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110942-My-Jeep-Pilgrimage-to-the-Promised-Land-Moab?goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 02:22:21 GMT Usually my friends and I take one car trip a year for a little R&R to get away from the daily grind, and that trip is usually a trip to the Dragon with our sports cars. This year, due to scheduling conflicts, we were unable to make it to the dragon in time (once May hits it gets too busy to have real fun on the Dragon) so I decided to do a different kind of car trip, I figured I'd take my Jeep to do some real offroading, as there is nothing within a 500 mile radius of the tristate area for any decent wheeling...a few BS fireroads, but other than that, nothing.

So, only one friend was able to go. He has a Jeep as well, but we decided since it's only us two, it would be more fun (and cheaper...gas was quite an expense) to just take my rig.

We packed up the Jeep, and headed west. The route was from NJ to Moab through I70.


We left at night, to minimize any NYC area traffic. It was nice to have 70+ speedlimit most of the way. :D

By morning, we made it to Ohio...which was pretty damn hilly, killing my MPG. :rofl:


We got hungry, but didn't feel like wasting time looking for a decent meal since we were trying to make good time, so we just hopped into the closest rest area food joint, which happened to be a Mcdonalds. Now normally I wouldn't bother with this detail, but they had something I had never seen (you guys might have, but it was new to me....)

It was their coke fountain machine....


It was a touchscreen, and every "major" flavor ie coke, diet coke, sprite, etc, had a submenu with a heap of other flavors. I have never seen anything like it. I also noticed that the machine was very pretty looking and well styled...which seemed "odd," until I looked down....



Didn't know these guys were designing appliances. :D

After Ohio, it was a whole lot of nothing...driving, driving and driving. Passed through Indianapolis, which from the highway, looked like a cool city to check out...but we had no time, so we kept on truckin. Missouri was mostly farmland (along the highway) and many many religious roadside attractions


Finally we got to Kansas, which is a lot hillier than most of us believe...my MPG took a beating again.


Once we passed the Topeka signs and neared the western side of Kansas, the terrain flattened out, and we made good progress. Speed limits were 75mph which on hilly terrain, my rig struggles to hit with the current gear setup/tires. I will pay the price for my gears (stock, 3.21s) in Colorado....




We have now been driving for over 24 hours, and we are both getting pretty tired, but decided to crack on. We were taking gas tank shifts, which on the Jeep, was about 300 or so miles (depending on terrain) and about 4 hours...so one drives, the other sleeps.

It was now getting dark, and it was my turn to drive. The flat drive in the dark (being basically the only vehicle on the road with the exception of a truck here and there) began tiresome and booooring. Finally, after a few hours, we crossed into Colorado.....which was flat as hell....my excitement dropped quickly. I pulled into a gas station to refuel, and guzzled down a 5 hour extra strength, and decided to do one more tank and let my friend keep sleeping. So I trucked on....and then I made it to the rockies.....



While I was struck by the beauty, you guys have no idea what it's like to drive an undergeared vehicle up slopes like this. 2nd was revving nearly at 5000 rpm and the temps started to climb (although not overheating) and 3rd was too low to sustain forward movement. I was forced to sit in the right lane doing 35 (speedlimit was 65-70) with my hazards on. I gained some relief seeing trucks doing the same thing. After a serious climb, it started going downhill, which was a MASSIVE relief. However, the drive up the rockies took it out of me, and I couldn't go on any longer. We needed to rest up, so we decided to play it smart and sleep for a day. We had a friend in Vail, and since it was on our way, we booked a hotel right next to the highway (holiday inn in Vail next to I70) and at 6am, checked in and went to sleep.

]]> Completed Adventures and Events NFRs2000NYC http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110942-My-Jeep-Pilgrimage-to-the-Promised-Land-Moab Easter Exploration in the Mojave Preserve Part 2 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110767-Easter-Exploration-in-the-Mojave-Preserve-Part-2?goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 19:55:36 GMT

On our last report we posted the first portion of our Easter Trip to the Mojave National Preserve. This week we'll finish talking about the areas we explored in the park along with places surrounding it. We'll travel dirt roads, remote two tracks and even end up in parts that don't look anything like the desert. All the while trying to keep off the beaten path as much as possible known as Mojave Road.

