Snowshoeing in the Abajos – South Peak

Snowshoeing Through the Aspens - South Peak - Abajos

Why my husband and I chose South Peak in the Abajos (11,118 ft) for our first ever snowshoeing trip, I really couldn’t tell you.  It was the first winter we lived here, and now that a couple years have passed and the memory of how sore I was afterward has worn off, I almost want to climb it again…almost.  Okay, maybe I’m being a little dramatic.  But it WAS a major climb, even for my husband and I who hike quite a bit.

My husband’s coworker invited us to climb South Peak with him and a couple of his friends, and although we didn’t know it at the time, this guy is FAST!  If you’ve been following this blog you might remember him from the Mt. Peale Hike – La Sal Mountains entry- he was the guy in the lead with the keys when I was trying to decide if I should keep climbing or go back to the car.

Anyway, we had been warned by a couple different people about how fast this guy is, so I told my husband to make sure that he knew that we were first timers and was okay with that.  I was there when my husband told him and I remember him just waving his hand at us and saying, ‘Oh, that’s not a problem- you’ll be fine’.  Hmmm… really?  Somehow I wasn’t convinced…

We all met up in the parking area that’s about 3-4 miles up the Hart’s Draw Rd (Co. Rd 101/ Forest Rd 105) and started from there.  The parking area is between Dalton Springs and Buckboard campgrounds.  If you come in the winter, the road is only plowed to the parking area, so you can’t miss it.  A lot of people park there and then take their snowmachines up from there.  There was some talk about whether or not we should try to drive to the old ski area and park there, but I think my husband’s coworker was driving his car that day, and didn’t want to take the chance of getting stuck, so we just started at the parking area to be safe.

The first mile or so to the old ski area is fairly flat, but it gets really steep from there.  I think the parking area is at about 8,200 ft and the top of South Peak is at about 11,118 ft and most of the elevation gain is in the last 2/3 of the climb.

View From the Abajo Mountains

View of the Sleeping Ute from the Abajo Mts.

Snowshoeing up South Peak in the Abajos

It’s an absolutely beautiful climb- I really couldn’t pick which was my favorite part- snowshoeing through the aspens or the views out over the four corners- it was all amazing.

Snowshoeing up South Peak in the Abajos

Almost to the Top- Abajo Mountains

Well, just as we’d been warned, my husband’s coworker was fast!  He would stop every so often and let everyone else catch up with him, then almost as soon as we caught up, he’d take off and we wouldn’t see him until he stopped to wait for us again.  As far as I know we weren’t following any actual trail, but luckily since it was in the snow, it was very easy to follow his tracks, so there was no chance of getting lost or anything like that.

View of the Sleeping Ute From the Top of South Peak - Abajo Mountains

View Out Over the Four Corners From the Top of South Peak - Abajo Mountains

No matter how sore or tired we were, I think we forgot about all of that when we got to the top and saw the view out over the four corners.  There were some clouds that day, but the air was really clear and you could see forever!  The La Sals, the Sleeping Ute, Shiprock, Lone Dome… the view from the top was absolutely amazing!

The trip back down was much easier than the climb up had been. (of course!)  It was a great first (and so far, only!) climb up South Peak!  We had only lived here a few months at the time, and I think it was a great way to get acquainted with the area.  The views from the top were nothing short of breathtaking, and the feeling of knowing how hard you had worked to get there made it even better!

Directions:  From Main St. (Hwy 191) in Monticello, turn west on W 200 S right next to the Welcome Center.  (This road becomes Co. Rd 101/Forest Rd 105) Follow road about 4 miles to the parking area on the right hand side of road.  *Please look at the map below for directions.

