Dinosaur National Monument to Rabbit Valley: into Colorado

Chickenwhat?
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Statistics for today
Distance 269 kms 167 miles
Statistics for trip to date
Distance 11,292 kms 7,017 miles
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Sunday, September 10th, 2017

Other than slipping and sliding for the first 10 minutes down the steep canyon path it's an easy hikeout this morning. Just 3 miles and change.

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Rock faces watch me head back down the Ely Creek canyon.
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The little waterfall on Ely Creek. I took a "shower" under it when I was hiking out. Freakin' cold.
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The rock channel of water that goes over the falls. The first night I was here a river rafting tour guide brought his clients here. He had three people sit their butts in this channel to block up the flow of water, someone would stand under the falls, then the 3 would all stand up at once to release a rush of water on the person below. They repeated until everyone had a chance to get doused.

I'm pleased to find Greta intact right where I left here at the trailhead. I rearrange all my gear to fit on the bike then ride the 30 or so miles out Dinosaur National Monument to Vernal.

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Last look at Jones Creek.

I hang out in Vernal for a day to have a rest. A Microtel Inn had a very cheap rate on a nice room so I take advantage. At night a Polish woman comes up to me after I pull in and asks me if I have a torque wrench. Unfortunately not. She is traveling on a BMW G650 with her boyfriend who is on a Kawasaki dual-sport. I spend the evening swapping stories with them over pizza. Domino's screwed up their order and gave them an extra pizza, lucky for me. There's even some left over at the end; if I was bicycling instead of motorcycling that would not be the case.

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From the top of Douglas Pass on 139 in Colorado.

Back on the road, I head east into Colorado, then down a fun road towards Fruita. I ride up Douglas Pass (8,263 feet), stall at the top when taking a picture, then down the other side behind a BMW F800 who is very squeamish on the turns but lets it run on the straightaways. He doesn't appear to be the social type, he doesn't wave at any of the many motorcycles coming in the other direction. At Loma he stops for gas, I take a left towards Fruita to pick up groceries.

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Rabbit Valley.

I've been to this area before, so I have a free BLM campground in Rabbit Valley in mind for tonight's lodging.

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Looking south from my campsite.
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The sun sets over the cliffs to my west, leaving rays of sunshine streaming up into the sky.
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Even better when they turn red.

Stats for hike out of Jones Hole (Strava data):

Miles hiked: 3.5mi

Elevation gain: 468 feet

Moving time: 1:18:07