Spirit Lake Campground - 2026

 

Meadow above the Lodge

070126 - 070526  - 4th of July weekend at Spirit Lake Campground. Second year in a row that I visited the High Unitas, Ashley National Forest.  (2025 post) I stopped in Vernal Ut., which is my habit for provisions. This year I used the Utah Fish and Game phone app to purchase my fishing license instead of Walmart. 

Spirit Lake Campground 2026

I also make sure I stop and download all the offline maps and latest Geocaching information that I will need. As soon as I turned onto Spirit Lake Rd FR 001 I noticed there was many more rigs in the dispersed camping areas, many big 5th wheel toy haulers.  Luckily there was plenty of sites in the campground, I would say that it was about 1/2 full when I got there, mostly the perimeter sites, the middle sites stayed open all weekend. I drove around the campground twice to select the right site and ended up setting up in the same site I was at last year. I knew I would have plenty of sun during the day and plenty of space for my moon shade. Plus there is that little creek that runs down the base of the ridge. 

By the time I got all set up, the sun was setting and the temperature dropped. I walked down through the first group site to the bank of the lake. The water level seems high to me but I really have no basis for it. No matter how many times I visit, the site of Spirit Lake is full of special feelings and memories of family fishing trips. I feel so fortunate to have spent time with love ones in such a wonderful place.  I returned to camp and cooked up some beef stew and a grilled ham & cheese that could not be beat. 

Bounty Lake

 My focus the next morning was to find GCBAM6G Bounty Lake the newest cache hidden July 30th last year. So far no one has logged it, giving me a chance at a first to find. It was less than a mile almost directly south. I headed directly towards it, there is not a trail that I know of, but there was a washed out creek up the steep hill off the campground road. After a 1/4 mile trek up the hill I found the trail referenced in the hint. I found the cache under/behind a big rock off the bank of the lake. The container was a brand new plastic ammo can. I opened it up and grabbed what I thought would be a blank log. But to my surprise, 🤯 there was a entry made on 8/31/25 by Samantha. So I am the 2nd to find and still the only one to log it online. 

Now I have never heard of Bounty Lake and official or widely recognized body of water named Bounty Lake near Spirit Lake, it could be considered a unnamed pond. Although it is not as big as Tamarack or Jessen, it is bigger than the Lilly Pond Lake which is named. It is not very far from the campground, but there is not a mapped trail to it that I can see. Not sure where the cache owner got the name from. 

Tiger Trout

Each time I visit it is a custom to make the hike up to Tamarack Lake, a natural body of water at 10,400'. I was able to locate  Tie One On GC8328 hidden 08-22-2002 and found it is great shape. The theme is to leave a fly and take a fly which are all organized in small plastic cubes. The log shows that I was the last one to find it last year. Again, I swapped flies and used it and caught a nice Tiger Trout on the first cast, and that is no fish 🎣 story. 

I packed myself a lunch and spent the day walking up and down the north banks casting my fly out in the clear alpine spring water, I caught a few more and release them all except for a pretty big one that I cleaned for dinner. It was another Tiger Trout, a sterile hybrid fish created by crossing a female brown trout and a male brook trout.  Up here the weather can change quickly and the big clouds were moving over the south ridge line, time to pack it up and head back to the van

Met hikers on the trail heading to Fish Lake. "No fish in Fish Lake" I said from personal experience. They were not anglers so they didn't care, but they were amazed that I carried my catch in my vest. I wished them a happy hike and continued down the trail. When I got back to the van I prepared the Tiger Trout for dinner. I had to use the larger frying pan Kate gave for this fish. I was surprised on how pink the meat is, it made a very tasty meal. I saved 1/2 of future tacos! 

