Outdoor Adventure USA

GREAT NEWS

Now that the "lockdown" is slowly dissolving, it is the perfect time to get back to enjoying the great outdoors. For many who have spent the last few months at home, flattening the curve, it is time to break out and start enjoying all the great places to visit right here in the good 'ol USA.

The net this week will be a review of literature that will help you find the best off-road trails, the best outdoor adventures, and the best hiking trails. Over the past several decades, outdoor enthusiasts have compiled a wonderful collection of articles, guide books, and travel recommendations for every part of our great country.

While we are located in the US South West and have collected information about this area, we know that every part of the country has similar information. Here is your chance to add to our collection, no matter where you call home. One of the best means we have discovered to get travel information is to listen to others who have their own secret sources. Join us with your thoughts.

1. Charles Wells
His publishing company is Fun Treks ( https://www.funtreks.com/ ). Originally there were 2 books for California. The latest revision combined them into one book and made it a spiral spine for ease of use. (the right most book is the new one). They also publish books for Colorado. You can buy an SD card with the track and waypoints for each book and they have an app with all 600 trails.

California

Moab and Arizona
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2. Massey & Wilson
I have posted pictures of the CA and NV books but they also cover Colorado and Utah. The books run about $25 on Amazon. At one time they had one large book in an 81/2 x 11 format to cover each state. These were phased out in favor of 2 or 3 small format books to cover regions of each state. I believe they had feedback that the big book was too difficult to use in the field. Some people think the big format is a collector’s item and you might find the books quite pricey.

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3. Roger Mitchell
HIs company is Track and trails. www.trackandtrailpublications.com Or call 559-683-6984
About $17 per book.

While his books do overlap some of the same trails as Wells and Massey/Wilson, he has many trails that neither of the first two authors document. His books are long on history and geology and can be light on directions. He has very few GPS waypoints and his books are not organized to quickly identify directions from historical narrative.
I almost gave up on Mitchell after using the first book. I reached a junction and had to read two full pages before I found out which way to turn. Since then, I highlight the directions before I go.
Never-the-less, these are good books to have and I recommend them. They focus on SUV trails (easier) and lesser known trails.

Table of Contents (page 1 only) of High Sierra SUV Trails Vol 1 the East side
Mitchell Trail Rating





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4. Jeanne and Willie Worthy
Grizzly Gulch Publications

The size is 8 1/2 by 11, laminated color covers, heavy duty paper printed with waterproof ink, spiral bound. All the trails lead to a historic or scenic overlook, a lake, or to historical mining features.
The latest book is 4×4 Routes of Southcentral Montana, by Willie and Jeanne Worthy. This all new book covers the areas around Cooke City, Emigrant, McAllister, Sheridan, and Twin Bridges with extensive histories of the notable towns and long-forgotten mining sites. They even suggest camping spots for larger RVs and trailers.

The format: describing 4×4 routes using mile-to-mile, turn-to-turn points with landmarks, odometer readings, and GPS coordinates to keep on track.

Book One, 4×4 Routes of Western Montana, used Missoula as a hub to visit most areas within a day’s trip.
The second book, 4×4 Routes of Southwestern Montana, used Dillon, Jackson and Melrose as central locations to visit the selected areas within a day’s trip.

Books are available by phone at 406 825 4126, from our web site www.montana4x4trails.com
SAMPLE TRAIL
FROGPOND BASIN ROUTE

This is about a half day trip from the camp grounds depending on how much hiking and other exploring you do. The route is mostly class 1 with just a bit of class 2 to 2.5 sections. We did not find any frogs.

NEW MILEAGE

Mile 0.0 (46 04 04/113 32 15) JUNCTION A of FSR 1506 and 80 near Copper Creek Campgrounds. Follow FSR 80 towards Frogpond Basin, which starts out as a good graded gravel road.

Mile 0.3 Continue on the main road FSR 80 as it passes through willow filled flood plain with Copper Creek meandering through it on your left.

