SW Heat, UT, CO and NM next.

Left the L.A. area Friday morning, heading to St. George UT. Planned to camp that first evening in the area, but temperatures ranging from 110f to 113f and hot all night (80s, 90s) made me change my mind. From there, to Moab with a stop at the Fremont Petroglyphs to take pictures of ancient aliens, then down to the BLM land around the Needles area of Canyonlands for some easy off-road peace and quiet.
Nothing difficult there as I hadn't taken off my predator steps that hang out there waiting for the first rock... More on that in a minute.
The daytime temperature was a more resonable high of around 98f in Moab the day before yesterday. I grabbed a tent spot at the local Kamping On Asphalt, and setup the back as my sleeping area.
Well, while I was showering in the shower stall, it started to pour after a brief lightning show. I opened the bathroom door and sprinted for the truck... I had left the Snugtop's front window and both side windows open. I got in and closed the back, then spent the next 10 minutes cleaning up the water that got in as it rained.

Next day I drove through the Canyonlands as it is breathtaking. Then I turned off onto Beef Basin and drove through a bit of it. I was concerned with the possibility that it had rained there as it's clay and I didn't want to get stuck, but it was dry.
I really wanted to get to CO, Ouray, to check it out. Well, the trail I went on, Corskcrew Gulch, was listed as medium difficulty and I should not have gone on it without removing those steps. But I had been in that area multiple times from 13 to 20 years ago and I don't remember it being as challenging as it was. I had taken my last Tundra and Hilux on it and had gone to engineer pass then back down to the forks then to Anamas then continued down that road till it spits you out near Silverton. Well, I was right about those predator steps. Those woops look like dirt but there is rock at the surface and those steps just hang their cheese in the wind.
At least, it was only in the upper 80s, low 90s, and the soil was only lightly damp. But I needed a lifted Jeep for that trail, not a stock Tundra. Pushed the broken side of the step back against the side it broke away from and will get that welded up when I get home. Sigh. I'm in Cortez now, off to Hovenweep tomorrow.

 

Stay safe and have fun !!!

 

The rain is following me. First Moab, then the Chaco Canyon area.
At least it didn't rain at Hovenweep. It was hot and rather muggy though. Cutthroat is currently closed so I went to Square Tower and Holly the day before yesterday.

It went from 90f to the low 70s in minutes as I drove south from Farmington as dark clouds congealed seemingly out of nowhere. It started to rain as I reached the entrance of Chaco Culture. Stayed in Gallup instead as I wasn't interested in taking a chance on camping in the rain. Went to Chaco yesterday under clear skys and camped there last night. It was in the upper 90s but cooled quickly as the sun set. Chaco is a magic place, I've been there many times and love watching the stars at night. Saw a shooting star there for the first time.

Now I am turning towards home, and am staying in Flagstaff. Lots of road work being done on the 40 in NM and AZ in both directions, but not snarling traffic, just a temporary annoyance. Lots of smoke from a fire to the south east of Flag as I approached. I'll spend the next day looking for some Native American jewelry as that is a weakness of mine.

Wish I had more time, I would have gone to Bandelier and Monument Valley if I had two weeks but I only had one. Love doing South West vacation loops. Once I'm back, with my concerns about the predator steps born out, I need to look for sliders that double as a step, and if my mother can't step that high, it's back to carrying a step for her as I did in my last Tundra.

 

What an adventure! Great pictures too!

 

Thanks for sharing!