Spirit Lake Lodge

The next morning, I took off after breakfast to check on Osprey Cove cache and fish the west side of the lake. I found the cache in good shape and was not surprised I was the last one to log it. I continued down the length of the lake and settled at a nice spot near the north end. While I was fishing I met Jason, a young man that volunteers for the Utah Fish and Game. He asked if he could ask me questions about fishing, part of a volunteer project. His questions just about where and how I fish. He said there is a project to protect the native Utah Cutthroat Trout subspecies which are having trouble surviving with the more aggressive hybrid species like the Tiger Trout.  The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) perform efforts to remove invasive or overabundant species to protect the native cutthroat. So Jason asked if I want to protect the native cutthroat which would result in slower fishing activity and less aggressive catch or continue to stock Tiger Trout and let the native cutthroat continue to struggle. I answered to protect the native fish, but when I started to explain why, a large train of side by sides drove up the road on the other side of the lake. The noise was so loud and echoed throughout the valley.  

Okay heres my rant. This is becoming a popular place for side by sides ( named for their specific seating arrangement, where the driver and passengers sit adjacent to each other on bench or individual bucket seats rather than straddling the vehicle). These vehicles are not allowed on the hiking trails, they ride them on the same dirt road that any other vehicle use. But they sound like a motor cycle and the sound carries across the forest.  They go through the campground day and night traveling from there huge toy haulers down below to the lodge and back again and again.  Utah has been poisoning the lakes and streams for decades and a google search will show that the Tiger Trout are not the problem. So I don't think it matters what fish that you would have caught while you are waiting for the traffic jam on Spirit Lake Road.   This is what I get for visiting over a holiday weekend.  I will alway visit Spirit and Tamarack but I'm thinking of finding another place to camp.  End of rant.

Ruble Ranch 

Okay, remember the van would not start when I was leaving Gooseneck, well the next morning 7/5/26 I was all packed up ready to go and my startup battery was dead. While I was trying to charge it with my power pack, I fired up the Starlink and found a Auto Zone open in Rock Springs.  The battery jumper worked and I drove off heading for Wyoming. On my way I drove through Manila, specifically where Dot & Chief had their cabin. It's no longer there but the Ruble Ranch is and the field to the old barn where I delivery fresh milk to Grandma after helping Danny Ruble milk the cows and gather the morning eggs. Amazingly it looks quite the same except the ranch house is much bigger.  I made it to Auto Zone and bought and installed a new battery. 

Thanks for visiting

Here my shared photo album. 

  

North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky

Cumberland Gap from Tri-State peak

052226. First stop was Jackrabbit Campground in Nantahala National Forest, part of the Southern Appalachians in North Carolina.  The weather was warm with off and on rain throughout the day, discouraging weekend campers. There was a single geocache along the Jackrabbit Mountain trail system that meanders down by the lake before turning up hill to the ridge making a nice loop, I waited for a break in the rain, but decided to go for it anyway before it got dark. The trail was well maintained yet muddy, especially on the downward slope. I found the cache in good shape feeling like it was well earned. There were just enough daylight left to complete the hike. The camp host was very friendly and told me where I can dump my gray water and top off on fresh before heading north to Virginia in the morning. 

052326 - 052526 I camped at the Wilderness Road Campground just across the border in Virginia  Now I was really enjoying the history traveling through the Daniel Boon trail of 1776 from North Carolina to Kentucky. The Cumberland Mountains comprise borders in Virginia, Carolinas, Tennessee and Kentucky. Borders that were declared by Great Britain in 1665, but not surveyed until 1728, but were not settled until 1803. I often wondered how the states borders were established. Imagine all the border disputes that went on between the Virginians and Tennesseans back in the day.  There was a lot to do in the area, all the monuments and geocaches, but it rained most of one day so I packed what I could into the next. I hiked the Tri-State peak and visited the ‎⁨Cumberland Gap National Historical Park⁩. I would like to go back and spend more time in the area, but for now, I need to keep on with my route which takes me to the Mammoth Caves in Kentucky. 

052526 - 051726 I got an early start on Memorial Day because I wanted to spend some time at the Mill Springs Battle Field National Monument on the way to Mammoth Caves. The virtual cache at Mill Springs is no give away, it requires visiting several sites and a hiking tour through the mass graves of confederate soldiers. I spent 2 hours completing all the logging requirements, but had a wonderful time learning about. This victory broke the right section of the confederate forces allowing union advance into Tennessee and control of the upper Mississippi river. When I was finished, before driving away I sat and thought about the many Americans that lost their lives in the civil war. 

