Bucket list trip out west - Colorado, Utah, and beyond

[Surferbandit]

How about the areas near Albuquerque? Anyone with experience of the Cedro Peak & Manzano Mountain Trails, Jemez Mountains / Guadalupe Ridge and/or Mt. Taylor & San Mateo Mountains?

I haven't yet... but I haven't figured out where I'm going after the Rubicon Trail

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[Surferbandit]

I love it there... definitely plan on going back. I think i liked everything we did while there but here were some of my favorites

• Fins and Things
• La Sal Pass
• Potash, Shafer, and Long Canyon (I'll post some pics from that run in a bit)
• Top of the world
• Seven Mile Rim

I'll go back and post my on-x in these posts in the next day or so.

 

[Surferbandit]

The next morning we hit Arches National Park by way of the off-road trail.

When we left there, we headed over to Potash Road. A quick story, we were in Moab in 2019 and were sitting up at Dead Horse State Park at sunset and I saw a jeep coming down Shafer and across potash… they were driving the entire time we were there and I told my family that I want to come back and explore that trail. It took me 7 years but I was finally to do it. We ran through the canyon and climbed up the Shafer Switchbacks. This was well worth the time! The switchbacks were a little puckering because of the height but the road was flat and wide and oncoming traffic can easily pass on the corners.

We came back to Moab though Long Canyon which I’d recommend as well…

 

[WambliSka]

Great to have a job where you can do remote stuff! Working on that now. Extra income to build the Jeep and ability to be “working” in the middle of nowhere. Kudos!!

I have not commuted into an office for over 20 years and I've turned down very lucrative jobs because they wanted me to "come in to work". My current company is in the UK and my CEO and my boss are in Germany. I commute to my office downstairs for video conferences with folks from around the world. And with my Starlink Mini, my office is, anywhere I want it to be were I have a clear view of the sky!

 

[Rusty PW]

Did you go through the last part of fins and things in your power wagon? We rented side by sides for a day and did the last part of fins along with hells gate. Some of those sand dunes were narrow and steep!

I've done about 85% of the trails in Moab with the PW.

 

[Neomonk21]

That looks like an amazing trip. Thanks for sharing the pictures! Your Jeep is what my Jeep hopes to be when it grows up.

 

[KevinC]

Looks like a great trip and excellent photos. Some photos looks like you may be on some pretty decent technical trails? You are traveling with a Ford Ranger. I don't see him on any of said trails. Please tell us how the Ranger is fairing.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I have not commuted into an office for over 20 years and I've turned down very lucrative jobs because they wanted me to "come in to work". My current company is in the UK and my CEO and my boss are in Germany. I commute to my office downstairs for video conferences with folks from around the world. And with my Starlink Mini, my office is, anywhere I want it to be were I have a clear view of the sky!

I can do most of my current job from anywhere - but it's not a remote position. As I've added experience to my resume it's had me wanting to find a new job where I can put my new Starlink to work and go travel more...

OP - looks like fun so far! We are headed to Moab in October and have several of the same trails in mind.

 

[Krobarr]

Excellent post! Being from Canada and wanting to plan a trip to explore south, this has been helpful! Hope to learn more!

 

[ORACLElights]

What a fun trip, almost a little jealous! I grew up in Colorado but also ended up on the southern East Coast. If you haven't already, I'd say go check out the Steamboat Springs and Routt County area. Buffalo Pass, Rabbit Ears pass, Hahns Peak, Elkhorn Mountain... and a visit to the Strawberry natural hot springs! - Hayleigh

 

[Jeeper44mag]

Congratulations!!! I lived all over the East coast for many years. We finally moved to the South West because we didn’t want these trips to be bucket list anymore. The first week I had my newest Jeep I drove from Las Vegas through southern Utah, through Colorado all the way into The Snowies in Wyoming and then back through Utah to Las Vegas. Driving though many of the roads and trails out here I feel like I should stop the Jeep and take pictures every 100 feet.

All this and a whole lot of less people. You couldn’t pay me to go back…

WAMBLISKA! Didn't know you were around here! 3 more years here in Florida, then we'll be relocating..... somewhere. Either the Tri-state area (Tenn/Alabama/Georgia) or somewhere near Colorado. Spent some time last year exploring all around Denver & Colorado Springs. Beautiful country! Next time we'll head up into Wyoming & Utah. I agree.... so many roads where literally every new bend in the road looks like a postcard.

Luis

 

[Tyler_OverlandJT]

Man this goal sounds amazing. Moab alone is already worth multiple visits.

 

[Surferbandit]

Looks like a great trip and excellent photos. Some photos looks like you may be on some pretty decent technical trails? You are traveling with a Ford Ranger. I don't see him on any of said trails. Please tell us how the Ranger is fairing.

We did some decently technical trails. The ranger has a leveling kit and on 33's and a rear locker. It did really great and with careful choosing of lines he made it through almost everything. He didn't take it to the top of the world, we bailed out of steel bender, and we ended up renting side by sides to do hells revenge. He built a skid plat to protect the engine and transmission... it took a few hard hits (mine did too). He ended up bringing the ranger back to georgia and is going to bring a recently built cherokee on 35's out in September. Here's some pics!

 

[Surferbandit]

I can do most of my current job from anywhere - but it's not a remote position. As I've added experience to my resume it's had me wanting to find a new job where I can put my new Starlink to work and go travel more...

OP - looks like fun so far! We are headed to Moab in October and have several of the same trails in mind.

I have a starlink on the roof rack tied to a switch to turn it on and off. It works great everywhere. I'm pretty happy with it and I only pay for the months I use it.

I only turn it on when i need to get a message out or do something for work... Otherwise I dont want to be in touch when I'm out there in the middle of Moab

 

[Surferbandit]

What a fun trip, almost a little jealous! I grew up in Colorado but also ended up on the southern East Coast. If you haven't already, I'd say go check out the Steamboat Springs and Routt County area. Buffalo Pass, Rabbit Ears pass, Hahns Peak, Elkhorn Mountain... and a visit to the Strawberry natural hot springs! - Hayleigh

Thank you! We're going out for two weeks at the end of September and doing the Jeep Jamboree in ouray.... I have lots of time to explore colorado so will research your suggestions. Appreciate it!

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