My Journey

[tgil]

Your posts make life better and allows us all to dream. Thanks

Another question popped in my head, while reading today. I assume you carry a daypack? What goes in it when you and Tanner set out for a day of exploring? How much water for each? Protein bars for you? What keeps Tanner going on the long treks?
I'm not a good planner for this type stuff. I'm always forgetting to grab water, thinking "I won't be gone long." This past Easter, I got myself into a jam, when I set out to hike to a fishing hole. It was cool when I set out, and I had lightweight waders on. I thought I might have 100-200 yds of brush to push through and I'd be in the water. MANY hours later, I did find the creek, but it was rain swollen and unfishable. I'm not sure I could've "retraced" my steps, if I wanted to, but trying to take a different route back didn't work either. I finally called in a buddy to bring water, meet me near a road and take me back to my Jeep. Most frustrating and embarrassing predicament I'd ever got myself into! The temp had risen and those waders just sucked water out of me.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

tadpole.....I'm happy that you & others get pleasure from this stuff.....thanks.....

Ace....."seldom seen Jerry" should be followed by "and we are thankful for that".....thanks.

ntg1988.....thanks.....

nathane.....that's funny.....thanks.....

mekcanix.....I like it that people from other countries read this.....I have no idea why.....thanks.....

tgil.....thanks.....



As we drove north along the highway, I had something specific on my mind that day. I read in multiple articles that Bears Ears National Monument had been reduced in size by 85 % (over one million acres) so that the local population could access these lands for minerals and this would spur the local economy and help the approximately 15,000 residents of the towns that were nearby. This was completely against the wishes of the 5 local Native American tribes which numbered in excess of several hundred thousand as well as the overall general population. So we drove through all the towns.....Mexican Hat, Bluff, Blanding, & Monticello.....they all once bordered the eastern boundary of Bears Ears National Monument.....I saw nothing that made me think "geez, these people's lives really have improved". On the contrary I'd say. But apparently the huge uranium mine company that wanted it delisted is doing quite well.....


In Bluff, Utah we left the main highway and took Highway 163 to the east.....I had been sitting at my kitchen table looking at my old road atlas and this name stood out.....Recapture Pocket. A search on the internet inspired me to check it out.....



I read that I would more than likely see no one.....they were almost correct.....



This place reminded me much of Bryce Canyon National Park.....not near so spectacular of course.....





But there's always a trade off in life.....what do we seek ? At this time in my life I'm seeking solitude in the wide open spaces.....





I'm willing to trade grandeur for this solitary way of life.....





There is beauty in the less beautiful and that's what we found here.....



We hiked for miles during our stay here.....as we do everywhere we go.....and those big mountains that laid just to the west of our campsite and that you see in this picture below also called out to us.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

So we decided to stay here for a few nights so that we could spend a good day scrambling in those mountains that I just spoke of.....



As we hiked along the mountainside and climbed higher we took in the views of Recapture Pocket that I'm guessing most visitors do not get to see.....





There was so much to see and do here.....we hiked across some amazing sand dunes.....





We took in skies of such "grandeur" that they could take a mans breathe away.....







And then we did what we always do.....packed up and hit the road.....

 

[longhorn1]

This entire section on Valley of the Gods has been very enjoyable. Some of your best writing and photos in a long time. And we get to see the seldom seen Jerry.

Alan


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

+2 on that?

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Now we headed south as we now had planned to enjoy the views of the San Juan River as it flowed through the lands of Goose Neck State Park.....from what I had gleaned from the internet, I thought that this might be a nice spot to spend the night as well.....the pictures that I saw of this place that were posted on the internet were outstanding. As I passed through the self pay station at the parks entrance, all that I could see were mobs of people.....cars parked everywhere and RVs lined the canyons rim. We left immediately.....



We drove a few miles outside the state parks boundaries and here I decided to find my own way to the San Juan Rivers canyons and cool waters.....



Tanner and I climbed down canyon walls and made our way to the canyon floor.....I swear that Tanner has become part mountain goat.....he just loves this stuff. I built a stone cairn to mark our access point to the canyon.....just in case there was no other way out.....





Not sure if this is ancient but we found it on the canyon floor as we descended down into the canyon.....



There were tracks from deer and mountain lions.....we came across several skeletons whitened by the summers intense sun.....



