After a few more days climbing and mountain biking in moab I drive back up to SLC to pick up the fam-damily. Do the final gear sort, etc, fill the water tanks, some last minute grocery shopping, etc, etc.
One thing I don’t have is a spare fuel/air diaphragm for the engine. For a few weeks prior to the trip the idle speed has been creeping up. First it was 700rpm, then 800rpm. The engine sounds smoother at that rate but its not supposed to idle there. Problem is most likely an issue with a leather diaphragm that is responsible for the fuel flow to the motor. If the leather is torn it will slowly continue to tear and eventually the motor will be idling at max rpm, blowing white smoke, etc, etc. Its something that needs fixing. After the long driving to Utah the idle is now at 900rpm.
I’d tasked my lovely wife with obtaining one in seattle but it was not to be. I just need to hope it doesn’t deteriorate on the trip. Probably wouldn’t be fun to drive out of the maze with a 3000rpm idle…
Load the kids up and leave early the next morning with our goal the campsite at teapot rock. We drive south on 15 to prove, take a left at hwy 6 until we reach Green River, then maybe we tank up on Ray’s Burgers (a maze tradition of old that the kids might appreciate.) Finally we take a right on hwy 70 for 10 miles or so, then a left at Hwy 24. After 50 miles or so its a left turn on E Lower San Rafael Rd which is a dirty road and easy to miss, especially at night. There is a sign at the turn off indicating this is the road to Hans Flats Ranger Station.
We do in fact miss the turn off, pull a U-turn 1/8 mile later and are bumping through the dust. On previous trips this road suffered from terrible washboarding but this time the road was very smooth.
Small sign for turnoff to Hans Flats (and Maze). We’ve now missed this turnoff on 3 different trips.
Drive to Hans Flats is longer than I remember, but just as barren (and awesome!)
Yay! Almost in the park!
Kids doing their job.
We stop at the ranger station to check-in and verify our permits, purchase a new copy of Desert Solitaire and start on the more seriously bumpy track to the flint trail. Lots of side roads and the drive to the flint trail is longer than I remember. Can’t believe we drove this before in an overloaded Volvo Wagon!
Stop at the flint trail overlook for a snack, watch a tiny vehicle wend its way up, and then we’re heading down ourselves.
Flint Trail from Overlook. A vehicle is visible if you look closely.
About to begin the descent! Kids are nervous. Fully loaded with 10 days of food and water (and poop bags!)
Kids are anxious but it really isn’t so bad. I remember it being bumpier and narrower. The low range was great, just idled down the trail in Low Range 3rd gear.
At the bottom we came to a fork whose left branch went along a wash. I remember this shortcut from before and take it, against the wishes of the wife. This short cut cuts a lot of unnecessary distance, meets up with the trail to the maze in 1/4 mile or so.
Kids are antsy, we stop and take out their bikes and they ride ahead on the road. Lots of places are too difficult for them to ride.
Finally we arrive at Teapot Rock campground. I don’t remember ever noticing this site before. My father and I once slept on the trail because it got dark before we reached the site.
Teapot Canyon Campsite
Teapot Rock campsite is a little northeast of teapot rock, on the south side of a lovely gully. Terrific views, fine sunset, gourmet indian food.
Yay! We did it!
Camped at Teapot Canyon.
CanadianBJ 