Welcome to our 2015 summer family travel blog!

Join our family this summer (2015) as we take an 8-week RV trip across the country. We hope you can feel the love in our family adventures, for with Love, all things are possible.

[This blog places the last written post, latest in date and newest in experience, on top. Posts below are from our 2009 FenFun WestFest.]

 

Welcome to the Fenlason Family Travel Blog 2015!

 

Although there have been many FenFun WestFest travels since 2009, this is first time the travels have made it to the blog in six long years. The children have grown into teens and the cute five year old has become a beautiful 11 year old.

We invite you to join our travel experience through the Appalachians, the Rockies, Canada, and many places in between.

For us, this is a journey of epic travel documentation: We have two Nikons, 5 iPhones, the flying drone, the GoPro, and joining us on his inaugural journey–Dakota our 8 month old English Cream Retriever!

We are relying on Proverbs 3:5&6 as God directs our paths.
See us on Instagram #FenFest2015.

 

Day one Map: Jensen Beach, FL to Asheville, NC

 

 

Traveling in the Winnebago makes for amazing family bonding as each member was glued to their iphone (hear the sarcasm?). That all changed when we met up with the Rasku cousins . . .

(above L to R) Jordan F, Taylor R, Carlye F, Jacob R, Megan R, Alyssa F, Sam R

 

(below) A cloud rolled in over the hiking trail atop the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, NC

 

(below)The trailhead at “Craggy Gardens”

 

(below) Success at the top! Amazing sunset (our favorite type of pic)

As we look forward to a new travel day tomorrow, we sadly say goodbye to Jarred’s Sister & Family in NC and head for the far North–Canada!

 

Days 4-5 Travel from Asheville, NC through VA, WVA, PA, & NY to  Ontario, Canada and Niagara Falls

Love traveling in the motorhome because we can stop whenever and wherever . . . like at The New River Gorge in West Virginaia

 

We released the drone to fly all around it and along the river. This is a still shot from the drone (video to be released later).
The New River Gorge Bridge is the longest single arch bridge in the world. 3,000 feet across the top of the road.

 

Cost $37 million to build in 1977

 

Did you know “Virginia is for lovers”?
Click on the pic to enlarge and read it for yourself 🙂

 

Next stop: NIAGARA FALLS

After much deliberation and counsel from Trip Advisor, we drove across the Peace Bridge, through customs and settled on the Canadian side of the amazing Niagara Falls.

FYI: Yes, we needed passports to enter Canada. No, they did not search the RV or ask any questions about pets, or fruits/veggies we were carrying (unlike when we entered the great country–I mean state–of California 5 years ago and they confiscated all our fresh fruits and veggies).

 

Dakota and Alyssa loved the RV Park playground and soft grass

 

 

But we were here for this main attraction . . . Niagara Falls!

(left) “American Falls” (right) “Canadian Falls”

 

(above photo credit Jarred Fenlason)

 

“Maid of the Mist” boat tour for those who want to be one with the Falls 🙂

(photo credit: Carlye Fenlason) Ah…the rainbow

 

Interesting story: The only person to involuntarily go over the falls and survive was a 7 year old boy who fell overboard when his boat was in an accident. Only wearing a regulation orange life vest and his swimsuit, he survived the drop and was rescued at the bottom by the Maid of the Mist.

Ps. The drone was not welcome here 🙁

Tomorrow: Back to cell phone service and the good ol’ USA

Travel to Port Huron, Michigan located just over the Canada/USA border

The hard part of being in Canada was also the best part. ATT charges $1/minute for calls, .50/texts, and $20 per 1mb data. Airplane mode for a day and a half brought our family that much closer 😉

Now…back in the USA…We stayed at the most amazing KOA campground.

It had its own Western store complete with an fudge shoppe, ice cream & candy store, pizza place, and Town Hall with crafts and games . . . tennis courts, 2 pools, and multiple playgrounds! WOW!

 

We had a little downtime to enjoy all these amenities and even took in a movie at the Town Hall. Alyssa created this lovely “Stone Family” as well. Oh! The things that you can imagine when faced with free time and no television 🙂

 

Jordan got us all geared up for our field trip to Lake Huron

 

 

I had lived in Michigan for 13 years and had never visited Lake Huron before. The water temp was 55 degrees today. My feet were so numb I ran across the rocks lining the shore without even feeling them.

Huron is the 2nd largest of the 5 Great Lakes and is 750 ft. deep at its deepest. The Great Lakes contains 1/5 of all the world’s surface fresh water.

Yes, I love facts and history 🙂

 

Port Huron lighthouse taken from the drone (above and below).

 

Jordan’s first drone video edit…

Next stop: East Jordan, Mi for a Scheer family wedding.