I arrived Mammoth Caves Campground about 1500. Before setting up I walked over to the visitor center. This place is big, they have a restaurant, a hotel, cabins and a large gift shop. At the information desk is when I found out there were no cave tours available, apparently you need to purchase them online well in advance. But they did have a limited self guided tour, so I got one of those for the next day.  I got settled in and had dinner. No cell service and too many trees for Starlink. But it was only a short walk to the ranger's booth for wifi to check my phone. In the morning I visited the cave at the Historic entrance and spend about 90 minutes on the self guided tour. It was like an underground museum with different exibits and information plaques detailing the cave's history. The rest of the day I drove to where some virtual caches were, one in a graveyard and another at a sinkhole pond with a nice trail.  I spend some time in the visitor center parking lot so I could get online through starlink. In the evening I took a nice walk on the campground trails, there were no geocaches, but I had a good walk. The next day I left the park and visited Russell Cave National Monument just across the Tennessee and Alabama border. Not much there but a small display and a short trail to the cave opening. No entry into the cave allowed. Later in Anniston AL,  

I visited the Freedom Riders National Monument  before arriving back at Camp Carla in Pell City for some birthday baseball. 

Here is a link to the weekends shared photos. 

Until next time, bye. 

Thanksgiving 2025

112325 - 120525 Sun City to Olympia and back again with points in between

Now that the repairs on Vannie D0T1D9 are fixed I was eager to get on the road again. Destination a thanksgiving dinner that could not be beat compliments of the Caron Family somewhere near Olympia. 

I had a good start heading NW through Las Vegas then on to highway 93 that parallels the Nevada - Utah North and South border all the way to Idaho. I pulled into Pahranagat Rest Area after dark, found a level spot and stayed the night. 

Morning was a quick bowl of oatmeal I headed north. I was going to stop at the Alien Research Center but the alien's were off for the holiday and they were closed 🙁 so I continued north. Driving conditions were very good and I made good time. My plan A, a casino campground in Jackpot at the north border of Nevada and Idaho, was a bust. I just didn't have a good feeling about Cactus Pete's Saguaro RV Park. So I continued north into Idaho and found a gem. 

Lud Drexler Park

USFS Lud Drexler Park right next to Salmon Lake Dam. High desert at 5000 feet. It was about 45°F when I parked. I was the only one there, including any Rangers, but they were open. I paid $13.50 and pick a site that had a view of the lake. I had to break out the sleeping bag because it got down to 28°F. In the morning I cooked breakfast inside on the butane stove which help warm the up the inside of the van. I walked down to the dam and around the park. Found a geocache near where I parked. So it was already after ten by the time I lwas back on the road. Highway 93 meets Interstate 84 in Twin Falls, I figured I would make it as far a La Grande in Oregon before sunset. For the third day I didn't really have a confirmed campsite because this late in the season the state USFS campgrounds are closed in the high elevations. So I figured I would stay at a rest stop. But I thought I would check out Forest Road 21 Dispersed Camping between the La Grande exit and Deadman's Pass.

Forest Road 21

It seemed fine when I pulled in and there was only one other camper. The ground was wet forest floor, not muddy. Satisfied, I found a nice spot between the trees. I checked the weather forecast that shows "wintermix", whatever that means,  starting at 2100 with accumulation of .3". It was already after dark, so I figure I was good, after all it was warmer that last night. I woke up at 0230, stepped out side for the necessary and discovered about 2.5" of wet snow! Now I know what "wintermix" is 😟 

Try as I might, I could not go back to sleep. I was worried about getting Vannie out of the snow. Front wheel drive is good, but with so much weight in the back, I'm always afraid of spinning my wheels. So I forced myself to stay in bed, knowing myself I would try to get out in the dark, and wait until sunrise. No telling when the snow might stop, best to wait until there is at least traffic on the freeway. I decided that I would try to go out the way I came in because I know that ground was somewhat level. So at about 0630, have everything packed up, forgoing breakfast for now, I made my first attempt, which was all that was needed. I did spin the front wheels, but there was plenty of traction all the way to the pavement. Feeling relieved, I stopped at Deadman'd Pass Rest Area and had my breakfast before heading out for the 5 hour drive to Glenwood Park. 

