-- From Cortez to Moab
The road tracklog
from Mesa Verde to Moab
from 2011/04/11 to 2011/04/14
USA's National Parks
Monday April 11 in the morning I left Cortez for Canyonlands. I stopped in Monticello to collect booklets and to read my mailbox. I took again the road tardily to bivouac on a rest area at the foot of mountains at +2500m high.
Abajo Peak
Monticello, Hwy 491
11/04/2011
The following day I arrived at Canyonlands, Needles District, as of the opening of the checkpoint to walk on four short trails.
Mule deer
En route
12/04/2011
Canyonlands National Park
Slikrock Foot Trail, surface of bare rock, makes it possible to see the landscape of Canyonlands dominated by these bare surfaces in a semi-arid area. The track is animated by four viewpoints, in particular, flora. Further away Big Spring Canyon slices by its purple color.
Slickrock Foot Trail
Canyonlands NP
12/04/2011
Slickrock Foot Trail
Canyonlands NP
12/04/2011
Slickrock Foot Trail
Canyonlands NP
12/04/2011
Pothole Point along this track of holes were dug by weathering in which settled sand, seeds, larvae forming a micro biotope.
Pothole Point
Canyonlands NP
12/04/2011
Pothole Gardens
Canyonlands NP
12/04/2011
Cave Spring gives to see in caves of the Petroglyphs create by Puebloans, handprints, figures, etc This cave was a habitat due to the presence of a spring and lichens.
Cave Spring
Canyonlands NP
12/04/2011
Cave Spring
Canyonlands NP
12/04/2011
Roadside Ruin populations in Mesa Verde migrated around AD 950 towards Canyonlands where the conditions of farming were, at that time, more favorable.
Roadside Ruin
Canyonlands NP
12/04/2011
Wednesday I visited the northern part of Canyonlands called “Island In The Sky”. The landscape is very different, more arid, and much cut out especially by erosion. I visited it by walking six short trails. Pictures presented are not always in connection with the title of the walk but with the surrounding landscape.
Grand View Point
Canyonlands NP
13/04/2011
Aztec Butte
Canyonlands NP
13/04/2011
Whale Rock
Canyonlands NP
13/04/2011
Upheaval Dome
Canyonlands NP
13/04/2011
Green River Overlook
Canyonlands NP
13/04/2011
Mesa Arch
Canyonlands NP
13/04/2011
Dead Horse Point State Park
At the end of the day I drove to Dead Horse State Park to admire a meander of Colorado River. The close campgrounds all were booked, I were going to find one along Colorado River at Drinks Canyon where I spent two nights.
Dead Horse Point
Dead Horse SP
13/04/2011
The visit of Arches Park National lasted a long day made up of two trekking, Delicate Arch Trail & Devils Garden with the Primitive Loop, 18.6 kilometers GPS. I discovered Delicate Arch in badly morning light, I were thus going to see behind the Arch, picture in the Gallery. For that I progressed on slickrocks with my shoes without Vibram soles separated by walking on under smooth soles, I had sometimes cold sweats so much the ravine was deep! But the view was with the height of the challenge. Then I undertook the long walk of Devils Garden whose Primitive Loop promised difficulties, there too slickrocks gave me fears retrospectively. At the late afternoon I visited the Double Arch and Windows. The day was agreeably sunny but with a strong cold wind, I caught drop out my nose. The visit of the parks finished in apotheosis.
GPS Tracklog
Arches National Park
14/04/2011
Wolfe's family cabin, in 1850
Arches NP
14/04/2011
Delicate Arch
Arches NP
14/04/2011
Petroglyphs
Arches NP
14/04/2011
Primitive Arch
Arches NP
14/04/2011
Dark Angel
Arches NP
14/04/2011
Double O Arch
Arches NP
14/04/2011
Landscape Arch
Arches NP
14/04/2011
Double Arch
Arches NP
14/04/2011
North & South Windows
Arches NP
14/04/2011
Balanced Rock
Arches NP
14/04/2011
On the way towards the border of Canada I passed to Salt Lake City to buy Michelin tires for my truck and incidentally trekking shoes of for its driver. But the malignant one was introduced into the process. As of January I had obtained from US Michelin the insurance of the availability of the tire size for my truck, stock in Texas. I is Mai had provided all the elements to two dealers at Salt Lake City as of March 14. But after having sent six emails and made three phone calls I finally learned on April 12 that it was not possible to obtain these tires in SLC. Moreover the expiry date of my visa is May 4th. Fortunately I had an offer of a dealer in Houston, Texas. I make my decision to go there that is +2000 km instead of 380 km to SLC! I did not know that the States in USA were so partitioned.
