RR: Utah Adventure 5/2-5/5, part 1 Thunder Mt.

[art23rockpile]

Over the past week or two, at Steppie's urging, we evolved a plan for a Utah road-trip. Present on this getaway were myself, Dean (dstepper), Scott (stjunkie), and Lynn (sheclimbs).

After the long scenic drive through the desert, into Utah, and past Zion, we had the first of two bizarre experiences on this trip. It was dark and we were cruising along at around 70mph... out of the darkness springs a deer. I managed to slow down to 40 before impact. No need to go into detail... my F250 is over 8000lbs (see the resulting damage in photo #1).

That night it got down into the 20s... in the morning, any water (including that in our Camelbaks) left out was frozen! None of us slept well, but after coffee and oatmeal courtesy of Steppie, we were off on our first ride: Thunder Mt. I'm told that this trail is considered to be one of the Top 10 in the USA, and i'd certainly have to agree... photos can never do justice to the breathtaking otherworldly beauty of this place. It's not a long or technical climb to the summit, but the altitude (we started at over 7000ft, the summit is -i think- 8200ft) gets to you quickly. The descent is GREAT... at one point you ride along a narrow ridgeline, exposed on both sides, then descend into a canyon with a number of steep switchbacks.

Once at the base of the trail, we decided to ride the Cassidy trail (rumored to be in a canyon where Butch Cassidy hid-out) up aways across the highway. There were a number of trails in this area -some fairly challenging- and it would be a fine thing to spend a whole day riding here.

After the tiring ride back to the campsite, our ride had lasted 7 1/2 hours and we'd covered twenty something miles.

Photos:
1) Deer damage to truck (R.I.P. bubb)
2) Climbing
3) Steppie
4) Hoodoos
5) Hoodoos (see the trail in the background)
6) Lynn
7) Canyon scenery
Dean again
9) Scott

[Danimal]

Great looking trail!
must try it sometime...
J/K.. Surprised I didn't bump into you up there!

[emfc]

For some sick reaosn I was hoping to see the deer side of that encounter.

[HUGH]

Originally Posted by emfc

For some sick reaosn I was hoping to see the deer side of that encounter.

Yea. You got any pictures of the deer

PM us if you want

HUGH

[dstepper]

Great weekend...except the cold weather the first night and the Bambi incident.

Here are a couple of pics from the first day, Thunder Mountain and some stuff up and around Cassidy Canyon. I say this each I ride Thunder Mountain, we need to spend a whole day on the other side of Red Canyon and check out that trail system.

Here are a couple of pics, many of the pics are from across draws and canyons, so you may need to double check image to make larger. It is not because I am slow and that far behind, it is because I sacrifice my ride to get good pictures of my fellow riders.

[Burner]

wow... never a dull moment when Scott and wildlife are both present.


<<< officially jealous... must make it out there.

[bvader]

Glad you had a really fun trip, hard not to there.

I have ridden there as well still some of my favorite memories...my wife on the other hand had a great time too but was not real happy about some of those very exposed sections you spoke of.

Here are some / ~10 of our pictures from the same
http://nouveauware.com/Adventures/20.../photo_17.html

We Also rode Loosee Canyon, Brian's Head and Virgin Rim River to Zion on that trip...it was quite a trip!

[emfc]

That's it, I am going to do this trail this year. Anyone up for a trip in October?

[bvader]

Originally Posted by dstepper

It is not because I am slow and that far behind, it is because I sacrifice my ride to get good pictures of my fellow riders.

Ahhhhhhh, a Saint with a Camera

Originally Posted by emfc

That's it, I am going to do this trail this year. Anyone up for a trip in October?

Thats when we went and we lucked out the weather was spectacular

[emfc]

I did Virgin River Rim Trail two years ago in October and weather was perfect. BTW that trail is awesome!

[art23rockpile]

Originally Posted by emfc

For some sick reaosn I was hoping to see the deer side of that encounter.

When we drove back on the highway toward Little Creek Mesa a day later, it was on the side of the road. Out of respect for Lynn and -I suppose- the deer itself, I didn't take any photos of it's lifeless body.

[emfc]

ok, DAMN!

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by art23rockpile

When we drove back on the highway toward Little Creek Mesa a day later, it was on the side of the road. Out of respect for Lynn and -I suppose- the deer itself, I didn't take any photos of it's lifeless body.

I didn't take any photos of it's lifeless body.

Thanks for the pics. I never get tired of seeing that place.

Here is a pick at the Goose last Fall

[Manchero]

Where did you camp? Is the Red Canyon campground open yet?

I went there last October and the campground had just barely closed for the season, so I opted for a motel instead. Which was just as well, since the temps dropped below freezing that night.

[Blue Rat]

Awesome pictures ... I really need to get out more.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by Manchero

Where did you camp? Is the Red Canyon campground open yet?

I went there last October and the campground had just barely closed for the season, so I opted for a motel instead. Which was just as well, since the temps dropped below freezing that night.

Red Canyon Campground was suppose to open May 1st it wasn't. The campground at Ruby's Inn was full of RV's so we camped near Thunder Mountain Trailhead. In hindsight we should have rented one of the cabins at Harold's. I froze all night and got very little sleep.

Dean

[bajamtnbkr]

Great pictures, I was there last year, what about the JEM/Hurricane Rim Trail? Didn't get a chance to ride it?

[VTVic]

Awesome pictures guys and great RR's. Very very jealous...