Gus

I arrived right before dinner time, I have a knack for that. We had salad and sausage rolls, a NW treat! Banjo and Fiddle-Mandolin caught me up on all the PNW news and the agenda for the weekend. This includes a nice walk with Gus each day, a Thanksgiving dinner that could not be beat, a music jam and a trip to Tacoma to see old friends.  I always feel welcomed and I'm treated more like a inhabitant than a visitor these days, just part of the big familia.  Thank you all very much!

Alas, I do eventually leave, usually before there is any serious work to be done, always with a heavy heart and anticipation for my next visit.  Sunday morning, after yet another fine Banjo breakfast, I headed south down interstate 5 with my sites set on Umpqua Lighthouse State Park on the coast of Oregon. 

Umpqua Lighthouse State Park

The weather forecast was very favorable for this time of year and there were plenty of campsites available.  I arrived way before sunset and set up in a nice back in site with electrical and water hookup, almost glamping for this trip. There was plenty to do, several geocaches to hunt and the lighthouse to visit. The park was maybe 1/2 full make for a nice and quiet visit. 

I walked around Lake Marie an found all the tiny geocaches, then rode Jagurandi down by the beach. At the lighthouse gift shop there was a real nice Letterbox geocache. I discovered all the travel bugs and swapped a pair. I visited the gift shop and got some stickers.  It was nice to have a whole day to explore and relax. My visit went by quick, next thing I knew it was time to get back on the road.  I spent some time planning my stops as I head south. 

I thought I would stay on the coast as I enter California, stay a night then jump east towards Reno area. The USFS and State campgrounds in the Redwood forest were closed, but I did find a first come first serve campground near Trinidad Ca.

Sue-Meg State Park

The drive down the 101 was beautiful with open skies and colorful transitions from forest to sea. The only traffic was through the numerous small towns along the route. I arrived Sue-Meg State Park about 1600 but didn't get parked until about 1700 because I had to drive into Trinidad to get correct change for the envelope drop pay station. I still had enough sun light to take the stairs down to the beach and take in the view. 

The campground area was nearly full so I was lucky to find a site for the evening.  I'm not complaining, but the difference of the facility up keep between Oregon and California State Parks was drastic. Maybe it was only because one is more popular than the other, still this is a nice park, just somewhat run down after the summer season.

Nevertheless, this was only an overnight stay and made the best of my time. Having filled up with water and emptied the grey tank in Oregon, there was no worry about it in the morning. After breakfast I was off again, only heading east across California, wanting to stay clear of any big metro areas. It took most the day driving the very curvy highway 299 from Trinidad to Reading through the Redwood Forest.  I took my time and arrived safely. From Reading I continued east up highway 44 towards Susanville.

Again, a lot of the campgrounds are closed this late in the year, so my choices for an overnight were thin.
Fortunately, Goumaz Campground was still open. A USFS free area with no facilities but nice level spots to camp. "Pack in pack out" rules apply! The forest road into the park was well maintained, mostly free of ruts and level except for the last part. I still had time for a nice walk around the forest, down a babbling creek, almost I wanted to try a fly. So peaceful it was kind of eerie because there was absolutely nobody else here. I defiantly needed my sleeping bag here, temperatures were in the 20's.  Maybe that was why I was the only one here. There was no waiting around in the morning for the temp to rise, so after a quick breakfast, I was off early making Tonopah BLM land for overnight before the end of the day. From here it was a 6 hour drive through Las Vegas and home. 

Here is a link to my shared photo album for this successful Thanksgiving trip. 

Thanks for reading my blog. 

