7 Slot Nomads

September 30th

Broke camp early and came down out of the Saddle Mountain Wilderness headed for the North Rim and turned off on the Point Sublime trail. Last time I was out at Point Sublime we camped and barely beat a rainstorm out the next morning. We also had to cut up a tree that had fallen across the trail blocking it on our way out. This time the weather was great, the trail was decent and we made the Point at lunchtime. We took our time eating lunch and enjoyed the view Point Sublime is famous for as the spit of land furthest out into GC.

Next, we were on to Tiyo Point, then it was back trails winding through the Grand Canyon NP backcountry stoping off at Fire Point, Timp Point, Locust Point, Fence Point, and finally on up to Parissawampits point overlooking a canyon of the same name. Didn’t go all the way out to that point because it was too far and we were running out of daylight.

Jeeped our way back to Highway 67, then up to Jacob Lake area to camp again the the Kaibab National Forest. Ate Navajo fry bread for dinner standing up from a "restaurant" that was parked outside at the Jacob Lake gas station. Good stuff we didn't have to cook in the dark. We gassed up, aired up, and filled up water storage and went out to find a campsite.


October 1st

The next morning, we got up, broke camp, packed for the road, and headed towards Page, AZ. Got to Page and topped off the tanks and fuel cells, the headed out towards Mexican Hat. Bought firewood in Mexican Hat and headed north up to Goosenecks State Park. Never been there, but it looked like a cool place to camp if you were somewhere other than a national forest.

Set up camp on the windy promontory that is Goosenecks NP then drove into Bluff, UT for supplies to see what we might find of interest. We found it. Steaks and potatoes for dinner. Marvelous. Apple crisp for dessert. Again, marvelous. We came back, cooked, and ate like kings. Dirty, dusty, squinty-eyed-from-the-sun, kings, but still kings.

First really good campfire of the trip. We stayed up late and watched the stars.

October 2nd

Got up late and took our time. We left the Goosenecks at about 9:30. Drove through Valley of the Gods which is a pretty cool place. Easily accessible. Worth the time and effort.

From there, we rolled east headed for Comb Ridge. That geologic feature can be recognized from the moon. I have long had an affinity for the Comb Ridge country with the lost (and found) Anasazi ruins waiting to be rediscovered out there.

We made our way around to the southern end of Comb Wash Road. Depending on recent rains and if the arroyos were flooded and running, that part of the road can get a little tough to drive sometimes. We made it through, but the dust was really thick in places. If you got caught on the wrong side in a heavy downpour, you could be there for a bit while the water rand off and the mud dried up.

We tracked down some ruins out near the river that were pretty spectacular. The trail to get back there required 4 wheel drive and high clearance as well. Did some jeeping to get there. Took lots of pictures and left lots of footprints.

Then back out to the highway and through the pass to get to the east side of Comb Ridge. We ran down Butler wash road inspecting campsites along the way until we found one we liked. Out of the way, no bugs, no people, and a clear sky above us for star gazing. We did have to dig a fire pit and drive a couple miles to find rocks for it. Then it was freeze dried for dinner.

Pretty neat time of year. The sun was still setting with the rising of the moon. We had both in the same picture. The coyotes LOVED it (like all night long loved it, but we had no issue with that). In the morning we could still faintly see the moon setting when the sun was rising.


October 3rd

Got up and looked through our maps and list of ruins we wanted to visit along with other off-road trails and possibilities. Checked the GPX files we had loaded on the GPS and decided the desert site we were located in was a great place to spend another night making this a two night camp. Staying twice in one place felt pretty luxurious (not to mention decadent).

We refueled the Jeeps with the extra fuel we carried after breakfast. Then, leaving some gear behind and tents set up, we headed out into the desert. Drove out to the Tower House ruins and then on to Flaming House ruins. Both require a little hiking, but Tower House is a bit of a scramble, so be prepared - especially if water is running down the rocks.

Ran Comb Wash Road back to state highway 163 and went back into Bluff for resupply. We needed gas, ice, and something interesting to cook. All the meat was frozen solid. We picked up some pork chops and decided to cook them for breakfast the next morning. Freeze dried Italian variety for supper. Shared it around and Life was Good.