Please enjoy Part 2 and the final installment of our Easter Exploration trip through the Mojave National Preserve

http://www.adventureduo.com ]]> Completed Adventures and Events adventureduo http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110767-Easter-Exploration-in-the-Mojave-Preserve-Part-2 A Camel Trophy Discovery, NAS Defender 110 and our Defender 130 in the Nevada Desert http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110749-A-Camel-Trophy-Discovery-NAS-Defender-110-and-our-Defender-130-in-the-Nevada-Desert?goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 14:11:23 GMT Last Sunday we took out our 1995 Camel Trophy support vehicle, and our 2006 Defender 130 and were met with our customer in his NAS 1993 Defender 110. We were accompanied by a heavily accessorized Disco II and others as well. We took a trek up to the Ash Meadows Wildlife Preserve for the day... Last Sunday we took out our 1995 Camel Trophy support vehicle, and our 2006 Defender 130 and were met with our customer in his NAS 1993 Defender 110. We were accompanied by a heavily accessorized Disco II and others as well. We took a trek up to the Ash Meadows Wildlife Preserve for the day (which was beautiful) and it made for a great photo op!
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]]> Completed Adventures and Events LandRoverLasVegas http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110749-A-Camel-Trophy-Discovery-NAS-Defender-110-and-our-Defender-130-in-the-Nevada-Desert Wyoming - Tongue River Trial Hike http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110714-Wyoming-Tongue-River-Trial-Hike?goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 00:31:31 GMT Since my photobucket accounts hate me at the moment I'm just going to post a link my blog where the photo's are at.

Just click the word 'LINK' in the above sentence. ]]> Completed Adventures and Events ttora4runner http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110714-Wyoming-Tongue-River-Trial-Hike Roubideau Canyon, Colorado area on May10-12, 2013 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110672-Roubideau-Canyon-Colorado-area-on-May10-12-2013?goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 16:45:49 GMT West of Montrose, Colorado on the eastern slope of the Uncompahgre Plateau lies one of the most scenic areas of Colorado. This is the region of Roubideau Canyon/Creek and Potter Canyon/Creek which run in a rather south-north fashion and empty into the Gunnison River near Delta, Colorado. Potter... West of Montrose, Colorado on the eastern slope of the Uncompahgre Plateau lies one of the most scenic areas of Colorado. This is the region of Roubideau Canyon/Creek and Potter Canyon/Creek which run in a rather south-north fashion and empty into the Gunnison River near Delta, Colorado. Potter Canyon/Creek empties into the Roubideau about 6 miles upstream/south from 25 Mesa Road at the end of the lower Roubideau Canyon Road. Full of incredible vistas from over 8,000 ft down to 5,000 feet at the Gunnison River. Numerous hiking/horse/mtn bike trails dot the area plus beautiful and mainly easy 4x4 trails along the canyon rim and nearby lower BLM lands east of the Roubideau down to the private farmlands of the Uncompahgre Valley. My wife and I spent three days of day trips exploring the area on May 10-12, 2013. The middle day May 11 we led a group of WS4W club jeepers and my rover onto parts of this scenic area which lies between the Transfer Road on the south and 25 Mesa Road on the north. That same day one of our WS4W group led us to a great area of dino prints and fossils nearby as well. Here are a large series of photos from that 3 day exploration. Enjoy the great scenery.RoubedouxCanyon5-10-2013 011.jpgRoubedouxCanyon5-10-2013 033.jpgRoubedouxCanyon5-10-2013 039.jpgRoubedouxCanyon5-10-2013 042.jpgRoubedouxCanyon5-10-2013 053.jpg
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]]> Completed Adventures and Events roverrocks http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110672-Roubideau-Canyon-Colorado-area-on-May10-12-2013 Chiva Falls 5/11/2013 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110613-Chiva-Falls-5-11-2013?goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 03:30:21 GMT Decided to officially break in my new Rubicon this weekend with a run out to Chiva Falls. It was a beautiful day, sunny and topping out in the high 80's. There was a bit of wind, but that didn't really bother us all that much. Chiva is a very popular trail, and with the exception of two dirt bikes, we didn't come across a single other vehicle out there all day. Very odd for a beautiful Saturday.

We met at a Cricle K which is the starting point for ANY group run to the falls.


The trail is 8 miles into the Rincons off of Reddington road and is a fairly rough trail. The Rubi proved that we should be expediting a lift and tires as she was belly scraping quite often. It didn't help that I had two coolers, 5 gallons of water, and 4 burly adults in the vehicle at 15 psi.

There is one spot on the trail called Three Feathers that is the real big obstacle with 3 main lines to take (4 really and countless combination lines). We got everyone down this part and continued on to the falls.







There was standing water at the falls and at the pools but nothing was running. Its awesome to come out during snow melt or after a monsoon and see the falls really flowing.



We turned around and stopped off in the wash under some shade trees to grill up lunch and chat for a while before heading back out.




After lunch we side tracked over to the pools.


On the way out, a few guys got a bit more adventurous and took some more difficult lines at Three Feathers. The guy in the orange JK is crazy! He took a tough line and only needed one slight tug from a winch to pop over an 18" ledge he was up against. A truly admirable feat.





Yours truly went the "easy" way, which still requires staying on the correct line.