Optional Route. Just past the campground, FSR 1511 goes to the left (S) and then splits in a short distance. Where FSR 1511 splits, the left fork which is FSR 8672 goes straight ahead (S) to a locked gate in about one mile. The right fork road (SW) FSR 1511 parallels FSR 80 for another mile to where it intersects with FSR 8672. This road, FSR 8672, heads south and ends at an unnamed mine on the east slope of a high ridge in about four miles. If you continue on FSR 1511, it will join back with FSR 80 in less than two miles. This can make for an interesting area to explore in the future.

Mile 2.3 There is a spacious camping area on the left next to Copper Creek. The road to the right is kelly-humped to restrict access.

Mile 2.7 FSR 5107 joins from the right, and then a few hundred yards past the intersection on FSR 80 is a sign that says “Green Canyon Creek.” This side road leads to a clear cut logging area, and it is within hiking distance to the wilderness Whetstone Lake. This small 15 acre lake is unusually deep at 52 feet. It contains no fish to speak of.

Thirteen lined Ground squirrel (Spermophilies tridecemlineatus)

NEW MILEAGE

Mile 0.0 Intersection of FSR 80 and FSR 5107. Continue on FSR 80 (SW). The road becomes narrow and rougher.

Mile 0.2 The road to the left goes to a creek.

Mile 0.8 The road to the left also goes to a creek.

Mile 1.0 Intersection with FSR 78388, which follows Copper Creek to FS Trail 26 in about 1 ½ miles. Stay on the main road, FSR 80.

Mile 2.5 (46 02 02/113 37 21) The road heads up hill steeply and back down the hill with a switchback.

Mile 4.0 (46 01 27/113 38 35) JUNCTION 1, Intersection with FSR 5110, which heads to the right (NE) and FSR 80.


NEW MILEAGE (Optional side trip)

Mile 0.0 (46 01 27/113 38 35) From JUNCTION 1, Turn right (NE) on FSR 5110. The road follows along the hillside, and becomes narrower and rougher as it gains elevation.

Mile 0.8 There is a faint road to the right - stay on the main road.

Mile 1.5 Road is still class 1, but it is rough with little usage and approaches class 2 in spots. The forest begins to have some white and sub-alpine fir, and it was logged many years ago.

Mile 2.6 (46 02 10/113 38 54) This is a good place to stop and turn around to enjoy the view. The road splits, but both left and right forks dead end in ¼ mile. The elevation is 7830 feet at the highest point. There are a few stunted trees, alpine plant life, and three small ponds about 500 feet to the west.

Backtrack to JUNCTION 1, The intersection of FSR 80 and FSR 5110 at
46 01 29/113 38 35 where we had turned right at mile 4.0 just above.



NEW MILEAGE

Mile 0.0 (46 01 27/113 38 35) JUNCTION 1, Intersection of FSR 80 and FSR 5110. Turn to the northwest and continue on FSR 80.

Mile 1.0 You will cross a cattle guard. Just past it on the right side heading down hill where snow markers mark the edge, look down in the canyon (SE) at the remains of an old road.

Mile 1.3 A big meadow.

Mile 1.4 (46 01 30/113 39 51) The road splits with FSR 8671 to your right (NW) and FSR 80 continues to left (SW) about a mile to a locked gate at the Montana Prince mine. Turn to your right and follow FSR 8671. You’re in Frogpond Basin, with a short section of cool looking granite boulders, some round and some angular.

Mile 2.1 A small road to the right leads past an old closed gate across a small road to left, and continues about ½ mile to a campsite with a cement culvert two feet in diameter, five feet long. Why is it there? It’s a fairly decent road to the campsite, more like a quad road as it twists and turns through trees. Past the campsite the road enters a meadow and disappears, so we turned around. Purple lupine in heavy bloom in places along with blooming corn lily, blue harebells and white yarrow. Backtrack to the main route and continue mileage.

Mile 2.2 Gate. A road goes to the left for a very short distance. There are some private property signs posted. There is still quite a bit of mining remains in the area if one is willing to hike some and explore as it is hard to tell exactly where the property boundaries in this are.


