The Inaugural Run of the Oregon Zephyr
This trip really starts nearly 3 years ago, but I will spare you those details. The important part is that I moved from NorCal to the east coast last summer and this January I somehow managed to convince my wife to let me buy a 1996 Land Cruiser back in my hometown of Portland.
pre-purchase sales photos by blindranger, on Flickr
Over the next 3 months it sat at my folks and with the family mechanic who carried out all of the needed maintenance and installed a brace of new mods.
Forest Hall by blindranger, on Flickr
The plan was simple, fly out to Portland on Friday (3/9), spend some quality time at the Acropolis with some old friends and hit the road early Saturday morning. I had about a week to get back to the east coast before my wife would kill me, so let the adventure and my first trip report begin!
Route by blindranger, on Flickr
We started in by climbing out of the Columbia River Gorge
Columbia River Gorge @ Crown Point by blindranger, on Flickr
and crossed the Bull Run river as we headed over Mt Hood.
Bull Run River by blindranger, on Flickr
We headed straight for the Painted Hills National Monument
Painted Hills National Monument by blindranger, on Flickr
About 30 miles from nowhere we stumbled across this oddity
Shoe Tree somewhere in Eastern Oregon by blindranger, on Flickr
Followed by this great ruin
Eastern Oregon by blindranger, on Flickr
As the sunset as we paralleled the Steens it became apparent how amazing the HIR bulbs and Hella 4000's were at lighting the way!
http://youtu.be/CRJAKSp5uDc?hd=1
We managed to make it all the way to Elko, NV that night. Early Sunday morning we stumblied accross the remains of a cool old ghost town in Cobre, NV
Nevada Ghost Town by blindranger, on Flickr
Nevada Ghost Town by blindranger, on Flickr
Nevada Ghost Town by blindranger, on Flickr
Nevada by blindranger, on Flickr
Next we were off to the the Boneville Salt Flats...which were sadly flooded
Bonneville Salt Flats by blindranger, on Flickr
That night we made camp along the Colorado River just outside of Moab, UT
Stars over Colorado River near Moab, UT by blindranger, on Flickr
Monday Morning we made our way into Arches NP via Willow Springs Trail. Dino Tracks!
Dinosaur Tracks Arches National Park by blindranger, on Flickr
Arches National Park by blindranger, on Flickr
Still too early for the spring bloom
Arches National Park by blindranger, on Flickr
Arches National Park by blindranger, on Flickr
Heading north on Salt Valley Rd out of Arches NP
Arches National Park by blindranger, on Flickr
We decided to head north of I-70 to try to find the old Sego Mine
Ghost Town Thompson / Sego Canyon Area by blindranger, on Flickr
Ghost Town Thompson / Sego Canyon Area by blindranger, on Flickr
And the Rock Art in Sego Canyon
Rock Art Thompson / Sego Canyon Area by blindranger, on Flickr
Rock Art Thompson / Sego Canyon Area by blindranger, on Flickr
That afternoon the mission was to make it to the Ranger Station in Canyonlands NP to pick up our back county camping permit and head for the White Rim Trail. I didnt realize that when the park ranger said on the phone to try to make it to the ranger station by 3pm that there was an implied hard deadline. needless to say they saw us running fro the front door at 4pm (closing time) and we were meet by some very gracious and accommodating Park Rangers who kindly issued us our permit for the night. The original plan was to head straight down the Schafer switch backs to our campsite, but the road were closed to motorized traffic due to ice. This gave us a nice 2hr detour to the Schafer Camp.
Colorado River outside of Canyonlands National Park by blindranger, on Flickr
The only wildflowers I found in bloom in Southern Utah
Canyonlands National Park by blindranger, on Flickr
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Nice FZJ!
Great Photos and looks like a great time. Good inspiration for a eastward bound trip myself later this year from the homeland.
