The two top BLM managers for the San Juan and Grand Counties told us at the meeting the first week I was here that all the BLM trails are closed unless marked with a sign saying they are open in San Juan and Grand Counties. When the Blanding City Councilmen, Calvin and I complained they gave us permission to drive on them for now. The problem is, we don't know how long "for now" will be. There is a directive from Washington D.C. that tells them to close all the BLM roads in San Juan and Grand Counties.

If no one complains then they will probably close all the trails in all the BLM lands in all 5 BLM States. The environmentalists and preservationists have more money for lawyers and lobbyists than the OHV people do. They also complain louder and are more organized than the OHV people are. Almost everyone here in San Juan County I have talked to that does off road with motor cycles, ATV's and Jeeps think this is the last year they will be driving on BLM land in San Juan and Grand Counties.

One problem is, most if not all the land the OHV people in Moab drive on is BLM or Forrest Service land and this directive may close Moab down completely. I don't believe those people are aware about what is happening to their tourist and trail riding trade.

49willyz, I believe if you come here any time this year you may be permitted to drive on the trails but I can't guarantee it. At that meeting Shelley Smith gave Calvin and me permission to drive on the trails for now and I assume they meant anyone else. We suspect when the new local manager comes here this November the trails will be closed.

I think when the people in Moab wake up and people start getting arrested and fined things will start happening. Republicans mind their own business and Democrats mind everyone else's business so the Republicans haven't become aware of the changes yet.

We had dinner with a man that knows what is going on in Moab and he said Moab has a special arrangement with the BLM to keep the trails they use open. It will be interesting to see how well that works with a new director with a Federal mandate to close the trails.

Time will tell.

Once again, I'll add my 2 bits worth to Carl's post of the day's events.

Heading for Arch Canyon.  Our second attempt last year proved very rewarding.




But finding an 80 foot stretch of mud and water where the road used to be told us we would not be going up Arch Canyon this fall.  




So, back to the main canyon road in Comb to seek a different destination, but the main road doesn't look much better at the creek crossing!




I walked across to check it out.




"If you're going to try it you'd better day clear of the wet spots."




Then Carl said, "Get out of the way."  (See video above)


Mac said, "If Carl can do it so can I." And I followed.




All Jeeps across.




Last of the drainage crossings as we head for higher ground.




A little Solex trouble on Comb Dugway.




Drivers! Return to your Jeeps.




I paused at a fallen tree in the road.




Carl just went by and showed me how its done.  He pushed it out of the way with his Jeep.




Now that we're all home safely, what's to eat?

Unfortunately the month has ended and so the trip to Blanding has also. Today was the last day of trail riding so we took a scenic tour across the mountains. We went from the Blue Mountains to Elk Mountain and over to the Bears Ears Mountains and then to Calvin and Lucille's home. This is a shot along the drive.



This is a deep Canyon we passed along the Mountain trail.



This is a Causeway or Saddle between a Mountain I can't remember the name of and Elk Mountain.



I think this switch back is called the Big Notch.



Annabel is loaded for the trip home. Neither of us wants to leave but everything has an ending. The photo's a little fuzzy because it was dusk, the shutter speed was slow and I must have moved.

Yes, there's a firearm museum in Oklahoma I want to visit.

We left Blanding at about 10:30 AM Sunday and just got to Tucumcari Nm and that's about 550 miles in 11.5 hours. I didn't drive as hard as I did going to Blanding. We went straight down Hwy 191 to I-40 and there was some nice scenery to look at along the way. On the way the Harvest Moon rose directly in front of us and that was nice to look at. It was really hard to leave Blandng and Calvin and Lucille and all the friends I made there. I hope we can keep the trails open for next year.

Well, the wife and I are finally home. Going to Blanding took me two days but coming home I took my time and spent four days getting home. The visit to the J. M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum in Claremore Ok was well worth the time. If you like guns you will love this museum.

I four weeks of trail riding I put 751 miles on my Jeep. There were few days that Annabel and I weren't riding a trail somewhere. As best I can tell I was on the trail about 22 days averaging about 34 miles a day. Some of the time I was on county gravel roads going to or from the dirt trails in the wilds. Most the time Calvin was with me but sometimes he was busy and I explored on my own.

This was the best month I have ever spent. I met many great people and saw many wonderful sites. I only hope I can do the same next year without interference from our controlling government bureaucrats.

These photo's are a few out of several hundred that I took on the trip. I hope that everyone was able to enjoy them as much as I did taking them and exploring the trails and ruins.