Distance to lodging in San Juan County, Utah:

• Monticello: 4 miles/ 6.5 km
• Blanding: 27 miles/43.5 km
• La Sal:  45 miles/72.5 km
• Bluff: 60 miles/96.5 km
• Mexican Hat: 80 miles/129 km
• Monument Valley: 103 miles/166 km

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Utah’s Canyon Country 2012 Travel & Sportsmen’s Shows

International Sportsmen's Expo 2011 - Phoenix, AZ

Every year the arrival of the holiday season reminds us here at the office, that another season is just around the corner… show season!  ‘Show season’ is what we call January through March when we set up our booth at travel and sportsmen’s shows around the country to tell people about all the cool things there are to see and do in San Juan County, Utah!

Just in case we have any blog followers in any of the cities we’ll be going to… I thought I’d share our show schedule so you can stop by our booth and say hello!  (And maybe win some cool Utah goodies!)

January

• 5-8: International Sportsmen’s Expo- Denver, CO (Colorado Convention Center)
• 14&15: Travel & Adventure Show- Los Angeles, CA (Long Beach Convention Center)
• 19-22: International Sportsmen’s Expo- Sacramento, CA (Cal Expo- State Fairgrounds)
• 28&29: Travel & Adventure Show- Chicago, IL (Donald E Stephens Convention Center)

February

• 10-12: Portland Golf Show- Portland, OR (Oregon Convention Center)
• 10-12: Texas Home & Garden Show- Houston, TX (Reliant Center)
• 18-19: Travel & Adventure Show- San Francisco, CA (Santa Clara Convention Center)
• 23-26: International Sportsmen’s Expo- Phoenix, AZ (U of Phoenix Stadium)

March

• 2-4: New York Times Travel Show- New York, NY (Jacob K. Javits Conv Center)
• 15-18: International Sportsmen’s Expo- Sandy, UT ( South Town Expo Center)
• 17-18: Travel & Adventure Show- Washington DC (Washington Convention Center)
• 24-25: Calgary Outdoor Show- Calgary, Canada (Stampede Park BMO Centre)
  

  Travel & Adventure Show 2011- Los Angeles, CA

Portland Golf Show 2011 - Portland, OR

We’re working on putting together some giveaways that we will be doing at the shows this coming year, these giveaways will be for show attendees only, so you’ll have to visit our booth to find out how to enter!  If you live in any of the cities listed above and would like some help planning your vacation to SE Utah, stop by our ‘Utah’s Canyon Country’ booth and we’ll help you plan your itinerary!

Utah’s Canyon Country Holiday Giveaway Part II

Well, the holiday season is in full swing around here- we had our Ugly Christmas Sweater Day & Secret Santa gift exchange here at the county building yesterday (I made the person I had do a scavenger hunt around the building to find their gift!) and I’ve been baking non-stop for the last several days… fudge, burnt sugar almonds, several different types of cookies… whew!

I thought I’d share an ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater’ picture to get everyone in the holiday giveaway mood…

A Few of the Ugly Christmas Sweaters Worn Today....

The picture above is just a sample of the many Ugly Christmas Sweaters that made an appearance today.  (I thought I’d better protect our identities since we’re all fashion ‘don’ts’!)  But I’ll tell you… that’s me on the left- like my earrings?  I borrowed them off the tree in the background!

Okay, back to the REAL reason you’re here… our last GIVEAWAY of the year!

I’ve decided to make this last giveaway about something that’s VERY near and dear to my heart… FOOD!   I mean, who doesn’t LOVE all the seasonal food that comes with the holidays?!

To enter…  Leave a comment telling us your favorite holiday food tradition.  Have you got gingerbread cookie baking down to a science? Do you make your own eggnog from scratch?  Do you actually like fruitcake?

This giveaway is for a San Juan County- Utah’s Canyon Country Travel Cup and T-shirt with an image of Monument Valley on the back.  (Available sizes are: S, M, L, & 2XL)

This contest will run until 12:00pm (noon) MST December 28st, 2011 and the winner will be selected at random.  The winner’s name will be announced both on this blog, and on our facebook page, so be sure to watch for your name!  *In our first contest we never heard back from one of our winners- we can’t send you your prize if we can’t contact you!

