A Little Rest and a Push for the Edge of the World!

Saturday...A day of rest. a little laundry, some reading, finish watching "Catching Fire- Hunger Games", a nap.  The  good life.  There was an Ironman event in town today which virtually shut down the traffic in town through the core of the daylight hours.
Tomorrow? Bigger plans. We've been working up to an extended Jeep adventure. This time our target is Toroweap Overlook on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We've loaded the Jeep with camping gear, filled the water jug, and other necessary supplies. We'll decide on camping out depending on progress and what we see when we get there. The trip is around 90 miles one way. 56 miles of dirt with the last couple being rough rock. Wish us luck.  The pictures should be worth the trip. 
This is a very remote part of the Grand Canyon National Park. Not much in the way of support. Keep and eye on the "Where are We?" link to the right to see our progress.

Sunday/Monday...We loaded the Jeep as planned and hit the trails for Toroweap. We took the road of less dirt traveling down paved Utah 59 past Colorado City and Pipe Springs National Monument and hit dirt for the next 60 miles on County 109 towards Toroweap.  A few vehicles were coming out, the weekenders, we assumed. We had taken the rear and side panels off the Jeep, the weather was slated to be in the 90s.

Not too long after running down the dirt roads, the dogs started rebelling.  The wind had come up and with the rough roads, the noise and wind were getting to be a bit much. They tried getting Judy to ride in the back, the four dogs up front, but that didn't last too long.

Eventually everyone found their spot (almost all of them up front, of course), the miles started to fly by.  The roads although classified as primitive and not regularly maintained were good.  At least as far as the Jeep was concerned.

We have not found a lot of signage in the more remote areas we have been hitting down here, but there were some regarding the major routes to/from Toroweap.

 Not a big deal now we had good maps, but still reassuring.

I do some remote area riding on my motorcycle, so I know remote drivable roads. This one is taking us to about as remote a destination as can be attained in the lower 48 states, but eventually here we are, but just cause we hit the Park boundary doesn't mean we're there yet.

The road is still pretty decent until you get just past the Ranger Station. They go out of there way to keep the rif-raf out from there on. They advertise you should have a "high clearance vehicle".  They mean it.  I didn't take too long and we were creeping over rocks in low range four wheel drive.  the traction is great, but so rough you need to creep.

 Two or three miles of this and you get to the Overlook. Where some people didn't go too far beyond the parking/picnic area.

But, we were definitely at the Grand Canyon!

 And no, there are no protective barriers.

 The raw, undeveloped Grand Canyon.

 

After "bellying" up to the edge for a few more pictures (that's a 3,000 foot vertical drop), we headed back a half mile to the Tuweap Campground.

More rock crawling and we found ourselves in what must be one of the most unique primitive campgrounds around.  Nice composting toilets, picnic tables and not much else...unless you count the rocks and direct view of the Grand Canyon.

There were only a couple of other campsites occupied so the solitude was definitely unbroken. First come, first serve for the single sites. A couple of group sites require reservations, but we saw a notice that starting September of this year all sites would require reservation, PLUS fires, including charcoal barbecues would be forbidden.

A little hike on the only trail open to the dogs (leashed, of course) brought back many more pictures including the flora of the high desert. There is no end of photo ops in this place! (Check the link to full photo folder for more).

 

The dogs were appreciative of the cool perches on the rocks behind our tent.

 

 

Sunrise over the GC.

 

 

Breakfast and its time to crawl the rocks back out of the campground and head for the barn (or Gus in this case).

On the way out, we were entertained by the famous trained posing rabbits of the Grand Canyon. Fauna to go with the flora.

Not to mention a couple of local gopher snakes.

 

The desert has no end of colorful flowering plants this time of year.

 

We stopped to chat with the volunteer ranger at the ranger station on the way out.  Watered the dogs and hit the road. In all, barely 24 hours from home port to home port, but a little trip that I doubt we will ever surpass.  The little Jeep surpassed itself barreling down the back roads. Our camping gear worked out and we have four very tired dogs. Showers done, dogs washed...now what will be our next adventure?

Tuesday...Ran over to St. George today.  Looking for a Yarn store, but nothing at the Internet address. Next stop Camping World to pick up a few things for Gus. Nice day Sunday, but not real hot.

Wednesday...A day to relax and clean up things and relax getting ready for more travel in the morning.  Cooked a steak on our cheap $10 charcoal grill which cooks really well.  Corn on the cob in the microwave and asparagus completed dinner.  Tomorrow we head towards Page, AZ and Lake Powell.  Not too long a day. Only 137 miles to Page.