Late December Lake Powell Road Trip

[Frulk_imp]

With the recent discussion of skinny posts I'm trying to do my part. Also trying to rebuild the Seat Time section with detailed info and pics.

From Left to right: The orange 2 man tent will go on the lid of the top box. The zero degree sleeping bag (lows in the Powell area are projected to be 25 while I'm there) and Mexican blanket/inflatable sleeping pad and pillow/cooking gear/food etc. will go box inside the top box. The MSR and water bottles will go in the panniers (MSR on the left away from the exhaust and water bottles in the right.) Trying to keep the heaviest stuff low for center of gravity. Most everything I'm hauling with me is shown except for some small odds and ends and clothing items like extra socks. The Portable IPhone battery pack/charger will be placed under the seat and run by cable to phone. Right now the tank bag is empty but will fill up with jerky/dry salami/cheese/crackers/flask with single malt/small flashlight and headlamp.



I still have plenty of room on the seat in front of the box for a dry bag and could put on a backpack. However, that cavernous box precludes that (but it is nice to have that option to carry additional luxuries if I wanted to).



Inside of the box with zero degree bag on top of cooking gear/food. NOTE: Crown Royal bags contain gear. Very handy for that.

[LongRanger_imp]

Very nice. This time of year, is it too iffy to attempt UT12 south of Torrey? There's some pretty good elevation south of there. Or are you planning to take the easterly route through Moab and Bluff?

[the Ferret]

Should be a fun trip.Looks like you planned and packed well. Have fun and ride safe.

I think I'm too old to sleep on the ground anymore..and walking around on my knees doesn't cut it. I have some great motorcycle camping gear. I should probably sell it all to somebody younger and more adventurous.

[Cormanus]

Looking forward to hearing about the ride, Frulk, and how the goes. It's nothing if not practical.

I'll be rethinking how I use mine on my next trip: I think I'll be putting only softer or unbreakable things in there. Even when it's full, things seem to get bounced around a lot.

[Frulk_imp]

12 South of Torrey would be impossible on a bike this time of year. That's going over the Boulder Plateau at a little over 9,000 feet. I'm heading into Grand Staircase from the east and plan to drive through the monument if the road is OK in the shadows of the canyon. I suspect there could be places with some black ice so I'll be very careful. It will be an out and back run this coming Wed. A few pics of what I'll be riding through. I did this trip 3 years back on the Guzzi and that's why it's in the pics.

Approaching the Moki Dugway switchbacks from the bottom out of Mexican Hat



From the top looking down. Road is dirt/gravel mix



In Grand Staircase



On the Charles Hall Ferry out of Bullfrog heading east



On the east side of Lake Powell a few minutes from the ferry dock



Heading west towards Hite



Anasazi Ruin



Colorado River Bridge looking west



Overlook east of the lake looking east towards Blanding



I'll be running the same route with the Honda and will take a lot of pics to post up.

[the Ferret]

Very cool scenery

[emptysea]

We were in this area in a cage sooo many years ago. Your pictures bring back memories of what we saw, but also lament of what we missed. Looking forward to the pics from your latest foray into the area. We need to get out there on bikes someday. Someday.

[bflint]

Nice! Jealous. Was in Zion in August. Looks like a good trip for my future rides

[Frulk_imp]

Day one: I rolled out of Ogden for approx. 250 miles and ended up at Goblin Valley State Park around noon. Quickly unloaded bike because I had limited daylight and was working against the clock in both daylight and temperature. When I headed out of the park it was in the upper 30's.

Campsite in Goblin Valley: unloading the bike



Campsite: different perspective



Random buttes on way into Hanksville



Rolled through Hanksville on the 26 and now heading west towards Capitol Reef:

Next few pics are on that stretch of road:

Looking west from the cockpit



Random formation:



Somewhere around Factory Butte



Factory Butte: site of a minor environmental war over unrestricted atv use on public land



Colorful hills heading west to Capitol Reef



More colorful hills further down the road by Capitol Reef



East Entrance to Capitol Reef. Really disappointed in this picture and how it came out. I rode past here for a few miles but stopped and turned around. The canyon narrows and with the river in there the road was covered with frost in the shadows and was becoming slick.



Discretion is the better part of Valor and all that. Instead I took a small detour to Notam, Utah, which is nothing more than a historical marker to a family and a small settlement. I'll stop here for now and post up the rest of the days pics tomorrow.

[LongRanger_imp]

Lovely. I know these roads well. Looking forward to your next installment! Also curious to see if Lake Powell water levels have recovered a bit. I flew over Hite, Page and Glen Canyon Dam in October and the levels still looked a bit bleak.