200 miles of Dirt in Canyonlands

yellowbronco

Cuts Through Grease !!!
Location
Moab
This was a good primer for my trip, got my stoke on! We're leaving in the morning for 5 days in The Maze! Too bad we were a few days off on timing, it would have been cool to run into you out there!
 

dentedvw

uıɐƃɐ ʇɐɥʇ op ʇ,uoʍ ı
Location
Bountiful, UT
Having not been through the Maze, would you say it might be inappropriate for a 4x4 truck with a full size camper shell on it?
Thanks for the report!
 

FastGas

Member
Awesome, I'm glad you were able to make it to all of those points. I'm sorry you guys had to rescue me from my shake-down cruise!
 

FastGas

Member
I also discovered that my radiator had developed a pinhole leak in one of the end tanks from insufficient padding and bouncing around
 

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
Having not been through the Maze, would you say it might be inappropriate for a 4x4 truck with a full size camper shell on it?
Thanks for the report!

A camper shell or a camper? If we're talking a monster cabover type dealy, you might have to be careful. I don't recall anything that would scrape a camper off the back of your truck, but I wasn't paying attention for that either.

Inappropriate is a relative term. The biggest issue with a full size truck in there is as Greg noted, they're long. Lousy breakover angles and turning radius make for hard piloting on those tight corners with a ledge in the middle. I only ended up rubbing against one rock and that's because I got cocky, but I drug hitch and belly on a regular basis, and there were some spots where I had to get uncomfortably tippyish in order to take a clean line, so a big camper on the back might play into that too (in fairness, I'm a complete wuss with the off-camber stuff). All that said, I did make it in and out in one piece, and by the time we made it out past Teapot on Monday morning I was having a blast and ready to turn around and go back in again. So I guess maybe whether or not it's inappropriate depends on your confidence in your piloting and your stomach for potential body damage.
 
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roktaxi

Locked Up = More Freedom
Butch C.

Here's the Butch C. "petroglyphs" you missed. They're very hard to see clearly. Over 100 years of weathering and not the best surface to etch on either!

Don't know who the S.J. initials belong to (?) Maybe the persons petroglyph face who did the work??

The guy that showed us the location, his dad was a cattle rancher back in the 50's / 60's who use PSC for his cattle. Also showed us other rock art in a not so not well known location.
 

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glockman

I hate Jeep trucks
Location
Pleasant Grove
Great report Greg. A couple of questions if I may. I have had camping at the dollhouses on my list since the first time Dave posted a picture. What are the requirements? I am so green when it comes to camping in the national parks. I know you can't bring a dog and you have to pack your poop out. Do you have to reserve the dollhouse or get backcountry travel permits at the hans flat station?
 

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
There are a grip of travel regulations in there. Here's what you need to know: https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/index.htm

The long and short of it - you don't need a permit to drive into the Maze like you do some other parts of Canyonlands, but if you're going to vehicle camp in the park you need to reserve a site (like Dollhouse). You can do that in person at Hans Flat, but you'll have to choose from whatever happens to be open. Better to reserve your spot well in advance, especially in the busy seasons.
 

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Great report Greg. A couple of questions if I may. I have had camping at the dollhouses on my list since the first time Dave posted a picture. What are the requirements? I am so green when it comes to camping in the national parks. I know you can't bring a dog and you have to pack your poop out. Do you have to reserve the dollhouse or get backcountry travel permits at the hans flat station?

Kevin nailed it, on top of the other things I'll say that you're best off making reservations in advance by a month or so. You can make them online, it's real easy.

If a guy wanted, you could drive thru the park and camp outside of the park boundaries, but that wouldn't be nearly as much fun.
 

DAA

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
One nice thing about doing it online is you can print your own window tags and permit. So you don't have to stop at the ranger station to check-in. Can be more flexible in planning an itinerary if you don't have to structure it around stopping there during business hours. It's nice to not have to stop there anyway though.

- DAA
 

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
I'm learning how to make videos. Here's sunrise from Dollhouse camp.

 
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Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
My silly pickup was definitely underdressed for this party.
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Making time in from Hite, the call came in over the radio from FastGas - "I think I broke a tie rod end". Yup, I think you're right. :D
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Escorting the broken Rodeo out, the breakup of the storm and afternoon light made for incredible desert colors. I couldn't resist stopping for frequent photos. I think these couple turned out pretty good.
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We found even better scenery day two.
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Greg tried to escape this frame, but I made him go back and stand there. The pose is all him though.
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Somebody I'd spoken to about the route had compared the road into Dollhouse to the White Rim. If I had known what it was really like I'd have brought the Wiferunner. It was slow going in spots, but my land whale did ok.
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If I'd been alone I probably would have turned around but I didn't want to ruin it for Greg, and I'm glad I didn't because I really ended up revising my estimation of what that truck can do and where it can go, and just having a great time.

If night one was warm and a little wet, night two was clear and crisp, about 40* f. I didn't bother setting up the tent, just put the cot out under the stars and slept the sleep of the just. The dawn was amazing. I'm so glad we got the camp we did, I can't imagine anywhere else being as spectacular in the morning light
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Greg led the way out and jackrabbited ahead of me with his 35s and short wheel base while I picked my way through the Teapot section. I still managed to get a couple nice shots of his Jeep making short work of the rocks and ledges.
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Here he tried an ambush photo session. I got him back.
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After we got out of the slow stuff, it was on to Sunset Pass and Poison Springs Canyon. Fewer pics from here, it was getting late in the day and I still had to go to work at midnight. We'd been told by the ranger that they'd done "some" work on the wash out and the canyon was open but just barely. We breezed right through the dug out section with no troubles, the entire route was easy driving - and a little bit fun when you goose it around the corners. :D
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I'd been looking forward to a burger at Ray's since I woke up that morning, and that's right where we headed after airing up.

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And then we headed home. I stayed awake at work that night looking at maps and wondering when I'd be able to make it back, because there are definitely more journeys into the Maze in my future.
 

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
So you're saying no problem for the suburban then?

On my bucket list, would be a great trip in the spring

Sure.... :ugh: Ask Kevin about the scrape down the passenger side of his truck! Pretty sure your 'Burb is longer and lower! :eek:

Better save this trip for a built up Cruiser!
 

Noahfecks

El Destructo!
Great trip and report guys

Sure.... :ugh: Ask Kevin about the scrape down the passenger side of his truck! Pretty sure your 'Burb is longer and lower! :eek:

Better save this trip for a built up Cruiser!

As luck would have it I finished the Cruiser today, well except for some wiring, mechanically sound
 
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