Utah Cliffs - Day 2 Duck Creek CG to Hi Roads CG ( by Zion east entrance)
Mon Oct 1st, 2018
Start 8600'
High pt 9150'
Lo pt. 5825'
End Elv. 5825'
Climbing ~2400'
Miles 43.5
Total time 5:15
Ride time 4:37
Last night was the last night camping with Glenda in the camper.
A band of rain passed through close to dawn, and it was a damp and overcast greeting of low clinging clouds for my first solo foray on this Utah adventure. Still, the wild winds of the last two days are absent, and the pavement shows a wee bit of drying as we go through our departure preparations.
I have about 40 miles planned up to Navajo Lake and then down down down the North Fork of the Virgin River, then up and over to the east entrance area of Zion. I am worried about more rain given the Utah backcountry dirt roads can become intractable when wet. The remnants of Hurricane Rosa are set to clobber the desert SW states come Tuesday and Wednesday.
I pack up, determined to make it to appointed (and reserved) campground spot just outside of Zion NP East entrance.
I take nice dirt backroads up to Navajo Lake. The rain was enough to keep the dust down, and no more. I gain pavement along the lake, and end up racing a deer on the road. I was gaining on him as I pedaled down a rolling section, until he decided to head for up the hills. Which, of course, where not paved. Deer 1, Dan 0.
As I climb to over 9000', the clouds get closer and are clinging to the mountains sides above me. I am having some doubts as I pedal on pavement for several miles along Navajo Lake. The route decends for over 16 miles on dirt when the pavement ends, and I have a decision to make before I commit. The sky has an occasion blue hole in the cloud cover, but rarely does old Sol share his radiance with me. Though, he makes me smile when sunshine slight some golden or red hillside.
Well, at the dirt junction, the road looks in good shape, and I will be losing 3000' in elevation, hoping that lower down and further from the plateau the weather is better.
The road parallels the Virgin rim for a number miles, going through cabin country, with some unusual examples along the way. Soon the pink cliffs of the rim come into view, juxtaposed with flaming aspen and the deep green of alpine evergreens.
The North Fork of the Virgin River is tame here, though this same stream carved the Narrows in zion 800 to 1000' deep.
As I descend, plateau mesas rise to tower above. While they still their coniferous crowns of ponderosa and fir, their shoulder have shrugged off the green summer mantle, replacing with a melange of reds, oranges, rusts and yellow, all to celebrate Gaia 's annual fall festival. I stop numerous times just to gaze, wishing the sun was more generous today. I will take the bright spots I can.
The road is mostly good though there are many section of deep powdery dirt or sand. The plus tires work well here, but I still need to pay attention.
After 16 miles, the climb out begins, over a shoulder and down to the Orderville drainage then along fairly mellow climb to the local maxima, during the climb, the tops of the zion canyon grow as i get closer, but mostly I only see to top most white grey sandstone layer. Hard to imagine those canyons are up yo 1000' deep.after cresting, I start descending through juniper and pinon, passing by some nice developments on pavement.
A couple of miles along scenic hwy 9 brings me to Hi Roads campground around 2 pm. While there is plenty of daylight left, I have a reservation, so I will get to chill and relax, and avail myself to the amenities a private campground offers.
