Pappy's TransAmerican Trail Adventure: Western Addition

[Pappy]

Total time was around 5 weeks. Only one night was spent in a motel while on the TAT. This was a challenging route. This trail rode through a lot of farm/range land, and other private land that made camping a challenge. Hence, the one night in a motel. I didn't mind the shower, and real dinner. Unlike the BDR's, I had to pay for the GPX file. The file/track had issues. Lots of issues like closed roads, locked gates, and just horrible routing. There were many times where I was convinced the route was drawn on a computer, not on the ground.

I did the western loop, with the spur to the Pacific. The intent of the TAT is a route, mostly on dirt, that went from east coast to west coast. In the Intermountain West it's a loop, which I did clockwise. My trip started in Monticello, UT ... went through the San Rafael Swell north to the Great Salt Lake ... then to Boise, ID where I picked up the Pacific Ocean Spur ... went to the Pacific in Oregon and stayed two nights with an old buddy ... went to Overland Expo in Redmond, OR for three nights ... drove back to Boise, ID to pick up the TAT ... drove it through ID, WY and CO finishing in Dolores, CO. Original intent was to finish in Dove Creek, CO, but it's on fire.

Nights camping: 32
Nights on the TAT: 32
Motel: 1
Miles: 3780
States: UT, NV, ID, OR, WY, CO

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[Pappy]

Some scenery shots.

Arrowrock Reservoir. The Boise flowed into this. The road north along the reservoir was butt ugly. Boring. Rough. Washboard. Once I got where the Boise flowed into the lake the road improved. So did the scenery.

Middle Fork of the Boise River. The ID-BDR and the TAT overlapped on some of this route.

One of many hot springs on the Middle Fork of the Boise River.

American Basin. San Juan Mountains.

 

[Pappy]

The route.

 

[Pappy]

Camps. Mostly dispersed. Occasionally a campground. Some of the campgrounds were considered designated dispersed. I mostly avoided them. In one case I pulled into a "forest camp" which was a designated dispersed camp with five sites on the Middle Fork of the Boise River. I pulled into site 5. Late in the day I had a couple come in an take site 4. Driving out there was plenty of dispersed. I should have done that.

A local pointed me to this canyon. I liked it. Two nights.

The only real campground I stayed in. They had water.

This was off a side road from the TAT. Huge space that looks like it might have been a borrow pit for road base. I did two nights here too. So quiet.

This was a desperation campsite. I was having a hard time finding something so I fired up iOverlander. I would have found this anyways, but having a point to drive to helped my disposition. It was on a small creek. The road was ugly muddy.

Fourth of July week made camping difficult. Everybody was out with their RV's and side-by-sides. I got lucky with this site.

 

[Pappy]

Critters. I don't normally take animal pictures. Unless, they stand in front of me and pose.

Song sparrow.

There were mule deer everywhere.

Snowshoe hare in summer coat. You can still see a little white left over.

This marmot was too unafraid. I think it was looking for a hand out.

I counted 43 elk in this meadow.

 

[O.Hernandez]

Awesome pics man

 

[Robb_D]

Sick trip!

 

[Dirt]

Good on you for getting quality time with your Tacoma. Thanks for sharing (holler the next time you're coming thru Eastern OR, we'll share a couple favorite sites.)

 

[Pappy]

Cotton grass off one of the San Juan passes.

American Basin posies. Arrowleaf groundsel, sub-alpine larksur, bittercress, mostly.

More American Basin.

 

[Bravada]

An experience of a lifetime. Congratulations.

 

[guitarist alec]

Yay inspirational !!

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