It's Day 430.....it's also July 9th 2020....and we are on Harper’s Corner Road...In Colorado

It's Day 430.....it's also July 9th 2020....and we are on Harper’s Corner Road...In Colorado

The boys and I spent 3 days parked along side Blue Mountain Road.....long walks each day with Dougie just takin it all in. Just as we had experienced on the prairie below us....a seemingly so still environment...... comes to life....all around you....all you have to do ........ is listen. With barely a car per day rolling by....it's easy to get the sense that you have the place all to yourself.

With our stop this morning...and the days drive...this marks the 3rd or 4th time we've been through...or driven by...the Dinosaur National Monument....and while I had learned alot...about the area...and it's discovery....when I came across a video done by a guy named James Puente.....he spent 4 days hiking the monument....did a pretty incredible job of sharing his experience.....and I learned even more.....(Insert video)....I think I'm pretty much with James on this one.....when you look around at all this.....I just cannot imagine why you wouldn't want to come here....and see it for yourself.

Also a bit of an eye opener to see the Bear and Lion Warning sign he came across....while I was aware of their presence in the area....I'd not seen any actual signage....just a good reminder I spose....It also made me curious....why are mountain lion attacks so rare....when it comes to humans? I mean...thank goodness they are....but why....as James had seen...they are very capable of taking down prey very near in size to a human....

Internet tells me....it's because these predators...are pretty dang smart. Time has taught them....and they learned well....that humans....are weird.....and unpredictable. We walk around on two feet....and tend to make a lot of noise....not like were gonna sneak up on 'em. ...and they also tend to view us as predators as well....and nature has taught them to stay away from another potential threat. It also doesn't hurt that our activity schedules are for the most part opposite that of a mountain lion. They are most active....and hunt during the early dawn...and twilight hours....and spend their days resting after their most recent hunt....in quiet, shaded, and secluded areas...again making me wonder....how many of the walks Dougie and I headed out on....were being carefully studied....watched.... from afar?

We were up early this morning....packing up and prepping for our trek on up this dirt road....hadn't even had the tv on much....so did a quick check in on the news before heading out....(Insert Video)......and yep....still pretty much all things Corona Virus.....flipped that off....and started our trek up Blue Mountain road....pretty sure we couldn't get any further away....from those 3 million covid cases...than we are right now....

We were surprised....only got a couple miles up that road....when the dirt road came to and end....and intersected with Harpers Corner Road.....We likely have simply turned on to Harpers Corner road and began our trek along it's 30 miles to see more....except....our timing was perfect.

Pulled off into a large graveled area.....to watch the show. Cattle.....and Cowboys.....on the job...and we had a ring side seat.....We'd spend nearly an hour just watching......

looked like 40 or 50 head of cattle being brought across the road.....into a lower pasture. As 3 or 4 cowboys did their job....a truck and stock trailer pulled in behind em....three more cowboys got out...horse in tow to join the fun. Then a side by side was backed out of that stock trailer....trusty dog hopped in with the rider and off they went as well. As the dust cloud cleared.....and the sounds of protesting cattle faded into the wind....the stock trailer and pick up dissappeared off down that dirt road....in the direction we had just come from...my guess.....meet up down on that prairie somewhere for everyones ride home this evening......or whenever they get those cattle where they are headed. And I wondered how long it would be...before the very cattle I was watching......found their way to a meat packing plant....and then off to a grocery store shelf. (insert video of cattle with volume up and no talking for around 10 or 15 seconds...then fade out)

Just before pulling out onto Harpers Corner Road....I'd also read of the Mantle...and the Chew Families.....a couple of early settlers...that would find their way to this dinosaur national monument area....before it was one.....

Both families....would make a life here....farming....and ranching......eventually....most of their ranch and farmland would end up in the hands of the monument....and National Forest service....but not before each family left their mark....and legacy on the land...preserved to this day through historic sites located within the monument.

I also found this video...(insert video).....no idea if these folks are the same Mantles.....as the ones that made a life here...on Harpers Corner Road.....but either way...showed me that when ranching....not always about cattle.....the wild horses....or mustangs in the area need to be considered as well. in a 50 second video I'd learn of some 80,000 head of these creatures roam the public lands of our country....and good to know that there are folks out there helping them....managing populations in a humane way as the rest of us city folk occassionally cruise thru.....without a clue of what life looks like out here.....

The rest of the day would be spent easing our way along Harpers Corner Road....enjoying every twist, turn, up and down......pulling out every spot possible for photo's of the breathtaking scenery. The views out over the canyons from a thousand feet up are pretty dang awesome. It's like they have their very own grand canyon in the making up here.....the green and yampa rivers are working their way through these canyons.....working just as hard as the Colorado River has down there in Arizona.

Tons of trailheads....even picnic areas along some of the trail heads if your up for spending an afternoon in these mountains.....and if Winter is more your thing.....your covered too....cross-country skiing and snowmobile use are allowed in many areas as well.....which might be your only access given that most of Harpers Corner road is closed during the winter months.

Couldn't really find much on the name....best guess out there is that the scenic drive was named for an early settler in the area.

We Also discovered The Echo Park road.....pretty bummed to read that the dirt road is not accessible in an RV or Trailer....in fact....signage highly recommends the use of a four wheel drive vehicle given that it descends steeply from Harpers Corner Road, winding its way down to the Green River....along the way..... you'll encounter several dry wash areas along that steep descent....switchbacks a plenty included.....all blending in with the stunning views of the rock layers and historic sites like the Chew Ranch and petroglyphs at Pool Creek.

Something tells me we'll be back for that one.....when we are more adequately equipped.

Ended the drive on a look out just above highway 40.....learning all about how air pollution from as far away as Los Angeles can find it's way to these canyons.....proving.....no matter how remote......signs of humans....seems to find it's way to just about everywhere.

We'd head east on hiway 40....putting Dinosaur behind us.....we'd already been out that way so definitely up for something new. I checked the phone several times along the drive to see where we were.....and I guess your pretty far out there when the phone says simply "Colorado"....when asked.

Most interestingly....just on the other side of the rest area was a sign that read....Elk Springs.....

I wonder what we'll learn there