Four-Wheelin’ Around Moab, Utah—September 17, 2024

Today we went on a couple of four wheel drive trails up in the mountains, down in the canyons, across the switchbacks, over the river and through the valleys.  The jeep rental company gave us a booklet and it suggested for “easy” trails, we should go up on the Gemini Bridges Trail (13 miles), then into Canyonlands National Park, and then take the Shafer Trail (18 miles) back down.  The booklet said that the Gemini Bridges Trail was “moderate” and the Shafer Trail was “easy.”  Perhaps moderate and easy for some, but teeth-jarring and neck and back stiffening for anyone over 50. Maybe we are just too old for this crap?  I thought the day would never end. Anyway, we ran the gauntlet, so pictures there must be.  

First, pictures of the two Gemini Bridges, which are huge sandstone arches. Pretty cool.

By the way, have you seen the UTV’s (utility task vehicles) they drive off road on the trails now? I’m guessing not. They seat people side by side and look a bit like a spider when they are moving. I do not claim to understand the suspension system, but they kind of crawl over rocks and hills with their tires in different positions. We saw a ton of them today.

After that, we were on the Shafer Trail. It was a bit scary in places. The body of water is the Colorado River.

Remember when Thelma and Louise drove their 1966 Ford Thunderbird convertible off the cliff? Well, that was at Dead Horse Pointe, right where we were today. Although the final scene was supposed to be at the Grand Canyon, it was filmed right here in Utah. The first picture is approximately where they filmed the “going off the cliff scene.” The second picture is a stock picture of them going off the cliff, which looks pretty fake.

Oh, and Doug had another dessert for breakfast at the Moab Diner before we set out this morning called Fisher Towers French Toast, named after Fishers Towers near Moab. Don’t worry, he didn’t eat the butter.