BLM Lands, Moab, UT - Aug. 11, 2008
WE TRAVELED INTO UTAH TO THE TOWN OF MOAB. MOAB IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF UTAH KNOWN AS CANYON COUNTRY. ARCHES NATIONAL PARK WAS ONE OF THE TOP ATTRACTIONS HERE WITH THOUSANDS OF VISITORS EVERY YEAR. THE RED ROCK CANYONS FRAME THE LANDSCAPE HERE AND OFFER A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND ADVENTURES.
ONE MORNING WE TRAILERED DOWN A CANYON ROAD TO KEN’S LAKE. THE TRAILS WERE BEAUTIFUL WITH A VARIETY OF TERRAIN AND LANDSCAPE. A DAY PARKING AREA WITH PLENTY OF ROOM FOR LARGE TRAILERS WAS PROVIDED. CAMPING WITH YOUR HORSES WAS ALSO PROVIDED WITH A NICE CAMPGROUND. THE TRAILS AND CAMPGROUND WERE ALL ON BLM LAND.
BLM LAND IS OWNED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY NATIONAL PARKS, NATIONAL FOREST OR NATIONAL WILDERNESS. IT IS MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, AND IS DESIGNATED FOR PUBLIC USE.
THE TRAILHEAD WAS CLOSE BY THE PARKING AREA ,SO WE HEADED OUT FOR A MORNING RIDE IN WHAT WAS CONSIDERED A HIGH DESERT PLATEAU. ALWAYS TAKE WATER WITH YOU, AS A COOL MORNING CAN QUICKLY TURN INTO A HOT AFTERNOON. THERE WERE NO MARKED TRAILS HERE, SO YOU NEED A GPS OR TAKE A GUIDED TRAIL RIDE PROVIDED BY LOCAL OUTFITTERS.
WE RODE ALONG THE HILLS BENEATH RED ROCK CANYON WALLS. CACTUS WAS BLOOMING ALL ALONG THE TRAIL WITH YELLOW AND RED BLOOMS. AS WE RODE ALONG THE TRAIL, WE NOTICED SOME OF THE PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS’ LEAVES WITH PIECES MISSING WHERE A JACKRABBIT OR OTHER SMALL ANIMAL HAD TAKEN A BITE TO GET MOISTURE. QUITE A PRICKLY BITE SO TO SPEAK.
THE TREES HERE OFFERED LITTLE SHADE FOR US, BUT THE JUNIPER TREE WITH ITS BLUE BERRIES AND THE PINON TREE WITH ITS NUTS PROVIDED FOOD FOR THE LOCAL ANIMALS. THE PINON TREE BEARS NUTS THAT INDIANS HAVE GATHERED FOR CENTURIES AND ARE EATEN TODAY.
WE CROSSED THIS ROCK WASH WHERE THE RUN OFFS FROM SPRING RAINS RUSHED THROUGH THE CANYON, BUT IN THE SUMMER ONLY A BARE RIVER BED WAS LEFT.
THE TRAILS WERE SANDY WITH SOME ROCKS, BUT OFFERED AN INTERESTING AND CHALLENGING RIDE AS WE BLAZED A NEW TRAIL THROUGH THIS BEAUTIFUL DESERT.
WE RODE TO THE TOP OF A RIDGE, AND FROM THIS POINT WE WERE TREATED TO FANTASTIC VIEWS OF THE VALLEY. THE STORY GOES THAT BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID HID OUT IN THESE CANYONS FROM THE LAWMEN.
THE NOON DAY SUN WAS HOT, SO WE HEADED BACK TO OUR TRAILER. OUR HORSES SLURPED UP THE WATER WE HAD BROUGHT WITH US. ALWAYS PROVIDE PLENTY OF WATER FOR YOUR HORSES AND YOURSELF WHEN RIDING IN THE DESERT.
THANKS FOR JOINING US. WE WILL BE SENDING MORE OF OUR ADVENTURES SOON. UNTIL THEN, “HAPPY TRAILS.”
BOBBIE AND LARRY
