In May, we went on a 4 wheeler ride out to Hole in the Rock. We drove to Escalante on Thursday and checked into a motel. They gathered for dinner, but we were late so we didn't go. We were invited out to a brothers home for a little dialogue about the trip. He has a place in a canyon that is very nice and sheltered. We enjoyed his talk as he told us about the settlement of Escalante and the Hole in the Rock expedition. We even had smores afterward.

Friday morning we drove out on the road to the hole. The road goes all the way out, but this was a 4 wheeler activity, so we went in pickups for about 20 miles and then on 4 wheelers for the other 25. It was about a 50 mile round trip on wheelers.

Our first stop was at Dancehall Rock. We had a guide who talked to us about their experience there. Here's a picture of Mom and Dad dancing at Dancehall Rock.

These next pictures are from the backside of Dancehall Rock. They are huge depressions that you can only get into and out of with a rope. We were told that sometimes the parents would lower the kids down in and then go party and dance. They wouldn't have to worry about their children running away or getting lost.

From there, we drove on out to the "hole." It was awesome. I can't imagine taking wagons down there. They did some blasting and they drilled large holes to put cedar posts in to expand the shelf to drive on. I don't know how they did it. I don't understand how they even thought they could go down it. Not only did they go down, but I am told they came back up it for over a year in going back and forth. I am totally amazed.

From there we went up on top of 50 mile ridge. We rode along it for awhile and then down to the trucks and back to Escalante.

On Saturday we chose to go in trucks up to "The Devil's Backbone." It is a ridge at the top of the mountain north of Escalante, that is very narrow and falls off in deep straight down canyons on either side. It is so narrow, they built a bridge to get vehicles from one sid to the other. It was awesome.

Saturday morning we drove up to the "Devil's Backbone" which is a ridge that falls off in steep canyons on either side. The ridge is so narrow, they have put a bridge across it. These photos show the steep fall off on either side. We were going to go to some falls, but they weren't signed very good and we missed them. We decided that was good as I am still having big problems with my legs.

We drove on home. As always, it was good to be home.

Love, Dad

P.S. Thanks to Bonnie and Dave for the blogs they posted. If you haven't read them, they are on the side of the Moss Family Blog. Bonnies is the "3 girls + 2 boys" and David has the other two.