Gear driven cable/drum winch
Keeping to your right on FSR 8671, the road continues on for less than a mile until reaching some “gate keeper” rocks and going up a steep hill with a sign “Bitterroot Divide trail # 313” and “Junction Chain of Lakes Trail # 396.” Stop at the gate keeper rock just before you get to the trail sign as it’s hard to turn around beyond it. USFS maps and USGS maps show this as a trail that leads to Shadow Lake in about five miles and joins with other trails. However, Google Earth shows it distinctly as a road. From the mile or so of it that we walked it appears to be a class 3.5 route and it appears that quads have driven it. It would be interesting to follow up with the USFS as to the legal vehicle usage of this trail.

Return route follows the main roads back to where you came in.



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5. Bill Mann aka short fuse.

Bill spent 50 year working and guiding in the Mojave Desert. He sold and delivered explosives to small mining companies throughout the desert. As a result, he discovered many sites of interest. He has documented many in a series of 6 books.
His format is a big picture of the site (with him and his pole in the picture), sometime another one or 2 pictures, driving directions and sometimes one GPS waypoint (not all were printed correctly) and a short paragraph of background. Using the book is much like geocaching.
Bill lived in Barstow CA and died Aug 12, 2006 at age 79.

Pony Express Trail


There are a lot of books written about the the Pony Express trail. The ones with good 4 wheel drive trail instructions tend to be state by state so you will need to do some research. Some areas are well marked and easy to reach even without 4WD. Other sections are so over grown that it is difficult to find the trail marker the BLM put up during the sesquicentennial.

Here are a few web sites to wet your appitite.

http://www.ohranger.com/pony-express-trail
https://www.nps.gov/poex/planyourvisit/maps.htm
https://www.4x4training.com/w/pony-expr ... -4wd-trip/
https://irma.nps.gov/Datastore/DownloadFile/481114

San Rafael Swell
Order this book and the companion map https://www.4x4training.com/w/product/s ... guide-book

There is a good chance we will have a net on this destination.

Running right up the interior of Emery County in central Utah, the San Rafael Swell is part of a large and intriguing land mass. Tens of millions of years ago massive upheavals in the planet’s crust created a “dome” of rock—a swell in scientific terms. Over time the elements carved away at the rock leaving valleys, canyons, mesas and other formations. The heart of it all is called San Rafael Swell. Imbedded in the Swell is a section called Little Grand Canyon for its resemblance to the more famous attraction.

This land form, covering about 2,000 square miles, is overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. In addition to the San Rafael Swell, the area boasts San Rafael Reef, Goblin Valley State Park on the south-eastern end, and numerous other natural features.

Bordered by state highway 24 and US 191 to the east and state highway 10 to the west, the entire area covers about 2,000 of the county’s 4,400-plus square miles. Several communities surround the Swell, with Hanksville to the south and Price on the northern end two of the larger towns. Emery County estimated 10,631 souls in 2014.

Here are a few books that I particularly like. I can't say that I've used them a great deal yet but I hope to in the future.

The first is California Desert Byways by Tony Huegel. It contains 60 tour routes throughout the deserts of California. The route descriptions may not be as detailed as some other guide books but it's a great resource for initially planning things to see if when you're going to be in a particular area. Each route is broken down by location, highlights, difficulty, time and distance, suggested detailed maps, where to find more information, getting there, suggested rest stops, and information on the drive and history. It's also a nice size for carrying in your vehicle.

The second book is Native Roads by Fran Kosik. The second edition is pictured. There is now a third edition which was published in 2013. It coveres the area of the Navajo and Hoip Nations in the 4 corners region. This book is organized by point to point drives along various numbered highways with many points of interest by mile marker. Each entry can vary from one or two sentences to many paragraphs of descriptive cultural, geological, and historical information.

I was introduced to the third book, Beyond the National Parks, by a German couple I met one time when I was out with the Pinzgauer. Seeing that I had a European military vehicle they came over to ask me about it. We ended up spending a pleasant evening talking about our travels and rigs. They had a truck and camper that they leave with a friend in the U.S. when they are back in Germany. They were enchanted by the American west and spend all of their vacation time traveling around to some of the less well known and less crowded locations. Being on a budget and avoiding crowds they prefer to spend most of their time on BLM land. This book was their primary guide to places to visit. It covers locations in 14 western states including Alaska and the Dakotas. The book is organized by location with a detailed description, mailing address and phone number for additional information, directions, visitor activities, permits, fees, and limitations, accessibility, camping and lodging, food and supplies, first aid, and additional information. For quick reference each site is marked with color coded activity codes indicating things to do.

