The M~D~U Report: A Thousand Miles of Dirt in Utah

[Blackdawg]

Well at least we will all have even more to read and lust over once this once finishes. Seriously can't wait for the rest of it to show up, no pressure

Awe this is it for now? Just been following along past few days and I need a bit more

:chowtime: Awaiting patiently, great trip report!!

Ask and ye shall receive!

 

[Blackdawg]

Chapter 6: Too Much Dirt, Too little Time​

We awoke to a lovely sun streaming day in the middle of the desert. The coulds had moved North of us and had not dropped any rail. It was go time!

IMG_2212 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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We packed back up and started heading back out when out of the blue I suddenly had cell service

IMG_2217 by mike digirat, on Flickr

I had gotten several messages from my Mother and Sister asking about my little Brother Grant. They had not heard from him in over 24 hours from when he usually would check in. This was odd for Grant as he was very good about checking in to say he was alive and well after doing his thing in the backcountry. However, it had also been his 21st birthday on Sunday. So I wasn't super worried. But called them both anyways.

My mom wasn't super worried either. My Sister on the other hand was very worried. I told them both that if they hadn't heard from him by the afternoon, I would drop everything and go back to Indian Creek to look for him and if anything I could tel SAR exactly where he was as I had just seen his truck a few days early.

Despite this, we soldiered onwards despite it slowing down our start to the morning.

IMG_2219 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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The rain, thankfully not near us, had made a lot of the area crisp and clear to see.

M~D~U-4.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
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The road started getting rougher the further we went. But so far, nothing bad at all. Just wide open spaces with Lake Powell off in the distance.

IMG_2227x by mike digirat, on Flickr
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M~D~U-5.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
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Then the slick rock came in waves.

M~D~U-6.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2236x by mike digirat, on Flickr
M~D~U-7.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

And things got more interesting. The ledges appeared and the dirt became less. It now was actually a challenge in place just to know where to go. The trail was not easy to follow in places.

M~D~U-9.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

After a little hill climb, we came to the first major obstacle on the trail named The Twister.

M~D~U-10.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2240 by mike digirat, on Flickr

You can also in this photo see a rod with a small orange flag on it in the middle of my truck. That is how the trail is marked. Staked driven into the slick rock. Can be hard to spot is places.

M~D~U-11.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

I went first down the Twister with no spotter. Just felt it out. You can see why it gets the name the Twister though! If you aren't careful you can end up flopping over on this steep obstacle.

IMG_2241y by mike digirat, on Flickr
IMG_2242y by mike digirat, on Flickr
IMG_2243 by mike digirat, on Flickr
M~D~U-12.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-13.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-14.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-15.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2244 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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Weeee three wheeling!
M~D~U-16.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

At this point you back up just a bit to get the passenger tire over on the taller spot on the left as the truck can turn that sharp. Thankfully I had scoped this thing out before going down it. If I had continued on the line I had, id have tipped over.
IMG_2246 by mike digirat, on Flickr
M~D~U-17.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-18.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Turned back in and headed back down.

M~D~U-19.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Much more level decent.

M~D~U-20.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2247 by mike digirat, on Flickr
M~D~U-21.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2248 by mike digirat, on Flickr

Well that was fun! Going up will be...also fun!

Now it was Mikes turn.

M~D~U-22.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-23.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-24.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-25.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

His truck has much better suspension then mine! That said, I still had him back up and do the same drill I had just done.

M~D~U-26.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-27.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-28.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

From here, the trail was just rough and required a lot of our attention at the wheel. So I appologize for the lack of photos here. It just was rough slow going and it was hard to find the trail as well in areas. Like this for instance.

M~D~U-29.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Here is one of those rods. Can be hard to see when going up something steep!

M~D~U-30.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

We still were enjoying ourselves. However, we started to notice at lunch that we had grossly overestimated the length of the tail and how long it would take us to run. But I was determined to finish it and kept telling myself we could do it!

M~D~U-31.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

This section was super fun. Was in the bottom of a small canyon and then this huge ledge was at the end. Not having any armor other then sliders made this a bit of a pucker. But I had to try it.

M~D~U-32.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-33.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Yeah..its a big one!

M~D~U-34.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

But Igor pulled through like a champ.

M~D~U-35.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-36.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Mike again made it look easy. Equipment really pays off if stuff like this.

M~D~U-37.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-38.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-39.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-40.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Im 6' 1'' for reference standing a bit in front of it. Pretty good sized ledge really.

M~D~U-41.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Then we started up the steep rocky climb to Dugways Flat

M~D~U-42.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-43.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

This spot was pushing the limit of a Tacoma on 33s with no lockers.

M~D~U-44.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

But we made it to Dugways Flat.

M~D~U-45.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Mike was done though. The trail had been very taxing and he was ready to be off of it. On top of that, the weather was really starting to roll in towards us. Plus we had a LONG ways to go still and we had reservations in The Maze tomorrow night, which wasn't very close from where we were anyways. We knew that if we made it to the end we would be staying there and it would take almost all day to get out again.