Travel from Port Huron, Mi to East Jordan, Mi

We arrived Wednesday evening to our beautiful RV spot on the East Jordan Bay of Lake Michigan (compliments of Scott & Cheri Scheer)

First day there was busy as we help as “staff” of a Jordan Valley Barn Wedding (Rochelle’s parent’s weekend business). This is a Friday afternoon wedding we helped with . . .

Rochelle’s sister and brother and their families joined us out at the farm . . . that made 15 kids (Kim & Ray have 10; James & Jordan have 2; we have 3. That makes a whole lotta cousin fun :-).

 

The Scheer family celebrated their own family wedding on Saturday June 13, 2015 . . .

 

Carlye Scheer & Albie Bartolemao (see lots of Scheer family wedding pics on instagram#bartobash2015)

 

 

 

Lots of family togetherness made for great smiles, laughs, and pictures!

 

Some of the most fun was tubing at Dixon Lake . . .

 

Finally figured out how to get some drone video footage posted!! YEAH!! (Credit to Jordan for the edit)

 

And Jordan enjoying a little mudding with the cousins… (Credit to Jordan for the edit)

 

Our 7 acres on Oley Lake that we have listed for sale. Interested? 🙂

 

All hooked up and ready to exit Michigan and head west!

I want to take this moment and thank Mom and Dad Scheer for hosting all of us and making this week very memorable!

Travel through the U.P. of Michigan to Wisconsin

Crossing the Mackinac Bridge is always a breathtaking experience!

It’s the 5th longest suspension bridge in the world; longest in the U.S.

 

We climbed the amazing viewing tower located on the shore of Lake Superior, took a family selfie and…

 

…a drone shot with the bridge in the background. Jarred and I climbed this very same tower 23 years ago when we were dating.

 

We stopped for Michigan-famous pasties (pass-tees) filled with beef, potatoes, and onions wrapped in a flaky crust–a Yooper classic! (Can you figure out what a Yooper is?)

Next stop: House of the Rock

  

Legend says that the builder of this whimsical engineering feat was influence by his father’s ideas learned as a student of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The very low ceilings, walls, and floors were completely covered in red shag carpet. Dim lighting, low couches, and crazy collections of just about everything made this a very unusual kind of photo op!

 

 

 

We went through the place a pretty brisk pace and saw everything in about 4 hours (including a lunch stop). I (Rochelle) could have spent an entire day there!

Our campsite at Governor Dodge State Park was serene and relaxing.

A short video clip of highlights from the first two weeks (Credit Jordan)

 

Long day of driving ahead tomorrow . . . heading for the Badlands of South Dakota.

Travel from Wisconsin through Minnesota to the Badlands of South Dakota with an overnight stop in a Walmart parking lot.

 

This land is your land; this land is my land; NO! It’s Dakota Territory! 🙂

 

No trip to SD is complete without a stop at the famed Wall Drugs. The billboards offering “Free Ice Water” and “5¢ coffee” can be seen roadside beginning 350 miles out! They opened in the 1930’s and still sell lots of nostalgia today. (Best 5¢ coffee ever btw . . . so worth the stop!)

 

Now you believe in jack-a-lopes, right?

 

The Badlands are an incredible piece of God-art. Imagine you were a pioneer 150 years ago . . . and you’ve been traveling through the flat grassy plains of southern Minnesota and South Dakota, then suddenly! Jagged rocks jutting out of the prairie floor greet you. Welcome to the Badlands!

 

Below are two pics by the entrance sign. This first one is from today. The second is from 8 years ago! As you can see, not much has changed 🙂

[First pic 2015 – Second pic 2007]

 

Amazing photo op!

(above Photo credit: Jordan Fenlason)

 

 

It was 90-something degrees (felt like a FL summer day!)

 

Jordan jumped out of the moving vehicle and ran like a mountain goat to capture this rare pic.

 

Below: We ran out of water wandering the alluring paths of the Badlands . . . the exit pics are worth a thousand words. (2015 & 2007 respectively)

 

I guess we’re good for another 8 years. Check back in 2023 for another Badlands photo update.

Happy Father’s Day!

The Beaver Lake Campground, where we also stayed 8 years ago, has this super slide for its campers! But that’s not the even the best part about it. What do the kids remember most about staying here? The tame wild-bunnies that roam the grounds. Here, we’re 30 minutes from Mount Rushmore (see the old blog for pics) and other sites below.

 

We didn’t plan on going to Custer State Park, but our GPS lead us astray (unthinkable, I know!)

 

(above) Apparently, here Bison often hold up traffic, delight in mud baths, and roll with laughter at each other’s jokes.

 

Wildlife abounds!

(Deer photo credit: Carlye Fenlason)

 

So . . . our real destination was Wind Cave National Park

 

Feelin’ frisky after a cold front came through last night–only 71ºF today!

 

Wind Cave National Park is the 6th longest cave system in the world (3rd in the U.S.) with 168 miles of mapped tunnels so far. Unlike many caves that were formed by fast-moving water, this limestone cave has unusual formations formed by slow-moving water.

