Official Moab to Monument Valley 2012 trip report

[Tbars4]

..Live...Well, as live as we can do it out in the Tule's..

..A number of the people heading out to this trip have already left onn their journey to the meet up point in Green River Utah..I will be leaving in about two days..

..Stay tuned..

 

[Tbars4]

..Ok...Well it stormed over the weekend but I tried to leave on Friday..
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2949090&postcount=899

Saturday the 14th

..But after those repairs I was able to get on the road by Saturday about 11 a.m...I know...I'm way ahead of the other guys but I really needed some easy going drive time to unwind from the world I left behind...

BTW..Gas at home $4.29 but found it for $4.07..:biggthump

..Here are some of the pics..My album for this trip can be found here..
http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=3924&ppuser=63829

..by home..
http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/3924/0414120955.jpg

..From Cima Rd. and the highway you can see the snow clouds in the desert foothills ahead..This pic is from 60 miles west of Las Vegas..

..I got just outside of Primm Nevada, (Stateline) California side and noticed what looked to be three rocket launchpads right off the highway..

..:scratch:..It took some searching but I found out what they are..
http://eclecticarcania.blogspot.com/2012/03/picture-of-day-primm-valley-solar-tower.html

..Pulling into Las Vegas to get gas..Gladly paid $3.91 for easy on/off exit and saw it commonly at $3.89..

..Heading towards the Virgin River Gorge..

..This is a pretty treacherous rd. but beautiful...The land actually slopes into the gorge at angles like 50*....Here is a link to more info..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_River_Gorge

..These pictures surely don't do this Gorge justice..

..When I pulled into St. George Utah. Saturday Afternoon..Lot's ofrain and continued on into the night..

..Sunday the 15th

..Stayed in St. George over night and decided to hang around and see what has all changed since I moved away from the area..Stayed Sunday night as well..

..Monday the 16th

..Seeing they are an hour ahead on time compared to home, I decided to post up and now realize I am an hour late for taking off today..

..Plans for today is to head up to Cedar City for some cheese curds, then up to Richfield to check out the Walley World and if all goes well I shall be fishing by this afternoon..

Gas = $3.89 by freeway but I found it for $3.78

..The Weather

..St. George..It was sunny here yesterday and they are expecting almost 90 by next Sunday..

..Watched it snow in the mountains north of here last evening...Where I'm heading should produce some more snow pics..Rain possible tonight and again Thursday toward Moab..

Moab Forecast

..Should be in the upper 60's next couple of days and possibly almost 80* by next Sunday...

 

[Tbars4]

..I'm up in Green River now, talked to ScottB. last night and we are all going to meet up at the Conoco station with the Arby's inside, west end of town..

..Was going to spend yesterday and this a.m. at Fishlake but I will tell that story later...It's about cutting thru the backcountry roads 19 miles to a highway that 30 miles later takes you to a real highway..

..Other participants in this story includes guys in waders on the frozen lake, Elk, Deer, Bear, and snow drifts all just before the Sun set...

..On to some pics till this thing gets started..

..Here are a couple I thought were unique..This first one is inside Wally World in Cedar City. The "Cat's" paws are about the size of my head..

..This is actually the Green River Fire Dept..

..For those who have never seen a set a triples passing you on the left..

..and the reason he was passing me on the left..

..Here are a few random pics from about Fishlake, and onto Green River..

..The frozen lake..

The guys in the waders..

..Green River State park Campground fees..(Campground is hidden behind the golf course.. )

..View from their boat launch..

..And yes, there is a full on grocery store, The "Melon Vine"..

..Here is some info on the "Green River"..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_River_(Utah)

 

[Happy Jack]

IIRC across from the grocery store kinda on the corner is the biker bar/good steak place. Or so I was told by Trapdoor. I have never been there but it has been a busy place when I drove by in the past. Good pics. Did you get out to the test site and Geyser?

 

[Brian1]

I'm stoped for lunch in farmington nm. Moab tonight. Already had a "nice jeep" comment from a local.

