xjblue
Observer
I've been meaning to post this here for quite some time, I'll have to do some extra credit for turning it in late.
Southern Utah Traverse 2009
Border to border traverse of Southern Utah completed successfully by three members of Expedition Utah (all logged here on the Portal too) and their
three trusty vehicles between September fourth and September twelfth, two thousand and nine.
Participants
Jared, xjblue, with a Jeep XJ Cherokee Sport
Jan, CanuckMariner, with a Toyota HZJ73 LandCruiser
Adam, GoKracer1, with a Jeep JK Wrangler Rubicon
There are countless route options and even methods of travel with which a trip across southern Utah can be put together. One day on paved roads
or two months exploring every spur, the sky isn't even the limit if you consider remote landing strips. Thinking about spending two months reminds
me when while at an REI store years ago I listened to a presentation by folks who nearly crossed all of southern Utah by foot while avoiding roads
of any kind as much as possible.
The ideal traverse will vary greatly depending on who you talk to. For those here on Expedition [Portal] it's safe to say the ideal vehicle dependent
route avoids pavement by rule and escapes crowds often while taking the traveler across Utah's most wild and beautiful desert and mountain
landscape. Some of the most ideal segments unfortunately have been closed to vehicular travel.
Although this trip may pale in comparison to proper expeditions conducted regularly around the globe it was truly an epic trip for us.
Where to begin?
For us it all began one rainy night in Nevada's scenic Beaver Dam State Park.
http://parks.nv.gov/bd.htm
Remote and probably never full the state park campground makes for the perfect rendezvous with really decent under used campground facilities.
I arrived to find Jan and Adam waiting for me, a simple call on the CB at just the right moment brought us quickly together. We chose two adjacent
sites with hardly any neighbors in site and set up for the night. Jan simply had to hop in the back of his ever ready Cruiser, a model of overland
efficiency. Adam set up a tent while I picked out a good spot under the stars with hope the dissipating rain clouds were finished and joking about
how quickly I'll hop in the jeep if it starts to storm.
Hours later and after finally dozing off I awoke to a bright flash of lightning and the smell of rain. I quickly started to unravel the waterproof bivy
sack by my side while the thunder rolled. Then a whole series of lighting flashes in every direction caused me to stop and look around, lightning
storms lit up every horizon. Galvanized by another close flash of lightning and drops of rain I was up and running to the Jeep with sleeping gear
in hand. Looking around from the drivers seat as more lightning crashed around I realized I had time to put the ground tarp and camp chair away,
just enough time. I noticed even Adam abandoned his tent in favor of weathering out the storm in his Wrangler. After a brilliant display which
lasted quite a while I finally found a comfortable position and drifted to sleep wedged cross ways in the back seat legs dangling over the center
console.
Day One
Morning came too soon but not soon enough to start the Southern Utah Traverse. Jan was chipper and ready to go, unfazed by the lightning and
rain storm and with nothing to pack or re-arrange before breaking camp.
leaving the park we took a left turn heading south along Beaver Dam Flat and over Pine Ridge then the Doc Pass Road to Bunker Peak Road. A left
on Bunker Peak road took us towards the border and offered a fun twisty route out of the mountains with great views in to Utah. A signed
intersection directed us to the border and first goal of the traverse, an old border sign!
Putting the Nevada map away we continued towards Motoqua then made a right turn to run the Scarecrow Peak Trail taking us back to run along
the Utah side of the border through a thin Joshua tree forest and back down across Beaver Dam Wash which boasts being the lowest point in Utah
somewhere along it's stretch.
Joshua Trees along the Utah Nevada Border.
towers on West Mountain Peak
Climbing out of the wash after a brief stop at Jackson Well we took a right on the Indian Springs Trail heading south again towards Hell Hole Pass.
We drove up Hell Hole Pass taking a left at the top for the steep road up to the TV towers on West Mountain Peak, part of the Beaver Dam Mountains.
There we enjoyed 360* views of the whole southwest corner of Utah and could retrace our whole route that morning from Bunker Pass.
After lunch on top we descended and finished the Hell Hole Pass trail followed by a right turn for our first short bit of blacktop down old Hwy 91 to
take the Joshua Tree Road/Mojave Desert Scenic Backway. This we took northwest climbing up Bulldog pass and again across the Beaver Dam
Mountains, after I missed a turn we quickly re-traced and descended toward Bloomington on Hollow Wash Road.
Bulldog Canyon
Stopped briefly to view the petroglyphs in a little neighborhood park and again to refuel before I fulfilled my own prophecy and got turned around in
St. George's urban sprawl while trying to sneak past Civilization.
Bloomington's petroglyph park
Finally back on track we traveled along the historic Honeymoon Trail and made quick work visiting Warner Valley's historic Ft Pearce and pre-historic
dinosaur trackway.
Continuing west we joined the Hurricane Cliffs Trail and with a brief but necessary dip in to Arizona drove up the amazing switchbacks paralleling
the old Honeymoon Trail wagon road. On top the cliffs we found a campsite off of The Divide Trail next to Little Creek Mountain in time to set up
and enjoy a spectacular rainbow laced sunset with dinner.