Since I can’t take part in the giveaway, I’ll get things started and share my favorite holiday foods here…

Melty Kiss

This is one of my all-time favorite chocolates- Melty Kiss from Japan- I got hooked on them when I was living in Japan and I’ve been borderline obsessed with them ever since!  (The writing in the blue area says that they’re only available in the winter- so they REALLY are a seasonal treat!)

Another is a new favorite of mine, but I think it’s a keeper…

Eggnog and coke… it might sound a little strange, but try it- it’s SO GOOD!

*One last thing…  In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve added a poll to the sidebar of our blog (Top right-hand side just below the ‘Top Posts & Pages’)  If you could take a second and let us know how you found our blog, we’d REALLY appreciate it!  Thanks for your help!

Utah’s Canyon Country Holiday Giveaway!

Another giveaway?  So soon?  Maybe it’s the fresh layer of snow we just got, or maybe it’s our upcoming ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater Day’, but we’re really feeling the holiday spirit around here and we want to give some Utah goodies away!

This giveaway is for a San Juan County- Utah’s Canyon Country T-shirt with an image of Monument Valley on the back.  (Available sizes are: S, M, L, & 2XL)

To enter…  Leave a comment telling us what you love most about this time of year.  *Bonus points if it involves Utah!   Rumor has it we have the Greatest Snow on Earth!

This contest will run until 12:00pm (noon) MST December 21st, 2011 and the winner will be selected at random.  The winner’s name will be announced both on this blog, and on our facebook page, so be sure to watch for your name!  *In our first contest we never heard back from one of our winners- we can’t send you your prize if we can’t contact you!

*Keep watching our blog and our Utah’s Canyon Country facebook page- we have one more contest coming up before the end of the year!

‘Favorite San Juan County Movie’ GIVEAWAY!

Utah's Canyon Country T-shirt & 2012 Utah Scenic Calendar

We’d like to hear from you….

In keeping with the movie/film theme of our last blog post, leave a comment telling us the name of your favorite movie or TV show that was filmed in San Juan County, Utah and you’ll be entered to win the Utah prize package pictured above.  Package includes a San Juan County- Utah’s Canyon Country T-shirt with an image of Monument Valley on the back (available sizes are S, M, L, & 2XL) and a 2012 scenic calendar from the Utah Office of Tourism that’s full of amazing pictures that are sure to inspire you to start planning your next vacation to our beautiful state!

Want to enter, but have absolutely no idea what movies have been filmed here?  Click this link to our last blog entry- ‘Film History of San Juan County, Utah’ for some ideas!

This contest will run until 12:00pm (noon) MST December 15, 2011 and the winner will be selected at random.  The winner’s name will be announced both on this blog, and on our facebook page, so be sure to watch for your name!  *In our last contest we never heard back from one of our winners- we can’t send you your prize if we can’t contact you!

We have two more giveaways coming up in the next couple weeks and we’ll be posting info and links on our Utah’s Canyon Country facebook page, so be sure to ‘like’ us so you don’t miss out!

Film History of San Juan County, Utah

Forrest Gump Hill- Hwy 163- San Juan County, Utah

As the administrator of this blog I am able to see which entries are getting the most views and what search terms people are typing in that are bringing them to this blog.  I’ve been very surprised to see that ever since I posted the entry on the tour of Monument Valley I took with Goulding’s Lodge, search terms about ‘Forrest Gump’ show up on a regular basis. (I posted a picture of the stretch of road that was in the movie in my blog entry)

I think one of the reasons that I’ve been surprised by this is because even though I’ve seen Forrest Gump many, many times, it wasn’t until I moved here and heard people talking about ‘Forrest Gump Hill’ (the stretch of road between Mexican Hat and Monument Valley where Forrest decided to stop running) that I realized that part of it was shot here.

