More of Moab

I want to start this post off with something like a gear review.

Waaay back in Missoula (a month ago!) we picked up some funky sunscreen at the Farmer’s Market. I’ve been using this stuff ever since, and I think it deserves a shout-out.

The company is called DAYSPA Body Basics. I’m generally skeptical of the “all-natural” label – as Michael is fond of saying, “you know, my poop is all natural,” and I’ve never seen sunscreen powder before – but after reading talking with the DAYSPA guy, I figured I’d give this a shot. The powder formula is great for oily skin (like mine), and is actually meant for sweaty activities like running and biking.

Here are the ingredients: Active ingredient: 20% zinc oxide. Other ingredients: Organic tapioca powder, organic arrowroot, and organic lavender powder.

That’s it.

Like I said, I’ve been using this since Missoula, and I’ve still got a ton of it left. I haven’t burned. I don’t think I’ve gotten more freckles, but then, I don’t spend a lot of time staring into a mirror these days. Anyway, I love this stuff! It doesn’t get cakey, and it applies easily. My only caveat is to make sure you rub it in well around your nose/upper lip. Or you might look like a very active cokehead… (hehe!)

Moving on: Canyonlands. Our first day there, I think we spent about 30 minutes inside the park. Michael really wanted to drive the White Rim trail, but the rules are pretty explicit: no dogs. Not even in your vehicle. Well, the initial part of the White Rim trail is also part of the Shafer Trail, and there’s no rule about dogs there, so we checked it out.

I wish I had a better picture of the switchbacks we descended, but I was a little busy trying not to freak out. Michael is totally comfortable with trails like this – in fact, he wants to do more – but I did not grow up with Jeeps or Jeep trails or any of this stuff. It’s scary for me.

This picture is as close as I can show you, and I don’t think it conveys the true pucker factor of those switchbacks:

Anyway, when we got to the bottom of the switchbacks, the trail flattened out for a bit.

 

 

And then we saw this sign:

 

 

 

I had no idea Potash Road connected these two areas. We’ve taken the paved part from town before, to hike a trail called Corona Arch. Michael was pretty excited to check out a new road, so off we went.

What a fun drive! Not really a Jeep trail or anything – I don’t think Michael even had to put the truck into 4WD. But he looked like he was having a blast.

As we got lower down, and closer to Moab, I saw something that looked like a big, blue lake, but divided out into sections. And each section was ringed with white.

Eventually we saw a sign: Moab Salt, LLC. Once we had an internet connection, I looked them up. Now known as Intrepid Potash, Inc, they are the largest producer of potassium chloride in the US, according to Wikipedia. (Potassium chloride is also called Potash.) Originally an underground mine, the company changed tactics after an explosion trapped 25 miners underground sometime in the 1960’s. The new method, still used today, is to pump river water into the ground, which dissolves the potash. The mixture is then pumped into evaporation ponds, and the potash is collected as it dries out.

In case you’re wondering, potash is used in fertilizer. I’m not sure if this is cool knowledge or not, but I like to learn new stuff, so I’ll file it under cool.

When we completed our loop, we actually headed back up Highway 313 (which was where we started), because we wanted to camp in a new area: Lone Mesa.

There are lots of dispersed campsites out here (and at Horsethief, just a little further down the road), and it was a Tuesday, so we weren’t expecting any issues with finding a good site. And we found one, not too far off the road. Paragliders sailed overhead as we made dinner.

Wednesday the 28^th turned out to be a big day. I shouldn’t be surprised; most of our days in Moab tend to be epic, even when we’re not trying.

We started out riding at Navajo Rocks. I did a really good job of keeping up with Michael on this ride, and we finished in about 2 hours. I had a blast and felt really strong.

Too bad this ride absolutely destroyed me. I was exhausted the rest of the day! We headed back to Canyonlands, which is only about a half hour’s drive away. It was my day to drive, which was good, I suppose. If I were the passenger I might have slept through all those fabulous views.

After several viewing areas, though, I was kinda done. We pulled into this area called Upheaval Dome. It’s a picnic area and trailhead. I was going to just head back out, but I got stuck behind a rental RV that couldn’t decide which way to go on a one-way street, so I pulled into the nearest picnic spot because it had shade. I was just going to sprawl out on the metal picnic table. Michael had a better idea: he set up the hammock.

 

 

Man oh man, was that a good nap. And afterward I was ready to see more sights. Good thing, because there were lots. Of. Amazing. Sights.

 

 

 

 

Every time we got out of the car, something awesome awaited us. Like at the Green River Overlook:

And especially the Grand View Point Overlook:

We hiked a trail that followed along the cliff line. The views were outstanding in every direction.

With the late afternoon light, and the clouds, I found myself taking so many pictures! Editing these was tough, let me tell you. I hope I’ve done Canyonlands some justice.