September POTM - FJ55TLC

[fj55tlc]

Very scenic trail with a lot of tight squeezes through the vegetation. Started getting muddier and snowier.

Eventually all other tracks stopped and I was breaking trail.

Until I came upon this 200 yard section that was about waist deep. This was still on the sun facing side of the trail and even if I could have continued over the top, what was I going to find on the shady side of the mountain?

So I again was denied and turned back around.

I would like to return someday and finish this trail.

 

[fj55tlc]

I had to revert to using the highway again, so I traveled through the town of Meeker. I stopped at the site of the Meeker Massacre in 1879.

The next trail I decided to conquer was the Yampa Bench Trail. It is 83 miles long and follows high above the Yampa river. This is the beginning of the trail.

It eventually winds its way to the canyon above the river.

 

[fj55tlc]

As per the usual, I did not see another person on the entirety of this road. I did see deer and had two young elk jump in front of my truck and run across the road too fast to get photographed. It happened just after I passed a sign that indicated that I was in a location called "Elk Springs". Very convenient to have elk at Elk Springs, although I did not see any springs.

The Yampa River.

 

[fj55tlc]

At the end of the Yampa Bench Trail, you can go to the town of Dinosaur, Colorado or go down to a campground called Echo Point. Since it was getting late in the day, I decided to see if there were any open camping spots at Echo Point. The Echo Point road goes through a neat canyon. In this canyon are an old sheepherders ranch from 1910 to 1966 when it was sold to the Forest Service, some petroglyphs, and several caves.

 

[fj55tlc]

I found a nice camp site to stay at in the campground. There are about 17 sites or so and it is close to the Yampa river. I cooked my dinner and was reading a book when the Forest Ranger came over to talk to me. She told me that this is exactly the 150 year anniversary of John Wesley Powell's camp stay at this exact location on his way to go through the Grand Canyon. How lucky was that!

 

[riderjgs]

After the town of Buford it was a short drive to a trail called "Yellow Cat". Again, I was the only person up there, but I did find this guy having a fish breakfast.
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The river crossing was only a few feet deep.
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Calling Buford a town is generous. Been there.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Man, that's some great shots. That's the kind of exploring I like to do. That hay baler looks like mine and probably the same age.

 

[bobm]

Awesome documentary . Saw 2 Bald Eagles today, Eyeballing my Chickens

 

[riderjgs]

I found a nice camp site to stay at in the campground. There are about 17 sites or so and it is close to the Yampa river. I cooked my dinner and was reading a book when the Forest Ranger came over to talk to me. She told me that this is exactly the 150 year anniversary of John Wesley Powell's camp stay at this exact location on his way to go through the Grand Canyon. How lucky was that!
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Not only the date (anniversary of Powell's stay) but the site is also historic. Echo Park was the proposed site of a major dam back in the 1950s, intended to capture water from both the Yampa and Green Rivers. It would have inundated everything upstream to and including Dinosaur National Park. Bureau of Reclamation and the Sierra Club reached agreement that if Echo Park was not built, the Sierra Club would not oppose the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. Lost one scenic river canyon but saved another and maintained the Yampa as one of the last free-flowing rivers. Sierra Club founder David Brower said later his biggest regret was not fighting both proposals.

 

[fj55tlc]

I do recall reading about that in regards to Lake Powell. I am glad it is not in Colorado.
Day #3 began with exploring the attractions that I drove past on the way into Echo Point.

 

[fj55tlc]

The petroglyphs were 35 feet up on the side of the cliff face.

 

[fj55tlc]

Then it was a short drive up out of the canyon through some steep switchbacks and onto the paved road to the town of Dinosaur.

Where there are dinosaurs of course.

After leaving Dinosaur, Colorado it was highway all the way into Salt Lake City. I checked into my KOA camping spot, gave the Cruiser a good cleaning, and headed to the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum to meet the other FJ55's that were making their own trip.

 

[fj55tlc]

Highlights from the museum.

 

[RUSH55]

You ate something? Must have done it secretly, while nobody was looking.

 

[fj55tlc]

I ate enough for everyone who could not attend.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I ate enough for everyone who could not attend.

Thank You!

 

[fj55tlc]

Day #4. The group of FJ55's made their way from Salt Lake City to Vernon, Utah where we stopped for gas and ice.

We then headed down the Pony Express National Historic Trail.

We encountered a large herd of horses, many of whom are descendants of the Pony Express horses.

 

[fj55tlc]

We stopped at several stations along the Pony Express route.

We had lunch at Black Rock Station. At least one of us brought our own shade.

 

[fj55tlc]

We also found an old mine.

And another group shot, of course.

 

[fj55tlc]

We continued to a place called Callao to set up camp.