We didn't want to do that and we really didn't want to go up some of the hills we had just done in the wet. I kept think of the Twister in the wet...

So we decided to turn around and head out. Alas. Not enough time to get to all the dirt we had planned this go around.

Back down Dugway we went.

M~D~U-46.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

Which brought us back to the big *** ledge we had just come down.

IMG_2249y by mike digirat, on Flickr

I was a little skeptical that I could make it with no lockers and had already prepared for the possibility that Mike would have to winch me up this thing. But by golly I was going to at least try first!

M~D~U-47.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2250 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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M~D~U-48.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-49.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2253 by mike digirat, on Flickr

I didn't make it...





This time!

I did kill my other mud flap though

M~D~U-50.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-51.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

I was not happy about that.

M~D~U-52.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2255 by mike digirat, on Flickr

After some more scoping and chatting with Mike about my line. I tried it again.

IMG_2256 by mike digirat, on Flickr
M~D~U-53.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
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M~D~U-55.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2258 by mike digirat, on Flickr

WE HAVE LIFT OFF!

M~D~U-56.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
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M~D~U-57.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

WOOO!!

IMG_2263 by mike digirat, on Flickr

I was pretty freaking stoked about that.

 

[Blackdawg]

Now for the Red Head.

M~D~U-58.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-59.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-60.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
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Lockers at nice..

M~D~U-65.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

That was a high moment for me. May not seem like much, but consider the truck I had brought on this trail. I as pretty happy.

I did notice when I walked back to Igor that perhaps 18psi isn't a great choice with this tire size..

M~D~U-66.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Noted.

By now though the clouds were starting to form and it was a race to get out before the rain hit.

M~D~U-68.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-67.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-69.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Thankfully we made it back to the Twister before the rain had caught us. Once again, I wasn't sure id be able to do this with open diffs. But slickrock is amazing stuff when it comes to traction. I picked my line and went right up.

M~D~U-70.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-71.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-72.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Okay maybe not straight up. I did have to re adjust my line. Thankfully I am used to wheeling with open diffs. Hell Frankenstein had only had a locker for the last year. Id been open diffs most my life. Im still a big advocate that people learn to pick lines without having a locker to rely on. I think it makes you a better wheeler and better at picking lines.

But thats a different topic for a different day. I mean while lined back up to give it another go.

M~D~U-74.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-73.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-75.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-76.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

After that I walked up no problem. Mike of course had no problems at all with the better suspension and lockers.

M~D~U-77.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-78.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

We were out of the thick of it and just had a few rough sections left. I was pretty bummed we hadn't got to finish it. This had been the one “hardcore” trail Mike had allowed me to pick Oh well, I guess i'll just have to come back to finish it another day.

M~D~U-79.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

The clouds were rolling in now though fast and we broke out for a camp spot and found one much better then our last one. I also heard back from my Mom and indeed Grant had had a wild 21st and had slept in very late. So that was good.

IMG_2264 by mike digirat, on Flickr
IMG_2265 by mike digirat, on Flickr
M~D~U-80.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

We were just getting settled in when all the sudden it really got darker fast.

M~D~U-81.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

oh...right..

M~D~U-82.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

I had just got the fire going and we were getting settled in when the rain started. Light at first but big drops. Then stopped. Then started. Then heavier. Then stopped. It would rain on and off all night from then on and we retreated to our tents fairly early for the night enjoying the patter of rain of the roof to lull us back to sleep.

Then next morning was spectacular.

Everything was so clear you could see for miles with no haze. Mike was up before me and really had fun capturing the clear morning.

IMG_2267 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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M~D~U.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
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We had a long drive though and had hoped for an early start. But our gear was soaked so we waited a while for it to dry off some.

We also needed to put our spare gas in to make it the 120ish miles to Hanksville. I however had a problem. My Scepter gas tank would not open. The change in elevation and temperature had vacuumed it shut and I could not get it open. Without the 5 gals of gas, I would not make it there. After trying a few ways of getting it open we ultimately decided to just go to Halls Crossing to get some gas. Originally we had hoped to take the ferry across the lake but it was closed now for the season.

Finally we packed up and headed to the highway to air up for the long drive of asphalt north. I was not happy about my tank and knew that I should have ordered one of the Scepter tank wrenches.

M~D~U-3.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Normally you have to pay just to get in here, but no one was at the gate and we just wanted gas so buzzed by the toll house straight to the gas pumps.

IMG_2305 by mike digirat, on Flickr
M~D~U-4.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Then off on the highway North.

IMG_2307 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

Part of me is very glad we didn't take the ferry. The drive up was very very scenic and before long we were pulling off the highway to take photos.

IMG_2310 by mike digirat, on Flickr
IMG_2311 by mike digirat, on Flickr
M~D~U-5.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-6.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-7.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2314 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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M~D~U-8.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-9.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Around every corner I wanted to stop. It was just breath taking view after view.

M~D~U-11.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-12.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-13.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-14.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2323 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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[Blackdawg]

Its amazing to think that this is technically the top of Lake Powell.

