Act one: The trek west, exploring the old town site of Castle Gate, where the Castle Gate payroll robbery took place and an always fun trek over Fixit Pass, deep in the San Rafael Swell.
After a full day of work, I headed west for the 2017 Outlaws Run. A few of us meet up that night in Rbbit Valley, just West of Grand Junction. A nice spot close to the highway to break up the drive. With an almost full moon, we stayed up well into the night.
We seemed to be drawn to this lone juniper.
Sunrise over Rabbit Valley.
My 4runner, Matt Ralston in his 80 Series Land Cruiser and Matt Farr in the back.
Outlaws.
Most of the group. Kurt Williams from Cruiser Outfitters joined up with us at the old town site of Castle Gate.
Historical marker talking about the robbery.
Castle Gate payroll robbery: Butch Cassidy and Elzy Lay performed a daring daytime robbery at the old town site of Castle Gate. They robber the paymaster of the mine as he was walking up the stairs to the office with the payroll for the mine workers. The robbery took place on April 21, 1897. Butch and Elzy got away with 7,000 in gold. They escaped using a set of relay horses to get them into desert country of the San Rafael Swell, and ultimately Robbers Roost.
We stopped to check out the Castle Gate cemetary before finding camp.
The Castle Gate mine #2 exploded on March 8th 1924, killing 172 workers. It was the third deadliest mining disaster at the time.
We stopped in the town of Price, UT to check out the Museum.
Butch Cassidy walked up these steps as he robbed the paymaster of the payroll for the mine.
Most of the crew.
The sun sets as we make our way into the San Rafael Swell and camp.
Always good to be back around the campfire with friends.
Cane Wash.
Old Juniper.
Views.
Lunch stop before we continue on to Fixit Pass.
Wickiup in the distance.
Joe and his dog.
Treeroot is the first to head down Fisix Pass.
Kurt Williams.
Matt Ralstons “Jacket” turn.
Jason Hanson.
Matt R.
Beno.
Matt Farr “Hulk”.
Daniel Linn and his 81 series Land Cruiser. A right hand drive turbo diesel.
Group photo at Slipper Arch.
Storm coming in from the North.
Evening sets in.
At the San Rafael River.
Jason.
Daniel Linn.
An easy fording this year of the San Rafael River.
Matt Warner was an Outlaw that rode with Butch Cassidy. He was with Butch when the robbed the bank in Telluride, CO.