We saw many beautiful rock formations, steep drop-offs and overhangs.....





Eventually our hike was halted when our "trail" into the canyon dropped several hundred feet and there was no way down those steep walls.....



So we never saw the San Juan River that day.....nor the beautiful canyon walls that it flowed through. But our hike into the not so amazing canyon turned out to be quiet amazing. That night we returned to the VALLEY OF THE GODS.....an eighth night turned out to be a charm.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

We were camped not too far from the "trailhead" to the Moki Dugway Highway.....the highway that takes one from the desert floor to the cedar filled mesas up high. And so it was that when we awoke that morning that we decided to hike it one more time.....



I knew I'd be posting our story here and when I thought about that, I decided that this time I wanted to focus on the panoramic views as we climbed. On our first hike here I attempted to focus on the road and the highway signs.....



So here we are hiking that morning taking nothing but panoramic shots when I begin to think about Bears Ears National Monument, and about the Native American men that I met and whose tribe claims these lands to be theirs as far north as the Green River flows.....



I thought about the giant uranium company that operates here and I thought about the giant oil and gas companies that were acquiring leases in these former monuments lands.....



I thought about the destruction that will be on its way.....roads will be pushed further into the wilderness.....and the wildlife will be further stressed as they seek lands without development.....



I thought about future generations that will come here.....but may not be able to enjoy the solitude that I found.....



I now understood why the tribes fought so fiercely to establish the Bears Ears National Monument.....



And I understood why our federal government established this 1.35 million acre national monument.....



And then it hit me.....I was taking nothing but pictures of the wide open places.....



And I understood why this national monument is so important as one massive piece of land that is not exploited to line the pockets of big businessmen.....the Native Americans say this land is sacred.....and I tend to agree.....

 

[tikirob]

It's amazing Jerry that so many people at these places make it un-enjoyable and then make things worse on the land I'm sure, that so many of us cherish. Love the picture's and stories of the people you meet!

 

[ITTOG]

I was in the wilderness the week of Thanksgiving and get back to five pages of posts. Jerry has been very busy. I had so many thoughts about your posts but will not share but a few of them or it would be a very long post, if I could remember all the thoughts. But the pictures were outstanding as always. Love the pano's.

I grew up with Indians all around me and was able to experience many powwows. When I really focused on the dances, the dress, the conversations, and the faces it becomes overwhelming to appreciate what they were sharing with me and others in the crowd. The stories about their past, their lands, the animals, beliefs, and on and on are so in tune with the world around them. Meanwhile, in todays culture it feels we are disconnecting from the world and focusing on the individual. So sad. Jerry you were given a great gift with your time with the Indians. I know it is an experience you will value forever and gather great insight.

One thing I do remember was the picture of Tanner with the two other dogs. He looked happier to me. Not that he looks sad at other times. He just kind of lit up in his face. Jerry it is time to get him a buddy.

 

[Arjan]

You make us feel as if we walk along with you & Tanner on this voyage of both discovery and mental exploration..
You are doing a kind of travel very, very few people actually can do for a longer time. Make the voyage itself count.

And for that we can't thank you enough..

"I could say the same for Arjan but I'm quite certain that he is French..... "



Oh dear. Not really. I'm a Fries (Frysian - like where the famous cows come from) with a Dutch Passport.



Having travelled too much for a living, we have been living in France for some 16 years now, playing with trains & Customs in 42 countries while suffering Land Rovers.

 

[nathane]

You make us feel as if we walk along with you & Tanner on this voyage of both discovery and mental exploration..
You are doing a kind of travel very, very few people actually can do for a longer time. Make the voyage itself count.

And for that we can't thank you enough..

"I could say the same for Arjan but I'm quite certain that he is French..... "

View attachment 628483

Oh dear. Not really. I'm a Fries (Frysian - like where the famous cows come from) with a Dutch Passport.

View attachment 628485

Having travelled too much for a living, we have been living in France for some 16 years now, playing with trains & Customs in 42 countries while suffering Land Rovers.

I love Friesland. Done the vietselfstedentocht 5 times now. Nice people, pretty towns. Bit flat, but you can't have it all.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

tikirob.....meeting people is kind of unusual for me these days.....it was a nice change of pace but now it's back to the life of solitude.....thanks.....