   

 

Next stop: Crazy Horse National Monument. Can you see the Indian Head carved into the granite?

 

This is a privately funded endeavor to provide a tribute to the Lakota Indians and their most famous chief.

Work began in 1948 by a man and his wife who had 10 children. The children are continuing the work. Eventually the carving will include the whole body sitting on a horse as seen in this model/statue. The head is already half the size of the entire carving on Mount Rushmore!

Drone view from 500′ up.

 

Two of Jarred’s adoring fans on Father’s Day 🙂

 

As we post this day’s blog, we sit in wonder of the most incredible Father of all–Our Father God! Thank you, God for freedom to adventure and explore the earth you made for us!

 

Tomorrow . . . Deadwood and yellowstone.

Travel from Custer, South Dakota to Deadwood, SD

So, we thought about driving the 9 hours to Yellowstone today . . . but the drive past many streams, waterfalls, and lakes strewn throughout Black Hills National Forest enticed us to stay longer.

 

Deadwood is famous for the 1876 gold rush that brought a flood of prospectors, gunslingers, and saloons to the area. (Alyssa was determined to get gold the easy way by taking the hunk of gold from the sign.) It was once dubbed “The most wicked city in America.” Supposedly the HBO series Deadwood is pretty true-to-life.

 

The Fenlason family ate lunch at the saloon where Wild Bill Hickok was shot and killed. Live reenactments of gunslinger showdowns spontaneously occur throughout the downtown.

 

(above) Saloon Number 10 in downtown Deadwood, SD where Wild Bill was shot on August 2, 1876.

 

We took off in the morning for some crazy Jeeping trails through the Black Hills National Forest. Inside this 1.2 million acres of protected forest, streams, and meadows lie more than a few private homesteads that were granted before it became preserved. Every once in awhile we would happen on a maintained section of road with a fence, some cows, and interesting buildings (most still in use).

 

 

Wildflowers are in bloom everywhere because of the abundant rainfall so far this summer!

(Photo credit: Carlye Fenlason ©)

 

Jordan is quickly becoming a master at videography, and–more importantly–editing all the footage to produce a memorable experience for those who’ve lived it and those who wish to do so 😉

 

Jeeping took us deep into the forest and up mountain passes over the state border into Wyoming. Cement Ridge contains one of the highest peaks in this area (6,600 ft. above sea level). The fire lookout is manned everyday by a ranger who can see more than 25 miles in all directions and spot wildfires started by campers and/or lightning. We had no cell service anywhere on the Jeep trails, but at this lookout, we had full bars LTE! The kids thought this would be great job . . . 🙂

 

 

 

“Cement Lookout” . . . aerial view (see the little brown lookout tower in the pic on the right?) You can’t tell from the pics, but the road runs up a ridgeline with steep embankments on each side. So steep, in fact, that Carlye did not want us to let Dakota out of the Jeep! But he knew better than to jump off a cliff . . . Dakota prefers meadows of wildflowers as you can see below.

 

  

 

 

This old barn was shingled with aluminum disks with some stamped lettering that we could not decipher. The ranger at the fire lookout had informed us that cyanide was (still is) used to leech the gold out of the rocks in these “black hills.” The disks were the lids from the cyanide cans! Great way to “reduce, recycle, reuse!” Pretty artsy shingles too (click on the pic to enlarge).

Tomorrow we head toward Yellowstone via Cody, WY.

Good bye Dakota Territory.

Travel from Deadwood to Yellowstone National Park! …Finally! 🙂

This stop along the highway should be a national park unto itself!

But it’s just a stop . . . along the very windy, mountainous route through the Big Horn National Forest in Wyoming. Our brakes were telling us they needed a rest. It was the perfectly timed stop, perfectly out of our control.

Shell Falls tumbles 120′ over gorgeous granite. (photo credit: Carlye Fenlason)

 

This amazing drone footage looks like something out of NatGeo, right?

 

 

  

(above) This is part of that windy, mountainous road through Bighorn National Forest, and down past the Yellowstone River heading into one of our favorite parks . . .

 

  

[And our 2007 visit on the right]

 

. . . which prohibits drones!

 

So here it is; what we’ve all been waiting for . . .

  

. . . “Old Faithful!” true to form was erupting about every 90 minutes today. “Bluebell Pool” steaming hot!

 

  

“Grand Prismatic Spring” is the largest pool in Yellowstone. It gets the Fen Fam five thumbs up for the most beautiful too.

 

  

Liquid sulfur is yellow–and smells like rotting eggs.  “Sapphire Pool” would make an amazing backyard pool (at a lower temp of course).

 

  

Limestone and calcite bubbling from this fountains by the North Entrance create constantly changing terraces. Much of the the landscape around the water features will be different the next time we return.

 

 

Behold the glorious handiwork of our Creator God . . . the many colors of Yellowstone!