MY TAKE

Over the years I have utilized most of the "usual methods" of finding great outdoor adventure locations. As time went on, and as I distilled the kind of trips that were really the most rewarding, I found that I began to move away from the "usual methods." The reasons for this had nothing to do with a dissatisfaction with the information in these sources, but rather a need to explore places that were remote, that were not well traveled or advertised, and sometimes places that offered a chance to meet a people who had called a place their homes for hundreds or thousands of years. The one thing that is consistent with all of my trips, is the need for a capable 4 wheel drive vehicle and a group of friends that enjoy these adventures.

We are blessed here in the great American Southwest with a country that is incredibly vast and full of great places to explore. It is no secret that it would take many lifetimes to see even 10% of what we have available to us. To the question, "where do you want to travel", my first reaction is to always say, right here!

My sources for finding these places are very different than most, and I will confess that I have, at least for the present, confined the states I will explore to Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Idaho. And, to a lesser extent, Nevada and California. Largely, but not entirely, I have relied on the following sources to discover great places to explore:

• USGS Topo maps

• Arizona Highways Magazine

• Desert Magazine

• People who live in or near these remote locations

• Local Rangers

Here is a short list of places that I have visited using the methods and criteria just mentioned above.

1. The Navajo Nation

Growing up during the years when Western TV shows and movies were popular probably kindled a desire to see all those great places where my heroes lived or visited. But, aside from that, it wasn't always the most accurate depiction of American Indians. I can't say when it happened, but I have had, and continue to have, a thirst for getting to know the Navajo and exploring their nation.

I have visited the Navajo Nation on several occasions, and have seen some of the most amazing historical archaeologic sites in the world. I have also met wonderfully friendly people who are anxious to teach anyone willing to learn, about their culture, their land, their people, their history, and their traditions. Under Navajo law, any travel on land which is not a highway, requires a Navajo guide. In some cases, it is also necessary to obtain permission from Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department. On all of our trips to the Navajo Nation we have hired local guides and it is from them that we have learned so much.

As with many other trips, the initial selection of places to visit on the Navajo Nation came from USGS topo maps, and the Navajo National Monument is a great example. The other significant influence that helped select areas to visit was (gulp) Hollywood. Many of my favorite Westerns were shot in Monument Valley, which is on Navajo land. Long before I knew anything about Monument Valley or the Navajo Nation, I wanted to visit the places where these great movies were shot. I have since gained a much greater appreciation for MV and have seen much of it and the surrounding areas, with the assistance of our Navajo guides.

One other fabulous example is Canyon de Chelly. Things have changed over the years, but it is still a great experience. The history is fascinating.

Every visit ends with a desire to return.


2. Dark Canyon and Cedar Mesa

One of the most useful tools I have used to locate new areas, has been my USGS Topo maps, as presented in the Nat Geo Topo! program. One of the benefits of Topo! is that it combines all of the USGS maps for each state in a seamless presentation. So, for example, when I was interested in finding unique and remote places to explore in Utah, which were relatively unknown, I scoured my Topo! maps for my next adventure.

To my surprise, I located a place that was identified on the map as, "Dark Canyon." The name instantly captured my attention. There seemed to be no reason that I could discern why the makers of the USGS Topo maps would so prominently display the Dark Canyon name, as it is really a very small wilderness. But tucked away in this canyon, and in the vast surrounding areas, were all the making of several great adventures. Adjacent to Dark Canyon is the Cedar Mesa country, the Glen Canyon National Recreation area, Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, Capital Reef National Park, Manti La Sal National Forest, and a lot more.

