November 16 – 28, 2016
If you’d like to view all my posts about my travels in 2016, you can click the 2016 link in the right column on the HOME page, or click here: 2016 – Rubber Tramp Rendezvous, AZ, CA, UT, Death Valley + More
In my last two travel instalments, I posted about my adventures during the winter of 2015/2016 and how I did it all on under $3,000 and then told you about my summer in Estes Park, where I was lucky enough to see a number of bears.
I haven’t posted any travel updates since then, and some of you have been asking for updates….so here goes…
When I left Estes Park at the end of my work season in November 2016, I decided to make a video of the journey from Estes, to the border of Utah. I did this primarily for my family in the UK and New Zealand so they could get a better idea of what it’s like to travel in the States.
The drive from Estes Park, CO. to the border of Utah, east of Moab, only takes about five-hours, but I went slowly and took two days. You can watch the videos here:
Leaving Estes Park and Driving to Utah Day 1 and here is Day 2
I spent the second night at Rabbit Valley, just off I70, a few miles from the border of Utah, in Colorado. I’ve spent a lot of time there in the past, hiking, looking for petroglyphs, pictographs, dinosaur bones, and just enjoying the view of the Colorado River from the rim high above. A word of caution here though, if you choose to go out to the rim of the canyon, the road gets very narrow in places with high sand banks, and if it’s muddy, there are spots where there is nowhere to turn around and one has no choice but to go through the mud. I wouldn’t recommend trying it in anything other than a 4WD vehicle if it’s muddy, or at the very least a high-clearance vehicle if there is no mud.
The next day I drove to Fisher Towers, in The Colorado Canyon. The drive down Route 128 is a stunning drive, and I never grow tired of it. It follows the Colorado River and at its northern end is an open valley, but quickly drops down into a narrow canyon with sheer sandstone walls that are something to behold.
When I arrived at Fisher Towers, there was quite a bit of activity going on. It’s a very popular place for climbing, and in more recent years has also become a favourite place for base jumpers.
Fisher Towers are a series of towers made of Cutler sandstone capped with Moenkopi sandstone and caked with a stucco of red mud located near Moab, Utah (38.7240°N 109.3083°W). Every time I’ve camped there, I’ve witnessed one of these stunning sunsets.
There is a nice hike along the mudstone bases of Fisher Towers. If you decide to do the hike I’d recommend getting up early and hiking before the sun gets too high, because it get’s very hot, very quickly. I’m not sure I’d even consider doing it during the summer months once the sun is up.
The first time I visited Arches National Park it took my breath away, and since then I’ve always made a point of paying it my respects whenever I’m in the Moab area. I have several pictures you can look at in my Online Store that pertain to Arches NP. (Images are for sale, but please feel free to just take a look, and perhaps leave a comment or a like on your favourites, and please share the page. Any money I make from my photography goes towards vehicle maintenance and other things, such as this blog).
I spent about 10-days in the Moab area. Hiking, hanging out with friends and taking pictures.
I usually visit the Island-in-the-Sky and The Needles areas, but I started this trip with less money last year and decided to conserve my gas money for new explorations down the road.
I hope you’ll sign up for blog notifications, and also sign up on my YouTube Channel, and enjoy the journey with me.
Until next time…
Roxy ~ A Nomad for Nature
http://NomadforNature.wordpress.com/
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A Nomad for Nature 