10 Days in Southern Utah

[TexGX]

86scotty,

I told Mike that when I lived in Texas, every car I had had them and I never hit a deer. Not too many in Texas that can say that. They are on my short list.

Mike,

We might have to check out charlie56 location.

TexGX

 

[GrumpyBadger]

There is another "little known" equivalent to it called White Pocket. No permit required.

Oops... no longer "little known" :b1:

Thanks... I will try to check that out. My Socorro trip has fallen through this weekend... hmmmm...

 

[Jeffrey-SMB]

White pocket does not have a lottery system, but you do need to obtain a permit to visit or camp.

 

[86Scotty]

Just got the estimate back from the local auto body place for the damage. $3,911. I have State Farm Insurance and a $250 deductible for Comprehensive. They gave me a list of four recommended places in town and then let me pick my own company for the repairs and say they will handle everything.
So far no issues and everyone, including the auto body shop has been good to work with.

Eric, hopefully the deer in Tennessee are smart enough not to run into the side of your van. TexGX and I saw plenty of deer near the roads in the Park and were talking about the merits of the whistles. Hope they work.

Mike

Glad everything is working out easily so far. For most of us an SMB is not a daily driver, so if that's the case for you that certainly helps.

We have lots of deer here. I've never hit one, but virtually every one I know has. Statistically, given the hundreds of thousands of miles I've driven working, and my personal driving, I'm way overdue. Plus, these were $4.20 plus 10 minutes to rivet them in place.
Funny story, soon after several coworkers had hit deer and busted up their trucks I took a day off and the girl who covered my route? You guessed it, tagged a deer and took my truck out of service for awhile. It was a new Sprinter and I was enjoying it so I was bummed. And here as well, most strikes are right in the side or more often the rear side of a vehicle, not the front.

OK, back to talking about cool places to visit............. :a3:

:b5:

 

[MKRyan]

Charlie56, thanks for the heads up. Thinking about heading down sometime in the spring for more hiking. I've heard of White Pocket or have seen it on a map but know nothing about it.
We'll have to check it out.
I appreciate the information and the coordinates.

Mike

 

[charlie56]

White pocket does not have a lottery system, but you do need to obtain a permit to visit or camp.

Nope
You definitely do not have to have a permit. (Maybe before but no longer,) I checked into the BML station last spring just in case. I asked if a permit was required, the answer was a definite no to that part of the area. White Pocket is outside the permit area.

 

[Pschitt]

I confirm: no permit required for White Pocket. I was there twice, the trail is quite sandy in places but not to difficult if you deflate tires.

About scenery, it's not exactly as the Wave but anyway a wonderful place worth to go to. Be there in late afternoon for the best light... ;-)

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

...It was getting dark as I approached Torrey and the deer were out and about. I turned west on Highway 24 at Torrey, Utah and was still in the city limits when a dog, chasing a deer through the front yard of a house, was running toward the SMB. I saw it outside the passenger side window running fast and was hoping it would veer to the back and miss the van. A second later I heard a thud. The deer slammed into the passenger side, just in front of the rear tire. It put two dents in the SMB and busted the fender flare. It also popped one side of the door galley wall out of place...

It could be worse. This would really ruin your day if riding a bike.

Herb

 

[rallypanam]

...It was getting dark as I approached Torrey and the deer were out and about. I turned west on Highway 24 at Torrey, Utah and was still in the city limits when a dog, chasing a deer through the front yard of a house, was running toward the SMB. I saw it outside the passenger side window running fast and was hoping it would veer to the back and miss the van. A second later I heard a thud. The deer slammed into the passenger side, just in front of the rear tire. It put two dents in the SMB and busted the fender flare. It also popped one side of the door galley wall out of place...

It could be worse. This would really ruin your day if riding a bike.

Herb

Ha! That's a friend of a friend. He's fine (nothing broken, minor concussion, bunch of bruises) but the bike is finished..

 

[86Scotty]

Wow! I just stumbled across that yesterday. The one I saw didn't show the slow motion. If you turn the volume up on the slo-mo you can hear a big long moan after the crash. I wonder if it was the rider or the deer?
Glad he lived.

:b5:

 

[patrick51]

Anyone done Smokey Mtn. Rd. off of Rt 89 NE of the Wave?

 

[MKRyan]

I just looked at the road on Google Earth from Big Water to Escalante and it looks like a road I need to do. It looks like it was made for a SMB.
TexGX and I are thinking about doing a trip to SE Utah and SW Colorado sometime this spring, May? Maybe we should figure out how to make this run.

Mike

 

[patrick51]

We were discouraged from using it by the Escalante office, but they are used to talking to a lotof "pilgrims", so unsure if its as bad as they say.

 

[86Scotty]

I just looked at the road on Google Earth from Big Water to Escalante and it looks like a road I need to do. It looks like it was made for a SMB.
TexGX and I are thinking about doing a trip to SE Utah and SW Colorado sometime this spring, May? Maybe we should figure out how to make this run.

Mike

Mike, Kristie and I plan to be out there, sans kids :n7: in June. Looking forward to hear about your trip.

 

[JoeH-SMB]

Anyone done Smokey Mtn. Rd. off of Rt 89 NE of the Wave?

I drove it many moons ago in my Toyota Landcruiser. It's not bad at all just slow. And do not pass go if wet. Death mud. But to tell you the truth, IMO, it's not really that scenic. It goes up and over the Kaipirowitz Plateau which is all grungy looking Cretaceous rocks. Manco shale, etc. You basically go up and over and your just sort of in it. No real big vistas to speak of and then you drop down into Escalante'. Worth doing but not like driving Cockscomb or up on White Pocket. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Pschitt]

... Worth doing but not like driving Cockscomb or up on White Pocket. Just my 2 cents.

+1 :a3: