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Wednesday, June 5, 2021
  Canyonlands Maze District - Home to Poison Springs Canyon Road

The trek for today is to leave Fort Collins to meet the other two folks at Hanksville Utah - the last stop for gas. I'll enjoy a nice drive down to Denver though as I climbed in elevation, snow would make a presentation. The roads never had any sticking snow so it was mostly a fun sight. From Georgetown to the west side of Vail Pass spotty snow, some heavy, would make for some fun photos. Down the western slope the sky turned a nice blue. Out to Utah, the landscape was a bit more brown and dry. We met at a Hanksville gas station / food stop with each of us getting a quick bite. From there the trip would begin - south on asphalt about five miles than a turn onto dirt. We moved along Poison Springs Road for only a few miles before a nice campsite came to us. With the day getting a bit long we decided this was the spot and set camp. I would be tenting while the other two had comfortable setups to sleep in their vehicles.

I-70 west of Green River we'll drop south to Hanksville for fuel and food. From Hanksville we'll drop south to Poison Springs Road. A good portion of it runs in a wash. Camping at #1 on the map.

Elevation profile for the whole trip - home to home.

Elevation profile for only the Hanksville to Hanksville section of the trip

A nice snowfall - though with some blue sky in the top left corner of the picture.

Continental Divide at the tunnel

Out from the tunnel heading down the long hill. The jeep will be the only vehicle touching the gas pedal on the way down.

The turn at Copper Mountain ready to climb to Vail Pass

Heading down the west side of Vail Pass - still some snow falling.

Ah, a nicer picture.

The nice canyon between De Beque and Grand Junction.

We've turned south from I-70 and are on UT 24. Straight road with wide views.

The Hanksville airport - VOR station at the right

We're a group now. Heading south from the gas station to the dirt road turn off. Matt, who organized the trip, in the black pickup. Trent in the copper/tan Jeep.

Just leaving asphalt, we stopped to let some air out of the tires. The cookie basket from Sue... A couple days before the trip a friend called to say some cookies were heading my way. I was a bit nervous - I hope they get to me before I leave as I don't know how we'll they'll fare in the mailbox for a week. They made it the day before I left. Upon opening the basket I was presented with INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED cookies. Why? The answer was - I researched how to mail cookies and everyone said they should be individually wrapped so they survive and not be a clump of crumbs. It worked great!! While most of the cookies were at home in the freezer several were along for the ride. The cover will make it into a picture here and there...

Sitting at the campsite - setting sun on nearby rock. Camp pictures in the morning...