All in all it was a good day. The Rubi has some new undercarriage scrapes and dents, but no body damage. I was amazed at how well she handled herself and can see many happy years together. ]]> Completed Adventures and Events Kiddmen57 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110613-Chiva-Falls-5-11-2013 Boone, NC and surrounding area http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110611-Boone-NC-and-surrounding-area?goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 03:04:33 GMT My sister-in-law was graduating from Appalachian State on Sunday, so we decided to head to Boone Friday night and spend all day Saturday exploring. I wanted to drive all of Old NC105, which is mostly unpaved and follows all of Linville Gorge, and a few other unpaved public roads. Sampson road off... My sister-in-law was graduating from Appalachian State on Sunday, so we decided to head to Boone Friday night and spend all day Saturday exploring. I wanted to drive all of Old NC105, which is mostly unpaved and follows all of Linville Gorge, and a few other unpaved public roads. Sampson road off of the Blue Ridge Parkway was pretty fun, and offered some great views. Richland is another public road in Lenoir that has a section that is unpaved, I came across it on the net and saw some pictures that look like it actually offers some technical four wheel drive sections... we did not make it there but hope to next time.
Another area we missed was the abandoned town of Mortimer. I had read about it from a member on here but need to find out how to get there, I was thinking that Old NC105 ran through it.

Shortly after turning off the Parkway, headed to Sampson Rd we came across what looked to be a salvage yard, but there were some pretty nice restorations in progress as well.


Most of it was just tame fire road.

But there were a few crossings and climbs that offered some excitement.



The best part was the views.

These are from Old NC105.



We saw at least 100 small campsites that I assume are free to use. Some of the roads leading into the campsites got a little muddy and offered an opportunity for some poser shots. I am pleasantly surprised at the flex the LX has in the rear with AHC. We stayed away from the mud. I poked around at some of the holes which got pretty deep, and did not feel like ruining the day by getting stuck.


]]> Completed Adventures and Events Bretthn http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110611-Boone-NC-and-surrounding-area Western US Exploration/Visit trip 30 Apr- 11 May 13 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110599-Western-US-Exploration-Visit-trip-30-Apr-11-May-13?goto=newpost Sun, 12 May 2013 19:32:03 GMT My oldest had her college graduation scheduled for 4 May in Utah, so I thought why not make the trip an adventure trip. I decided to hit Moab for 3 days before graduation, then 2 days for the garduation, Vegas for 1 day to visit my mom, then SoCal for 3 days to visit my old AF bases and house, then... My oldest had her college graduation scheduled for 4 May in Utah, so I thought why not make the trip an adventure trip. I decided to hit Moab for 3 days before graduation, then 2 days for the garduation, Vegas for 1 day to visit my mom, then SoCal for 3 days to visit my old AF bases and house, then friends and hopefully get in a MBR, then spend however time I needed to hit some memorials, mines, and ghost towns in the CA desert. All objectives were met except one trail I didn't run as it was added in at the last minute and I forgot about it after 10 days on the road as I used one GPS for pavement that doesn't show Routes, and one for the trail that does and this one I didn't use until after missing the trail section. If I would've known the cool and rain from here(WA) was to follow me for these 13 days, I would've made this a Death Valley trip, oh well, some day. I spent 2 nights with family, 3 at campgrounds, 2 at hotels, 3 at friends house, and 2 dry camped. All in all a great trip! From the family I haven't seen in awhile, friends that make me feel like I never left, the folks I ran Slickrock with, to the Toyota group in the Slickrock campground, to the Rangers at Manzanar, and to Steve and Frank for giving me the mine tour, thanks!
Enjoy;

Near end of Day 1 Idaho.

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End of Day 2 Canyonlands NP/Deadhorse SP

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The Eye of the Whale 4x4 trail Arches NP Day 3

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]]> Completed Adventures and Events BADDANDY http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110599-Western-US-Exploration-Visit-trip-30-Apr-11-May-13 Of Lobster and Poutine. A 1986 Tour of the Maritimes. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110285-Of-Lobster-and-Poutine-A-1986-Tour-of-the-Maritimes?goto=newpost Sat, 11 May 2013 01:37:09 GMT 04/23/86 For our latest expedition, we decided to go visit an unknown area of my own country - the Maritimes. Very few people are heading there, as it seems like many travelers who have ventured that way have never returned. Legend says that they ate a deadly cocktail of poutine, lobster... 04/23/86

For our latest expedition, we decided to go visit an unknown area of my own country - the Maritimes.

Very few people are heading there, as it seems like many travelers who have ventured that way have never returned.
Legend says that they ate a deadly cocktail of poutine, lobster and Molson.

It's an area mostly covered by impenetrable boreal forest, endless gravel roads and high cliffs over the oceans.

However, I just had the chance to preview the new movie from Tom Cruise called Top Gun and this inspired me to get into the Danger Zone.



We do indeed fully expect to encounter great dangers in the form of moose, mosquitoes and hockey fans so we want to make sure we only have the best vehicle and equipment available on the market.

Most overland journeys start with picking the right vehicle.

