Blue Mountain Ascension

If you're in the Vernal area, I recommend The McConkie Ranch petroglyphs. The trail is a bit rougher than yer average dimensionally-challenged may want to undertake, but I thot it worth it. That said, I wasn't motivated to see The Three Kings. They ask a donation of $5.00 per group.

The ascension of Blue Mountain Road offered, to me, a more satisfying experience. Starting about half way it's 4wd low and in 1st gear with an occasional bit allowing an upshift to 2nd.

I stopped around 5:00 p.m. to just watch. That's Split Mountain in the center. The Green River flows through it.

No doubt there're (vernacular: there's) millions of better photos online.

Dinosaur National Monument (DNM)

The Heat!

Escape was a mere 20 miles north. But there, the altitude of 8400+' soon had me barely able to get up. No WAY could I perform my galumphing "sprint" of 300 feet. (I really should be an advert for White Boots. Weighing in (each) somewhere around 5 pounds, they keep my legs in superb condition.)

Descending, the view is dominated by the red wall of Split Mountain. Looming behind its equally dramatic ramparts, it prompted a fierce attack of: MUST locate on GPS!

(Split Mountain vies with Dinosaur National Monument (DNM). More prosaic, we get: Split Mtn Lodge, Split Mtn Eatery, Split Mtn Hair & Nails.)

Safely sequestered with their generators...

It sat on the wire above the Green River, giving the hairy eyeball as I maneuvered forth and back.

 On the 2nd click it flew off 200 feet...and I, tail tucked in embarrassment, drove on. But you don't see cummerbunds like that every day!