Wanderin' the West

Finished printing the 2019 Ghost Town Run poster. Just in time for the annual run this weekend.

Started printing this years 2019 Ghost Town Run poster. Fun to think we’ve been doing this run with the Rising Sun 4×4 club since 2005. Granted we didn’t run it a few years, but going on 9 years for this fun run. Started printing a silk screen poster for this years run. Image was from the 2017 run in the mountains around the old mining town of Bonanza, CO. To start things off, we went over Hayden Pass to get into the San Luis Valley. Here is a image of the poster at it’s current state. Second color run printed.

Every year, I host my local club, the Rising 4×4 Club of CO at the property. We spend a night on, or as close to the Summer Solstice as possible. Always a fun way to kick of summer. This year seemed more like fall than the beginning of summer, but still lots of fun.

Mt. Evans. Some of my favorite views.

Looking NW.

Through the main meadows of the property. Those Aspens are some of my favorite.

At the pond in the Upper Meadows.

Took a nap in the 4runner during the rain. Woke up and felt like I was being watched…

Rosalie starting to make an appearance through the clouds.

Don’t think i’ll ever tire of that drive:).

Taking the club n a drive through the property.

Monkeys Face.

Sadly missed the Wild Iris season.

Looking North towards Squaw Peak.

At the Property boundary with Mt. Evans Wilderness.

Evening sets in over camp.

A brisk morning. Woke up to 28 degrees.

Was nice to see some blue sky though.

Enjoying a nice morning walk.

Camp.

Been realizing that i’m a bit out of shape. So, started cutting new growth at the property to fix that…

End.

Ireland was my first overseas trip. Ended up spending a month exploring the Island back in 2006/07. This was during the holiday season, when the tourists ( I was one of them) wasn’t so plentiful. Had a blast hanging out over X-Mas and New Years in Ireland. Meet some great folks and saw some awesome places.

In two months, i’ll be heading back. Been 12 years since that first visit. Though I only have 9 days for a visit this time, looking to see a lot of places I couldn’t the first visit. The main highlights being: Killarney, Black Valley and a bit of the NW tip of the Ring of Kerry. Seven of my Nine nights are booked, working on the last two.

Upper Loughs, Killarney, Ireland.

Ballycarberry Castle, Ring of Kerry, Ireland.

Realized I hadn’t posted any pics from the last visit up to the cabin. Dad joined me Saturday afternoon on the 18th of May to help clean up the place from the Winter. May was my Month to host the Family Dinner ( a monthly dinner party for a bunch of friends), so decided to have it at the cabin again. Always fun to share this wonderful place! Saturday evening, after my Dad left, my friend Dan Silbaugh joined me for an almost midnight drive to the property boundary with Mt. Evans Wilderness. I love that drive, especially when the full moon is out.

A few pics to share:

Out for a late afternoon walk Saturday evening.

Things were starting to green up around the property.

Always love this view.

At the end of the service road to the property boundary with Mt. Evans Wilderness. About as remote as you can get for an hour and a half drive from Downtown Denver. I love this drive.

Didn’t get any pics from the Fam Dinner on Sunday. Guess I was to busy ( and having fun) watching all the kids play with all the old ‘Mask’ toys, tending the fire and showing the property during a nice mid morning walk.

Some of my favorite pics from Cruise Moab 2019.

The full set of pics here: Cruise Moab 2019. Just a note that there are lots of pics:).

April Action Car Show.

Brian bought a ’32 Ford Roadster.

En route to Fable Valley.

Fable Valley.

Corral Camp.

Down into Fable Valley.

Taking shelter from a mid day storm.

Photo by Marco Capote.

“T”.

Leaving Fable Valley.

Dark Canyon Wilderness.

Exploring some wonderful remote dirt roads.

Joe was here. Just after the war in 1947.

2″ of fresh snow.

A high flowing Indian Creek.

Vendor night.

Hells Revenge Trail.

End.

On Saturday of Cruise Moab, I rode along with my pal Jeremiah and the rest of the gang from Proffitt’s Cruisers. The warm sun and blue skies made for a great day on the trail.

The beginning of Hells Revenge.

Always fun watching the Mega Cruiser wheel.

Randy ready to make the climb up Hells Gate.

Randy pulled cable to get the White FJ up the last part of Hells Gate.

Bob’s turn up Hells Gate.

The Mega Cruiser going up Hells Gate.

Jeremiah spotting Luke up Hells Gate

Cactus in bloom at our lunch stop.

A well built 1st gen mini from Canada.

Jeremiahs Crawler and the snowy La Sals.

Randy in the easier Hot Tub.

One of the steeper drops on Hells Revenge.

Bob on the Escelator.

Randy’s turn on the Escelator.

Currently, my top two camps I have enjoyed to date. Both extremely meaningful and remote spots. Grandpa was a river guide/fisherman on the Missouri (as well as the Yellowstone). I joined Dad back in 2010 for our first exploration of Fable Valley, UT.

Grand Island MT:

Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and Kid Curry would hang out here while things cooled down after they robbed the Great Northern on Exeter Creek outside Malta Montana. Just across the river to the North, Kid Curry had a hid out in Hide A Way Coulee.