 

Nevada, October 2025

100825 - 101025 

There is a lot more to discover around southeast Oregon,  but I was ready to make my way towards home. I'm finding that my travel time has been between 4.5 and 6 hours  on average which has been working out good. I have been using a trip planner called Roadtrippers with Campendium that helps me find places to camp along a route. I try always a plan B incase my first selection does not workout. I continued to take the less travel route into Nevada stopping at the Virgin Valley Dispersed Camping, yes another free camping area in the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge.  There was quit a few campers for being in the middle of the week. The rigs range from car campers to 40' mobile homes, with everything in between.  I parked in a gravel space that was pretty clean, however there was some trash in the fire ring. I settled in and had an uneven-full evening.  

The next days destination was Kinston Campground USFS Auston Nevada, a 5 hour drive through Winnamucca, a short time on Interstate 80, then South 1/2 way to Tonopah NV. This is another free campground and being later in the season, the campground was pretty empty. I imagine it is much busier in the summer. The trip in was fine for a front wheel drive Promaster, but the narrow bridge make it difficult for a bigger rig.  7092' Elevation, beautiful fall like temperatures.  I did not have T-Mobile cell service but Starlink mini worked good. I arrived right a 1600 so I had plenty of time to get setup and settled before dark.  I know in the future I will be driving to and from Washington, so it will be likely I will stay here again. 

Right behind the van was a flowing stream and a nice place the sit and just think. This is where I was when I finally decided to go ahead with another Cochlear Implant on my right side. This got me thinking of getting home and all the things that need some of my attention.  I left for Indiana a month ago, so I was feeling it was about time for me to get home and get these life balls rolling.  

So I was off early in the morning headed south. Fueled in Tonopah and onto the 95 which goes through  Las Vegas.  My destination was Silver Hill Dispersed Camping located between Las Vegas and Kingman AZ.  The horizon started to turn dark and then it started raining.  I made it through the Vegas traffic and passed the Hover Dam and it was still raining when I stopped for gas in

White Hills AZ. This is when I realized that I'll be camping in the rain. So I got a footlong Subway tuna to have for dinner. The sun was low on the horizon when I arrived at the dispersed camp area. There was only one area that was not flooded and there was a big rig there. I pulled in and just did not have a good feeling, so I head back through the small town to the highway.  I pulled over and ate my sandwich, then took a 30 minute nap with the rain pounding on the van. My plan B was Hualapai Mountain Resort , I've had my eye on this for a while, but with the pouring rain, I was not eager to go driving in the mountains after dark and I was only a little over 3 hours away from my desert habitat (home 🌵). 

Considering game 3 of the ALCS was on the radio, I decided to
break my 6 hour driving time rule and drive all the way home. It was still raining when I pulled onto Willowbrook Dr. at 2148, but surprising enough the game was not over. I was able to watch the 18th inning on my TV!   My 30 day trip I drove 126h 22m 14s averaging 50 mph and traveled 6,334.9 miles.

👀 Nevada OCT25 👀

Here is a link to my map:

Thanks for visiting, please leave a comment if you have one. 

Oregon - 2025

 100525 - 101025 

We parted ways on Sunday, John, Todd & Kate headed home and I took off for 

Fort Stevens Oregon on
the Columbia River. I was only able to get an RV site for Sunday night, there was nothing available the rest of the week. This was one of the biggest campground I have ever been to, but the campsites were individual, not like a RV parking lot. I got in after dark, but I did get a walk early in the morning. There was a lot of free ranging Elk, like everywhere! According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, over the last 30 years, the elk population along Oregon’s northern coast has ballooned. It seem that Elk have figured out where man cannot hunt. The areas where hunting is allowed, do not have a problem with the Elk population.  

I didn't have much time to explore the Columbia river area, so I have added this area to my list to return to. Staying off the interstate was pretty easy in Oregon, I only drove a few miles of I5 on my way to Bend Oregon and the Deschutes National Forest. 

