Monticello College is situated on the eastern slope of the Blue Mountains or known locally as the Abajos. Part of the Colorado Plateau, these mountains are a welcome respite to the daunting desert of CanyonLands National Park.
Hiking Adventure #1 [Rt. 5086]
(3 hours of rough terrain – difficulty level 6 on a scale of 1-10)
My son Ben and I began our first summer hike of 2011 looking for the source of a small stream on the northwestern side of The Blues, near Shay Ridge. What began as a little morning rock jumping exercise turned into a magical transportation into terrain and foliage akin to the rain forests of the Pacific Northwest where I grew-up. I have done Zion National Park, the Narrows overnighter and a number of other adventures in this part of the world, but I have never seen this kind of environment anywhere in this arid part of southern Utah.
We didn’t have the camera with us (whose idea was that?), so I promise to go back with both of my sons, take lots of pics and write an article on that awesome adventure. This blog is nothing more than a short photo journal showing a shorter side trip along the ridge at the opening of the western side of the same canyon accessed by road 5086.
Enjoy!