Until recently I was the proud owner of a new 1986 Westfalia Syncro but unfortunately tragedy struck and we found ourselves needing another vehicle at the last minute.



We toured a bit around in my hometown to try to find something else and came across some gems:

-A 1977 Plymouth Volare Road Runner. A fine automobile, but unfortunately someone else bought it before us.



-A luxurious RV. This is the top of the line this year. We seriously considered it but we thought that the high price tag and the luxurious image would put us in a disadvantageous "angle" in front of the locals.



We also considered going more extreme and traveling on this newest Honda 200M ATV, but we decided that it would be a bit tight for the both of us.



The final solution came from a suggestion from my father - why not borrow his new Chrysler Fifth Avenue.
It is only a few months old so it should be very reliable, especially since this platform has been around since 1978.

The 5.2L (318cu) with Lean Burn will ensure we don't pollute the environment and the rear open diff coupled with the large 205/75/R15 Motomaster all season will make traveling off-road more entertaining.



In case you are not familiar with this fine automobile, watch this commercial that Chrysler just released a few months ago.



The great vehicle comes already loaded with many features that will make this journey unforgettable.

One of our favorites is the sound system.

Our radio is electronically tuned, with a cassette player; the joystick speaker control made it easy to direct sound to one particular speaker.

It has an ambient sound feature (to emulate the feel of a concert hall or other room) and a five-band equalizer. Pure pleasure.



To us it's important to enjoy great music on these long Canadian Autobahns, so we can make sure to hear our favorite songs and latest 1986 hits, such as Falco and Jefferson Starship.





So we made sure to carry these great tapes with us in a Pelicannette case, provided by Martine at Adventureous Trailer.





As I've said many times on this forum, the second most important accessory for me is a good fridge to keep the drinks cold.
Luckily Paulette from J'Equipe had this great model available in stock - the new Escort with double ice-packs.



Wanting to get the best memories from this trip so I could put them on the slide projector and share with my family, I turned to Scotty Bradford for a camera choice. He suggested a Leica.



The last thing to do before leaving was making sure the car was super clean, as for us it's important to present well.





So after many hours of intense preparation and carefully planned logistics, it was time to hit the road; just like the Snow Geese who migrate to our great region every year.

]]> Completed Adventures and Events Christian P. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110285-Of-Lobster-and-Poutine-A-1986-Tour-of-the-Maritimes A boy, his girl, their puppy and a Ural: Celebrating 20 years together http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110277-A-boy-his-girl-their-puppy-and-a-Ural-Celebrating-20-years-together?goto=newpost Sat, 11 May 2013 00:00:45 GMT Just a few days ago, I celebrated 20 years of marriage to my high school sweetheart. Stephanie and I have been together since our senior year in high school, including attending our high school prom. A few years after high school, I nervously popped the question on the beach in California. ... Just a few days ago, I celebrated 20 years of marriage to my high school sweetheart. Stephanie and I have been together since our senior year in high school, including attending our high school prom. A few years after high school, I nervously popped the question on the beach in California. Between basic training and my training as a firefighter for the Air Force, I flew home and we said our vows, running off into the sunset and our new life on Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.
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Yes, I had hair.

I feel quite fortunate to still be married to Stephanie, principally because she is 10x the woman I deserve. Beautiful, adventurous, stylish and smart. We work together each day in our business. Stephanie is the designer of Overland Journal and in general, keeps all us silly boys from burning the place down.

On Wed. of this week, we woke early and loaded the family into the Ural sidecar, consisting of Stephanie, our Malamute puppy Atlas and me as pilot.



The Doggles don't always go on so well. . .

After departing the Senator Highway for a little trail to the Hassayampa, we had one good descent to make, resulting in the Ural dragging its exhaust, me shifting into 2wd and attempting to be cool while operating and pushing the bike through the ditch. I am certain both Stephanie and Atlas were rolling their eyes.



So extreme - I know!




We let Atlas run around like a madman. At six months, he needs lots of running

We made it to the next junction and I asked Stephanie if she was up for exploring a new road. Being the adventurer she is, I got "That would be fun", followed by "do you know where you are going". I said "No" and she hopped in the sidecar anyways.


Continuing on, the trail got progressively more difficult, ending at the bottom of the draw with a small crossing of the river. Climbing back up the other side, I decided it was better to turn around, make our 4:30 movie (Oblivion - recommend it!) and make prudence the better part of valor. After several attempts with the loaded sidecar and trying to be gentle on the passengers, Steph and the pup jumped out and I gave it a proper run, making a splash and completing the climb.



More extreme

There were a few more climbs, including some very deadly roots and ruts. We prevailed.