Forrest Gump Hill- Hwy 163- San Juan County, Utah

For my generation Forrest Gump is probably one of the most well known movies that was shot in San Juan County, but the area is probably best known for the old John Ford westerns that were filmed in Monument Valley.  Monument Valley has become an iconic image of the American West, but most people probably have no idea HOW this came to be…

Harry and Leone ‘Mike’ Goulding came to Monument Valley in the mid-1920s to homestead and open a trading post to trade with the Native Americans (mostly Navajo) who lived in the area.  By the 1930s, between the Great Depression and two bad years of drought, the area had really been hit hard.  In 1938 Harry learned that the Hollywood film company, United Artists, was looking for a location to shoot a new western movie.  Harry recruited Josef Muench- a photographer who had first visited and photographed Monument Valley in 1935, to compile an album of scenes of the valley for Harry to present to United Artists when he arrived in Hollywood.

As unlikely as this story sounds, it really happened and Harry’s idea worked!  Harry was able to get his photos of Monument Valley into the right hands and John Ford shot ‘Stagecoach’ in Monument Valley the very next year.  But this story doesn’t end there- over the next 25 years, John Ford came back and shot 6 more movies in Monument Valley, which played a huge role in Monument Valley becoming the iconic image of the American West it is today.

Here’s a little bit of the film history of San Juan County, Utah…

The first of the John Ford/John Wayne movies to be filmed in Monument Valley was ‘Stagecoach’ which was shot in 1939.

Stagecoach 1939 - Monument Valley

‘She Wore A Yellow Ribbon’, another John Ford/John Wayne western, was shot in Monument Valley in 1949.

She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 1949 - Monument Valley

Another John Ford/John Wayne movie filmed in Monument Valley was ‘The Searchers’, which was shot in 1956.

The Searchers 1956 - Monument Valley

‘How the West Was Won’ (another John Ford/John Wayne movie) was filmed in Monument Valley in 1962

How the West Was Won 1962 - Monument Valley

John Ford filmed so many movies in Monument Valley, there is even a viewpoint that has been named after him- you can see it in the picture below.

John Ford Point, Monument Valley

Monument Valley became very well known for westerns, but there have actually been quite a wide variety of movies filmed there- action, comedies, science fiction, drama, etc.  In 1975 part of the Clint Eastwood movie ‘Eiger Sanction’ was filmed in Monument Valley.  This movie takes place in the Alps, but has a scene that was shot on top of the ‘Totem Pole’ rock formation in Monument Valley.

Eiger Sanction 1975 - Monument Valley

Eiger Sanction 1975 - Monument Valley

A Scene From 'Eiger Sanction' was Filmed on Top of 'Totem Pole'- the Formation on the Far Left

You might also remember the scene in ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ where the Griswold family’s car breaks down- that was shot in Monument Valley in 1983.

National Lampoon's Vacation 1983 - Monument Valley

This brings us to one of my favorites- ‘Back to the Future’!  While the first Back to the Future movie is BY FAR my favorite in the series- I’m still excited that part of the 3rd movie was filmed in here- I can’t believe the Back to the Future Delorean was in San Juan County!  88 miles per hour!!!!

Back to the Future Part III 1990 - Monument Valley

Another of my favorites- ‘Thelma and Louise’- filmed in 1991- also had scenes that were shot in San Juan County.  They filmed in several locations in the Moab area, but the final scene where Thelma & Louise drive their car off the cliff (in the movie I think they say that it’s the Grand Canyon)  is at Dead Horse Point State Park.  Dead Horse Point is often associated with Moab since that’s the closest town, but it’s actually in San Juan County.  It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since that movie came out!

Thelma and Louise 1991 - Dead Horse Point State Park

As I mentioned above, part of the running scene in ‘Forrest Gump’ was shot on Hwy 163 between Mexican Hat and Monument Valley in 1994.  This stretch of road is now known as ‘Forrest Gump Hill’.

