upcruiser
Perpetual Transient
Ok, time to get back to work on this trip report! I am more than just a little bit behind.
After Comb Wash we found a nice spot with a view in Valley of the Gods for the night. I love the spots in VOG's where you get a good view down towards Monument Valley. After a good nights sleep with some occasionall showers pattering on the tent we awoke Easter morning to this...
Broken sunshine between intermittant thundershowers. It was a great way to spend Easter morning.
We had a lowkey morning and finally got moving. The impending weather moving in really was the final motivator to get us packed and rolling.
The sun, the showers, and the dark clouds made for some great contrasts with the rock.
We decided to skp Mokie Dugway and Mulie Point since the weather really looked dark that way. Figured we had alot of miles to cover today too. Our plan was to meet up with Walt Gibson at Pipe Springs tonight and drop down into Toroweep the following morning.
The ever beautiful drive through Monument Valley, a national treasure without a doubt. How many stretches of highway are this iconic??
As we worked our way west we passed just south of thunderstorm after thunderstorm, often impressive in scope with massive anvils. Definately a beautiful drive across the Navajo Nation. We stopped briefly in Page to look at the Glen Canyon Dam and make some lunch out of the back of the truck brefore pressing on towards our destination. Since it was getting late in the evening and the weather was pretty cold and rough we decided to wuss out and stop at a restaraunt for some good Mexican fare. After grabbing a few needed supplies from the store we met up with Walt at the campground in Pipe Springs. I am not much of a campground guy, and this one was pretty bleak in nature but I will tell you, having access to hot showers for a night was a luxury that was well appreciated. We had been making good use of my solar shower but tonight was very cold and windy and being able to take an endless hot shower was pure ecstasy. We chatted with Walt only briefly as the night had a sharp bite to it. The tent was loud that night with strong wind buffetting. Where was the warm weather we were seeking??
The following morning we wasted no time getting on the road. The weather was clear, calm and it looked like the weather was finally breaking. Pipe Springs is just west of the dirt road that takes you to Toroweep, a point on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon that is very remote and not visted much. Dropping off the pavement it is 65 miles due south to the rim. What I found interesting was that you needn't have a National Parks Pass or even a camping permit to camp there. There are 9 sites with solar powered composting toilettes and fire rings that are a first come first serve basis.
An old road grader abandoned on the side of the road. The road itself is a nice graded dirt road most of the way with just enough rocks at the end to make it a bit dangerous for a normal passenger car, that said though, a Mitsubishi Galant was driving out as we came in... I would have to say I would want something witha bit more clearance and better tires personally, that's the kind of thing that leads to those stories you hear about that end poorly...
The view along the road...... the valleys were painted with flowers blooming.
We found a nice camp spot that was protected by a rock ledge on the west side. After getting things setup we hiked to the rim of the canyon.
and wow what a view it was! 3,000 feet down to the river at an area of the canyon where the rims are relatively narrow. It definately takes your breath away as you first view it and contemplate the depths you are staring into. In this shot Lava Rapids is just below the area where the black lava rock is seen pouring down into the canyon. It is the largest rapid in the Grand Canyon.
Little yoga on the precipice?
After Comb Wash we found a nice spot with a view in Valley of the Gods for the night. I love the spots in VOG's where you get a good view down towards Monument Valley. After a good nights sleep with some occasionall showers pattering on the tent we awoke Easter morning to this...
Broken sunshine between intermittant thundershowers. It was a great way to spend Easter morning.
We had a lowkey morning and finally got moving. The impending weather moving in really was the final motivator to get us packed and rolling.
The sun, the showers, and the dark clouds made for some great contrasts with the rock.
We decided to skp Mokie Dugway and Mulie Point since the weather really looked dark that way. Figured we had alot of miles to cover today too. Our plan was to meet up with Walt Gibson at Pipe Springs tonight and drop down into Toroweep the following morning.
The ever beautiful drive through Monument Valley, a national treasure without a doubt. How many stretches of highway are this iconic??
As we worked our way west we passed just south of thunderstorm after thunderstorm, often impressive in scope with massive anvils. Definately a beautiful drive across the Navajo Nation. We stopped briefly in Page to look at the Glen Canyon Dam and make some lunch out of the back of the truck brefore pressing on towards our destination. Since it was getting late in the evening and the weather was pretty cold and rough we decided to wuss out and stop at a restaraunt for some good Mexican fare. After grabbing a few needed supplies from the store we met up with Walt at the campground in Pipe Springs. I am not much of a campground guy, and this one was pretty bleak in nature but I will tell you, having access to hot showers for a night was a luxury that was well appreciated. We had been making good use of my solar shower but tonight was very cold and windy and being able to take an endless hot shower was pure ecstasy. We chatted with Walt only briefly as the night had a sharp bite to it. The tent was loud that night with strong wind buffetting. Where was the warm weather we were seeking??
The following morning we wasted no time getting on the road. The weather was clear, calm and it looked like the weather was finally breaking. Pipe Springs is just west of the dirt road that takes you to Toroweep, a point on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon that is very remote and not visted much. Dropping off the pavement it is 65 miles due south to the rim. What I found interesting was that you needn't have a National Parks Pass or even a camping permit to camp there. There are 9 sites with solar powered composting toilettes and fire rings that are a first come first serve basis.
An old road grader abandoned on the side of the road. The road itself is a nice graded dirt road most of the way with just enough rocks at the end to make it a bit dangerous for a normal passenger car, that said though, a Mitsubishi Galant was driving out as we came in... I would have to say I would want something witha bit more clearance and better tires personally, that's the kind of thing that leads to those stories you hear about that end poorly...
The view along the road...... the valleys were painted with flowers blooming.
We found a nice camp spot that was protected by a rock ledge on the west side. After getting things setup we hiked to the rim of the canyon.
and wow what a view it was! 3,000 feet down to the river at an area of the canyon where the rims are relatively narrow. It definately takes your breath away as you first view it and contemplate the depths you are staring into. In this shot Lava Rapids is just below the area where the black lava rock is seen pouring down into the canyon. It is the largest rapid in the Grand Canyon.
Little yoga on the precipice?
I should have them cracking goggles against gates in no time.
