We’re Off! Arizona - Colorado - South Dakota - Colorado - Utah and Back.

[AzScorpion]

Amen... (Although I do it all the time, but I think experience keeps me from going places that are more than I can handle.)

I do it too Kent but on more easy to moderate trails. I know if I went out there even just to watch some of the guys climb the harder ones I'd probably end up doing something stupid. So better to not be tempted at all.

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[DukeCanBuildit]

Yep it’s not Lion’s Back that’s for sure. I almost got a divorce over that one but I’ve mellowed lately. Temptation is gone now that it’s closed..

Naw she’s a keeper after 30 years of putting up with me. She was seriously angry at the time because she thought we were going to die. I must say it was pretty hairy… I had a lot of OMG thoughts on the decent!!! ?

Years ago, I saw a video of some folks in a Suburban, I think, lose control on Lion’s Back. It was a fast ride to the bottom where they went over the side near the very end. All survived but they sure didn’t stick the landing.

 

[AzScorpion]

We just hung around this morning and relaxed a while. It's been 11 days since we did that so it was nice to not rush out early. After lunch we headed up to Kolob Reservoir which we went to back in 2020. It's up at close to 8,000' so it's much cooler there (73) than the 100 it was here. There's a lookout point up there called Lava Point Overlook which overlooks the back side of Zion NP. Actually the whole drive up you can see Zion on the right and the road actually goes in and out of Zion. By the time we were done at the overlook we were getting hungry so we skipped going farther up to the reservoir. No matter where you go out here in UT there's so many amazing sights to see. We did see several new housing developments and we're going to try and stop at a few just to get some info.

It's really easy to get to from Zion and any vehicle can make it up. From Rt 9 heading out of Zion just look for Kolob Terrace Rd on your right. From there follow it up and enjoy the views as you climb, there will be signs towards the top.

The road up is all paved but I saw this dirt road with no sign going off towards Zion. So what the heck I followed to until I reached the gate but what a view of the North west corner of Zion from there.

 

[canyonslicker]

Years ago, I saw a video of some folks in a Suburban, I think, lose control on Lion’s Back. It was a fast ride to the bottom where they went over the side near the very end. All survived but they sure didn’t stick the landing.

I saw those too before my excursion. Brake failure, heavy vehicle with drum rears and I think a few barley pops involved. I made sure my rig was up to the task, failure was not an option!!

 

[canyonslicker]

We just hung around this morning and relaxed a while. It's been 11 days since we did that so it was nice to not rush out early. After lunch we headed up to Kolob Reservoir which we went to back in 2020. It's up at close to 8,000' so it's much cooler there (73) than the 100 it was here. There's a lookout point up there called Lava Point Overlook which overlooks the back side of Zion NP. Actually the whole drive up you can see Zion on the right and the road actually goes in and out of Zion. By the time we were done at the overlook we were getting hungry so we skipped going farther up to the reservoir. No matter where you go out here in UT there's so many amazing sights to see. We did see several new housing developments and we're going to try and stop at a few just to get some info.

The road up is all paved but I saw this dirt road with no sign going off towards Zion. So what the heck I followed to until I reached the gate but what a view of the North west corner of Zion from there.

They certainly have a lot of ranch roads there!!

 

[AzScorpion]

After leaving there we headed up to Lava Point lookout and there's a few pullouts along the way to get some great shots. A few were taken while driving too.

This is the back side of the last picture from the post above. You could walk out to the edge of a lookout and it was right there in front of you.

 

[AzScorpion]

Lava Point Lookout sits at 7,890' and it was a nice 73 degrees up there. There's a few picnic tables up there so you can hang out and enjoy the weather and scenery which is still Zion NP.

Just a few more shots coming down the mountain.

 

[canyonslicker]

I saw those too before my excursion. Brake failure, heavy vehicle with drum rears and I think a few barley pops involved. I made sure my rig was up to the task, failure was not an option!!

I also think the brake reservoir probably sucked air being at that angle and low on fluid. It’s definitely a seatbelt dangle!!

 

[AzScorpion]

They certainly have a lot of ranch roads there!!

They sure do. As long as they're not marked (No Trespassing) I usually will take them to see where they go. It's funny because Annie will get all nervous and say "this doesn't go anywhere" until we come to a clearing with these views. She's still such a city girl who's never done anything like this but you'd think by now she'd know I'm going until I can't go any further, or arrested. lol

 

[Rick V.]

