Saying Goodbye to 2014 Utah Style...

mph

Expedition Leader
The winter in Park City has started out slowly. Mild temperatures and lack of snow didn't get us excited to ski the Greatest Snow on Earth! Most of the snow was man-made and it just didn't really feel like winter yet. Lilly's mother had to work. It was her busy time of the year. Tourists in town and the streets full of skiers and shoppers. What to do?

I watched the weather and noticed the temperatures down south seemed reasonable. I made a few reservations and off we went...The canyonlands of Cedar Mesa were calling. We always have a good time down there. It's like a treasure hunt. Always on the lookout for ruins and rock art. One never knows what one might stumble upon. And, we stumbled upon some goodies!

We had to fill up the water tank! Always carry water in the desert. We were hoteling it...But, we prepared for staying out. Just in case we got stuck, stranded, etc. Mother Nature's Finest!

pic3.jpg

Lilly noticed a rock up on a slope. We hiked to it and were greeted with some ancient rock art. And a nice view of Comb Ridge.

pic10.jpg

I had busted my shovel on a previous trip. I kept saying I needed to get one to replace it. We quickly pulled over in Moab to grab one. I'm glad I did...used it in the first 10 minutes of the trail.

pic1.jpg

Now, we were both not the lookout for the "goods" for the "treasure"...Found it! This panel had everything. Duck and hand pictographs...It was a neat find.

pic2.jpg

Once we found the panel, I knew some dwellings had to be close. Sure enough...The roof of this dwelling caught my eye! A good friend of mine, a professional photographer, taught me to always look at the roof before shooting a ruin. Glad I did...

pic6.jpg

Lilly spotted this panel...Hard to explain to Lilly that these prints are over 800 years old. I tried...

pic5.jpg

It was just a peaceful day in the canyon!

pic8.jpg

We were off to another spot. It was time to carefully ease our way out of the canyon and head to another spot.

pic4.jpg

Lilly was amazed! I was amazed! A two-story ruin. It was a glorious site!

pic7.jpg

The workmanship...the craftsmanship...It was pretty wild. Too see something so old; last so long! Do you think our stuff will last 800 plus years?

pic9.jpg

More to come...The weather kept getting better and better! December in the Desert? Go figure...
 
Last edited:

Foy

Explorer
Consistency

I see pink and a tutu are still the preferred exploration fashion statement. You go girl!

Foy
 

stingray1300

Explorer
When you get the chance, find your way to Bluff, UT and check out the "16 Room" ruins. Amazing 8-900 year old ruins/petroglyphs and hand prints.

DSC_0375 - Copy.jpg

DSC_0380 - Copy.jpg

Lovely corner of the planet to explore!
 

mph

Expedition Leader
The weather the following day felt like an early Spring day; rather than the first day of winter. The temperatures were cool in Blanding but once we started to point the car towards the Comb Ridge; the temperature started to climb!

We knew we were in the right place once we saw the Comb!

pic1.jpg

Lilly and I set off...ruins and rock art were the name of the game! It was quiet. It was peaceful. A nice start to our day. It was a gorgeous setting!
Lilly was sporting a pink tutu today!

pic3.jpg

Lilly saw some pottery shards...Nice to see those still lying around. Many have disappeared. Lilly looked at it and returned it to where she found it:)

pic2.jpg

Saw this big ruin in the distance.

pic6.jpg

This boulder caught our eyes. So much going on it...The grooves where they ground their corn hundreds of years ago.

pic5.jpg

Another boulder filled with so much.

pic4.jpg

Lilly finding a cob from the past...The small cobs were due to such a short growing season.

pic10.jpg

Lilly exploring the cave which used to be living quarters...the Anasazi took their natural surroundings and made it work for them. A natural alcove...Wall it up and now you have a nice living area.

pic9.jpg

What is your interior designer like? The inside of this ruin caught my attention. Look at all the handprints!

pic7.jpg

Lilly and I were off to a new spot! More to discover. Fresh snow in the Abajos! The red rock on fire...It was magic hour in full effect!

pic11.jpg

More to come...
 

mph

Expedition Leader
Before leaving the Comb Ridge area, we stopped to see some signs of the past. No, not the Anasazi...

I have a feeling the place looked a little different 100 million years ago!

pic1.jpg

Lilly wanted to rally north a little and check some things in Arches National Park. I was game:)
There did not appear to be much traffic on this day. Fresh snow in the LaSals...The red rock on fire!
pic2.jpg

We pulled over and began to hike...Lilly and I enjoying the sands of December! It was strange but felt great. Will Lilly follow my footsteps one day? Only time will tell. On this day, she strolled at her own pace. Even taking her shoes off at one point.

pic3.jpg

Just big views and no people!

pic4.jpg

Do you see the arch? Lilly leading the way!

pic6.jpg

Lilly grabbed the camera and clicked off about 100 pictures! Gotta love digital!

pic7.jpg

The only true downer on the entire trip was that it gets dark early. We had just passed the shortest day of the year; so the days are getting longer. But, it was time to head north. Probably the prettiest day I have been in Arches--ever!

pic8.jpg

The poor tumble weed trying to leave the park. No can do...

pic10.jpg

We, on the other hand, left quietly. As quietly as we entered we did the same on our exit.

pic9.jpg

Lilly and I had an unusual December, desert escape. Back to the fresh snow in Park City. The land cruiser pointed North and off we went!
Time to wax the skis. Game on!

pic11.jpg

Until next time...
 
Last edited:

Byways

Adventurer
What a charming story, mph! Thanks so much for posting it, and for reinforcing the notion that four-wheel adventuring isn't just for Bubba.

You're raising that girl right, giving you both the most precious memories (and her, terrific school-essay material). My own daughter grew up in the backseat of my now 26-year-old 4Runner, and now is accumulating her own wildland-travel credentials in her own 4Runner.

Below, here she is all grown up now, with my old battlewagon in Death Valley, on what I hope wasn't our final father-daughter journey ...

Hannah_4Runner.jpg


They grow up fast ...
 
Last edited:

mph

Expedition Leader
Thanks for the kind words...I'm trying my best! Great website btw. Looks like u have a neat company there.


What a charming story, mph! Thanks so much for posting it, and for reinforcing the notion that four-wheel adventuring isn't just for Bubba.

You're raising that girl right, giving you both the most precious memories (and her, terrific school-essay material). My own daughter grew up in the backseat of my now 26-year-old 4Runner, and now is accumulating her own wildland-travel credentials in her own 4Runner.

Below, here she is all grown up now, with my old battlewagon in Death Valley, on what I hope wasn't our final father-daughter journey ...

Hannah_4Runner.jpg


They grow up fast ...
 

Forum statistics

Threads
189,797
Messages
2,920,944
Members
232,931
Latest member
Northandfree
Top