After 9 years of wanting to get back and explore Fable Valley again, I finally returned this year. Fable Valley is just as remote and amazing as the first time I explored it.

I first explored Fable Valley with my Dad back in 2010. We were there for three days and so no one. The valley was heavily active with the Anasazi or Pueblo culture. At the far reaches of there civilization. Far from the epicenter of Chaco. Dad and I hiked 10 miles each day. Finding many signs from the Anasazi time. I made a few attempts at a return visit (getting within a mile in 2014 with my pal Martin, only to have to turn back due to road conditions). Last year was going to be there year I got back, but an unexpected hospital stay due to a Sepsis infection said otherwise. So finally for 2019. I headed back to Fable.

Sunday after the Car Show, my friends Matt Ralston and Marco Capote joined me for the trip to Fable. It’s some 4.5hrs just from Moab. After gassing up in Monticello, we made out way in. Setting up camp in the afternoon. We spent the next three days exploring Fable Valley, with one night in the Valley. We also explored some of the roads around Fable Valley before making our way back to Moab for our clubs Cruise Moab event.

Even with the wet weather, it felt great to finally get back to Fable Valley after all these years. It’s still just as remote and wonderful as my first visit. Managed to check a few items of the to explore list, only to add a few more on, Dark Canyon Wilderness for example.

Here are the pics from our time in Fable. Just a warning, lots of pics:).

Taking a back way from Monticello to get to Highway 211 and the trail head.

Turned off 211 and airing down.

Fording Indian Creek.

Making our way further along the Bridger Jack Mesa Road.

Snow capped La Sals in the distance.

We had to work through some light snow drifts in the higher elevation.

We dubbed the trip the “Two Tone Wagon Run”

Pretty much the theme for the drive to Fable Valley.

Stopped to check out a spring on a side road.

Back on the main road. Looking North to Beef Basin.

Our first glimpse of Dark Canyon.

Making our way on the spur road to the trail head for Fable Valley.

At the corral and camp.

Paintbrushes in bloom.

After camp was set up, we did a little hiking and exploring. During my last visit, had a hunch there might be some activity along this point. So this was the first place we hiked to for this trip.

Following along a bench to get to the point.

First of many Anasazi Ruins we came across.

Rock Art.

Small ruin tucked away in the rock.

Lots and lots of pottery shards.

Roof still intact.

More views of Fable Valley.

A small pueblo along one side of the rock wall.

From this point, everything in Fable Valley was visible. Could see why they chose this spot.

One last look before hiking back up to the trucks.

A fine sunset over the valley.

A fine campfire in a remote spot. Doesn’t get much better.

A muddy truck.

Monday we loaded the backpacks and hiked down into the Valley for a night. This would be my first big hiking trip since my Heart Surgery in October. Felt good, though a bit out of shape!

I spotted this cave/ruin during the last visit. We stopped to check it out this time.

More shards.

This was where my nerves gave out. Marco made it all the way up to check out the ruin. Two granary’s in the cave.

Dwelling in sight.

Taking a short break.

Sheltering in a alcove during a short rain storm.

Lots of granary’s in the valley,

One of my favorite Cliff Dwellings. We would shelter here during the rain storms, then camp below it, outside of the cave.

Matt taking in the views.

Old fingerprints.

Decent sized Pueblo just below the Cliff Dwelling.

Marco enjoying a brief moment of sun.

Lots of pottery shards.

A bunch of Prickly Pear!

Cactus almost in bloom.

Taking advantage of the break in the rain to explore more of the valley.

Corral.

Looking back up the valley towards the trucks.

Spotted some rock art.

One cactus starting to bloom.

Some one didn’t like Seth.

More ruins.

A lone piece of black on white ware pottery shard.

Some big cactus in the valley.

Checking out the Pueblo below the Dwelling.

Some one has already surveyed this spot.

Taking shelter again as another storm passed.

Marco snapped this pic.

Love this view.

The Willows were quite happy in this valley.

“T” shaped door.

Marco taking in the views on last time before we climb out.

Old hand print.

A wet climb back up to the trucks.

One last look.

Climbing back out on the spur road.

This section was a bit muddy, to much throttle, and I was in the ditch.

Back on the main road.

Exploring another side road just past the turn off for Fable.

Reason for exploring that side road. Some mighty fine views of Dark Canyon Wilderness! A place I need to explore now:).

Exploring the North Long Point Road.

Love this rig.

We passed through freshly cut Juniper Forests. Whole acres freshly cut.

My beloved Henry’s in the distance.

Was a fun road to explore.

Some fine remote country:)!

A minor obstacle near the end of the road. I ended up taking a spot.

Marco in his new 80 Series Land Cruiser.

The road ended at an unnamed spring. A remote spot.

This area must have gotten hit hard with the storm from the previous night.

Joe was here. Shortly after the war. Even more remote back then i’m sure.

Climbing up the one challenging spot.

Somehow Matt Ralston and I drove right by this on our way in and didn’t even see it…. We stopped to check it out on our way back out.

Some dark clouds heading towards Moab.

Views of Sweet Alice Hills from our camp. We watched the storms dance across the desert to Moab, but went to bed with clear skies.

Wednesday we woke to 2″ of fresh snow on the ground.

It was a slow drive back out to the highway. I was able to get out of this one with out any assistance.

Indian Creek a bit higher than when we crossed it a few days ago.

End.