I made it to USFS Prairie Campground before dark, so I was able to get a nice walk in and geocache. There was a cache on 250' from campsite #9, but I had to balance a log to get across the natural creek running next to the campground.  There was only one other camper, I'm pretty sure they are the host. Maybe because it was a Monday? Or, maybe it was because they have already shut off the water in the park for the winter and at 7am it was 39°F inside the van and 22°F outside! 

I am used to living without a schedule, I mean I try to schedule, but I like to keep things flexible. After a cold night at #9 Prairie campground, I proceed up the highway to visit a place Todd told me about, the Big Obsidian Flow Trailhead and Interpretive Site part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  The trail takes you up the side of the lava flow and through massive blocks of obsidian. I completed the Earth Cache but had no cell service to upload. So I left the Big Flow parking lot and headed into the an adjacent campground to set up my Starlink to get online. Plus there was quit a few geocaches near the Little Crater Campground.  

I drove through the campground, along Paulina Lake. looking for a place to park. I found a beautiful spot right on the lake, so I decided to stay.  

I paid my 1/2 price fee and took off to find some geocaching. There was a wonderful loop trail up to the top of the side of the little crater. I found 8 cool geocaches and took in the awesome views of the lake and of the lava flow on the other side. 

I had a wonderful van life evening, salad and patty melt for dinner and I watched the game 3 ALCS.  Definitely a Win. One of the best overnights I've had in the van. 

Okay off to Nevada then home. Thanks for stopping by, here is my shared album 👀 Oregon OCT25 👀

 

On the road with LT. Dan WY-MT-ID-WA

 092125 - 092425 

Shortly after leaving Devil's Tower, we were held up by a herd of cattle being moved along by some real cattle drivers. It was slow going but we were in no hurry. Yeehaw! We finally made it to Cody BLM Dispersed Camping area about 5 miles outside Cody Wy. There was very few other campers, but there was some. Parked and set up on a small promontory above a vast valley of barren land, nothing to stop the strong wind. The tossed the van back and forth all evening and through the night. The forecast called for rain in the morning and sure enough after a beautiful sunrise, it started raining hard. We got out of the BLM land before the dirt roads got too muddy and headed around Cody and north toward Montana. 

Soon we were on the interstate plowing west in the consistent rain with a million big rigs. It only seemed like a million because I was a custom to the 2 lane highway. Five hours later, we arrived at Cardwell General Store & Campground 

I book this site because they had showers and laundry facilities. We parked in the dry camping area and went for a nice walk around the grounds. There was a nice creek on the back of the property. 

After our walk, I left LT Dan in the Camper and started laundry and took a nice shower. The was 5 or 6 spots in the dry camping area. They were all full by sunset, but the rest of the sites stayed pretty empty. This was a good spot for a productive overnighter. 

Fortunately the rain was gone and it was a beautiful day with fall temperatures. Montana is a beautiful place. 

We were the last of the dry campers to leave. Took our time because we have a pretty short 4.5 hours drive on the I90 so there was no reason to rush.  We will stop at a USFS campground near Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho, called Beauty Creek Campground 

Lake Coeur d'Alene

LT Dan did not like this camp. We went on walks, but he was jumpy, I'm sure he smelled other critters about. I left his food outside and some critter ate it all. He does not bark much, but when a couple of bunnies came into view, he would lay in his bed and woof quietly. 

This is our last overnight, we will make it to our destination the next day.  We took off after 9 and soon we were past Spokane and making good time across eastern Washington. 

We arrived Glenwood Park in Olympia just in time for dinner. LT Dan and Gus met and were onto being fast friends. Thus concludes LT Dan's excellent adventure.

 👀 LT. Dan WY-MT-ID-WA 👀 

Thanks for visiting my blog. 

