Go West: Challenges and Road Angels

Traveling, Camping and Hiking My Way Westward

Trail/Park: Utah Lake State Park, Provo, UT

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Donuts and Warning Lights

While I was grateful to have found my way to Rawlins, WY for the previous night, I was happy to leave my campsite on the side of the highway as soon as I woke in the morning. The quiet night sleep I’d hoped for was traded for the sound of highway traffic late into the evening, coupled with dogs barking from a campsite nearby. It had made for spotty sleep at best.

I briefly considered a backtrack from Rawlins into Seminoe State Park to see what I’d missed. Doing so would add additional time to my day’s drive I felt I couldn’t really justify. Besides, I wasn’t interested in the potential of more rutted roads. The previous day had left me rattled.

I quickly packed up, looking forward to my drive for the day. Having once again done some research for a coffee shop, my next stop would be in Rock Springs, WY at Cowboy Donuts. Satisfy my sweet tooth and get caffeinated for the morning. The selection of donuts was ample and the coffee was strong and hot. Thinking ahead to lunch I also added a kolache to my order. Sitting in my car as it warmed with the sunshine, I ate my donut. Then I was off again.

The drive into Salt Lake City was on my mind. I’d traveled the same stretch a year earlier. The decent from Park City on Highway 80 drops through Echo Canyon’s winding path only to be followed by another round of the highway twisting steeply through Parley’s Canyon before landing in Salt Lake City. Trucks barreling down on me in the far right “slow lane” was etched in my mind, bringing with it the anxiety I’d experienced. I kept telling myself it would be fine. I would drive at my own pace in the slow lane, flashers going, damn the speeding traffic. I’d take a break at the Echo Canyon Welcome Center and Rest Area on my way down and revisit the view toward the river below. I was excited for the view.

As I began my decent into Echo Canyon, I passed the Evanston, Wahsatch and Castle Rock exits. This wasn’t as bad as I’d remembered. On I went, flashers going, in the slow lane. And then it happened. The warning beep and light for low tire pressure. My heart sank. Of all the places. The canyon has several exits, but I’d just passed one of the last with services. It would be about 20 miles before another one with the hope of a gas station or anything else was available. I knew it was the same tire from my unplanned stop in Rapid City, SD. I swore under my breath.

I slowed further, then thought to myself the Echo Canyon Welcome Center Rest Area would be a good place to stop. Lots of folks, possibly a truck with a compressor – help would find me there. I kept going but the pull off wasn’t appearing. My hands were glued to the steering wheel. I was so distracted by knowing I needed to get off the highway. I wasn’t sure how much further away the rest area was. In a moment of slight panic, I decided to take the Emory exit. I committed, only to be reminded there were no services as I pulled off. I stopped at the bottom of the exit looking for the entrance ramp to get back on Hwy 80. Nothing. Not for 12 miles.

I decided I’d keep moving on the lower canyon road at the 45mph speed limit. If the tire completely collapsed at least I’d be going slower. As I drove, I looked at every truck parked along the canyon, hoping to see one with equipment in the back, again hoping for a compressor. Then to my left I looked up only to see the Echo Canyon Rest Area high above me. If I’d only been more patient I thought. Now I knew how cars had gotten on this road I’d seen on my previous year’s drive. I kept going.

Road Angel and Disaster Averted

I drove past a huge Utah DOT facility and considered stopping but decided against it. About a mile later I came to a stop sign and the entrance ramp to Hwy 80. I stopped, got out to check the tire and decided I’d head back onto the highway. Just as I was about to get back into the car, a DOT truck pulled up next to me. I flagged the driver down. He got out and looked at the tire, then offered to take me back to the facility where there is was compressor. Gratefully I followed him back.

As Seth put air into the tire, we heard it hissing right back out. He looked at me and said “Here is what we are going to do. Coalville is five miles away toward Salt Lake City on the highway. You are going to follow me there. At the exit you’ll turn and follow me to Burt Brothers Tire Service. You’ll be ok. Let’s go.” I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t have a lot of options, so I followed him back onto the interstate and to the tire shop. I pulled up and one of the staff grabbed my keys. Seth had obviously called ahead. I thanked him for getting me to the shop, for taking time from his day. I knew he had other things he should have been doing. He replied he was heading to town anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal. Grateful I went inside.

