Oregon Trip Day 3 - Bike Dread and Terror

Riding the Dread and Terror segment of the North Umpqua Trail.

Our campsite was so dark and cold that we moved to the group site to get more sun.

04/17/15 Friday

The last time we were in Oregon, we saw a trail called “Dread and Terror” that we wanted to ride, but didn’t have time for. It’s part of the 79-mile North Umpqua Trail, an IMBA epic.

Dropping down from Road 700.

Dad shuttled us up to Road 700 so we could start part way down, because we didn’t want to ride the entire 17 miles from the top.

The second major blowdown.

The trail is much different from the McKenzie River Trail. It has a lot of short up-and-downs, and a lot of technical rocky sections.

There’s a trail in here somewhere.

There was also a bunch of large blowdowns.

There was a little exposure in places.

There was also some exposure, where a downhill fall would land you in the river in very bad shape.

The third major blowdown.

The North Umpqua cuts its way through a basalt canyon, so it stays narrow with steep sides.

Getting close to Surprise Falls.

Typically for Oregon, there is lots of mossy banks and water everywhere.

There was a washed-out bridge about two miles below the hot springs that forced us to backtrack to the road.

Columnar Falls

The trail was a lot harder than we expected. It’s a beautiful trail, but prepare to get on and off your bike a lot if you’re not in shape.

Oregon Trip Day 2 - Bike Dear Leap Trail

Riding the NUT (North Umpqua Trail).

Good morning, Sunshine!

04/16/15 Thursday

We spent the night at the Lake Toketee Campground, a primitive campground with lots and lots of shade.

Riding the Dear Leap segment.

We rode a short section of the Dear Leap segment of the North Umpqua Trail. The trail goes through the campground, and starts climbing as soon as you head west.

We only rode about six miles, but it had about 800’ of climbing.

Watson Falls

After the ride, we drove a few miles to see some nearby waterfalls. Just east of Lake Toketee is Watson Falls, the second (or third) highest waterfall in Oregon.

Top of the trail.

There’s a short trail to access a couple of viewpoints.

Anyone have some JB Weld?

Next, we walked the half-mile trail to Toketee Falls. There’s a large, exposed penstock below Lake Toketee that’s spraying leaks on the road.

Tree patio

You can’t hike to the base of Toketee Falls; instead, there is a viewing platform built around a tree above the falls.

Toketee Falls

I had never been to Toketee Falls, or even traveled on Highway 138. It’s a beautiful area.

SW Trip Day 14 - Hike Snow Canyon State Park

Back in the desert.

10/23/13 Wednesday

After our ride yesterday, we drove to Snow Canyon State Park just outside of St. George and got the last available campsite.

Hiking the Hidden Pinyon Trail.

Snow Canyon is a cool area with a variety of red rock, slickrock and lava formations.

There’s enough scenery that a number of major films have been shot here, such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Jeremiah Johnson.

Looking from the Hidden Pinyon Trail overlook across to the Three Ponds Trail.

Hiking up the sandy wash of the Three Ponds Trail.

We hiked a series of trails in a clockwise loop from the campground, starting with the Hidden Pinyon Trail and then crossing the West Canyon Road to the Three Ponds Trail.

Where are the ponds?

Nancy thought the trail led to the ponds in the photo on the cover of the park brochure, so we kept hiking until the trail ended in a narrow drainage.

Headed back out.

There were only a couple of small ponds in the sand, so the picture was obviously taken somewhere else.

Hiking back out the long sandy wash.

There was an annoying half-mile of sand hiking back out.

Hiking up the Lava Flow Trail.

We then looped around on the Lava Flow Trail, which climbs a little bit to provide a view.

Holier than thou.

There’s a small lava tube where the Lava Flow Trail meets the Butterfly Trail.

Winding through larger formations

The Butterfly Trail meanders through short gullies before giving way to the Petrified Dunes section.

Hiking up the dunes.

The Petrified Dunes Trail was all slickrock, similar to Moab, just not as smooth.

Things got rocky between us.

The trail here is unmarked except for signs sticking up every hundred yards or so.

Dropping down off the Petrified Dunes.

We hiked for six hours, covering about nine miles.

Dinner at sunset.

Snow Canyon has nice secluded campsites, and nice restrooms with showers.

Enjoying our last night of camping.

Most of the campsites back up against a rock wall and are surrounded by bushes and piñons, so you feel like you’re in your own little world.

This is one of the best campgrounds we’ve ever stayed at—highly recommended!

SW Trip Day 12 - Hike North Kaibab Trail

Early start.

10/21/13 Monday

The Grand Canyon National Park was closed as part of the federal budget kerfluffle, but re-opened a week ago from an influx of state and private funds.

We planned to hike the North Kaibab Trail, only going about halfway down because hiking to the river and back is too far for one day.

Looking for Ra at the Coconino Overlook.

We hiked the South Kaibab Trail seven years ago and witnessed a spectacular sunrise. So, we got out early, hoping for similar views.

Descending below the gray rock.

It soon became apparent that the North Kaibab Trail is much different from the South Kaibab because the trail goes down a drainage instead of along a ridgeline.

Therefore, a spectacular sunrise would not be forthcoming.

The Supai Tunnel, 1.7 miles down.

It was disappointing to find that the views would not be nearly as good as those on the South Kaibab Trail, but we kept going to see what the trail was like.

Winding down into the red rock.

The trail is pretty on its own, but you have no views of anything else.

Just past the Supai Tunnel.

One advantage of an early start was getting to hike in the cool of the day.

About two miles down the trail.

Trail repair.

The trail was in great shape except for one spot.

Crossing the Redwall Bridge.

The Redwall Bridge is three miles down.

Losing our shade.

Hiking through the Redwall section.

The Redwall section is the most dramatic part of the trail, with long stretches hacked out of the cliff face.

Heading back up.

We turned around just above Roaring Springs, about 3,000’ feet below the North Rim.

One last look.

It was a nice hike, just not nearly as scenic as the South Kaibab.

We got back with enough time to explore the area around the Visitor Center. They had stripped the shelves of all products due to the government shutdown and recent re-opening.

The view from Bright Angel Point, near the Visitor Center.

Cooking up grub.

We couldn’t drive to nearby viewpoints because the roads were closed.

However, we had the North Rim Campground almost entirely to ourselves because of the shutdown. Thank you Tea Party nitwits!

SW Trip Day 9 - Drive to Mesa Verde

Oatmeal again?

10/18/13 Friday

Our last morning in James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park.

The Colorado state parks are expensive. You get charged for camping, plus admission, plus showers, so it costs you about $30 a day.

Blue skies and raining.

Oh, and we had to dodge the sprinklers every morning. And you’re right next to I-70.

Next time we’ll camp at a primitive campground and just use the state parks to take showers.

As you approach the San Juan Mountains you feel like you’ve entered the Alps.

Main Street: bikes, skateboards.

We drove south through the San Juans and stopped briefly in Telluride just to see what it looked like. Telluride is at 8,500’ and pretty chilly this time of year.

The scenery is awesome, jagged peaks very different from what you see around Vail.

The Mountain Village at 9,500’ above the town of Telluride looking north at the Sneffels Range.

A cold night under a full moon.

We made it to Mesa Verde National Park and the Morefield Campground before dark.

This entire trip has been cold at night and tonight was no exception, but we were able to scrounge some oak branches to make a nice campfire.