  

  

  

 

The animals of Yellowstone:

 

Yes! We got a glimpse of a Grizzly and a Black Bear! (And between our many cameras, we actually got something better than a Sasquatch shadow to show for it.)

 

  

So many bison in this park–everywhere! We couldn’t believe the rare sight of this half polar bear/canine mix and his companion.

  

This elusive fox wasn’t quick or slick enough to escape our Nikon; neither was the coyote.

  

Elk were not afraid of humans; one even posed . . . and I think I see a smirk forming.

All that steam was great for our skin and hair 🙂

 

“Little Grand Canyon of Yellowstone” has some impressive falls. This “Lower Falls” is 308 feet high (2x the height of Niagara actually), and at peak runoff when the snow is melting it pushes 63,500 gal/second!

 

More wildflowers here than in any of our travels thus far (Photo Credit: Carlye Fenlason)

Onward and southward tomorrow to Grand Teton N.P. only 2 hours from here.

 

Grand Teton National Park is just south of Yellowstone, and is completely different in topography and vistas.

Day 1:

After quickly settling into our campsite at Colter Bay RV & Campground, we set out on a lakeside hike.

Starting at the south parking lot near Jenny Lake, we hiked north past String Lake (not named on the map) to the crystal clear waters of Leigh Lake.

 

  

These hearty hikers were in good spirits &  ready for the 7 mile round-trip trek.

 

Leigh Lake displays some pretty white sand beaches just ready for swimmers who are missing the Atlantic Ocean. (Photo Credit: Jordan Fenlason)

 

Private and pristine!

 

  

Teton Beach Babes 🙂

 

Jordan was not only hunting for rocks, he was searching for a large horsefly that he could make into a pet. Yes, that is a leash made from a strand of his sister’s hair. The poor fly flew round and round in circles until . . . well, that’s enough of that story.

 

We swam in the glacier-formed Leigh Lake at the end of northern route, and dried off on the trek home. I’d like to know the actual water temp, but my guess is near 70ºF. Not too bad for a lake above 6,800 feet!

Once the sun went down, the kids made a new friend from Wisconsin and drafted him to play cards with them. 🙂

Good Night . . . The boys need their sleep for tomorrow’s adventure!

 

Day 2:

THIS is what we came to the rugged Teton Range for! The mountain hike!

Jarred & Jordan tested their natural abilities against  the 16 mile / 9 hour hike to Amphitheater Lake.

  

Smart guys–checking the billboard, maps, and info on recent bear attacks. Sorry to say there were no Starbucks stops listed on the map up the mountain.

 

6:00 a.m. Jordan was eager and ready! The goal lay within the peaks ahead.

 

9:00 a.m. the boys were met with Taggart Lake . . .

 

. . . then Bradley Lake . . .

 

. . . and a few hours later, Taggart and Bradley Lake are in the distant past.

 

Success! 12:00 Goal reached:  Amphitheater Lake 9,698′ elevation. Great place to stop for lunch . . . Starbucks sure would be great up here though.

Onward to . . . (it’s a surprise)!

Jackson Hole, WY

The popular little ski town lies just south of Grand Teton N.P. and was experiencing higher-than-normal temperatures today! This green space in the center of downtown found us relaxing and simply enjoying each other.

Jordan broke out the ukulele and Carlye sang along much to the delight of other park patrons. After some success in the park they moved their performance to the street corner where Jordan put down his uke case for some tips.  We were all amazed when 45 minutes later they had made $47!

 

  

  

Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell the grass . . . and just relax . . . Sigh

 

 

And other times you’ve got to get moving! Rock climbing is a popular sport here in the mountains, and this park had some pretty serious training going on for kids of all ages. Alyssa made it to the top in record time–barefoot! 🙂 (She obviously received that gene from her Daddy who took rock climbing courses in college during his time at ORU.)

 

 

 

The varied natural beauty of the Jackson/Teton area is astounding. Artisan shops abound in Jackson Hole. This Geode is almost as big as Alyssa–But it’s value doesn’t even come close!

 

We’ve seen everything on that sign while we’ve been here! (Check that off the Bucket List.)

Onward and southward to Moab, UT where the temps will reach 105º all week!

Travel from Jackson, WY to Moab, UT!!

 

Moab is one our best loved Jeeping destinations! Despite the incredible heat (reaching 95º by 10 a.m. and 105º by 2 p.m.), the 27% humidity level is a relief from South FL summer weather–no complaints here.

Day 1 Moab Adventure: Travel & Setup

Young son instantly hung up new hammock and settled in with some uke serenading.

And we actually needed some downtime to grocery shop, check emails, pay some bills, do laundry while the kids enjoyed the RV pool . . . not blogworthy, but these things do happen even on a FenFest2015 trip–haha!

 

Day 2 Moab Adventure: Southeast mountain/plateau trails

Our first day out on the extreme backcountry trails made for a very happy adventure girl!

