Uncompahgre Plateau Reconnaissance

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We went up on the Uncompahgre Plateau to check out the area for future expeditions.  My aunt has been up here many times but this was the first for Heather and me.

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Lots of canyons cut into the plateau.

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We found a great little lunch spot away from all the traffic on top of the plateau.  Only one UTV passed us while we were hanging out for an hour.

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Looking out toward what I think is the La Sal Mountains in Utah.

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Descending down a steep road used for uranium prospecting.

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We came down this awesome road on the way off the plateau.  It is MUCH steeper in person.

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The Tacoma did a GREAT job coming down this steep road. 20160529_152751 20160529_152829_Richtone(HDR) 20160529_152906

Grand Mesa in the Snow

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We went up to Grand Mesa to see the sights and maybe do a bit of hiking.  Instead we found a bunch of snow and not many hiking opportunities without snowshoes.

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We did find a GREAT beaver dam and lodge on Grand Mesa.  I miss my little beaver friends from Corvallis!

Rattlesnake Canyon Arches

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My aunt took us out on her ATVs to see Rattlesnake Canyon and the arches.  The story goes that this is the second highest concentration of natural arches in the world behind Arches National park.

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A double combined arch!  Neat!


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Looking out toward Utah.

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Looking down into Rattlesnake Canyon.

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Big and scenic.

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Here’s an arch, there’s an arch, everywhere’s an arch arch.

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This one looks delicate but it’s huge!


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Big rim rocks hiding arches.

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Looking into the deep canyon.  It reminds me a bit of the Blue Mountains in Australia.

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Arch #1 from the top.

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Another arch from above.

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Lots of arches in the making along this canyon rim.

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A sneaky hidden arch.

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Three arches in one photo!