Forrest Gump 1994 - Monument Valley

A few scenes from ‘City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold’ were shot at Dugout Ranch in 1994.  Dugout Ranch is located on Hwy 211 leading to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park.

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold 1994 - Dugout Ranch

Another movie that was filmed at Dugout Ranch was ‘Riders of the Purple Sage’, shot in 1995.

Riders of the Purple Sage 1995 - Dugout Ranch

Just last year the TV show, ‘Dr. Who’ shot scenes for two episodes (‘Impossible Astronaut’ and ‘Day of the Moon’) in Monument Valley and Valley of the Gods.

Dr. Who 2010 - Valley of the Gods & Monument Valley

Dr. Who 2010 - Valley of the Gods & Monument Valley

Not only has Monument Valley appeared in countless movies and commercials, it’s also made an appearance in comic strips and cartoons as well.  One of the oldest examples I found was a Krazy Kat comic strip created by George Herriman.  I’m not sure of the exact year of this particular comic strip, but Krazy Kat was published in newspapers between 1913 and 1944.

Krazy Kat Comic Strip by George Herriman - Monument Valley

Of course we all remember the endless desert landscapes in the old Road Runner cartoons- I don’t know that it can be confirmed that the backdrop is Monument Valley, but it looks like it to me!

Road Runner Cartoon - Monument Valley

And a much more recent animated film, ‘Cars’- which came out in 2006- spoofs Monument Valley with an area called ‘Ornament Valley’.

Ornament Valley- a Spoof on Monument Valley from the Pixar film, 'Cars'

There are LOTS of other movies, TV shows,  music videos, commercials, etc. that have been shot in the area, but it’s WAY too many to include in one blog post, so this is just a sample of some of the more well known ones.  (*Please feel free to leave comments if I’ve left your favorites out!)

The Goulding’s Lodge Trading Post & Museum in Monument Valley, is a great stop if you’re interested in the movie history of the area.  The building is the original trading post that Harry and ‘Mike’ Goulding built a few years after they first arrived in Monument Valley.  Part of the museum is set up like the old trading post, another part is filled with movie memorabilia, and the upstairs- which was originally the Gouldings’ living quarters- is still set up with their furniture and some of their belongings.  The museum is free to the public and is located next to the restaurant and gift shop buildings.

Museum at Goulding's Lodge - Monument Valley

Goulding's Lodge Trading Post & Museum - Monument Valley

Trading Post & Museum at Goulding's Lodge - Monument Valley

Museum at Goulding's Lodge - Monument Valley

John Wayne/ John Ford Movie Memorabilia - Goulding's Museum- Monument Valley

Back to the Future !!! Movie Memorabilia - Goulding's Museum- Monument Valley

Movie Memorabilia - Goulding's Museum - Monument Valley

Keep an eye on our blog in the next couple weeks for another giveaway… and don’t forget to ‘like’ us on facebook so you don’t miss out on the San Juan County/Utah goodies we’re planning to give away!

Prizes for our upcoming giveaway!

Runnin’ Iron Inn & Line Camp Steakhouse

Line Camp Steakhouse & Runnin' Iron Inn

Even before I had moved to Monticello, I had already found the Line Camp Steakhouse online and couldn’t wait to go have dinner there!  That was almost 3 years ago, and I just finally went for the first time when my mom and step-dad were visiting over the Thanksgiving holiday.  I’m not sure why it took us so long to go- I think we’ve been waiting for a special occasion or for someone to come visit us so we could take them there, but I’m glad we finally made it- it was worth the wait!

The restaurant has a great atmosphere- it’s decorated with Navajo rugs & baskets, antiques, old signs & photographs, and lots of old western decor.  One of my favorite touches were the oil lanterns on every table- they really give the dining room a warm & cozy feeling.

