Moments in Dirt and Ink

Utah School Trust Lands Bears Ears National Monument Click for map. I decided to explore three roads to nowhere that leave the highway at gates and get to spots out above Mule Canyon and its larger tributaries. They're all rough for my little car. The first, just slightly east of the Mule Canyon Roadside Ruin, is part of the School Trust Lands rather than the monument. Rules are pretty much the same with motorized travel allowed on existing roads and camping allowed and so much as disturbing cultural artifacts illegal. Signs at the second gate explain the broad rules. A bit of mountain with a line of canyon just visible somewhere between here and there. Also a few of the people waiting on the highway for the flagman because there is a lot of road construction on at the moment. It isn't that far in that they feel the road isn't good enough for low clearance or longer vehicles. There is a big lot next to yet another drill hole. (This one has no writing...

San Juan National Forest DAY 1  |  DAY 2  |  DAY 3  |  DAY 4  |  DAY 5 Click for map. Morning and as I cook breakfast, I seem to have a minor mountain goat infestation of one male. These goats are far too comfortable around people. I watch him, and it becomes clear he's looking for a rock I might have peed on for the salt. Ew. One mountain goat sniffing about for a salty patch. The weather is already threatening, although I get a sense of rain without thunder somehow. The threatening weather is reason number one it might not be a good idea to take Endlich Mesa back as planned since after climbing to 12.6k feet, I stay near that and then over 12.8k feet Thimble Pass. That first bit of staying high is at least under a tall ridge, but the next miles high on Silver Mesa are above tree line in the flat. The next reason to avoid it is that fire warning at the start. The trails I came in on are hardly affected by the fire, but Endl...

Gila National Forest Click for map. I find myself in a state of waiting for a few more days and wanted another hike. I have gone into areas southeast as well as I can, northwest, and southwest leaving the northwest left to explore. I noted that if I head up the Middle Fork, there is quickly a trail heading out east over the North Mesa with a couple of possible routes to where the East Fork Gila River is not a collection of private property. It looks a little long, but measures about 18.7 miles. Probably will be 20 again if I go for a little bump labeled "Whiterocks" and a benchmark or two, so I tried for an early start. It's early enough at just after 8AM, especially for splashing through the river. Early enough starts are getting really easy with the lengthening days. Some of the Middle Fork Gila River that I missed out on when I took Little Bear Canyon to finish my backpacking trip. So down into the river canyon I go on some old road that vanishes in the...