IMG_2335 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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I very much like this next strech of road. The high bluffs all around the crossing the Colorado river and Dirty Devil River. Was very cool.

IMG_2340 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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M~D~U-15.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

I spy a red taco..

M~D~U-16.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-17.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

There was an overlook at the other side that we of course stopped at and decided to eat lunch at.

M~D~U-19.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2344 by mike digirat, on Flickr

The view was pretty awesome.

IMG_2343 by mike digirat, on Flickr
M~D~U-20.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2344 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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M~D~U-21.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-22.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The bridge we crossed over the Colorado River

M~D~U-18.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


This mountain top I found very odd looking. But pretty cool.

M~D~U-22.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2358 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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There was lots of cool info at the overlook too.

M~D~U-24.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-25.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

This is the town of Hite.

IMG_2350 by mike digirat, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

Not much of a town really. But there IS GAS HERE! Something we did not know at the time but we certainly wish we had know.

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We ate our lunch and continued north to Hanksville to top off out gas again and buy some last minute groceries at the general store there. Then we headed to the most remote place I think either of us had ever been. The Maze.

The Maze is part of the Canyon Lands National Park and is considered Wilderness area. No fires are aloud, no pets, and you have to have permits to camp. The roads to get in are long. The roads to get around are long and rough. Very few people come here compared to the rest of Canyonlands.

For instance, Arches National Park reported 1,585,718 visitors in 2016. Thats a lot.

Canyonlands reported 776,218 in 2016. Also a lot.

But in 2012 only 318,520 people visited Canyonlands. Of that number only 8,517 people went to the maze.

That is nothing for a park thats open year round. In fact we would barely see anyone the whole time we were there.

Our first camp site was at Happy Canyon which was a ways away. Soon as we got off the highway we aired back down.

M~D~U-26.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The road to the Ranger station at the top of The Maze is super smooth. Easily hit 65mph on it if you wanted. We made good time on it

M~D~U-27.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Had to stop to look at the small sand dunes. I always like how they look.

M~D~U-28.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Then we came to the junction. Left goes toward Green River, UT and right to the Ranger station.

M~D~U-30.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

We stopped to see if any information was posted we would need to know. And instead got this.

M~D~U-29.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Yeah..

So that happened here. If you are unfamiliar with the story about Aron Ralston, you need to read it and/or watch the movie 127 hours.

Was another wake up call on how remote the area is. 3 days before SAR can even get here. Wow.

Still, kinda cool and exciting!

We continued on hoping we could make it to the Ranger station before it closed to check in.

But we got there just too late.

M~D~U-31.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Oh well, we had all of our paper work in order so we continued south to get to our camp site. The Henry Mountains looking just as good from this side as they had the other side that morning.

M~D~U-32.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-33.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-34.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-35.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The rain had been here in the last day or two as there was mud holes and standing water all over. We had escaped mud this entire trip for the most part until now.

M~D~U-36.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

In the setting sun light we had to stop and look at Bag Pip Butte. Almost seemed to be on fire.

M~D~U-37.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-38.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2367 by mike digirat, on Flickr
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Amazingly, we were once again looking back on where we had come from. Somewhere over his is Elephant hill trail and the Confluence overlook.

M~D~U-39.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

 

[Blackdawg]

Our next stop was at Flint Trail Overlook. Which we would be driving down in the morning.

M~D~U-40.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

And looky here. Those are the La Sal Mountains we had crossed not a week ago.

M~D~U-41.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
M~D~U-42.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Me pointing out to Mike where we were headed tomorrow and all the places far off in the distance we had driven over.

IMG_2369 by mike digirat, on Flickr
M~D~U-43.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

We got to camp just as the light was starting to fade. It was a nice spot. But more setup for tent campers not really RTT folks. Whatever, we made do just fine and enjoyed to fading sunlight.

M~D~U-44.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
IMG_2371 by mike digirat, on Flickr
M~D~U-45.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

We didn't really have a game plan for the Maze. Well, we had made camp site reservations. But that was it. We had mile and mile of roads we could check out before we got to camp. We decided to a very large figure eight heading south down Flint trail to Lands end and continue south out of the maze via Cove Canyon. Then come back in via Poison Creek, go back up Lands end and end up at the Maze Overlook for camp.

It was ambitious as for the first time all trip we had to adhere to a “schedule” and could only camp at our designated spots. Mike was skeptical we would make it before dark. I was confident though.

Mike broke out the Propane Fire Pit, which yes is allowed in wilderness areas! Not quite the same as a normal fire, but it sure beats sitting in the dark talking to each via flash light. The night was cool but calm and we went to bed ready for what The Maze had to offer over the next few days.

As the sun faded and the stars came out. The pure isolation started to really sink in.

Exactly what we wanted.

M~D~U-46.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


To be continued:

Chapter 7: A perfect Maze

 

[Blackdawg]

Well that was super long over due..

Two chapter left after this!

 

[java]

Thanks! Looking forward to more!

 

[nswanny]

Still awesome! Can't wait for more.

 

[Sierra Valley]

Ok ready for another chapter LOL. How long did this whole trip take?