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Published: October 2nd 2018
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Driving Southbound on US Hwy 191 from Moab (and Needles Overlook) I reached the road construction project near Church Rock. Then about 25 miles South of Church Rock I reached Monticello where I topped off with petro and ice. I turned West on Abajo Drive, that after leaving town turned into County Road 079. Then I quickly entered into the Manti-La Sal National Forest.
Note: The La Sal Mts and the Abajo Mts are in the La Sal District of this combined National Forest. With the Manti District far away from here and just South of Salt Lake City, Utah; I feel that soon the La Sal and Manti Districts will separate into two independent National Forests.
Not far away I took a left (South) turn going up the Abajo Mts. This was still CR 079, but with no sign remaining to point me in the right direction. When driving off road, it is best to purchase the right local maps to guide you! Not far away I found a wonderful emergency camp in the nice aspen trees with their bright white bark. This is only my second camp this year in Utah. (I love Southern Utah cuz of
the many wonderful places you can visit every day!) I had some trail mix and a cold rum drink then went to sleep in my bed in the back of Old Blue.
The next morning I had my morning coffee then got the wheels of Old Blue spinning; and up the Blue Mts we rode. As I drove up high in the Blue Mts I reached the switchbacks...very fun to drive. At the first Mt pass was Mt Linnaeus and a nice unmarked ridge road in the trees. After some very long days I decided to have an easy day and make an early camp on the ridge road with good views a short walk to the mt pass. I had some hours to enjoy the sounds of nature including the wind and the birds. I cooked a small dinner of sausage, taters, and red onion. Then I watched the sunset with a cold rum drink; and went to sleep for the night.
Morning came for a long day. I had my coffee and started my faithful truck rolling downhill from the first mt pass. The later uphill drive I enjoyed the most. I reached the second mountain
Monticello
old tiller pass and took a break to enjoy the view.
While things on the drive seem somewhat alike, there are neat different views also; with other isolated potential camps available. Now on an uphill I got to County Road 185 westbound that is not on my forest service map.
note: My entire ride in the Abajo Mts is only on the East side of the mountain range. Taking a road off the map can be a very bad turn as the road and trail signs can disappear in the vastness of unmarked trails. Long ago driving the West side of the Abajo Mts near Canyonlands N Park, Needles, in my bad 4X4 truck of that time the trails came to be nearly unpassable in four wheel drive and very confusing. With little to no traffic there, you would need a satallite phone to call for help. (Whooops!)
I drove for a while and got to the third mountain pass. Downhill from the pass the colour of the maple tree leaves were the best that I have seen so far on my survival camping trip. I drove past a number of potential camps; and a number of unmarked roads
that could be risky for travel. I continued Southbound through a very nice forest. When I started my big final downhill the trees turned more into a scrub forest. On a small uphill section I passed a large flock of turkeys, a neat thing to see. Then I continued my downhill towards Blanding, Utah. I passed a lake and a few potential camps, then left the Manti-La Sal National forest.
There was a sign for Blue Mt Road and soon I was in Blanding. So my two day detour through the Abajo Mts from Monticello to Blanding saved me about one hour of highway 191 driving; but for me it was a much better route with a nice experience.
While in Blanding I got petro and supplies and my next camp would be in White Canyon.
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