After Grandpa passed in 2017, felt it was a good time to get back up to the Missouri.

A foggy sunrise above Grand Island.

Grand Island.

Mat Ralston and Martin fording a smaller channel of the Missouri to get to Grand Island.

One fine sunset from Grand Island.

Fable Valley, UT.

A place I feel was on the outer reaches of the Pueblo Culture. Chaco fell. Puebloans branched out to remote places. Spots where you might be able to find water and game. Fuel for fire. A nice valley to cultivate some corn.

9 years ago Dad and I explored this valley. It’s still an amazingly awesome remote place.

Corral Camp. Fable Valley, 2019.

Back down into Fable Valley.

Views from the Cliff Dwelling. A Pueblo not to far away. Along with some granarys. We sheltered in the alcove while the storm passed.

First one was done back in 2007. Feel like were making progress on them

Way back in 2007. First attempt at a silk screen.

Cruise Moab 2017 Poster.

Ghost Town Run 2018 poster.

Cruise Moab 2019 poster.

My local 4×4 club, The Rising Sun 4×4 club of Colorado, host’s an annual event every Spring in Moab called “Cruise Moab“. I’ve been going since 2002. Have only missed a handful of years. One of my favorite events to kick off the wheeling season. After missing last year due to being sick. I’m super excited to be going back this year! Nothing better than hanging out in desert country with 200 of your closest friends that you only see once a year:)

Some of my favorite moments from past years.

Cruise Moab 2004:

A fun day pre running the Golden Spike Trail.

Kane Creek trail. We made a game of who could pick up the most trash. The winner with the most would get a prize. Daniel found a hub cap.

Bob from Proffitt’s Cruisers attempting Upper Proving Grounds (now closed).

Jeremiah in the “Newt” on the first obstacle for the Upper Proving Grounds.

Cruise Moab 2005. Mark in “Tigger”. Rusty Nail.

Cruise Moab 2006. Pre running Wipe Out Hill trail. Dave “Red Fox” Brown (middle, FJ40) said he new where he was going:) ).

Wes Worek in his BJ70 on the Hells Revenge trail. Dave Hartmen, Wes and I pre ran Hells that year. Along with some random person that joined us in a rental Jeep.

Ross Miller on Hells Gate. Hells Revenge trail.

Hells Revenge.

Pritchette Canyon. Cruise Moab 2006. Jeremiah rolling the Newt. Shortly after Bob (Jeremiahs paint guy) threatened that he “wouldn’t paint that truck again”:).

Right before Barry almost went front end over while trying to back up the “Rock Pile”.

Dave Conners in “Rubby Claire” on the Golden Spike Trail.

Dave Hartman taking “White Knuckle” across the Golden Crack.

Steve Crase in his 60 series Land Cruiser.

Pre Cruise Moab 2009. Beef Basin.

Chris (the guy that had to dress up for dinner, even though we were in the desert), made us dinner that night.

Taking the back way to Moab from Beef Basin. The Lock Hart Basin trail is a fun one.

Coming down Elephant Hill in Canyonlands. Cruise Moab 2009.

At our usual lunch stop for the Wipe Out Hill trail. Fixing Bill Morgans rear third member in the “Red Chili”, a well built (maybe not so much on this day) 1st gen 4runner right as it started to rain.

Red Chili. Even with a broken rear third member, Bill makes his way down “Wipe Out Hill”.

Cruise Moab 2010 . Overnight-er in the San Rafael Swell. Led by my pal Kurt Williams. On the Devils Race Track trail.

Matt Ralston.

Lone Warrior bar. Thanks to Paul May of Equipt Expedition Outfitters.

Elephant Hill again.

Pre-Cruise Moab 2011. Blue Notch Canyon and Lake Powell.

Nice form Martin:).

We made a hot tub on the beach.

Vendor night. Cruise Moab 2011.

Wipe Out Hill trail. One of our favorites.

Pre-Cruise Moab 2013. Beef Basin. With my pal Martin.

Pre-Cruise Moab 2014. Again, with my pal Martin.

Sweet Alice Hills.

Yours truly.

Making our way towards Fable Valley.

Had to turn around. Roads were not in the best of shape with the recent storms.

Elephant Hill.

Stayed a night in Devils Kitchen. Canyonlands, NP. Would end up camping next to the TorFab guys that night.

Valley of the Gods, UT.

The Citadel, UT.

Lunch time nap.

Water. Life. Knowledge.

White Sands, UT.

Ma Vida, UT.

One of these days i’ll win something at the raffle.

Jeremiah in his Mega Cruiser On Fins for an early morning drive.

Cruise Moab 2016. Always fun camping in Proffitt’s shop.

Overlooking Kane Creek Canyon.

My friend Dan on another early morning run on Fin’s ‘n Things.

Wandering around the desert after Cruise Moab was finished.

Henry Mountains.

Cruise Moab 2017. Enjoying a drive around Paradox, CO

Vendor Night. Cruise Moab 2017.

Taking a break from the event and enjoying a easy drive just outside of town.

Stopped to check out the Potash mines.

Cheeseman.

Ready for Cruise Moab 2019!