Devil's Tower National Monument - Wyoming

 091925 - 092125 Belle Fourche River Campground

This was the view from the campground. We arrive at about 1700 and drove around the campground looking for an open space. After the first loop, I turned to follow a Ranger in a golf cart. Her name was Bobbie and she was helping a family find a spot and took me along with them. There was only 2 group sites left, so we got them. Bobbie made a big deal about the cost, $30, but I was just happy to get a space. As soon as we got set up, I knew I want to spend more than 1 night. Ranger Bobbie said we can move after 1200 the next day.  Even though the campground was full, there was plenty of space between sites, which is typical for Forest Service campgrounds. There was a lot of people out walking their dogs in the campground.  Dogs are not allowed on the monument trails.

 

LT Dan and I took a long walk the next morning, we mistakingly visited the Prairie Dog field, must had missed the sign. Then we packed up and move to another space. Bobbie talked me into going back to the gate and get a senior pass so I can get the space for 1/2 price. Bobbie pick a nice space for us and I made the move. 

Because dogs are not allowed on the trails or the welcome center, I left LT Dan in the van and rode my bike 2 miles up to the welcome center. Glad I didn't drive, because there was a big traffic jam getting to the welcome center.  I was able to see the museum and the gift shop. I hiked up the trail a ways, but I did't want to leave LT Dan alone for too long, so I rode back to the camp.  

We went for another walk as soon as I got back. We stopped and talked with other campers and their dogs
We walked for about 45 minutes just around the park. We were on our way back to the Van when LT Dan saw the snake! He ran ahead to the end of the lease and barked. A green rattlesnake coiled up and rattled in response. Glad I had a hold of the lease, I pulled him back. We found a ranger and stayed near the walkway to keep others from walking up on the snake.  Two young men came up from the other direction, I told them to mind the snake and they got real close, like they didn't know that a rattlesnake bite! Luckily the ranger returned with his snake grabber pole and stopped them from trying to get a selfie with Mr. snake.  

Well we had a great time visiting Devils Tower and I think I will probably return sometime in the future. Thanks for visiting my blog. Leave a comment below. 

👀📸 Devil's Tower National Monument 📸👀

P.S. I zoomed in on one of my photos and you can see climbers on their way up the tower! Cool. 

 

Navajo National Monument - Betataken

I'm off on another adventure. Remember the day I left Glenwood, I told Todd I would be back. I agreed to pick up Gus's buddy in Indiana and take him to Washington.   I'm taking my time, adhering to my rule of no more than 6 hour driving per day, it will take me four full days to get there. Click on the map to see my route in google maps.

I left the 🌵 habitat about 1030 on 091025. My first stop, Navajo National Monument, NE corner of Arizona, 7284' elevation on Navajo Nation land. 

First I took the 1/2 mile hike down to the overlook and logged the excellent virtual cache.  The view was wonderful and the walk was refreshing.  There was plenty of campsites to choose from, I ended up in #7 Sunset View campground. Nestled in Juniper 🌲 Dry camping, parked on asphalt. The cost? $0  I enjoyed a beautiful sunset and a simple dinner. This is definitely a place I want to return to and stay for a few days.  👀Betatakin is a Navajo word meaning "House Built on a Ledge."👀

After my typical van breakfast, I hit the road heading towards the 👀Four Corners, 👀 the geographical marker in the Southwest where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah connect. There is four virtual geocaches there where you need to answer question about the monument dimensions and details on each state seal. I used the measure app on my phone to answer some of the questions. There is Native American items for sale in the booths bordering the monument. I bought a t-shirt and stickers.  I stayed in the the parking lot and made lunch then got underway for Colorado and beyond featuring UFOs and lots of rain.

Well thanks for reading my blog, please leave a comment if you have one. 

Spirit Lake 2025

Spirit Lake 2025

 If you are ever traveling through Vernal Utah and plan on heading into the mountains, stop by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Region Office and get the latest on road access, campground closures and fishing information. They also have free wildlife reading materials and state park stickers.  

I got a fishing license, propane and provision in Vernal before heading up the south grade of US highway 191 into the Ashley National Forest, I reached UT 44 and Spirit Lake Rd FR 001.  

Spirit Lake in Ashley National Forest is a high-elevation lake with a geological history shaped primarily by ancient mountain-building forces and subsequent glacial erosion. It is situated on the northern flank of the Uinta Mountains, the only major east-west-trending mountain range in the contiguous United States.  

