c.traveler2
Moreno Valley,Ca.
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Last Chance Get away of 2009
Our original plan was to visit Yosmite National Park and explore the surrounding area, but due to the spreading fire we change our plans at the time. After much discussion and some Internet searching it was decided to go a couple of areas that we hadn’t ever been to and re-visit a couple of national parks we’ve been to before.
On To Toroweap/Tuweep
Part1
Long Report
September 23,2009
It was a late start for us heading out to our designation for we manage to have dinner with my son and his family before heading on out. Due to the late start we drove out to Stoddard OVH area near Barstow to at least get out of town. I t was a peaceful night and the following dawn brought on a bright, cloudless day.
Julie was busy putting together breakfast while I was wandering about snapping a few photos.
Breakfast is usually a simple affair of delightful tasting coffee, eggs, beacon and grits. With full bellies and hot dark liquid in our traveling mugs we ventured on the asphalt interstate. Many times we have stopped in Baker to purchase lotto tickets, not this time.
Stoddard OHV Area
Traffic was flowing without a care for many miles that is until we caught up to the road construction somewhere forty some miles from the Stateline.
Fifty-five miles per hours is a slow pace for an interstate headed to the Stateline, but work has to be done. Not too long Stateline come into view and the last chance California Lotto store. Funny thing about getting to that lotto store, one has to exit in Nevada drive through the parking area to get back in California to buy a lotto ticket here.
Not all casinos make it in Nevada, as the only thing left of this one is the sign.
We zipped on through Lost Wages noticing that a lot of the interstate construction from our last trip through was done and a few nice designs were left behind.
Virgin River Gorge area is soon here, I do like this place; it has a beauty on to itself.
Virgin River Gorge Area
Once in St.George we settled in at Temple RV Resort before meeting our friends, Mel and Jean for dinner.
May25, 2009
It is a beautiful morning, after breakfast we’ll head out to the near by Flying J to fill our tank and get some propane. Upon leaving Temple I spotted this good-looking rig on the way out.
Once the truck was happily fill with diesel and our propane needs done it was back to exit 6 and over to South River Rd. This road will take us to the Arizona state line and BLM 1069 (CR#5).
After a few miles River Rd becomes a two-lane country road and to our surprise there’s a freeway running along the state line. Of course it’s not open yet, later we would learn that this freeway would go out to the new airport that’s being built.
Toroweap via BLM 1069/5
A number of miles south of the Arizona state line we finally came to the official start of the Arizona Strip Distract, so far there has only been grade dirt road with a lite cover of gravel.
That the thing about traveling in unknown area (for us) you never knows what you’ll come into view, such as picnic tables in the middle of nowhere.
Those tables are at a road leading to the Shivwitts Plateau; this road is named Quail Mill Road. An easy grade into low mountain came up and there had been a fire in this area for many of the trees are just blacken sticks.
Even out here people craved a living in cattle ranching, for we had passed by several such ranches. We could see from this point an old cinder cone slumbering with its blankets of tree and shrubs.
Speaking of shrubs and flowers here’s some of what we’ve seen so far.
A jeep had passed us up on our way down this lonely road of open spaces where the only wild life we’ve seen has been cattle. One of the places along this road to stop at is Mt. Trumbull Schoolhouse. It had been re-built after some vandals had burned it down in 2000. There were people already there having lunch, doors are never locked here.
Mt.Trumbull Schoolhouse
Lunch was enjoyable, being able to converse with people who knew some of the history here only added to this moment in time. From the schoolhouse we headed through Mt.Trumbull in order to get closer to our destination Toroweap/Tuweep.
Going though Mt.Trumbull had more activity on this road than the previous road, several dirt bikes passed us going opposite of us.
Mt.Trumbull Mountain Road
As we ascended to greater heights our traveled road narrowed down, but the view of the valley below was awesome.
Julie was lucky in getting this photo of a Kaibab Squirrel scurrying across our path just passed the Mt. Logan turn off.
Pic86
Drive through Mt.Trumbull has some wonderful views not only afar but also along the road, such as these Prickly Pear Cactus.
After many more miles of dusty roads, curves we arrived at the national park boundary and the welcoming sign of what we are seeking, the no boundary North Rim.
Stopping at the Tuweep Ranger Station to use the facilities and gather further information.