Tonight, we celebrate her 40th birthday (the actual day is Sunday). I am a very lucky guy. . .
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]]> Completed Adventures and Events Scott Brady http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/110277-A-boy-his-girl-their-puppy-and-a-Ural-Celebrating-20-years-together <![CDATA[Colorado & Utah : CAMPTEQ & the White Rim]]> http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/109122-Colorado-amp-Utah-CAMPTEQ-amp-the-White-Rim?goto=newpost Wed, 08 May 2013 00:56:32 GMT This story begins like many others with a guy sitting on the east coast dreaming about traveling west. I bought an 80 series Land Cruiser in Atlanta last spring. We’ve been to Red River Gorge and Great Smoky Mountain National Park, but I was angling for a reason to take her on a longer road trip.... This story begins like many others with a guy sitting on the east coast dreaming about traveling west. I bought an 80 series Land Cruiser in Atlanta last spring. We’ve been to Red River Gorge and Great Smoky Mountain National Park, but I was angling for a reason to take her on a longer road trip. Sometime around the first of the year I noticed Campteq was offering a discount on the first batch of their new pop tops. We discussed it at home for a bit, and decided to pull the trigger. Gitty up.

:smiley_drive:

I emailed Campteq and we discussed options. I was sold pretty early on about the idea of cutting the roof out of my cruiser and going into full on camper mode. Over the next few days we hammered out the details and an install date was set. I would be travelling to Colorado so Campteq could perform the surgery. Since I was going to be out that way, I took a flyer and requested reservations for a couple of nights on the White Rim trail. I received word back later that day that I was confirmed for a night at Potato Bottom and another at Airport. Score!

So that’s the background. I’ll keep the talk small in favor of visual aids, but I’ll point out details where it makes sense. This is my trip from Kentucky to Colorado to Utah and back. Hope you enjoy.


]]> Completed Adventures and Events ab1985 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/109122-Colorado-amp-Utah-CAMPTEQ-amp-the-White-Rim Silver City Road/War Eagle Mt., Idaho http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/109023-Silver-City-Road-War-Eagle-Mt-Idaho?goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 19:36:28 GMT Trip to War Eagle Mt. via Silver City Road this May. Stopping for lunch near a lookout of Sinker Canyon: Image: http://i.imgur.com/6YmYnyI.jpg?1 The view we had for lunch: Image: http://i.imgur.com/8Z0ZMC7.jpg Higher up the road: Trip to War Eagle Mt. via Silver City Road this May.

Stopping for lunch near a lookout of Sinker Canyon:


The view we had for lunch:


Higher up the road:



Stopped for a bathroom break right near Silver City.



Near the top of War Eagle Mt.



It was a solo day trip and I didn't have all of my recovery gear with me so I decided to avoid the soft spring snow. This is where we stopped and turned around:


Some views from the top




And another from the way down:


All in all, a great time :ylsmoke: ]]> Completed Adventures and Events OverlandLJ http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/109023-Silver-City-Road-War-Eagle-Mt-Idaho David Brundage moto trip in Costa Rica http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/108772-David-Brundage-moto-trip-in-Costa-Rica?goto=newpost Tue, 07 May 2013 03:13:04 GMT David Brundage describes his 10 day trip in Costa Rica, riding a rented Suzuki DRZ400. His report is presented in several parts on Rideapart.com Part 1: http://rideapart.com/2013/05/brundy-does-costa-rica/ (http://rideapart.com/2013/05/brundy-does-costa-rica/) David Brundage describes his 10 day trip in Costa Rica, riding a rented Suzuki DRZ400. His report is presented in several parts on Rideapart.com

Part 1: http://rideapart.com/2013/05/brundy-does-costa-rica/
 ]]> Completed Adventures and Events haven http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/108772-David-Brundage-moto-trip-in-Costa-Rica Video from the George Washington National Forest http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/108668-Video-from-the-George-Washington-National-Forest?goto=newpost Mon, 06 May 2013 19:12:03 GMT Well, a group of guys from OffroadTB.com went on our semi-annual off-road event/gathering/camping and wheeling weekend back in early April.

I finally got the video from the event all cooked up yesterday :chef:, so I figured I'd share it here to garner some critiques.

We visited some of my favorite spots in the GW (at least of the ones I know of), hitting up a small out-and-back rock garden trail, getting intimate with some mud, staying the first night on meadow knob, stopping by flagpole, then swung over to 2nd mountain, and staying along vepco the second night.

Anyways, here's the video. Enjoy, and please don't hesitate to provide some feedback! I learn more every time I go wheeling, and every time I compile a video. :elkgrin:

]]> Completed Adventures and Events JamesDowning http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/108668-Video-from-the-George-Washington-National-Forest Taking the Happy Poison in Utah http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/108379-Taking-the-Happy-Poison-in-Utah?goto=newpost Sun, 05 May 2013 16:31:50 GMT Cold, snow, wind, sun, rain… all at the same time. These are the descriptors used for the weather in northern Utah for spring 2013, and with the skiing no longer worth mentioning or pursuing, it was time to perform the ritual known as the “spring thaw.” This involves either:
A) Applying face paint, burning incense, dancing erratically to nonsensical chants and eating Naga Ghost Chiles until you hallucinate a conversation with the sun. OR
B) Driving south where it is warmer.
We choose option B (this year).

