Going to Toroweap, finally

It’s Mike’s birthday, and we have three days off to celebrate. So, I’m giving him an adventure. Of course it requires a 3 hour drive on 65 miles of washboard gravel road followed by 3 miles of slick rock. All worth it for my Honey and this iconic view. Not my photo, but I should have some good ones coming. Geez, I’m not even done posting the trip to Bryce Canyon, or the trip to South Africa. But I’ll be done working soon so maybe will have more time. To continue exploring that is.

Tough Choice

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The view at Toroweap is iconic, something I feel a strong need to see. For months I’ve had the opportunity to borrow a neighbors 4x4 jeep and planned to take it to Toroweap with a co-worker. All I had to do was tell the jeep owner when so I could get the keys. The final plan to go on this adventure would be October 6, 7, & 8, a week before my season ends and a rim to rim hike with a friend. I’d planned to confirm with the jeep owner today but found out last night his season ends the middle of next week and then he’s out of here. I could use the jeep on these current days off, and that would mean I’d have to go alone. Hmmmm. I usually have no problem with solo travel; I do it a lot or wouldn’t get to go. However, Toroweap is at the end of a very rugged, wash board, rutted and rocky 65 miles, plus another 90 paved miles beyond where I live. The last 5 miles are slick rock and flat tires are common. I figure at least a 4-5 hour drive, each way then camp with borrowed gear. Of course no cell service and understandably not heavily traveled. Hmmmm. I fell asleep thinking I should chance it. Heck, you can only be disappointed about things you don’t do, as long as there’s no expectations.

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This morning when I got up it felt cold in the house and was 40F outside at 7am. I checked at NOAA for the long range weather report at Toroweap, 40F nights and 80F days. Hmmm. I have chores to do, two weeks’ worth of laundry or no clean uniforms. Get the camper ready for next week’s journey to drop it off in my winter home of Yarnell. Hmmmm.

NPS archives
I’ve had to make a difficult decision and decided to compromise. Toroweap will have to wait. Being it’s been there millions of years already I’m sure that won’t be a problem. I’ll go next year. Instead I’m going to borrow the jeep for a day trip adventure into the Kaibab National Forest. That means I’ll have lots to post when I return from awesome views of Grand Canyon.