scarysharkface
Explorer
Beautiful.
Terra Incognita: Into the Maze
- Thread starter cnynrat
- Start date
cnynrat
Expedition Leader
You know, it's funny. I was very concerned about taking the trailer there from the beginning. I had received some conflicting advice in advance. Some folks told me not to worry, you can pull a trailer anywhere in the Maze. Others were a little more cautious, particularly in light of our relative inexperience with the trailer.
I'd done enough research to know that others had pulled trailers all the way to the Doll House. I knew it could be done! So, I resolved to make sure we got plenty of trail time with the trailer before this trip. On some trips in our local area we deliberately sought out more challenging trails to gain that experience. In the end, it was challenging enough to be fun, but not so bad that I ever felt we were in over our heads.
Here's a part of the story i didn't include in the original report: We ran into Ranger Lily as we were driving through the Land of Standing Rocks on our way to the Doll House (recall she was the ranger that accompanied us on our hike in Horseshoe Canyon). She was camping at Chimney Rock, which you pass by after Teapot Canyon, Teapot being the most difficult part of the trip. She waved and came running up to the FJ as we passed their campsite. "What did you think of Teapot?" she asked. "It was fun," I responded. She asked if we had to unhitch the trailer. At the time I didn't realize we'd crunched the Lock-n-Roll, and I simply said no, we had no problems. I began to notice a funny expression forming on her face. Slowly, the realization dawned on me that she was looking past me and receiving a different message from Jodi's body language.
So for us it was about as difficult as we'd want to try with the trailer. I was challenged by the more difficult obstacles in Teapot, but never really worried we wouldn't make it. Jodi was a little concerned at the hardest obstacles on the way to the Doll House, but not at all worried on the way out, even with a broken hitch. Just right, I think.
targa88
Explorer
I suppose sometimes it is about the journey...
The big thing that is rarely mentioned, there is only one way in and one way out from the Doll House. The vistas are beautiful but it is a long trek out.
When we were there a chap with an FJ40 broke down about 30 mins West of the Doll House , I think it was near Mother & Child. Cracked leaf springs. Not such we could do for him. Tried to radio out his coordinates (to some folks in Moab). Advised at a couple of rangers station of his predicament - on the way out.
It is definitely one of the more remote places in the SW...
The big thing that is rarely mentioned, there is only one way in and one way out from the Doll House. The vistas are beautiful but it is a long trek out.
When we were there a chap with an FJ40 broke down about 30 mins West of the Doll House , I think it was near Mother & Child. Cracked leaf springs. Not such we could do for him. Tried to radio out his coordinates (to some folks in Moab). Advised at a couple of rangers station of his predicament - on the way out.
It is definitely one of the more remote places in the SW...
cnynrat
Expedition Leader
Sorry, no I don't. I need to get in the habit of saving those.
The route was pretty straightforward, and there aren't too many alternative options. Basically, we left Hanksville (last stop for gas) and headed to the Horseshoe Canyon trailhead (north on Rt 24, and then about 30 miles east to the TH). Next stop was the Hans Flat Ranger station - pretty much only one way to get there from Horseshoe. From there we headed down the Flint trail to the switchbacks, and then through Elaterite Basin to the Maze Overlook campsite. We then retraced some of that section, drove out to the road junction at Waterhole Flat, and then headed east through the Land of the Standing Rocks to the Doll House. From the Doll House we retraced the route back out to Waterhole Flat, and continued out to Rt 95 just north of the Hite and the Colorado River.
This map from the Canyonlands NP website shows all the roads in the Maze.
Shoot me a PM if you have any questions and I'd be happy to fill in any details.
ETAV8R
Founder of D.E.R.P.
Do you really have to ask?