On to the Rim
One of the warnings at the ranger station was of deep dust bogs, up to four feet deep. We did come to a dust bog and decide to skirt around it as others have done.
Toroweap/Tuweep area is a beautifully wide valley with a variety of physical features to behold.
There was only one narrow spot in the road that one had to be cautious about passing by a couple large boulders. (See above video)
We made our way out to the day use area by the over the rock slewed road, it was slow going over all those natural speed bumps.
We weren’t prepare for the eye popping view that lay before us, being able to get “up and personal” with no railing without a doubt changes the perspective one see.
As in this next photo, I’m stranding over a v-notch in the rim edge, of course my wife is yelling at me not to do that. Looking straight down 3000 feet.
This is closest that my Julie would get to the canyon edge.
On to the campground, back over the speed bump laden ground passing by another TC that had made it way out here.
Once there we settle in at site#3 and across from us is an Alaskan TC owned by Jim, a retied schoolteacher. He travels 10 months out of the year in his Alaskan through the USA.
Our site, #3
It was and the sun was retreating to the other side of the world and it really been a long day.
Sept.26, 2009
What a fantastic morning, Mother Nature knows how to a great follow up after seeing the blanket of stars the night before. It is so bright out here that my sunglasses are almost not good enough. This morning we’re headed to Lava Falls Trail, I did some research on this trail and it maybe too much for us, but we’re willing to give it a try. To get there one has to backtrack toward the Tuweep Ranger Station to a turn off that take you across Toroweap Lake (dry).
Lava Falls Road
At the trailhead there is a sign in register and a thermometer under the trailhead sign, 80 degree at that time.
Making our way down wasn’t easy, having to pick our way down for there wasn’t really a define trail. Remains from a long asleep volcano are within easy view of this trail.
This trail is very difficult to navigate; I was in the lead position, turning around just in time to see my Julie trip and fall. Lucky for her she wasn’t hurt for there are a lot of sharp and jagged rocks. We continue on and after a while Julie slipped and was sliding down her on her bottom. She was stopped by a rock, which was a good thing, for I tried going to her rescue and only ended up pulling a back muscle and she had ripped pants.
Well, that pretty well changed our minds about doing anymore of this trail and we slowly climb out back to the trailhead. Julie changed her pants and worked on getting that knot out of my back.
Leaving Lava Falls
Sometime had passed before we headed back to the campground, the ibuprofen had kicked in so the rough road wasn’t so bad. Once back at the campground we had to pick a new site, I had forgotten to mark our site. Site #6 on lower area was unoccupied and this turned out to be a great site.
We watched the changing of the colors of the distance mountains while having our evening meal. Taking in today outing it still was a great day.
Thanks to all for coming aboard along with us, please leave comments, your thoughts. Part 2 coming soon and all photo at my Travelingman2 link.
2007 F-250 4x4 /6.0 PSD/ext cab/LB/camper pkg..Lance 815 ext. cabover
Alex and Julie's Website
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YnotTurbo
Waldorf Maryland
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Those are some very cool pictures and looks like you guys had a great time. Thats what it is all about.
Navy Chief
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weymard
FRANCE
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Thanks for the report, great pics
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Super_Dave
Sacramento, CA
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First night, I'll never stay in Barstow again either! 
Sounds like it was a great road trip!
Truck: 2006 Dodge 3500 Dually
Camper: 2007 Eagle Cap 850
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btggraphix
Golden, CO
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Joined: 03/08/2005
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Nice photos and narrative! Do all Alaskan TC owners look like St. Nick? One was camped next to us in Golden CO over the weekend and I swear it looked like the same guy (but I don't think his plates were from Indiana.)
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xnorp
Spokane Washington
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Wow great report thanks for sharing looking forward to part 2. Thank you
xnorp
2000 F-250 SD PS 04 Snowriver 9'6" Rancho 9000X Super Springs Vision 19.5 w/Toyo M608Z
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Virgil_Diesel
Santa Clara, CA
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Thanks for sharing. Nice trip report and 
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Oldtymeflyr
Littleton, CO
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Joined: 04/18/2004
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Fun, fun, fun until daddy takes the T----, wait, thanks for the memories.
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rhode trip
Rhode Island
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Alex, your trips are always interesting. I'm looking forward to part 2.
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Camper_Jeff_+_Kelli
Seattle
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Nice trip. Thanks for posting.
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