 

[Tbars4]

..Jack, only 1 of the 3 bars still exist around that store and is open...I'm not sure if it is the same one or not but nothing is busy in this town in fact, even more of it is closed since the last time I was here...Not doing any sight seeing till later..

..Just talked to Scott and apparently everyone east of this run are meeting in Grand Junction to go shopping any time now...I believe I talked Scott into now bypassing Green River since they won't need to shop and there is no other reason to bypass the Moab turnoff at 6-7 pm to head to Green River to camp..

..Oh yea, 87 octane gas here as well as most all of Utah I have traveled this trip is pretty steady at $3.82..

..and I've been getting 17.14-17.62 highway mpg's this trip..

 

[gmanpaint]

I so love going thru that gorge heading into St. George. When we stay in Mesquite, we go to St. George to golf at a couple courses.

I have seen Mountain Lions chasing roadrunners across the fairways. Crazy, but so cool!

Really looking forward to the updates on this trip. You guys be safe, and have a blast!

 

[Tbars4]

..Hello from downtown Moab..:wavey:

Moab weather is about 78 w/ high clouds keeping it cool and not humid..:biggthump

Gas is about $4.02 but I found it for $3.97 at the far south end of town, and the town is busy like a beehive with every kind of outdoor type people gathering for the good weather from all over the world..

..Mesquite..

..Sadly Mesquite appears to have been hit hard with the economy downturn..The largest Casino there with the most rooms is siiting like a ghost town, the "Oasis"..In fzact, a lot of places were closed..

 

[Benji-Man]

Kind of like riding shotgun, Thank you.

 

[Scott B.]

Made it to Moab this evening. Everyone met for dinner at a BBQ place - good food, go company!

This is going to be a great trip! Now to repack the truck............

 

[Red FX4]

Sounds like your off to a good start. Hoping the rest of the trip goes well. See you Monday.

 

[Rick]

Cool stuff FYI, Arizona wants to turn I-15 into a toll road

 

[Keeper0311]

Didn't think that'd be allowed seeing how it's an Interstate...doesn't the Federal government pay for that?

 

[Red FX4]

I have seen several Interstates as toll roads. I can't recall any going East and West but several going North and South like I-35 through Kansas.

 

[Happy Jack]

Some e/w back east are toll roads and there is an e/w in OK from 35 to Tulsa. Then on to Joplin, MO.

 

[Brian1]

Hello from the white rim airport camp d! Ted and I are here and Scott, martin and Michael are in camp c. I will try and upload a picture soon. Nice weather with a moderate breeze. Very scenic so far.

hope that works. internet is slow in the boonies!

 

[DB_1]

Jealous here guys, Monument Valley is an awe inspiring place. I'm glad I made the effort to see it on my way to Moab in '07. Wish I had more time to explore the area but maybe another time. Saw lots of cool rock formations off the highway like Elephant Feet, Mexican Hat and Twin Sisters to name a few.

 

[Tbars4]

..Just poppin in to say hey and if there is enough time, a pic or two..

..We got off White Rim Trail this morning and did another long canyon trail right after..We re in Moab for restock and to meet up with Scott's dad...I'm not sure exactly where we are camping tonight but we will be at Arches tomorrow..

..We have had several electronic failures already this trip:

My invertor will no longer charge laptop but usb charge still works..:biggthump
Brians GoPro will tke videos but won't shut off. Disabling battery corrupts file
Mikes charger/camera..

..and to top it off...Scott has been carrying Mickey, Minnie, and their aprtying uncle for the last couple days in the back of his Ranger..Needless to say they had a good old time till Scott found them and had a party of his own this morning..

...Brian and I had already did the worst road yesterday including passing an FJ (with an 8X10 trailer w/a/c on top) on a cliffs edge on the way to our camp at Labrynth..This allowed us to get to listen to Mike, Scott, and Martin's trek all the way from their camp at potato bottom over the CB..

More updates to follow...

 

[Tbars4]

..Again...Pictures don't do it justice..

Doctoring up the Halibut..

The FJ...I got some video to go with this later..

Teaser of the Labrynth campsite..360* video later..

..Some random..

driving the cliffs edge..

 

[Keeper0311]

Awesome pictures man!