The Search

Tom does as many side trails as he can find searching for the escaped or abandoned Sulcata. Then takes his ATV down both sides of I-70 for a mile or so in each direction and then down the middle searching for any signs of the tortoise. After a four hour complete and thorough perimeter search, not a single track or clue to his ever having been there. Perhaps someone saw him and rescued him, if not, he'll have to be a very resourceful Sulcata to see another Spring.

Mile Marker 99 (Where To Begin?)

Mile Marker 99

Last week, two fellows pulled up on motorcycles in front of the lodge. Upon seeing Kobae, one said he had seen a tortoise, same size, same markings, while driving back from Richfield crossing the freeway on Interstate 70 at mile marker 99. Traffic slowed so it could cross. Today, with the lodge empty for a few days, Tom drives the 120 miles each way to see if he could find the escaped or abandoned one before winter comes and he/she perishes. Few, if anybody, has Sulcata tracking experience as Tom.

Up On Top

Into the Finger Canyons

Day On the River

Christy, Patrick, Chuck, and Tom kayak from just outside Moab to Base Camp.

Learning to Swing Wide on Stairs

Under Construction (Always)

Each day Tom sees lots of dirt flying out the front door of Kobae's hogan. Today, when Kobae left, Tom got a chance to drop down inside and see where's it all coming from. Through the front door into the hogan, then it drops down about two feet where an underground dog house used to be. Bill took the dog house out in July and Kobae has been digging ever since. Looking at the last picture, it appears Kobae's tunnel goes about to the green bush between the hay bales on top of the underground dog house and the clothes line.

Jeeping, Rainbows, Kobae, Lin, Shane (hat), and Derron

Stairway to Heaven

Tom waits at the top to make sure everyone ascends safely and occasionally goes to all fours to be an extra foot step only if needed. Better to live to climb another day.

Comes the Night (& Milky Way)

The Lightning Cometh

The Storm (Upon Us)

The Storm

Sunsets and Lin

Sunset

Once or twice each year, somebody stays at the lodge that can make what is reality for us, come alive in picture. I'd say Derron Fricke falls in that category.

Don't forget you can click on the picture to enlarge.

Stairway to Heaven 5 (Last)

Stairway to Heaven 4

Stairway to Heaven 3

Stairway to Heaven 2

Stairway to Heaven 1

Kobae Can Hike

Kobae headed down the drive way at 2pm. This video was taken at 7pm. Kobae has stopped twice to get some shade during the three to four mile journey. Both of Tom's PowerAide bottles are nearly empty. Shade doesn't come quite as frequently for Tom as it does for Kobae.

Shade for One

Lights Out

Kobae, you are growing tired, very tired. Your eyes are heavy. You will go into a deep sleep. Close your eyes Kobae...........

Rainbow to the West

Never saw that before.

The Walk Around Chicken Corner

Derron, Lin, and Tom walk around Chicken Corner.

The Kayak Journey

Leigh, Mark, Fred, and Matt begin their four and a half hour kayak journey from just outside Moab to Base Camp.

Stuck, Unstuck, and Rainbow

Storm a Coming

Kobae and Tom have hiked out near the Wind Caves when Tom sees the storm coming up the river. Tom turns Kobae for the lodge. The storm is closing quickly.


Just as the storm is about to overtake Kobae and Tom, the lodge jeep comes into view. Shane, a guest at Base Camp, has heard the walkie talkie call and come to find them.


As Shane, Tom, and Kobae are driving back to Base Camp, the storm hits right where they had been just moments ago.

A Friday in the Life of Kobae (Dinner)

A Friday in the Life of Kobae (Up The Stairs)

A Friday in the Life of Kobae (Splash Fight)

Tom and Kobae get in a splash fight. Really.

A Friday in the Life of Kobae (Tiny Bubbles)

A Friday in the Life of Kobae (Nice Job Kobe)

Kobae comes out of his hogan and heads straight for the beach. To get to the beach, you must descend the dirt dug stairs Tom made for people. If you aren't people, it's a little tougher.

Thursday Evening

Gone In 57 Seconds (Ten Feet That Is)

Monday

Kobae found the cucumbers, ate some, went hiking.

Saturday Hike With Kobae (Getting Dark)

Kobae is plodding along fighting Tom every inch of the return hike to Base Camp. Suddenly, Kobae sees the turn off to Base Camp and to arrive before dark, kicks it up a notch.

Saturday Hike With Kobae (You're The Best Kobe)

Kobe had tried to squeeze between the rocks eight times unsuccessfully before Tom could get to him and turn on the video. Finally after 9 and 10, he finds a better route.....maybe.

Saturday Hike With Kobae (You Didn't Even Say Thanks)

Tom had to rescue Kobae to keep him from falling off a ledge.

Saturday Hike With Kobae (What Are You Thinking)

Saturday Hike With Kobae (Somebody else's turn please)

Storm coming, stiff winds, Kobae checks to see if he can make it down the 100 foot drop off, no he can't, wait, maybe he can.

Wanderers on Lockhart Basin

Annabelle, Steve, and Aaron depart for Needles after a two day rest stop. Cloud cover consumes the day and gives them a good chance to make it the 50 plus miles of desert. They each carry substantial water and those nasty two words, water drop, never came up.