@Rick V. Rick, tell your wife that the last thing you both want to be doing is sitting on the front porch in your 80's saying "I wish we would have..........." (fill in the blank). We know life's short brother, and you don't want to miss anything you had a chance to see. Luckily I had a chance to retire (the 2nd time at 55). Since 2010 we have taken a long (5+K miles), and we haven't seen it all yet. It's a beautiful country we are blessed to live in my friend, so get out there and see it all.

Jim, you are absolutely right. The wife and I are starting to plan things out now. I just got the email from Ford my truck is built so this year is going to be a little bit lean as I want the note off the books this year. We are going to take a year off from doing anything big and in 2024 she would like to go to Hawaii and island surf. My daughter is floating the idea of doing an Alaskan cruise as a family since my granddaughters are getting older. My son and daughter in law are big into the national parks and love hiking, they have invited us on a small vacation as my grandsons are almost old enough to do those types of vacations. Dave has given us a look at what the United States has to offer, there is so much to see and do in the States why should we travel abroad? Thanks Dave for opening the eyes of some of us.

 

[AzScorpion]

Jim, you are absolutely right. The wife and I are starting to plan things out now. I just got the email from Ford my truck is built so this year is going to be a little bit lean as I want the note off the books this year. We are going to take a year off from doing anything big and in 2024 she would like to go to Hawaii and island surf. My daughter is floating the idea of doing an Alaskan cruise as a family since my granddaughters are getting older. My son and daughter in law are big into the national parks and love hiking, they have invited us on a small vacation as my grandsons are almost old enough to do those types of vacations. Dave has given us a look at what the United States has to offer, there is so much to see and do in the States why should we travel abroad? Thanks Dave for opening the eyes of some of us.

Rick, looks like you're going to have some really nice vacations coming up. I'm not big into cruises but we've also talked about going on an Alaskan cruise because so many friends of ours have gone and the stories and pictures are priceless!! Ideally I would love to drive up there seeing the sights along the way then take a nice 2 week cruise. Glad to see your Ranger's built and I hope you get it soon. You're really going to love it, your bank account not so much! ?

 

[canyonslicker]

Jim, you are absolutely right. The wife and I are starting to plan things out now. I just got the email from Ford my truck is built so this year is going to be a little bit lean as I want the note off the books this year. We are going to take a year off from doing anything big and in 2024 she would like to go to Hawaii and island surf. My daughter is floating the idea of doing an Alaskan cruise as a family since my granddaughters are getting older. My son and daughter in law are big into the national parks and love hiking, they have invited us on a small vacation as my grandsons are almost old enough to do those types of vacations. Dave has given us a look at what the United States has to offer, there is so much to see and do in the States why should we travel abroad? Thanks Dave for opening the eyes of some of us.

Hi Rick,
If you’re a veteran then you won’t need a National Park pass just proof of being a veteran. I can’t tell you how many fellow veterans never heard of it. If not then the annual pass is the way to go.. Here in California we have some NPs that requires a day use pass to just park. It covers that too!!
Oh heck yeah we have a lot of great destinations here that will rival anything overseas except the history aspect.
I’ve been to many foreign countries but this one is absolutely beautiful and has the most to see and offer.

Happy travels!!!

 

[Radioman]

Dave, there is a short trip to Kolob Canyons which I highly recommend. It is north of Hurricane a short ways off I 15. Well worth the views and less than a half days trip.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Naw she’s a keeper after 30 years of putting up with me. She was seriously angry at the time because she thought we were going to die. I must say it was pretty hairy… I had a lot of OMG thoughts on the decent!!! ?

In 96 (I think?) I was invited to road trip to MOAB with my buddy who built his early 80s Land Cruiser specifically to do Lion's Back. He was completely obsessed with rock crawling, but I was a mud and bush trail wheeler. I wish I had gone with them, but I doubt very much I would have taken my Cherokee up Lion's Back. Maybe, because the boys are motivational when they start pushing buttons, but probably not.

If I were there today and it was still open, I think I'd probably take it on in this Ranger..... Probably.....

 

[canyonslicker]

I definitely do it today with my Ranger!!!

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