July 14, 2019 - La Plata Canyon Off-Road Picnic

When I first met John, before we were dating even, he owned a Jeep CJ7.  That jeep had traveled every backroad, canyon, creekbed and rocky road that John could possibly find.  He still tells stories of it getting stuck in snow (he hiked out and came back for it weeks later),  losing transmission in Baja California (drove in first gear all the way home), numerous camping trips and fun times.   He traded it in just before we began dating and purchased a Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer Edition 4x4.  We had some great adventures in that Bronco... shooting adventures, desert camping, off-roading with the in-laws... great fun.  John has since always owned a jeep or a 4x4 of some type but our off-roading adventures have been pretty much non-existant for the last 20 years.

You can imagine then that it was no surprise to me that the vehicle we would get to tow behind the RV would be a jeep.  A jeep wrangler, 4x4, with lift kit and several bells and whistles that make it scream "take me off road".   It was the perfect "toad" for our RV and would certainly allow us to enoy some off-road fun this summer.

John could not wait!  He explored a little around Phoenix but the weather was just too hot.  We took it through Monument Valley but that road did not really feel like "off-road" though it was unpaved and extremely picturesque. Arriving in Colorado, we knew we would be able to find some nice trails.  Our first trip together off-road in this new to us jeep (its a 2004) would be to nearby La Plata Canyon.  The entrance was just 10 miles from our campsight, the trail follows the La Plata River, and although the pass was still not all the due to snow (still) it was the perfect day trip.

We packed lunch (our first of many picnics I'm sure), made sure we had plenty of fuel and extra water,  got Tucker on board and headed out.  What a fun day.  The road was well traveled and easy to manuever,  the creek and waterfalls were gorgeous, the wildflowers were blooming.  There were several areas where trees lay like toothpicks on the ground, 30 foot toothpicks, toppled by avalanches!   There was plenty of packed snow on the ground too.  We followed the trail all the way to where it was blocked by packed snow and then turned around to come back.

Sandwiches and green grapes taste extra yummy when served on a knoll top next to the river with no other day-trippers in sight.  Lunch was perfect, but next time we need to pack a picnic blanket!  Tucker loved running around smelling all the new smells.  It was a very fun trip.

I can't wait for our next off-road adventure.  I'm sure John is already looking for trails and hoping to find some that will make me just a little bit afraid!  Ha!   I was never really brave about the harder trails and have walked alongside the vehicle many many times!   Bring it!   I'll try again.