The weather was beautiful, temperature high 60° with calm winds. The campground was less than half full, I took space #5 an set up camp. At about 1630 I got on Jaguarundi to ride around the lake.  I headed to the north end of the lake where the water spills into Middle Fork Sheep creek. As I rode by the lake I noticed how high the water is. July is the highpoint of the snow melt off, so the lake is full. So full there was no way I was getting across the spill area and there is no foot bridge. So I turned around and head back towards the lodge on the south end of the lake.  The lodge was not open, only a "be back later sign"

I downloaded the the offline geocaching information,  so I pointed the GPS to Osprey Cove at Pappy's Lake GC1X7GJ hidden 16 years ago on 08-10-2009 by Todduh.  I saw how high the water in lake is I knew I needed to check on this one. I found the old road by the lodge. From there it was just a matter of weaving to the GZ. The cache is in great shape, looks like it was hidden last week.  

The next day I decided to hike up to Tamarack Lake, there are 2 new geocaches on the trail and I want to check on Tie one On cache. This is the cache that Todduh found while we were fishing in 2008.  

Nothing has changed on the Spirit - Tamarack Trail 024 over the years, up and down at the edge of the meadow behind the lodge, across the bridge over the creek then the trail goes up to the Lily Pad lake where it splits off, left to Jessen Lake, right to Tamarack.  The 2 new geocaches are hidden in this area. Found then both pretty quickly, however the coordinates are way off on one of them. Trail 024 continues southeast up to 10400' elevation where Tamarack sits under the penumbra of 11500' east west ridge featuring treeless rock cliffs a snow covered domes.  

I was able to locate  Tie One On GC8328 hidden 08-22-2002 and found it is great shape. The theme is to leave a fly and take a fly which are all organized in small plastic cubes, I selected a nice bumble bee looking fly and left a renegade fly. I dropped a geocoin that I got at the New York state campground in Cooperstown NY.  (as of 8/31/25 it is still there) then made sure the cache was well hidden. I wonder how long it will be before someone else finds it. 

So I took my new fly and rigged my pole with a fly behind a clear bobber 1/2 full of water. Wouldn't you know it, that I caught a fish on the first cast.  The fish got off just as I was landing it, but it got stuck in a pool near the bank, I used my needle nose pliers to grab that the tail fin sticking out of the water and flipped it onto my rock. At first I thought it was a Golden Trout, but after

referring to the fishing guide, it looks like one of those Tiger Trout, or maybe a hybrid.  I did not keep the fish I caught because I think I have caught my fair share over the years. I ate my lunch and headed back down the trail.  I met 3 groups on their way up  right as it started to rain. Back at the Van, the rain has stopped, so I rode my bike to check if anyone was at the lodge, but again the back later sign.  I really want to buy a sticker!  Once again back at the camp, I busied myself organizing my stuff and relaxing after a active day. Honestly I kind of missed the people I have been here in the past,  remembering all the fun we had, and thinking about Pappy and Kim. 

The next morning I was out early to get another geocache across the meadow from the lodge. Parked the bike at the lodge and made my way across the marshy meadow and past the snow survey station and found snotelin' where it is. Back to the lodge, someone called out that they would open in a minute. They must have seen me checking the door.  I was able to get my stickers and I got a mug! 

The next cache, Woodpecker Camp is half a mile passed the north end of the lake off the road on the edge of the meadow Pappy named Rainbow Gardens. Been 5 years since anyone logged this lonely cache. I found it full of water. I dumped and tried to dry but everything was soaked. I let everything dry out a couple hours. I went back to RAMVAM and retrieved paper pencil and baggie. The container is a little cracked but ok. I replaced it on its side, hopefully it will drain. I said hello to Bullwinkle grazing in the meadow.  Spirit lake is a special place for our family and I plan to not let as much time pass before I return again, 

👀Spirit Lake 2025👀

I know this is a long post, thanks for reading my blog.