LJ Help get the FJ Packed
We got packed and out of camp by 9:20 this morning. We had a long day ahead of us.
Our first destination was the dinosaur track way at the start of the Colet top road.
A Single Track
The tracks took a little time to find but once in the right area we could see them all over. They were really cool. There was one set of tracks that semed to run for at least 140 feet.
The longest set of tracks we found
After getting back down off the sand stone it was time to get rolling again. We had been told that Left Hand Colet was washed out. So it was time to attempt that route. (See my Colet Top Post)
After making the Colet Top I spooled the winch rope, stowed the pull pal, add 5 gallons of gas to the FJ and we were off.
So much for a closed road.
And were to next?
We continued our way out Smokey Mountain Road. The road surface varies from smooth graded to rocky and best for high clearance.
Granary on the side of the road
The Road drops off of Smokey Mountain in the Kelly Grade. The Kelly grade is another wonder of Utah road building. The Road descends following the Cliff bands with a number of switch backs dropping what must be over 1300’ to the valley bellow.
At the top of the Kelly Grade
The Lekky Graqde as it reaches the bottom
At some points the grade must be better that 20%. For some sections I put the FJ back in 4lo so I could have better engine braking to keep our speed down.
Once off the Kelly Grade the road continues on out to Highway 89 at Big Water. The ranger station is a few miles west on the highway.
When we arrived at the Escalante ranger station they asked where we had come from and I said Hole in the Rock via Left Hand Colet. He said no way. I insisted and he asked if we were on motor cycles and I told him we were in an FJ Cruiser. When I added that we also pulled a trailer up he could not believe it… He said we were the first people up the canyon in over 2 years. I said well not the first; the loader came up before us.
The South side of Escalante
The Grand Staircase Escalante Ranger Station
We enjoyed the architecture of the Escalante Ranger Station got water and fuel and set out for the next leg of our adventure.
Our goal for the next day was to see the Cottonwood Canyon Narrows and Grosvenor Arch. We planned on camping part way up Cottonwood Canyon. The road is a mess with all the rutting and damage by vehicles driving it when it is muddy. We had a hard time finding a spot to set the tent and ended up getting into a camp site at 6:00