...after hiking all morning on a ranger-led hike through the Fiery Furnace of Arches NP, we headed for nearby Canyonlands NP and a camping date along the White Rim Trail.
We had to drive to the visitor center atop Island in the Sky to get our camping permit for Gooseberry. We noticed that the weather was looking to be less than ideal.
Heading down the Shafer Trail. This is one of my most favorite roads on the planet.
Along the White Rim.
Along the White Rim, near Airport Tower.
We camped at Gooseberry, and the rainclouds we saw earlier were nowhere to be seen.
Our campsite the next morning.
I've wanted to see Monument Basin up close for about 30 years, since I first heard about it from a PBS documentary. The view from Island in the Sky is nice, but this is better.
Monument Basin below, Island in the Sky above.
The long finger in the background is the Totem Pole, at about 300 feet tall.
Up Murphy Hogback, one of two steep, rocky sections along the western side of the White Rim Trail (Hardscrabble being the other, further north). The ranger who gave us our camping permit took special note that we were driving a Liberty, and had concerns that we might not make it over these two obstacles.
The view north, towards Candlestick Butte.
Near the Green River, approaching Hardscrabble.
Up Hardscrabble, after waiting a while for a bike tour support truck to slowly make its way down.
Near the summit of Hardscrabble Hill.
Crossing a muddy stream that drains Upheaval Dome.
Coming back up to the Island in the Sky on the Horsethief Canyon switchbacks.
We stopped back at the visitor center to tell our skeptical ranger friend that our Liberty did just fine. Good thing it did, as a commercial recovery from the White Rim Trail can run $1200 to $1500.
Coming soon to a Jeep forum near you, Day One of the Ouray Jeep Jamboree. Stay tuned.
