Canyonlands Maze District - Day 6 (May 10, 2021) Final day

[RockyMtRebel]

Woke up in the most amazing place, the colors just amazing. I took it all in for the morning hours, sitting on the rim drinking my coffee and eating granola and almond milk. Trent and Jim got up early today also because today we exit the Maze and head back home. After packing up and taking pictures from all angles, we drove off to finish our Canyonlands adventure. We quickly got to the Flint trail and headed to the switchbacks up the orange cliffs. This section of the trail was absolutely amazing, tight and narrow switchbacks up to the top where the road levels off and heads towards the Hans Flat ranger station. From here the road was a sandy cruiser and it was a blast. Right before getting to the ranger station we encountered the first rangers we've seen the entire trip, in a new white Rubicon! They were super cool younger guys and asked for my permits. Recorded the info and said goodbye and we headed for another 40 miles of easy cruiser sandy roads, a few sections of washboard but really not that bad. When we hit pavement we aired up and said goodbye and headed home while Jim headed south for a few more hours of adventure.

This was an amazing 6 days. I was tired and dirty and ready for warm food and a bed but I also loved all the places we visited and stayed during this trip so it was bittersweet to leave Canyonlands. If you've thought about doing this, DO IT! It's not as technically hard as I thought it would be, the biggest challenge is having enough fuel. I brought an extra 12 gallons, Trent brought 5 and Jim brought 5. We used most of the fuel but didn't need as much as we took (which is good). I want to go back again, not anytime soon or anything but I definitely want to visit some of the other areas that we just weren't able to fit in this time. Thanks to Jim & Trent for joining me and for making this an excellent overloading adventure.

[RockyMtRebel]

https://youtu.be/w91BHPuODfY


https://youtu.be/gcWKKSVoorQ

[speedkills]

That first picture is an amazing shot. Well done there.

[open_circuit]

https://i.imgur.com/PzN8PqJl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Q3IZ2wll.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fu7xxrul.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/g7C4kzxl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/qrBcnJDl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hUuI4nOl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/D4BdNVSl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/AjcDW6rl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/aH6ZG9Dl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Q5Z1kVll.jpg

[Jaycifer]

So rad!

[Jim]

A few highlight photos are listed below.

If you'd like to see a complete set, visit this link for the day's photos:
www.JimWilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/10-mon (https://www.JimWilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/10-mon)

To visit the main trip page, here's the link (all days and photos jump from here):
www.JimWilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/ (https://www.JimWilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/)


https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/05-wed/map_2.gif


https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/05-wed/profile_2.gif


The switchbacks

https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/10-mon/img_6986.jpg


https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/10-mon/img_7003.jpg


https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/10-mon/img_7040.jpg


Heading to Moki Dugway - approaching Hite Marina

https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/10-mon/img_7177.jpg


Moki Dugway

https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/10-mon/img_7283.jpg


Valley of the Gods road

https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/10-mon/img_7349.jpg


https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2021-05-05--canyonlands-national-park--maze-district--with-moki-dugway/10-mon/img_7370.jpg

[open_circuit]

Maybe I missed it in another thread, but what was the diagnosis of your Jeep problem at the end of the trip home Jim?

[Jim]

Maybe I missed it in another thread, but what was the diagnosis of your Jeep problem at the end of the trip home Jim?

You didn't miss it in a thread here. It's on the last day's entry on my web site - bottom of the page (last few photos and text).

Here's the summary - fuel delivery issue. The flex hose between the fuel pump and the hard line slipped off of the hard line (in the fuel tank). With the fuel pump access hole it was a trivial item to tend (with tools on the jeep) - when I fixed it two weeks later. It died right where the I-25 construction is happening just north of Johnson's Corner truck stop. I called a tow truck. Here's the kick - with roadside assistance the tow would be covered to the closest shop. I asked how much it would cost to get a tow back to home... $17.85. Sign me up!! The tow truck was a debacle - a three hour wait. The first truck got stuck in some mud 3/4 of a mile from me. I was fortunate to have a sleeping bag to keep me warm - I fell asleep in the jeep and woke when the second tow truck arrived.

Hindsight / what I learned from the events... I should have purchased a replacement starter motor when I passed through Grand Junction. Parts stores were still open. No rain / pavement was dry. The starter motor replacement was a ten minute task.

Now, even if I had a starter motor, working, when the fuel pump line slipped off of the hard line - I might still have called a tow truck - mainly being at the side of the freeway, at night, in the wet / undesirable work conditions. To access the pump I would have to unload the full back of the jeep and remove the back trunk. That's a lot of stuff sitting on the wet ground - getting more wet from falling rain/snow and dirty road spray.

I thought it a bit curious that no police officer pulled up behind me in the 3h15m I was there. Also, sitting with 4-way flashers blinking seemed to have no noticeable drain to the battery (when the starter motor was able to be used).