Chicken Corner

On Friday, we were anxious to try out our new 4x4 wheels.   We have an excellent guide book to the trails and chose one rated 'moderate' but....with a name like Chicken Corner, I just knew it wasn't going to be a Sunday drive in the country.      Eleven miles from downtown Moab, we came to a canyon and were quickly surrounded by the red towering sandstone.   Can you see the climber in the center...?    

 The road turned to gravel and we headed into open country.   We followed a stream and campers were scattered about in this harsh landscape.   Seeing them in their tents and few supplies that they probably carried in on their backs, makes me think that maybe we went a bit "over the top" in wanting to get back to Nature in our 40' "tent" with 3 TV's and a fireplace !!   But then I remember that we are OLD and have earned that comfortable queen sized bed.

 As we approached the walls of the canyon, the road became a red powder and in no time, the exterior was very very dusty.    We had the front portion of the top off (called the bikini top) and the dust and sun and heat were unrelenting.   But we had A/C, a GPS and enough supplies to last a week. I even brought the iPAD....because if we were going to be lost, at least I could read a good book !!
  Once we left the stream, we saw no one the entire trip out and felt like we could really disappear out there and never be found.......and I soon realized that the iPad would only be good as a photo album.

 After 11 miles, we reached  Hurrah Pass.    Would like to know the story behind the name.

 The road got rougher  and required more maneuvering over rock and up and down staircase-type paths.   It was bouncy.    Most would have air-downed the tires ( I think I made up that word but you know what I mean )  but we opted to keep the pressure up for this trip so that made it even rougher.

The vistas were amazing.   The Colorado River flowed below us and we saw an occasional boat.   We twisted and turned on shelf roads with sheer drop offs.   I just don't look or take pictures and I have the white knuckles to prove it.   The driver asked me not to gasp or cry out but just watch for on coming vehicles.......as if there were other's wanting to do this !!

Finally, after crawling up and around and down and squeezing along on very narrow and blind corners, we reached our destination.     Chicken Corners is named this becasue of a very treacherous trail that winds around the canyon wall and if the cowboy got off his horse

 to walk, he was called a chicken.    That trail goes around that large wall.....Paul walked out part of it but I just couldn't.   Call me Chicken !

Somewhere, across the river, was the point at which Thelma and Louise made their flying leap.   We could never figure out from which point it was filmed.  Now I wonder how they did that....Photoshop ??
    And then along came 3 couples on ATV's .   They were from Salt Lake City and also brought a golf club and some balls and tried their best to get a ball far enough out to reach the river.    One made it.   I thought they were too close to the edge and nervously hung back hoping they didn't lose their balance and join their golf ball in flight.     I was very glad when they stopped.  

 The return trip seemed more relaxing but no less jarring and challenging.

 We stopped to smell the roses..... of the prickly pear cactus.

 On the directional sign, that yellow thing is actually a stuffed chicken......!

 The trip took over 6 hours and we were in need of some shade and lunch about this time.    We gave in to dust and heat and put the top back on....

 This collared lizared posed nicely.    We saw little quick ground squirrels and more small lizards and some type of yellow daisy.   I was convinced I'd see some venomous creature as I tiptoed thru the dirt to the flowers.    

When we got back to civilization and phone service, we got the news that our new graduate, Alex, had broken a bone near his ankle and is out of commission for at least a month.    This kid has broken more bones ....we thought that taking up golf might be a gentler sport but he did it playing basketball with friends.    I should  teach him to knit and be lazy but knowing his intensity, he'd just sprain his fingers.    

In the morning, we plan on doing some short hikes before the heat becomes intolerable.  The books say to tell someone where you are going... so write this down...........The Windows Trail and Double Arch Trail.