My discovery of Dark Canyon was not the product of any research I had ever done, nor any book I had ever read. But, once I settled on this area, it did not take long to also discover the vast number of surrounding places to visit that were equally worthy of a trip, or trips. That's when the process of investigation began. While there were many sources of information for Dark Canyon, there was one that stood out well above all the others - a map making business operated by a resident of a nearby town, and who had spent much of his life exploring the very area I had decided to visit. The business was called, "Off the Beaten Path" and their inventory of detailed and annotated USGS Topo maps was impressive. With a few conversations with the owner, it was clear that he really knew the area, and the icing on the cake turned out to be that he was an archeologist, and was willing to join us on our trip and lead us to places that VERY, VERY few people have ever seen.

While there have been several visits to this area, each trip ends with a desire to return

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3. Grand Staircase Escalante

The Grand Staircase, kinda' falls under the same method of discovery as Dark Canyon. One cannot look at a map of Utah and not see the GSE, and more importantly, realize just how large it really is. In addition to its size, the GSE has a very rich history and some impressive geology. When it became apparent the that I was locked into a visit to the Grand Staircase, my investigation took me to places that were not, "usual" and included:

• multiple conversations with GSE rangers

• a conversation with a friend who knew of our planned trip, and who recommended a particular book

• Visitor Information pamphlet for the GSE and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

• Hiking books

• Geology books

• Local Hams

• Local Rangers

While there have been several visits to this area, each trip ends with a desire to return.


4. Parashant

Growing up, I still remember that my parents subscribed to a magazine entitled, "Arizona Highways. It took a number of years before I realized what a real gem this magazine really was. In the late 80s I began subscribing to the magazine, and, thankfully, I kept most of the issues. As it turned out, I have found more great places to visit in Arizona from the articles in AH, than any other source. Since I have kept most of my issues, I continue to review them over and over to get ideas on new adventures.

I came to initially know the "The Parashant" by an Article that appeared 15 years ago in the January 2005 issue of AH, entitled "A Monument to Loneliness, The Expansive Parashant Stands Profoundly Wild and Inhospitable for the Unprepared." I didn't even need to read the entire article as I was sold. But of course, I have read it, and re-read it many times, and the Parashant has been the subject of several trips.

As so often happens, the story did not end there. As I continued to review my stack of old AH magazines, and before my first trip to the Parashant, I discovered an October 1999 issue of AH that contained an article entitled, The Witches Water Pocket." The article was an historical account of John Wesley Powell's expedition into the Colorado River and it's surrounding canyons. In Powell's account of his travels, entitled, "Canyons of the Colorado", he mentions a "place of reliable water" called "the Witch's Water Pocket." It was a fascinating account, and the best part was that it was located in the Parashant.

The article was vague enough about the location to make it difficult to pinpoint where it was, exactly. But, fortunately, the article was sufficiently enticing to make it mandatory to find it. Existing maps didn't help, the article didn't help, and internet searches didn't help. Since I had been in contact with rangers from the Parashant, I decided to give that a try, and BINGO. Never overlook the great wealth of information that local rangers have to offer.

When it comes to maps, none are equal to the USGS Topo. Most mapping available today relies on or uses USGS maps as a foundation for their maps, and in the case of the Parashant (or more inclusively, the Arizona Strip) The BLM makes one of the very best maps (based on USGS Topos) that I have yet seen. It is very detailed, well annotated and current. The picture below is of the map I have been using for years, but there is a more current one available.

My sources of information included:

• Arizona Highways magazine

• Visitor Information pamphlet for the Parashant

• BLM Arizona Strip Visitors Map

• Geology books

• Local rangers

Unfortunately, Arizona Highways will not consent to publishing pictures of their magazines, so for those who want to view these articles, you will need to find someone who will share, or contract AH to sign up for a digital subscription and order the back issues mentioned here. If you are interested in a subscription, you can check it out here: https://ssl.drgnetwork.com/ecom/AHM/app ... EWS&type=S. Good luck!

Much of the Parashsnt is on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and the views and solitude are just the best. Ask anyone who has visited this area.

While there have been several visits to this area, each trip ends with a desire to return.

Thanks for early check in KF6KOC Randy & KF6RGR Becky.

Please check me in.

WD6USA
Jeff

Check in please-

Jack M. KK6WXQ
Kevin P. KK6DGL
John D. KM6FXI

Thank you!

Early checkin

Robert, VK2DY