Head of the Ditch

10/10/2017
Last spring we were passing through north eastern New Mexico and I was investigating possible dispersed  (free) campsites.  Although it was on the western side of the state, I ran across a Forest Service site called Head of the Ditch.  It get's name from a nearby irrigation ditch.  After leaving Petrified Forest our general direction was south and this little campground was about the right distance for an easy day's drive.

Head of the Ditch is located about 12 miles east of Alpine, AZ, just inside New Mexico.  There's a Ranger Station in Alpine so we stopped to get any information about our destination.  Well, the state line separates the Alpine Ranger district from the Gila Ranger district in New Mexico.   One of the Rangers knew of it but not much about it.

We found the campground almost deserted and setup on a relatively flat spot that was mostly grass.  We didn't do anything exciting here, just hung out for a few days enjoying the mild temperatures and beautiful scenery.

Coming next, Cattlemens Trail campground.

Canyon De Chelly Nat'l Monument

10/5/2017
Spent a couple nights deep in the Navajo reservation at Canyon De Chelly. This was one of the few places in the country where we had no access to cell service or internet, on Indian reservation .

The canyon is different from most, the Navajo and their ancesters  have been farming the canyon floor for over 2000 years.  Most visitors admire the views from the rim, except for one trail, all access inside the canyon is restricied to guided tours. 

Here's some pictures...

Coming next:  Petrified Forest National Park 

Mesa Verde Nat'l Park

10/2/2017

After the relative warmth of Gooseneck, we arrived at Mesa Verde NP visitors center in Colorado to a blustery cool wind. 

Our Campsite

View on the way up the Mesa.

Always on the prowl for a ranger lead tour, we signed up for the Balcony House tour the next day.  Here's how they described it, "Most Adventurous Cliff Dwelling Tour" (and the only one available this late in the season).  After descending 100 ft on concrete steps you climb a 32 ft ladder to get to the site.  To get back to the top requires crawling through an 18 inch wide 12 foot long tunnel and climbing up a 60 ft open cliff face with stone steps and two 10 ft ladders.  All the climbs are well protected and safe, but you're still clinging on with your own hands and feet. Neither of us are fond of heights, especially Joan who needed a little cajoling to agree to go.  

Heading down the 100 ft of steps to the first ladder.

The first ladder, Joan is cool as a cucumber... NOT!

And the climbing begins, as the ranger looks on.

WE MADE IT! HOORAY... up the FIRST ladder.

Looking down into one of two Kiva's in the site.

See hand print from Centuries ago.

Joan going in the tunnel...

... Rick coming out.

Going up the second ladder...

... followed by steps carved into the cliff face.
Notice the chain hand rails, the original
inhabitants didn't have such safety measures.

A sigh of relief.

All went well, with a little hyperventilating during the climbs. 

The balance of the day was spent driving to the many ancient Pueblo sites on the Chapin Mesa.

Coming next, Canyon De Chelly Nat'l Mounment, AZ.

Gooseneck State Park, Utah

09/29/2017

Gooseneck State Park is on the rim of the San Juan River as it  carves through the the desert landscape 1,000 feet below.

We arrived about 4 pm on a Friday  The only site with an overlook view of the gorge was way out near the end of the point down a rocky rough road.  Suprisingly, we found a level site with enough room to turn our rig around.  We spent 3 nights at Goosneck, one day just goofing off an enjoying the view.  The other day we did some exploring on some dirt roads looking for boondocks opportunities.  We also drove through Valley of the Gods.  See pics below.

Our camper as seen from the park enterence at sunset.

Pictures from Valley of the Gods...

The blog is now working to the minute.  There's a cell tower on a mountain a few miles away and with our booster we have 3 bars of LTE.  Posting this as we leave Gooseneck.

Coming next, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.

Zion National Park

9/19/2017

We spent a week at Zion NP.  The first 3 nights we stayed at a BLM camp (free) 15 miles from the south entrance.

BLM campsite.

On the second day we learned the procedure for getting one of the "first come first serve" site at the South Campground in the park.  They start assigning sites at 7 am so we arrived at 6:30, in the dark, and were the 21st in line.

7 am, in line for a campsite.

At 10:30 we got a site, then we had to drive back to the BLM camp to retrieve the camper.  We weren't going to drag the camper to the park until we were SURE we'd get a site.  The whole procedure took a very long morning before we were settled and ready for lunch.  After hiking the first 2 days we were going to take the day off anyway.

Campsite in Zion, with "The Watchman" in the background

The Watchman at sunset from campsite.

All the effort to get a campsite "IN" the part was worth it.  Everything is within walking distance including a couple of trail heads.  The shuttle system worked great.  We liked it better than driving to a location in the park and searching for a parking place.  The South Campground has no hookups (dry camping)  so we were very conservative with our resources.  All totaled we were a week "off grid".

Now that we know the process for getting a campsite in Zion, they're changing it next March.

We talked to a camp host who said the reservation
can be made no more than 2 weeks in advance.

Zion is one of those places where you just can't stop taking pictures.  Here's a FEW of ours...

First morning, before we knew where to go
we found this "ad hock" trail at a turnout.

Then...

... and now.

Sun rising over the cliffs.

Joan, blending in, on the
Kayenta Trail.

Looking down canyon from the Kayenta Trail.

View up canyon from the Watchman Trail on
a cloudy afternoon.

Late afternoon from Weeping Rock.

Court of the Patriarchs, late afternoon.

Morning walk, up canyon on the Pa'rus Trail.

Virgin River from Pa'rus Trail

Trail along Virgin river, looking down canyon.

Coming next, A couple of nights with electricity, WAHOO!