The shop happened to have two tires ordered for the same vehicle as mine, ordered for a customer who didn’t need them after all. Again, gratefully I went to sit and wait. A woman, Katherine, was sitting on a big leather couch in the waiting area reading. The title of the book caught my eye and I asked how she liked it. We chatted easily for the hour I waited. Our vehicles were ready about the same time, so we parted ways. Talking with the staff I learned I had been incredibly lucky. The tire had been patched multiple times, some very close together. The fix done in Rapid City was a plug, never meant for the kind of places I’d driven or the distance I’d covered. The shop manager told me I should replace the other two tires as soon as possible and referred me to their sister shop in Provo, UT.

Gratitude and Letting Go

As I headed toward Parley’s Canyon on my next winding decent into Salt Lake City, I did what Kathrine had suggested. I drove in the right lane and focused on the incredible beauty around me. Making a point to enjoy the fall colors, bright yellows bursting against the canyon walls. The highway feels like it dumps one into the basin that is Salt Lake City, UT. I followed the exit which would take me around the city toward Provo and Utah Lake State Park where I was going to camp for the next two nights. On the way Don from Burt’s Tires in Provo called. Nowhere in the valley were there two more of the tires. He could order them though they’d arrive seven days later. I thanked him, but that wouldn’t work for me. Did he have ideas of other places I could try? He gave me a few. In the back of my mind I heard a voice saying “call the local dealership.” But first I wanted to get to camp. I was tired. Hungry. Once there I’d start making calls.

An hour later I’d parked at the site I had reserved. While the campground is pretty open, I had a flat spot, shelter and picnic table. It was late afternoon, as I called through the list of places I could find I had no luck. Finally I asked about any between Utah and California. A pair was available in Los Angeles not far from where I was staying. I made an appointment still not satisfied with the solution. I knew driving an all-wheel drive vehicle on different tires for any length of time isn’t “good.” But I was now finding places were closing for the night. It was time to stop pushing for a solution. I had all day tomorrow to figure it out. I needed to focus on making dinner and getting settled in for the night. Maybe tomorrow a better solution would come.

Dinner cleaned up, I sat watching the sunset play across the mountains to the east, turning to watch the sunset to the west. Again reminding myself to pay attention to the landscape around me and the beauty this place. As the sun set the temperature dropped, sending me retreating inside the camper to read and journal my day’s adventure.

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This travel, hike and camping took place on the traditional territory of the Tséstho’e (Cheyenne), Newe Sogobia (Eastern Shoshone), Shoshone-Bannock, Goshute, Timpanogos and Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) who have stewarded this land for more than 5,000 years. I respect the histories, languages and cultures of these peoples, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant and changing communities. Join me in learning more about the tribes and these lands, by following the links provided.

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Next Post Preview: A solution is revealed to my dilemma allowing me to have an evening with a dear friend unencumbered by worry.

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HOME AWAY FROM HOME: My adventure camper is a lovely little teardrop made-to-order by the incredibly talented people at Vistabule in St. Paul, MN.

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GEAR: Granite Gear Crown2 38 Pack, Marmot Kompressor Pack,Oboz Katabatic Mid Waterproof,Oboz Katabic Low,Mountain Hardware Stretchdown™ Light Jacket, Mountain Hardware Stretchdown™ Pant,REI Co-op XeroDry GTX Jacket,REI Co-op Magma 850 Down Hoodie,REI Co-op XeroDry GTX Pants, Gnara Go There™ Pants, Chickfly Merino Eucalyptus Leggings,Icebreaker Women’s Merino 200 Oasis Long Sleeve Crewe Thermal Top, Icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis Thermal Leggings, SPOT GEN3 Satellite GPS Messenger, Dueter Dirtbag, Kula Cloth, Leki Women’s Micro Vario Cor-Tec TA trekking poles, Nemo Dragonfly™ Ultralight Backpacking Tent, Nemo Sonic™ 0 Down Sleeping Bag,Paria Thermodown 30 down quilt, Exped Ultra 7R Mat,REI Flash 3-Season Sleeping Pad, Thermarest Z Seat™,MSR Pocket Rocket Stove, TOAKS Titanium 450ML Cup with Lid, MSR® IsoPro™ Fuel.

Want to know more about my gear selections? Head on over to Gear & Gadgets or check out my posts titled “Gear in Review”.

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Copyright Ruth Wikoff-Jones, ruthsbluemarble.com | No Use Permitted Without Prior Permission