We figured out that the weather was to be quite nice the weekend of April 26th, and saddled up for our first four wheel driving adventure of the season, which was a very exciting prospect for all parties. This includes my girlfriend and co-pilot Lauren, and out two dogs Molly (yellow lab) and Tristen (great dane/greyhound). I had just finished a lot of prep work for the season on my Tacoma, and had things tuned-up, dialed-in, and ready to go. With the anticipation and excitement of the first trip running strong, and we set the plans in motion:

We left Park City for the Green River / I-70 area on Thursday afternoon, and drove down to the Hanksville exit off of I-70. We camped for the evening off of the county dirt road a few miles to the North of the exit. Not glamorous, but it was quiet and convenient. This set up up the next day for the main mission of the trip: driving down Poison Springs Canyon to hike and photograph Happy Canyon.
Friday morning we drove South past Hanksville, UT and made the right turn onto Poison Springs Canyon Road. I aired down the tires after pulling off of the road, not because of any challenging terrain but more to make the truck ride like a luxury sedan over rough roads and corrugation. We drove 16 miles down Poison Springs Canyon to a side road that would take us the closest to our destination. The canyon had water flowing through it and criss-crossing the road, and was very dramatic as it made its decent down to the Dirty Devil River. This portion in itself was a great drive.







The road took us along the canyon rim of the Dirty Devil River, and offered a very scenic overlook to the canyons and terrain below and across. You look at four separate geologic layers when you are here, and it is a very striking effect.

The primitive road took us to a large bench, where we parked and geared up for our big hike into Happy Canyon. The hike involves walking 4 miles along the remnants of a mining road, and then taking a steep and challenging trail down to the mouth of the canyon (shown bottom center of this photo):



This area was great for spotting lizards and even one whip snake, who were basking in the sun and enjoying their own spring thaw. Lauren and I followed suit, and enjoyed the perfect 75 degree weather for a hike in the desert.







We hiked down and waded across the river, which was very refreshing by this point. Then we reached our goal: Happy Canyon. Photos do all the talking here…










We spent some time and enjoyed the cool breeze coming through the canyon, and then prepared ourselves mentally for the challenging hike back to our vehicle. This was a difficult concept for us, as we were both getting pretty tired at this point. Nonetheless, we climbed back up onto the shelf-road and hiked back to the very welcoming sight that was the Taco. Ice cold drinks never tasted so good! Our hike was 12 miles round-trip, and took us 6 hours. We considered this a good achievement for “Team Utah.”



The original plan was to camp on the bench above the river, but after our long hike we wanted to be by the water. With this, we drove back down to Poison Springs Road and found a very nice spot by the river to set up shop.



We had grand plans of a steak dinner for this evening, but motivation and energy level dictated that we ate our lunch of salami, cheese, and crackers planned for the next day instead. It was so delicious, and enjoyed in perfect night air.

Saturday morning took us across the river:


The road twisted and turned us through the wide-open and dramatic Hatch Canyon, which ended at Sunset Pass. The view of the snow-covered Henry Mountains in the background contrasted by the red rock cliffs and canyons in the foreground was quite striking.


Sunset Pass dropped us down close to the Maze District of Canyonlands. We really had no plan at this point, and had moments of awe-inspiring surprise based on the best decision of the trip. We turned North onto Rec Rd 663. This was a BEAUTIFUL drive that overlooked the Maze District and followed along red rock cliffs.



The road intersected with the Flint Trail, and we followed the switchbacks up out of the canyon.




We then drove 60 miles with the throttle open back out to Highway 24 which completed our backcountry loop.

This was a great trip into a beautiful and remote area, and taking the Happy Poison gave us a huge dose of exactly what we needed. ]]> Completed Adventures and Events ColoRam http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/108379-Taking-the-Happy-Poison-in-Utah Death Valley Joshua Trees and Wildflowers Run April 2013 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/108362-Death-Valley-Joshua-Trees-and-Wildflowers-Run-April-2013?goto=newpost Sun, 05 May 2013 15:06:51 GMT My first visit to Death Valley took place over Thanksgiving weekend in late November 2012, and I immediately fell in love with the place. The variety of geology and fauna, combined with history, eclectic landmarks and the ruins of a time gone by were enough to keep me planning trips for a lifetime.... My first visit to Death Valley took place over Thanksgiving weekend in late November 2012, and I immediately fell in love with the place. The variety of geology and fauna, combined with history, eclectic landmarks and the ruins of a time gone by were enough to keep me planning trips for a lifetime. When an amateur photographer friend of mine told me they were going back to see the historic Joshua Tree blooms this year, I knew that "no" was not an answer. We scheduled time off work, packed up and headed out. This time we planned on spending longer in the desert and our goal was to see as much as possible while camping two days in dispersed campsites in the desert.

