legacymax Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 This last saturday, my cousin and I went up on the Roan Plateau outside of Rifle Colorado. The Roan Plateau is also know as the Naval Oil Shale Reserve. 55,186 acres of the Plateau are going to be leased out for natural gas exploration on Aug 14th 2008. We thought we would go see it before the oil companies go in. I was very surprised when I went on top of the plateau as I was expecting a high mountain desert of sage and pinon pine. I was wrong. We started in the town of Rifle at 95 degrees, rose 4000' within 9 miles (2000' of that in one 2.5 mile section of road) and dropped to 75 degrees. Once we got up there we saw high mountain meadows, aspen and pine forests, and wild flowers everywhere. Not what I expected. There weren't many people up there and most of the traffic we saw were oil workers using the roads to get to private land on top of the Plateau. We drove along the rim road taking has many of the little overgrown side road that we could. One of these road started to head into a canyon and then deadended. We got out of the car and went for hike which all we had to follow was game trails. We came across some cool waterfalls, forests and some stinging nettle. I took a bunch of pictures so here they are. The Colorado River 3 miles away and 4000' down The road getting up there. White Columbine our hike and Waterfalls My cave 2ft diameter aspen tree. I saw the largest aspen trees I have ever seen on this hike. The hatch, stalking us. cliffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legacymax Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 Before we got back into rifle there was a atv playground and the hatch was the perfect size so i played around a little. Then I found this. -Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheYeti Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Very nice as usual, Maximus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptEditor Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 looks like a lot of fun!! I always get nervous next to drop offs like that, though... -Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 wonder what the story is on the overturned wagon? nice shots . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry DeMoss Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 That is way cool Max. That cave shot is priceless!:-p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamCF Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnW Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 You just saved me from looking at 10 minutes of pron. Thanks Maxie. This is the best pic though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahole Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 WOW! That's sweet. Could you give me directions to that place? From Rifle that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one eye Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Do you work for National Geographic? Those are very good pics. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott in Bellingham Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 wonder what the story is on the overturned wagon? nice shots . if you go off road alot you find cars like that , ether abanded on purpose or somone broke down and by the time got back the car was vandalized Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbrat Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 nice pics. glad to see you kept the round headlights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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