Moabrubijohn
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Saturday July 20th was this months’ Red Rock 4-Wheelers Trail of the Month. The trail of the Month for July is an annual affair for the club. It is our shortest run of the year, The Moonlight Run, to watch the full moon rise over the La Sal Mountains from the Monitor and Merrimac Buttes. Because of its short and late nature we tend to have a smaller group of nearby members and friends along on this trip. This year was no different with 10 Jeeps and just over 20 members and a couple furry friends along.
Generally a September or October event, the celestial calendar for this year brought our run into July. We left downtown Moab at 6:00pm in nearly 100 degrees. We took the easy route up to the buttes around the north side of the mesa where we were greeted with our first arch of the day.
Then on through Bartlett Wash and past Determination Towers.
Determination Towers are said to get their name from a family letter about their trip trying to get to the towers in their old Jeep. They noted they were determined to get to the towers and named them Determination Towers after reaching them.
After a short stop we headed up the last mile or so over to the Monitor and Merrimac Buttes, our viewing destination. If you have never been to the buttes, they are spectacular. Even more so at golden hour when the buttes are perfectly lit and the view looks like this.
With everyone pulled over to the proper viewing location by our fearless leader and celestial navigator Mark, we waited for the big show. Members brought along their dinners and some even brought things to share, fresh watermelon slices, Special K Bars drenched in chocolate and ice cream bars and sandwiches to top it all off.
Finally after an hour or so of fellowship and nourishment, the big event arrived. Clouds obscured the rise immediately over the mountains but once above the clouds the moon continued on its inexorable march across the night sky.
Another Moonlight Run goes into the record book and we were able to verify our offroad lighting systems were in working order as we made our way back to Moab.
Stay tuned for a recap of next months Red Rock 4-Wheelers Trail of the Month.
Stay Safe!
Generally a September or October event, the celestial calendar for this year brought our run into July. We left downtown Moab at 6:00pm in nearly 100 degrees. We took the easy route up to the buttes around the north side of the mesa where we were greeted with our first arch of the day.
Then on through Bartlett Wash and past Determination Towers.
Determination Towers are said to get their name from a family letter about their trip trying to get to the towers in their old Jeep. They noted they were determined to get to the towers and named them Determination Towers after reaching them.
After a short stop we headed up the last mile or so over to the Monitor and Merrimac Buttes, our viewing destination. If you have never been to the buttes, they are spectacular. Even more so at golden hour when the buttes are perfectly lit and the view looks like this.
With everyone pulled over to the proper viewing location by our fearless leader and celestial navigator Mark, we waited for the big show. Members brought along their dinners and some even brought things to share, fresh watermelon slices, Special K Bars drenched in chocolate and ice cream bars and sandwiches to top it all off.
Finally after an hour or so of fellowship and nourishment, the big event arrived. Clouds obscured the rise immediately over the mountains but once above the clouds the moon continued on its inexorable march across the night sky.
Another Moonlight Run goes into the record book and we were able to verify our offroad lighting systems were in working order as we made our way back to Moab.
Stay tuned for a recap of next months Red Rock 4-Wheelers Trail of the Month.
Stay Safe!
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