We’ve used the same Trail Guide since our first visit in 2008. It tells us the mileage, approximate time frame, and level of difficulty. Green=easy, Blue=difficult, Red=dangerous. Our favorites are the Blue trails, however, today was our first time trying Fins ‘N Things (4X4 Jeep Trail). And despite its Blue rating, it had some very Red spots! Spots that required 35″ tires and suggested having a welder and winch handy, just in case!

 

  

We weren’t expecting this! The white marks on the slickrock tell a tale of the unprepared Jeepers who have scraped the bottom and backside of their 4-wheeled pride and joy maneuvering this obstacle. Will the combined wits of the Fenlason boys get her down safely?

 

Notice Jarred is alone in the car . . . just in case it flipped!

  

Success! And we only scraped the back edge of the hitch extension.

 

Below is the next major obstacle: The pics don’t do this one justice!

        

Victory for the three brave Fenlasons who rode it out. Notice the girl in the green shirt at the top of the hill? She declined the rollercoaster experience down the scary drop in the name of video documentation. Smart girl 🙂

 

The drone view of the desolate plateau captured the little white speck that is is the Jeep.

 

Quick video compilation shows off the diversity of the terrain. (Credit: Jordan Fenlason)

 

  

Chelle with 2 of her favorite boys! 🙂 This one on the right is the MOST favorite!!

Below: Dakota ran through a patch of white-needled cactus plants!

He was whimpering in pain, but calmed right down and stayed perfectly still as Drs. Carlye, Alyssa, and Jordan tediously plucked long and short needles from the tops and bottoms of his paws.

Not an easy task to find white needles amidst white fur, but Dakota was remedied in the end and enjoyed preferential treatment the rest of the day 🙂

 

  

And now it’s time for a commercial break from our sponsor:

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Move mouse over this 360º bubbli picture to experience the thrill of riding the ridge of  Moab red rocks!

 

Check out more personal photos on Instagram #Fenfest2015

Day 2 Moab Adventure: Chicken Corners (Blue rating)

This angle was a bit of a balancing trick for the Jeep and for us!

 

This remote canyon wall presented a surprise photo op. Click to enlarge and see the nimble rock climbers hanging on for dear life! (Well, they DO actually have proper lines and gear :-).)

Below: The Catacombs of Kane Creek Canyon

The climb up to this opening into the cave system cause a gash and bruise to the knee, but it was worth it!

 

It was so so so hot out there! No one wanted to pose for a picture!!

Honestly, this pic was totally candid after the kids saw Dad setting up the tripod for a family snapshot from inside the catacomb.

  

But . . . there was the blog to think about 🙂

 

View from inside the mouth of the cave opening.

 

Below: On to Chicken Corners where the views are from a scary height!

Why did the chicken cross the road? To mark this awesome trail to the end of the canyon plateau!

 

  

It was a bit too windy to feel safe and stable on this little outcropping, but if the tripod could withstand it, so could the Fenlason family!

 

And across the Colorado River on that far outcrop is “Thelma & Louise Point” where a scene from the movie was actually filmed (anybody actually see that movie?).

 

Lizard hunting is one of the things this threesome looks forward to in UT where some of the most unique species in the US are found. A little sibling teamwork and a fishing-line snare attached to the end of the GoPro pole cinched the conquest.

This handsome yellow and green spotted fellow is a “collared lizard.” Suggested names range from the Greek word for rock “Petra” to the Indian name “Found-on-Rock.” The name is forthcoming . . . stay logged-in for the exciting reveal!

 

Eight hours. Red rocks. 4-wheel drive. Moab, UT. Enough said.

 

Moab Day 3: Fourth of July

Happy Freedom Day! The Aquatic Center downtown Moab declared Free(dom) Day today . . . Hours of high dives, high slides, and warm water soothed away the rough ridin’ tensions from the last two days. Unfortunately, there are no pictures to show for all that fun.

10:00 p.m. city fireworks displayed in the field just behind the RV park. With waffle ice cream cones in hand, we walked over for one of the best displays EVER! Fenlason Family Five thumbs up rating!

Tomorrow may or may not be our last day here. No one really wants to leave this COOL western town!

Stay tuned . . . 🙂

Last Days in Moab

Two towns top the list of Fenlason favorite Jeeping destinations. Moab, Utah is one of them. (The other one is Ouray, Colorado.) This video shows off why!

We extended our stay in the red rock labyrinth set on conquering two final challenges: Dome Rock and Gemini Bridges.

Little did we know what the extra two days held in store . . .

It began like any other day. Mom packed the lunch. Kids gathered the gear. Dad checked the oil, tires, and gas. The entrance to Dome Rock trail began an hour from town–an hour from cell service . . .from ANY services.

 

  

Our first challenge was “the steps.” We lowered the air pressure in the tires and the Jeep climbed right up these fellas! (Did I mention we have a really amazing driver!)