Trip attendees: Myself and my girlfriend Sarah (LJ Rubicon), our old friend Josh ('99 MJ) and my new friends Sergey and his wife Olga (4-Runner).

After driving the eight hours south from the bay area, our first campsite was at the Panamint Springs Resort. I found last time that this is a great staging area for exploring the north western areas of Death Valley. We set off Saturday morning for the Saline Valley Road through Lee Flat to see of the largest Joshua Trees in Death Valley. The rumors were true and almost every Joshua Tree we saw was in full bloom.

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We continued through the Joshua Tree forest and reached the intersection of South Saline Valley Road and Hunter Mountain Road, before the Saline Valley road descends into Grapevine Canyon. From here you have a beautiful view into Panamint Valley.

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We ascended Hunter Mountain Road hoping to see some wildflowers before getting to Teakettle Junction. We did see some wildflowers along the way though I have a feeling that we would have seen more a week or two earlier.

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To be continued...
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]]> Completed Adventures and Events wgyouree http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/108362-Death-Valley-Joshua-Trees-and-Wildflowers-Run-April-2013 Wyoming, Outlaw Cave Trail 4-27-13 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/108249-Wyoming-Outlaw-Cave-Trail-4-27-13?goto=newpost Sun, 05 May 2013 04:42:40 GMT At the beginning of the month I had made the trip out to the location of the ‘Hole-in-the-Wall’ used by Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch Gang. About 5 miles to the north of this area is another location used by this group and others known as the ‘Outlaw Cave’. The cave itself is located down in one... At the beginning of the month I had made the trip out to the location of the ‘Hole-in-the-Wall’ used by Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch Gang. About 5 miles to the north of this area is another location used by this group and others known as the ‘Outlaw Cave’. The cave itself is located down in one of the canyons just above the creek/stream/river (whatever you want to call it) that runs below it and a little skewed from sight unless you’re looking from the canyon ledge kiddie corner of it.

The route out to site is typical dirt road driving that doesn’t require the use of 4-wheel drive when it’s dry but would require it when it wet. Route finding is overally difficult as the BLM has placed markers noting the route (just stay on the trail as it crosses private property). At the end of the route you come to the remote site of the ‘Outlaw Cave’ campground just above the canyon with some great views down into.

The route down starts in the campgrounds and descends to the canyon floor below, route finding can be a little difficult to follow as times as the route is marked with ‘white’ paint on some of the rocks. Not a hike you’d want to do at night. The route to the cave is a little more difficult as it hugs the cliff side and is hidden by brush, though once you spot it’s easy to follow.
Just across from the cave is another cave that requires you to either rock hop or wade across the stream. This cave is a little more hidden that the other cave as it has brush and a tree growing up in front of it (I only noticed it when hiking down). The BLM has a sign in sheet in both of these caves for visitors to the area, I was number 3 on list. The previous visitors came the week before me.

The hike back up the trail head was a soggy and a little cold as I decided to wade though the water instead of trying to rock hop my way back across. When I got back to campground I had noticed another vehicle at the site but no one was to be found (I didn’t see anyone else down in the canyon with me). Once I dried off some I headed on back home but not before stopping to talk to the BLM officer who had just unloaded his atv to go out on the patrol. He was a nice fellow asked if I had been fishing and recommended a couple of caves to check out on my next visit. One of which requires repelling 50 or so feet down.

Another trip is in order since there are some petroglyphs and some other hiking trails in the area buth they were closed off for 3 more days since the BLM closes the routes in winter for animal migration so I couldn’t make it back to them.

Well enough of my rambling on to the photos






The road on back, the road to right is for fishing access


The burn scar from a fire a few years back


The view from the campground (wish I had a wide angle lense)




Heading on down the trail


The arch at the bottom




The cave in the background




Looking out of the cave


Cave #2 located across the creek/stream/river (whatever you want to call it)




Modern rock art


Back at the campground


Heading on back
]]> Completed Adventures and Events ttora4runner http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/108249-Wyoming-Outlaw-Cave-Trail-4-27-13 Oregon - Sunday drive up Sardine Creek - 04/28/13 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/107135-Oregon-Sunday-drive-up-Sardine-Creek-04-28-13?goto=newpost Wed, 01 May 2013 17:39:27 GMT Planned on going up into the French creek drainage above Detroit, OR but there was still too many snow drifts. In a fairly small area there is 8+ waterfalls, one over 360’ tall. With the expected warm weather, should be able to make it in a week or two. Image:... Planned on going up into the French creek drainage above Detroit, OR but there was still too many snow drifts. In a fairly small area there is 8+ waterfalls, one over 360’ tall. With the expected warm weather, should be able to make it in a week or two.