Little Creek mountain
Camp
All said and done, though a bit long and other than a couple missed turns day one worked out very well.
Southern Utah Traverse 2009
Border to border traverse of Southern Utah completed successfully by three members of Expedition Utah (all logged here on the Portal too) and their
three trusty vehicles between September fourth and September twelfth, two thousand and nine.
Participants
Jared, xjblue, with a Jeep XJ Cherokee Sport
Jan, CanuckMariner, with a Toyota HZJ73 LandCruiser
Adam, GoKracer1, with a Jeep JK Wrangler Rubicon
There are countless route options and even methods of travel with which a trip across southern Utah can be put together. One day on paved roads
or two months exploring every spur, the sky isn't even the limit if you consider remote landing strips. Thinking about spending two months reminds
me when while at an REI store years ago I listened to a presentation by folks who nearly crossed all of southern Utah by foot while avoiding roads
of any kind as much as possible.
The ideal traverse will vary greatly depending on who you talk to. For those here on Expedition [Portal] it's safe to say the ideal vehicle dependent
route avoids pavement by rule and escapes crowds often while taking the traveler across Utah's most wild and beautiful desert and mountain
landscape. Some of the most ideal segments unfortunately have been closed to vehicular travel.
Although this trip may pale in comparison to proper expeditions conducted regularly around the globe it was truly an epic trip for us.
Where to begin?
For us it all began one rainy night in Nevada's scenic Beaver Dam State Park.
http://parks.nv.gov/bd.htm
Remote and probably never full the state park campground makes for the perfect rendezvous with really decent under used campground facilities.
I arrived to find Jan and Adam waiting for me, a simple call on the CB at just the right moment brought us quickly together. We chose two adjacent
sites with hardly any neighbors in site and set up for the night. Jan simply had to hop in the back of his ever ready Cruiser, a model of overland
efficiency. Adam set up a tent while I picked out a good spot under the stars with hope the dissipating rain clouds were finished and joking about
how quickly I'll hop in the jeep if it starts to storm.
Hours later and after finally dozing off I awoke to a bright flash of lightning and the smell of rain. I quickly started to unravel the waterproof bivy
sack by my side while the thunder rolled. Then a whole series of lighting flashes in every direction caused me to stop and look around, lightning
storms lit up every horizon. Galvanized by another close flash of lightning and drops of rain I was up and running to the Jeep with sleeping gear
in hand. Looking around from the drivers seat as more lightning crashed around I realized I had time to put the ground tarp and camp chair away,
just enough time. I noticed even Adam abandoned his tent in favor of weathering out the storm in his Wrangler. After a brilliant display which
lasted quite a while I finally found a comfortable position and drifted to sleep wedged cross ways in the back seat legs dangling over the center
console.
Day One
Morning came too soon but not soon enough to start the Southern Utah Traverse. Jan was chipper and ready to go, unfazed by the lightning and
rain storm and with nothing to pack or re-arrange before breaking camp.
leaving the park we took a left turn heading south along Beaver Dam Flat and over Pine Ridge then the Doc Pass Road to Bunker Peak Road. A left
on Bunker Peak road took us towards the border and offered a fun twisty route out of the mountains with great views in to Utah. A signed
intersection directed us to the border and first goal of the traverse, an old border sign!
Putting the Nevada map away we continued towards Motoqua then made a right turn to run the Scarecrow Peak Trail taking us back to run along
the Utah side of the border through a thin Joshua tree forest and back down across Beaver Dam Wash which boasts being the lowest point in Utah
somewhere along it's stretch.
Joshua Trees along the Utah Nevada Border.
towers on West Mountain Peak
Climbing out of the wash after a brief stop at Jackson Well we took a right on the Indian Springs Trail heading south again towards Hell Hole Pass.
We drove up Hell Hole Pass taking a left at the top for the steep road up to the TV towers on West Mountain Peak, part of the Beaver Dam Mountains.
There we enjoyed 360* views of the whole southwest corner of Utah and could retrace our whole route that morning from Bunker Pass.
After lunch on top we descended and finished the Hell Hole Pass trail followed by a right turn for our first short bit of blacktop down old Hwy 91 to
take the Joshua Tree Road/Mojave Desert Scenic Backway. This we took northwest climbing up Bulldog pass and again across the Beaver Dam
Mountains, after I missed a turn we quickly re-traced and descended toward Bloomington on Hollow Wash Road.
Bulldog Canyon
Stopped briefly to view the petroglyphs in a little neighborhood park and again to refuel before I fulfilled my own prophecy and got turned around in
St. George's urban sprawl while trying to sneak past Civilization.
Bloomington's petroglyph park
Finally back on track we traveled along the historic Honeymoon Trail and made quick work visiting Warner Valley's historic Ft Pearce and pre-historic
dinosaur trackway.
Continuing west we joined the Hurricane Cliffs Trail and with a brief but necessary dip in to Arizona drove up the amazing switchbacks paralleling
the old Honeymoon Trail wagon road. On top the cliffs we found a campsite off of The Divide Trail next to Little Creek Mountain in time to set up
and enjoy a spectacular rainbow laced sunset with dinner.
Little Creek mountain
Camp
All said and done, though a bit long and other than a couple missed turns day one worked out very well.
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