Two hours into the trail, something strange happened. Coming down a steep descent, the transmission stopped shifting. The gears would not engage. The wheels stopped moving and we were stuck in “bowl” at an intersection of trails that all went uphill.

What to do? Jordan and Alyssa gathered the hammocks to find a place in the shade. We would wait a bit. Maybe another Jeep would come by and be able to get us help. Jarred hiked up to a higher spot hoping to find a little cell connection. There was none.

Then the boys had a moment of inspiration . . .

Jarred’s parents have been Jeeping in Moab with us in the past; they know the area and where to get help. A text was sent to Amma and the phone attached to the drone. Perhaps up higher–say 400 feet higher–there might be a bit of 4G or LTE if we were really blessed.

Not sure if that worked, but we weren’t waiting around any longer.

We took one last selfie with the Jeep, attached a note on the windshield with our plans to hike out, and took off with a hammock-modified-into-a-backback full of water bottles, and headed out on foot.

Approaching the distant rock formation, we discovered one bar of service and called 911.

Jenny @ 911: “What’s your emergency?”

Us: “Our Jeep broke down 2 hours into Dome Plateau and–”

911: “Are you the Fenlason family?”

Us: “Yes!”

911: “Suzanne Fenlason has already called us and a deputy has been dispatched . . .”

Last time we were here, Moab was the filming site for much of The Lone Ranger film with Johnny Depp. It’s landscape is desolate, dry, and very rough and rocky. The area sees at least one adventure-related death a year and “Search and Rescue” is sent out on average 100 times a year.

The Fenlason family was their 70th rescue call so far in 2015.

Several hours later, a brave tow truck driver returned with Jarred to retrieve the Jeep.

The mileage added up and we received a bill for $680 from the Moab towing company. Next morning, the Jeep was fixed for $35 in labor in 10 minutes with a $3.99 plastic piece that had cracked under the 4-wheel drive gear shifter.

Yep. That’s how it goes sometimes when you live a life a epic adventures! 🙂

You would think that we would be begging for a day off–a day of rest–maybe laying around the pool at our campground, or a nice game of Clue around the picnic table. But NO– there was still one challenge left untamed.

Tomorrow: Gemini Bridges . . .

Last Day! It’s gonna be a good day!!

Alyssa is a trouper! Getting the gear together: Backback full of waters, hammocks, drone, and ukulele. Check!

  

[Left photo from below the Bridges on Bull Canyon Trail; Right photo from the drone at 100′]

Gemini Bridges is a popular Jeeping Spot 2 hours from town, but not everybody takes the posted warnings seriously. Four years ago, a boy scout troop took a hike along the top of the arches. One boy thought he could jump the 6ft. span between the arches and fell to his death. Another 19 year old guy drove his Jeep over the arches and plummeted to his death. We weren’t taking any chances.

We simply hung up our hammocks near the famed sight :-

  

We found a little oasis on the plateau to get settled for a rest. Alyssa had a sweet set-up complete with a “coffee table” rock.

Then we thought we’d get a little drone footage and fly through the arches–something dramatic for the blog.

Like we needed more drama in Moab! The drone came crashing down the walls between the arches.

(This place is reminiscent of the Bermuda Triangle stories!)

  

It landed somewhere down here on a shelf way below the arches, but way above the canyon floor. Maybe you can see the little white crashed drone in the above pictures… The only access would be from Bull Canyon, another hour Jeep drive.

 

Bull Canyon is meant more for hikers and small ATVs, but the fearless Jeep crew was on a recovery mission, so . . . onward and downward!

Once the Jeep was at the bottom, there was no easy access to the shelf on which the drone lay.

Hmmm…perhaps someone could shimmy up this crevice to the shelf above? J.S.Fenlason to the resuce! All those push-ups and squats really paid off!

 

Victory! See Jordan up there?

The drone was recovered. Pieces of it were strewn along the high rock shelf, but the video card was intact! (The video from that will be assessed and applied to the final video production at the end of the trip . . . we hope. 🙂 )

FYI: There was an error received just before the crash that should be covered by warranty. We shipped it to CA and hope to have it back by the time we get to FL.

Above is the actual crash video! 🙁

The last two days in Moab were a bit more than we planned for. But that’s what makes life (and blogs) interesting . . . all the interruptions.

Next stop: Colorado

Travel from Moab to Montrose, Colorado

We stopped for the night in Grand Junction to restock supplies in a “big city” then headed to Montrose to try out a new Jeep trail.

But first–a stop at the Montrose Riverside Park facilitated some fun and relaxation.

     

 

Montrose Black Hills ATV/Dirt bike/Jeep Park

This trail was supposed to be a moderate (blue) 6-mile trek over a few rough/steep spots to a ridgeline and then down a dirt road . . . well, things don’t always go the way they are “supposed” to.

 

We set up the hammocks for a little meditation time. (Dakota, Where did your family go?)