I had a plan-B, heading up Sardine creek. As expected the water was flowing strong with many small season creeks flowing. Headed up to the first water crossing, then slowly worked our way back down. For directions info see post Oregon - Sardine Creek, Willamette NF. Here are some of the sights we were treated to.











]]> Completed Adventures and Events compactcamping http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/107135-Oregon-Sunday-drive-up-Sardine-Creek-04-28-13 Another Mojave road trip. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/106701-Another-Mojave-road-trip?goto=newpost Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:17:32 GMT http://soaztim.blogspot.com/2013/04/...a-edition.html

Here's a few and the rest are on the blog post. :sombrero:















]]> Completed Adventures and Events SOAZ http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/106701-Another-Mojave-road-trip Park to Park Highway - 5,000 Miles - 1920 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/106675-Park-to-Park-Highway-5-000-Miles-1920?goto=newpost Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:11:14 GMT Non current but to me, interesting and impressive.
.
With more interest in automobile touring, Stephen Mather, the first director of the National Park Service pushed to develop a "National Park-to-Park Highway," one that would run through 11 states and connect 13 national parks.
.
A.J. Westgard was a surveyor and map maker and worked for the AAA as a pathfinder. He ran the Park to Park course alone then guided the actual tour. He had to drop out due to poor health.
.
Not a lot of info out there. Here is a link to a teaser:
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http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...k-park-highway
.
Regards
.
Jim ]]> Completed Adventures and Events NMC_EXP http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/106675-Park-to-Park-Highway-5-000-Miles-1920 Diamond Creek Road to the bottom of the Grand Canyon http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/106539-Diamond-Creek-Road-to-the-bottom-of-the-Grand-Canyon?goto=newpost Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:49:44 GMT We left Peach Springs at 11:30 AM, and stayed at the river until 6:30 PM. The scenery was awesome, as was the company. Two Jeeps made the trip from Prescott. Part 1 - http://youtu.be/DsE5VCTrlNA Part 2 - http://youtu.be/9p5IhZYi9s8 These are long videos - they cover 16 miles along the... We left Peach Springs at 11:30 AM, and stayed at the river until 6:30 PM. The scenery was awesome, as was the company. Two Jeeps made the trip from Prescott.

Part 1 - http://youtu.be/DsE5VCTrlNA

Part 2 - http://youtu.be/9p5IhZYi9s8

These are long videos - they cover 16 miles along the Diamond Creek Road to the Colorado River. The video was done with a GoPro Hero2 @ 127º field of view 1920x1080 HD resolution.

Afternoon temps were in the mid 90's, the water temp was 46 degrees. About 60 seconds in knee deep water was enough to get cooled down for a while...

I can highly recommend the Diamond Creek restaurant at the hotel in Peach Springs - good food, and a lot of it.
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]]> Completed Adventures and Events crawler#976 http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/106539-Diamond-Creek-Road-to-the-bottom-of-the-Grand-Canyon <![CDATA[Exploring the Burr Trail-It's about time!]]> http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/106349-Exploring-the-Burr-Trail-It-s-about-time!?goto=newpost Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:10:28 GMT Have you ever been to a place before and just drove through? Have you wondered, where does that road go? Wonder what lies in that canyon? Where does that hiking trail go? My family and I have been on the Burr Trail numerous times before but never really stop to explore and enjoy. We were... Have you ever been to a place before and just drove through? Have you wondered, where does that road go? Wonder what lies in that canyon? Where does that hiking trail go? My family and I have been on the Burr Trail numerous times before but never really stop to explore and enjoy. We were always passing through...We decided that we should not just pass through this time but explore by vehicle and foot. What we found didn't necessarily surprise us but made us smile and we found ourselves saying, "wow, that's awesome!" It was a grand time!

We met our good friend Shane and his son, Austin in the town of Torrey, Utah. Torrey lies as the gateway to Capital Reef National Park and the Boulder Mountain area. Highway 24 follows the Fremont River and cuts through the Waterpocket Fold that makes the reef of Capital Reef. Our course was set...My daughter, Lilly, was on navigation duty.

My daughter scanned the map...We were off!

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Unfortunately, its a dead end...

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Shane leading us back out of the canyon...

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We found the entrance to the park. Didn't see a Visitor's Center. Didn't see a ranger. Didn't see any gift shops. It was nice...

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The next day was pretty open...Shane stopped and spotted future spots to photograph. The lighting wasn't right and his son Austin wanted his attention, so we moved on. The vehicles pulled over many times as we spotted the "green" of the desert. The flowers were bloomin!

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The road headed south...

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What to do next? A meeting of the minds...

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Soon enough, we spotted the sign that lead us up...The Burr Trail is an old cattle trail used to move cattle to different ranges depending on the season. Now, it's a gravel road that leads one to the top of the Waterpocket Fold. Game on...

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Once on top, the desert sunset was grand!

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More to come...
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