Line Camp Steakhouse

Line Camp Steakhouse

Off to one side of the dining room, there’s a staircase leading to the second floor which has an open balcony overlooking the dining area, and is where the rooms for the Runnin’ Iron Inn are located.

One of the Rooms in the Runnin' Iron Inn

Runnin' Iron Inn

Private Deck Off One of the Rooms in the Runnin' Iron Inn

The whole time we were there I kept thinking about what a nice weekend getaway it would be!  It seems like the perfect place for anyone who is looking for a quiet weekend to relax and unwind without all the usual distractions around.  The Runnin’ Iron Inn has great reviews on Trip Advisor, and some of the words that I kept seeing people use to describe it are; rustic, warm, charming, brimming with character, unique, and off the beaten track. CLICK HERE TO READ REVIEWS FOR THE RUNNIN’ IRON INN.

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving we spent the day with my mom and step-dad in the Needles District of Canyonlands and by the time dinner rolled around, we’d all worked up quite an appetite!  The Line Camp Steakhouse has several meals to chose from including several different types of steak, chicken breast, pork fillet, salmon, and lobster tail.  All the meals come with salad, beans, garlic bread, and potatoes.  Also, right after they bring out your meal, they come around with a pot of sauteed mushrooms which they will add to your plate if you want.

The Line Camp Steakhouse is one of the few places in Monticello that offers beer with your meal.  They also allow people to bring their own wine and offer free corkage.

Dinner Salad - Line Camp Steakhouse

I think everybody’s favorite part of the meal was the big basket of garlic bread that they brought out after we’d finished our salads.  I could have easily eaten several slices (and they were BIG slices too!) but I knew that there was a lot more food coming, so I tried to regain some of the self control that I’d lost over the Thanksgiving holiday and only ate one slice.  (*My husband, who seems to feel no food-related-guilt whatsoever, ate FOUR slices while we were at the restaurant and then I caught him at the fridge sneaking the last piece out of our to-go-box as soon as we got home!)

The BEST Garlic Bread EVER! - Line Camp Steakhouse

Steak, Potatoes, Sauteed Mushrooms, & Pickled Asparagus - Line Camp Steakhouse

The meal was wonderful and we were all completely stuffed by the time we finished.  Bob, the owner, had come over to our table to talk to us a couple times throughout the evening and had told us that his family had just had their Thanksgiving the night before (it seemed that many of them were still there and were in an adjoining part of the dining room)  and that they had several different kinds of home-made pies (including Persimmon pie, which I had never even heard of!) that we could help ourselves to after our dinner.  We all had full intentions of taking him up on his generous offer, but we were too full by the time we finished our meals, so we ended up passing on the pie.

As I mentioned above, the Runnin’ Iron Inn & Line Camp Steakhouse have great reviews on Trip Advisor.  Many of the reviews also mention Bob’s humor and storytelling.  One even goes as far as to say that in addition to being the owner, Bob is also the ‘chief cook, concierge, and entertainment’!  We didn’t have the chance to talk to him very much, but he did mention hanging out on the sets of the John Wayne movies that were shot in Monument Valley in the 1940s & 50s when he was a kid- I’ll have to be sure to ask him about that next time I’m out there!

I read review after review on Trip Advisor that mentioned the wonderful hospitality people have experienced as guests at both the Inn and the restaurant and after my visit, I can see exactly what they were talking about!

Directions to the Runnin’ Iron Inn & Line Camp Steakhouse:

From Monticello: The Runnin’ Iron Inn & Line Camp Steakhouse is located at mile marker 79.5, halfway between Monticello and the junction of Hwy 191 & 211. (leading to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park)

Head north on Hwy 191 for approximately 8 miles.  As you’re heading north it can be easy to miss if you’re not familiar with the area- there is a blue sign with an RV/Camper trailer symbol that you can see just before the sign indicating ‘Hotel/Restaurant’ at the bottom of the driveway on the right hand side of the road.

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