But then we heard some distant thunder and spotted some lightning strikes hitting surrounding peaks. By the time we packed up the hammocks, the rain was pelting us pretty hard.

That little white Jeep looks pretty helpless awaiting the approaching storm. Jarred took this picture from a place he hiked to looking for a safe way down the mountain. The first wave of rain muddied the clay roads beyond maneuverability. The Jeep was fishtailing and skidding as we worked our way across the ridge line.

 

Get a good look at those clay-caked tires. We tried scraping it off, but it didn’t last. There was nothing else we could do but wait out the storm. Then night came. We had no choice but to spend the night in the Jeep right where we were.

 

We tried to sleep. Jordan curled up with Dakota in the trunk for awhile. Needless to stay, no one could sleep. Expecting only a 2-hour trek, we had no food, blankets, or other–ahem–supplies. We did have water–praise God! We huddled together till sunlight broke over the mountain peaks.

 

Colorado sunrise — finally!

The roads were still clay soup. We asked God to make a way where there seemed to be no way. He answered. We made the decision to go down the side of the least steep slope we could find–over rocks–straight down to the base where we could eventually hook up with the flat road out! It looked scary from the top, but it felt as if angels had carried us down. Amazing! God is true to His Word.

Jer. 33:3 Call upon me and I will show you great and mighty things you couldn’t think of yourself. 

We came rolling into the Montrose KOA around 9:00 a.m. The park manager asked us how was our first night in Montrose. She got a story she didn’t bargain for. 🙂

We spent the day and next evening there, then moved on to a truly relaxing little campground riverside in the neighboring town . . .

 

Cimarron, CO — Pleasant Valley Campground

  

Perfect hammock setup next to the river. Rochelle and Jordan shared the 2-person hammock each doing what they love–reading and texting (or is that sleeping?)

Dakota loved the river experience here. A wise friend recently told me that having a dog helps us to slow down and enjoy the moment. I’m really beginning to understand that on this trip.

  

There was a little creative work going on in the hammock too. A hammock is a little piece of heaven facilitating rest, meditation, and creativity. We have now acquired 5 of them on this trip, yet still prefer to share. 🙂 You should get one too.

 

Tomorrow: Ouray, CO

Hip Hip Ouray!

We love Ouray, Colorado!!

It is pronounced “you-ray;” self-proclaimed Jeep capital of the World and Little Switzerland because of the towering jagged snow-covered mountain peaks.

Day 1 Saturday:

We arrived into town after lunch and wasted no time hitting the trails.

Dakota knows what the open trunk means! He is 9 months old now and finally figured out he could jump into the trunk all by himself. 🙂

 

  

Just 45 minutes up the nearest mountain lies “Yankee Boy Basin,” a very popular site for piture-taking because of the abundant wild-flowers and pretty swiss models. (Actually, the twin waterfalls are the main attraction for most of the explorers.)

This is where Coors filmed their beverage commercial. Recognize it?

 

  

Jordan’s GoPro & GoRad pole have been great tools capturing memories this summer.

 

Waterfalls are everywhere up here in Little Switzerland. But not everyone can get this close. #JeepLife

 

  

The state flower is this lilac-colored Columbine. It is totally illegal to pick one; the motto “Leave only footprints; take only pictures” is taken very seriously here.

This waterfall where we ate lunch is not so popular because few will brave the super rocky slick trail to get here. In years past, we’ve not been able to get here for all the snow that sticks around until July. (photo credit: Jordan Fenlason)

 

It was 57º when we arrived back to basecamp and headed downtown. Jordan & Carlye have been practicing their act during the long-drive days in the RV and it really paid off 🙂 One passer-by put in some money in the open Uke case and said to Jordan, “Buy her a coat!” (for video footage of such events, text Rochelle privately :-)).

Ah . . . those Florida kids and their white shorts . . . !

 

Day 2: Big Day of Jeeping tough trails

All the trails have names so that when we roll back into town and down to the Jeep Wash you can answer the questions like, “How high did ya get?” Today’s adventure: “Mineral Creek Trail” to OH Point, through the Ghost mining town of Animas Forks, and finally Hurricane Pass.

This map show the Alpine Loop. We took the blue round-trip route today. The first part of the trail on Mineral Creek leads along a narrow ledge with the creek far below. It’s relatively flat and safe unless the driver decides to enjoy the view.

 

If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, what is a video worth??

Each turn holds a surprise! Sometimes it’s, “Surprise! A whole caravan of Jeeps is coming down!” It’s part of the fun—-a challenge to back down a steep trail until there’s enough room to let others pass literally centimeters along your side.

 

Dilapitated mines, boarding houses, and rusted equipment litter the roadside as memorial to the gold & silver rushes that created Ouray and the surrounding towns in the late 1800’s.

 

Hmm . . . choices. We first went up Engineer Mountain to “Oh Point” where it feels like the top of the world!

