WC Bean Photography

But Moab is even more famous as a terrific place for 4 wheel drive fanatics and is also known as the Mountain Bike capital of the west. People come from all over the world to ride or jeep the Slickrock around Moab. And now I know why.

It was tough deciding where to go for this Spring Break trip. Las Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, Cancun, Steamboat Springs..all were discussed at one time or another. Judy doesn't like Vegas, Chris and Heather didn't want to go to the snow. After a couple weeks of debating and discussion, we decided that since some unexpected expenses had drained our budget we needed to settle on a destination within driving distance. From that point Moab was a no brainer.

I spent a few hours perusing web sites that detailed activities around Moab and came across a company that offered Hummer tours and ATV tours and rentals. When he viewed the site, Chris was really jacked up. He thought it was "tight." So our initial plan was to drive to Moab on Tuesday, take a 4 hour Hummer tour Wednesday morning, rent 2 ATV's on Thursday, and come home on Friday. In typical Bean family style, I would be up before sunrise to photograph Dead Horse Point and Mesa Arch at sunrise and would schedule a sunset shoot of the LaSal Mountains and the Garden of Eden area of Arches. Usually I can shoot a sunrise then drive back to the hotel and be out of the shower before the family is out of bed. What we'd do the rest of the time was purely tourist stuff…curio shops and the like.

Tuesday, 3/16- Drop the dogs at the kennel at 8:00, back home, shower, shave, load the Cruiser, then head out around 11:00. Typical family stuff…I told them we needed to leave by 9 knowing there is a 2 hour lag time. Snow at the Ike and on Vail Pass but not too much and we make it over the pass with no problems. Roll into Moab around 5 pm and check into the hotel. Here we encounter our first snag. The company I'd e-mailed to make reservations for the Hummer tour never responded and at 5pm they were closed. Too bad for them. After a brief discussion, Chris says we should rent a jeep and go off on our own. A great idea and I was able to make the reservations. Supper was a disaster…look for a new essay on that sometime soon. Back to the hotel, to spend a couple hours alternating between the hot tub and pool before hitting the bed.

Wednesday, 3/17- Up at 5:30 for the drive to Dead Horse Point State Park. Get there 15 minutes before sunrise, set up the camera and wait. Dawn comes clear and uneventful, got some terrific shots. Back to the hotel and wake the family up so we can pick up our rented jeep at 8:30 and head out. A little discussion and we decide to drive the Potash trail up to the White Rim in Canyonlands. A glorious, scenic drive but really no need for a jeep. We finish that trail, head back down the Long Canyon trail and have lunch near Moab on the Colorado River. After lunch and a bit of discussion we get a bit more adventurous and head for the Slickrock Recreation Area in search of a bit more difficult 4 wheel drive territory, a trail called Fins and Things. The first half of the 9 ½ mile trail elicited a couple utterances of "Oh My God" from the backseat passengers and Chris was having entirely too much fun driving. Little did we know the fun was just beginning.

The second half of Fins and Things leaves the sand and rock ledges behind and heads into the serious Slickrock areas. Some climbs were nearly ¼ of a mile at a 35 or 40 degree slope. Lots more "Oh My God" and screams from the back seat. I suppose that's only natural when you're climbing a hill and see nothing but sky. Anyway, no matter the white knuckles and cramped fingers, this was the highlight of the trip. To quote Chris, it was "sick." Back to the jeep rental place by 5pm, we decided to rent it for another day. Another great decision by my son. Out for supper again, a bit more successful this time, then back to the hotel for more time in the hot tub and pool then early to bed to get rested up for another day.

Thursday, 3/18- I intended to photograph Mesa Arch at sunrise this morning but slept about 20 minutes too long to make the drive and hike in time. Oh well, I now have a grand reason to come back. Family up at 8:30 (hey, we're on vacation!!) breakfast at the hotel, then discuss plans for the day. Judy and Heather decide to do the tourist thing in town so Chris and I pack lunches and head out to find some more jeep trails. A quick trip to the jeep shop for advice and we're off to find the 7 Mile Rim trail. A combination of scenery and difficult 4 wheeling, it sounds like just what the doctor ordered. The really interesting part was a stretch of slickrock near Merrimac and Monitor Buttes where you drive about 100 yards tipped at about a 20 degree angle. Just a little scary, nothing major for two intrepid 4 wheelers like us. We make it back to Moab around 4pm and clean the jeep before returning it. Two days of grand 4 wheeling and it cost less than a 4 hour Hummer tour. Good plan Chris. After dropping Chris at the hotel, I headed into Arches National Park for a sunset photo session. Back to the hotel, out for supper, more hot tub, more pool.

Friday, 3/19- Slept in today, our homeward trip day. Up at 8:00 , breakfast at the hotel, then Judy and I head downtown to pick up some trinkets for the family left behind. At 11, we check out of the hotel and hit the road for Parker. Another spring break is done.

Summary- 2 days of driving, 2 days of jeeping, one marvelous sunrise at a new location, one terrific sunset at an old familiar place. Starlit nights in the pool, and some well deserved hot tub time. All in all, one of the most successful family trips in a long time. Best of all, there are still photos to be made here and more jeep trails to be explored. We'll definitely be back.

Read about my 2003 Lake Powell Vacation here

Read about my 2003 Estes Park Vacation here

Read about my 2004 Moab Vacation here

Read about my 2005 Arizona Vacation here

Read about my 2005 Crested Butte Vacation here