ITTOG.....yea, I'd love to have another dog but I'm not so certain that I will do that. I'm currently working / coordinating with a company to build out a Defender 110 for me so that I can go south in 2021 (although it is not progressing so well). I'm not so sure that a second dog would be a sound decision if I do indeed move forward with that plan.....

Arjan.....2021 may be my year to suffer with a Defender 110.....thanks again for always the kind words.....




We continued south down the highway, we finally left the BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT and the VALLEY OF THE GODS behind, passed by the often photographed Mexican Hat Rock (did not even bother to stop), continued south through the town of Mexican Hat, Utah and just as we were exiting the town limits to the south, we crossed a one lane bridge passing over the San Juan River. I immediately pulled over and parked the rig, found a rarely used footpath that seemed to follow the meanders of the river from way up above.....





.....and then Tanner & I took off on foot to explore the upper banks of the San Juan River.....



I'm guessing that we made it maybe a mile, or a bit more possibly, before the trail narrowed along a steep wall and the drop off to the river below was significant.....we returned to the truck.....and continued to drive south.....



The highway ascended from the San Juan River bridge, twisted and turned up a mountainside, and eventually we arrived at FORREST GUMP POINT (HILL). So I never knew that this place actually existed until one day recently it popped up on my Google Maps Ap and I decided right then & there that I'd stop there when the day came that I passed by.....



I guess it's my love of walking, hiking, & climbing that made me do it.....there's a connection between me and the made up Forrest Gump. I think about walking across the U.S. or even around the world sometimes. I think I could do it, but do I want to do it is the real question here.....





Our stop was fairly brief along the side of the highway that day.....just long enough to say "yea, I was here". And then the highway took us through MONUMENT VALLEY.....through the lands of the Navajo Nation.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Such an amazing drive this was that is difficult to put into words or to capture with a photo.....you just have to come here once in your lifetime.....



Towering monoliths line this highway and this is not the entirety of it all.....unfortunately the Navajo have closed access to many of the natural attractions that are to be seen from another highway.....Covid-19.....





We entered Kayenta, Arizona but we didn't stop.....Covid-19. At the traffic light we hung a right and headed southwest further into Arizona. At some point along that highway we made a brief stop to scan the internet looking for a place to spend the night.....



As I scanned the internet I also scanned my surroundings as well.....we had stopped at an abandoned service station and what I saw were beautiful works of arts by the Navajo Nation on each and every building.....





Tanner & I, we hopped out of the truck to photograph them all.....these are just some of what we saw there.....





There was a side road here.....Tanner & I took off for a long walk on that road.....I had strange feelings here.....but that's not uncommon when I leave places behind that have become familiar and I know that soon it will play itself out again.....



It was good to hang out in the lands of the Native Americans.....just one more place that I fell in love with during my life on the road.....

 

[longhorn1]

Goose Neck State Park, go figure. We were there in late September 2018 and there were only 2 others camped on the rim, approximately 1 mile apart. My guess your quick stop was mid to late November. Guess Covid is bringing out the masses. For us the solitude we had there and a beautiful sunset made it memorible.

 

[Arjan]

Those Murals (if that's the word) are really, really good !

Energy must be different there.

Did you notice Tanner being any different ?

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

JD.....yea, you just never know.....access is so easy and just a few miles off the main road.....

Arjan.....nope.....there was only the one time that was unexplained.....who knows what that was all about.....



We left the main east west highway and took a secondary road with much less traffic to the northwest. I stopped along that secondary road at a paved lot for a Scenic Viewpoint just to enjoy the mountain views.....



Looking to the north I could see Navajo Mountain (10,346') and all I could think at that moment was that I'd love to climb that mountain. A search on the internet told me that this mountain is considered sacred by the tribes and climbing is off limits. I also found multiple summit logs of people that summited this mountain.....people that could care less about the wishes of the tribes.....



To our east we saw Square Butte overlooking a half dozen other smaller, yet wonderful buttes as well.....I decided to stay the night here in this small lot on the side of the road.....dreamed about Square Butte.....



In the morning we walked nearby through some smaller canyons but I didn't get Square Butte off my mind that morning.....



And so it was that we walked along that secondary road and headed for Square Butte.....



Now this was just bushwacking.....I had no idea what to expect.....





We made it up to the base of Square Butte and then we began the circumnavigation of the massive butte.....the smaller buttes to its north were every bit as impressive.....