This plateau among the peaks provides 360º views of the surrounding summits. Mount Sneffels is the highest one around at 14,158 ft. (almost 3 miles above sea level!)

 

Family pic atop OH POINT! #topoftheworld

 

  

Dakota enjoying the views and posing like a model dog! The Jeep looked so cool with this ATV-ers flag fluttering behind it (don’t click to enlarge photo–flag is from the dark side).

 

  

Heading back down to Mineral Point (the other choice on the previous sign) shows lush green valleys and more wildflowers.

Today’s lunch stop: Camp Bird Mine

  

2015 and 2007 . . . Not only the kids have changed. The structure has aged as well.

 

  

See Jordan in left pic way up hight? This property in the middle of nowhere is actually for sale. Any investors want to go in with us to create a coffee shop & wifi hotspot out here for all these Jeepers? As remote as it is, 250,000 visitors make this trek each summer.

BUT . . . I bet only one visitor will have swam here this summer . . .

This lake is comprised of snow-melt. What temp do you suppose it is? We snapped this pic of two rarely seen polar bears swimming here. One had obviously shed his winter coat.

 

The other one, after shaking all over the fully-clothed members of the family, rolled around in the snow–obviously in pure ecstasy!

    

Mom may be the one who feeds, bathes, grooms, and baby-talks this furry child, but clearly a dog’s best friend is his BOY–especially one who shares his affinity for rolling in the snow. 🙂

(Below) Testing out this site for a getting some footage for Carlye & Jordan’s music video.

  

(shhhh . . . this is a sneak peak for you faithful blog followers.)

 

Animas Forks—Ghost town . . .

. . . was built to house prospectors and their families. At one point, 80 people called this home. But most of the winter, 5 feet of snow made it impossible to get out and do much. They made tunnels to get to each other’s homes, and stories abound of having to reach out the upper story windows to get snow to melt for drinking water, washing, and cooking.

Jarred & Rochelle have been coming here since our teen years. Couldn’t locate those pics, but we dug up ones from when Jordan, Carlye, and Alyssa were little . . .

Animas Forks 2007 when Jordan was 8, Carlye 6, Alyssa 3, and their parents looked barely older than teens!

 

Animas Forks 2009–with Poppie & Amma, and Uncle John/Aunt Barb (Poppie’s sister)

 

Animas Forks 2011 (Nice shades, Carlye!)

 

Animas Forks 2015–The old Dawson house is being “restored” which means there were no window sills to sit on because they had just put glass in windows for the first time in 25 years.

 

I remember spelunking into this shaft many many years ago and coming out muddy! The mining shafts have been barred and gated since we first began visiting the area. Makes it safer, but way less  . . . well, exciting dangerous. (Spoken now as parent of a teen explorer.)

Moving on to the next breath-taking view at California Pass on our way to Hurricane Pass. The plan was to cross this pass and head down into Corkscrew Gulch . . . (FYI: these passes are very high points that cross over very high ridges leading from one valley floor to the next. It’s a bit like being on a roller coaster in slow motion!)

 

(above) About to cross the pass at 12, 160 feet . . .

. . . then down through California Gulch . . .

. . . up again to Hurricane Pass (below).

The very blue Lake Como, visible from Hurricane Pass, is a popular photographed site. (This is the first time I’ve ever seen it with ice & snow on it!)

Move around in the picture to get a feel for standing on Hurricane Pass

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There was quite a lot of snow up here!

   

Marmot brothers fight in the snow. #FenFest2015 Making memories . . . and sharing 🙂

 

Day 3: A Day of Rest & Play at the Hot Springs

The water comes bubbling out of the ground around 130-140ºF. It’s contained now-a-days in a 3 concrete pool that are mixed with cold water to maintain 3 different temps. The cool pool–86º provides swimming laps, a twisting slide, and this cool obstacle race . . .

   

Carlye and Alyssa were kneck-n-kneck most of the race!

It’s open 10a.m.-10p.m. Other than 2 10-minute walks back to the RV for lunch and dinner, the kids spent the entire day here! (Mom joined them for most of it. 🙂 )

 

Day 4: Last Day of Jeeping to Governor’s Trail

This trail, considered a “red,” is not one I have particularly enjoyed in the past because everything is so narrow and so rough! But, a re-opened mine at the top of the trail has improved the road to make way for commuters in work trucks.

 

  

Now with our new-found-love of hammocking, there are other reasons to love this trail. It was cold and wet outside, but warm and toasty in the 2-person hammock. (We could have each set up our own, but . . . 🙂 )

 

This pic is sort of iconic for our many mountain hikes. Jordan & his selfie stick GoRad pole document the landscape and paths of those who dare to discover it’s secrets.

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Move around in the pic to get a feel for the view from Governor Trail and the distant Yankee Boy Basin/Twin Waterfalls.

Tomorrow morning we will say farewell to Ouray as we move north to the Denver area.