06-03-13

We had a great ride yesterday.

The plan was to just see if we could make it to Uranium Arch. There are several trails that will get you to Uranium Arch but we decided to take the Seven Mile Rim trail since it is in our book.
The trail is rated difficult so we weren’t sure if we could make it or not. We figured that we would go as far as we could and if we got stopped by one of the challenges along the trail, we would just turn around and go back.

We headed north on 191 and about a mile north of Highway 313 we turned left onto Cotter Mine Road.

We read the directions in our backroads book and after about 3/4 of a mile we made a left up a steep set of switchbacks as we thought the book directed. Unfortunately we turned to soon and got on the wrong trail. It was an interesting track nonetheless

and took us high on the canyon wall where we got some nice views of the valley below

and some of the arches in Arches National Park.

We could see that the trail that we were on ended at a tailing pile. We decided to turn around at a spot on the trail where there was a wide place.

Back on Cotter Mine Road we reread the directions and realized our mistake. We drove north and turned west at a large metal sigh that read:

 

Duh!

We headed up the trail climbing several switch backs and over ledges.

Up on top of the rim we got some more nice views.

We traveled along the rim for a while negotiating several rough spots. All the worst spots on the trail had bypasses that were a bit easier. We went over some of the bad spots

and around others.

Eventually we came to the turnoff to Uranium Arch.

The trail to the arch was interesting with a few challenges.

The last hill before getting to the arch looked pretty spooky from the top

but turned out not to be a problem.

The arch was interesting.

The trail to the arch loops back to the 7R (7 mile rim) trail so after taking a few pictures we continued around the loop.

We stopped at one challenge and Patti took a picture of the ledge

and the bypass.

I decided that they were about the same and elected to see if the jeep could handle the ledge. Of course Clifford had no problem climbing the rocks.

Back on the rim trail

we got more nice views.

We decided to take the bypass around this obstacle

but went up the next one.

We continued along the trail

and got some views of Monitor and Merrimack Buttes.

We stopped for lunch in the shade of a friendly Juniper tree.

After a short time we were attacked by swarms of no-see-ums so we didn’t stay here for very long.
We were back on the trail as soon as we finished eating.

We bounced along the trail enjoying the views.

The 7R trail goes between Monitor and Merrimack Buttes and around the west side of Merrimack.  
We had been there a few days earlier and there is a spot on the west side of Merrimack that is very tippy and makes me very nervous.
Where the trail turns left to go between the buttes we found a trail that went straight.

The trail went around the east side of the butte

and connected with the 7R trail just past the tippy spot and the optional Wipeout Hill.

We reconnected with the 7R trail and continued north.

We passed the Determination Towers

While we were going by the towers we saw a bird  sitting on top of a small tower.

It turned out to be a Crow or maybe a Raven.

 

Eventually we dropped into Tusher Wash.
The wash was one of the worst parts of the trail. It didn’t have any rocky challenges but was so torn up by ATV’s that it was a couple of miles of severe washboard. 
Near the end of the wash we came to a place where we were surprised to find running water.

   

A short time later we came to Mill Canyon Road where we turned east and a while later we arrived at Highway 191.

It was a great ride and now we can mark another trail off in the book.