IntrepidXJ's Adventure Blog

Colorado National Monument
Thanksgiving | Thursday, November 24, 2011

Amanda had to work for a few hours on Thanksgiving, so while she was at work I decided to head on over to the Colorado National Monument and hike the Old Gordon Trail. It’s one of the few trails in the park that I had not hiked before. I was actually surprised to find that the park rangers were actually working on Thanksgiving. There were also plenty of people in the park, but they all seemed to be in No Thoroughfare Canyon or on the Serpents Trail because I had the Old Gordon Trail all to myself. I didn’t run into anyone else up there, which was nice.

The view into No Thoroughfare Canyon as I hike towards the start of the Old Gordon Trail.

No Thoroughfare View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I made a quick stop at the faint petroglyph panel in No Thoroughfare Canyon.

No Thoroughfare Petroglyphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

These signs were installed last year when they re-routed the trail into Echo Canyon.

Old Gordon Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

Christmas Eve | Saturday, December 24, 2011

Since Amanda had to work this morning, I decided to head up on the Grand Mesa to do a little snowshoeing. I bought a new pair of snowshoes and some new poles a few months back and wanted to try them out. Since I was testing out new gear and only had a few hours I decided to head back to the West Bench Trail since I’m familiar with it.

I also only took my iPhone on this short hike instead of dragging along my DSLR, so if my photos don’t look up to my usual standards, you know why…

Here’s my new MSR Evo Tour snowshoes ready for their first hike.

New Snowshoes by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The first bridge I crossed.

Snow Bridge by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

The snow wasn’t quite as high as the last time I was here. Last January the snow almost completely covered this sign.

Stop by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
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Saturday, November 19, 2011

After a morning and afternoon of hiking and exploring around Moab, Marty and I headed north to the Book Cliffs to visit a couple more new panels since we still had a few hours of sunlight left.

Soon we arrived at the foot of the Book Cliffs.

Jeep in the Book Cliffs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

We quickly found the first petroglyph panel located in a narrow slot between two boulders.

Slot Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Marty took this photo of me when I climbed up on the smaller boulder to take a few shots looking down into the slot.

Photographing Boulders by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

Saturday, November 19, 2011

On Saturday I met up with my friend Marty near Moab so that we could revisit a few rock art sites and maybe find some new ones. We met up at the Courthouse Wash trailhead so that I could get some new photos of the Courthouse Wash Panel. The last time I was here it was sunny and the direct sunlight really washed out the pictographs. Since we were there early in the morning this time, everything was still in the shadows.

Here’s a wide view of the full Courthouse Wash Panel. Unfortunately this panel was heavily vandalized in 1980, but conservation work has helped preserve and stabilize the site.

Courthouse Wash Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look at some of the pictographs that stand out the most.

Courthouse Wash Panel Detail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Petroglyphs on large boulders at the base of the large pictograph panel.

Courthouse Petroglyphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
 

November Cedar Mesa & Comb Ridge Trip 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011

After spending an awesome weekend in Natural Bridges, Jackson and I spent a morning exploring Comb Ridge before heading back home. Monarchs Cave was one of the first ruins I ever visited on Comb Ridge and I was looking forward to revisiting them again on this trip, so that was our first stop.

An overview of the ruins in Monarchs Cave.

Monarch B&W by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

They were built right up to the edge

Monarch Fortress by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

This Monarch’s Cave 1892 inscription was placed by the Illustrated America Exploring Expedition in 1892. Warren K. Moorehead was the leader of the Illustrated America Exploring Expedition which was sent to explore, survey, map, photograph and secure specimens from southeastern Utah. Although the IAEE collected few artifacts, the members of the expedition wrote enthusiastically and romantically about their adventures and discoveries in a series of articles for American Illustrated Magazine.

Monarchs Cave by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Monarch Cave Ruins by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr