209 TACOS - B/S and shenanigans

Go get donuts at Pikes Peak

 

Moab and arches are close, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Monument Valley are a bit further away. Black Bear pass is also semi off route but might be worth looking into.

 

Get off 89 near St. George, UT - take 9 to 59 to 89 to 12 to 24 and onto 70. EPIC SCENERY, serious. Lexi and I stopped countless times on this route when we were headed this way. We got the recommendation to take this way from a ranger at Arches in Utah and it was seriously a great detour.

 

+1 on Moab and Arches, and Bryce Canyon. And Zion, and Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. So many places to explore in that little area. Heres a few pictures of our time through that area.

I need to start planning a trip back through there







The third picture is on that drive mentioned above, through Escalante. You go through everything from the desert, to that, to dense looking forests. It's amazing

 

This is 100% on the list... and Garden of the Gods and Airforce Academy (if it's open).

 

I already mentioned Black Bear Pass... it's a bucket list item for me because I'm actually kind of petrified of heights.

 

Definately good info here! We aren't going to have time to really do Moab (proper) or anything like that... but a side trip on the way, like this, would be perfect.

 

We didn't do Moab properly, we were in Lexi's Hyundai Elantra hatchback loaded to the brim with all her shit. But the hiking and sights around moab are unreal. So much good camping too, I'll have to check and see if I saved any coordinates and send them your way.

FWIW, depending on how long you're going, you can probably run Top of the World in Moab. It's a relatively easy trail and the view at the top is worth it - if you do get some wheeling in.

 

I'm definitely going to want to get some wheeling in. Not looking to do anything extreme(ly fun). Breaking in Stanislaus National Forest is a bit different than breaking 900 miles away from home.

 

black bear pass, Ouray in general, is gorgeous. Did a trip spending 5 days out there doing a lot of the trails and I definitely want to go back. It wasn't crazy technical compared to moab or something, but the views were amazing.

 

Yep this was as far as I could go.

Also drove as far as I dared on 5N01 and hiked down to Relief Reservoir.

 

Bad ass!

I was wrenching on a lift in the heat. Wish I had been up the hill.

 

Nice.

Shadow puppet ftw!

 

Parked about a mile from the reservoir. What lift are you installing? Did you get the lift finished? It was 80 when we left camp and 103 when we got down to the Central Valley

 

Yeah, looks like a rough go........ If I was driving my VW GTI!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdQos5ysccU

 

Public Service Announcement:

There is entirely WAY too much shit to see and do, between here and Colorado Springs.

That is all... Carry on

 

@MattJakobs... awesome suggestions on the route. I think I have a route out settled, based on many of your suggestions. Still need to fine tune and figure out where to camp, but the overall route is there. Now trying to figure out what to do while we're there and while on the way back.

I really want to do Black Bear while we're there. But the beginning of Black Bear Pass Rd is 5.5 hours away from Colorado Springs. Not sure I'm going to be able to incorporate it this trip. Also, I don't think doing Black Bear Pass solo is necessarily a good idea.

One thing I'm thinking of doing is incorporating Royal Gorge Bridge while we're there. THAT is the exact place my irrational fear of heights can be traced to. My Uncle scared the dog shit out of me there, when I was 6 years old, and I think it scarred me for life.

 

It's a great alternate route. If/When I do the drive that way again, I'll be taking that way. There will be a few places (one in particular) that might test your fear of heights. It's a certain strip that is basically on a ridge top, there's enough shoulder on the road to pull over so it isn't too bad.

I'm going to try and send you some coordinates and camp spots this afternoon.

 

I'm relatively good with shelf and spine roads when I'm driving. As long as I have control I am fine most places.

The off camber and shear elevation of Black Bear would probably have me eating the seat with my butthole... but that's part of why it's on my bucket list. You can't make progress unless you push yourself.

 

FACK... GAIA can be such a pain in the ass!