September 20, 2022 - Utah Flight
San Juan River - Gouldings Airstrip at Monument Valley
 
This morning we woke up to some light rain, surprisingly.  But it was time to break camp and start the long trek towards home.   My tent got folded up wet.  We could see weather around us in the distance.   But one thing I learned on this trip was how little weather reporting and forecasting was available in this neck of the desert.  Practically none.  You might be able to get a METAR or TAF (terminal area forecast) for an airport like Page but that's about it.  For the rest of southern Utah, forget about it.  This area is so huge and empty, you really don't know what's out there.  You have go stick your nose in it (the weather), as I like to say.
   
Another long back taxi on 31.
   
We headed southwest with the Escalante River to our left and the Kaiparowits Plateau off to our right.  Rain showers in the distance made for a different but beautiful scene.
 
Below, the Harris Wash runs down to the Escalante River.
   
A good look at the Kaiparowits Plateau.
   
Nothing remarkable about this area we are flying over but striking just the same.
   
 
   
Some sand dunes lit up in the morning sun.
   
 
   
 
   
We merge with the Escalante River just before it merges with Lake Powell.
   
Now making a gentle right turn to follow Lake Powell south.
   
 
   
Looking east.
   
Almost immediately we turn east to get on the San Juan River.
   
The San Juan River winds east.
   
 
   
The San Juan makes some hairpin turns in this area.
   
 
   
Then suddenly the San Juan is more like a river than a reservoir.
   
Stillheading east.
   
Descending to get a better look
   
Nice area for some low-level.
   
Rounding the bend.
   
 
   
Passing by Clay Hills Boat Ramp which is a long ways from anywhere.
   
The Goosenecks is up ahead.  So is some weather, so we turn south to head to our destination this morning.
   
Heading south.
   
And there it is:  Monument Valley Airport (UT25).
   
At Monument Valley Airport, you always land to the south on runway 16, and takeoff to the north on runway 34.  That's because there's a massive red rock wall at the south end of the airport.
 
Here, I'm parked on the gravel ramp and one of the RV-8s is rolling out on 16.
   
All four of our birds parked on the gravel ramp.  Looks like it's just us today.   Monument Valley Airport is a private airport owned by Goulding Trading Post.  It requires prior permission to land here.  We had that, having emailed them our liability release forms and proof of insurance ahead of time.
   
Looking out the window of the restaurant at Monument Valley to the east.  We enjoyed a hearty breakfast at the restaurant.
   
We didn't check out the museum but we did buy T-shirts in the gift store.
   
There's part of that massive red rock wall I mentioned previously.
   
Looking down at the runway in the distance.  You can see our four planes lined up.
   
 
   
Yay, Monument Valley!
   
 
   
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