Warning About Utah Highway 12
Reading the article about Utah’s Red Canyon in the September issue (page 66) brought to mind my experience driving on Highway 12. Back in September 2015, we were on a trip in the Southwest covering all the national and state parks in Utah. We thought we would take a shortcut from Capitol Reef National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park and travel down Utah’s Highway 12 — a noted scenic highway. It certainly started out as a scenic drive — as it is marked as such on most any Utah state map — and we were enjoying our surroundings. We stopped at the very interesting Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder. After enjoying the museum and stopping at a roadside pull-off with our motorhome and towed car, we started on one of the scariest roads we have ever been on! (When you Google “The Hogback Scenic Route 12,” you encounter a description on www.lawtigers.com that reads: “Riding along State Route 12, you will eventually reach a narrow section of the road that runs between the communities of Boulder and Escalante. This is the Hogback, one of the wildest and most scenic rides not just in Utah but in all of the United States.”)
For the next 27 miles — until we reached the visitor center in Escalante, Utah — my wife and I were literally hanging on — me to the steering wheel and her to the armrests! No guardrails, essentially no shoulders, and sheer drop-offs on both sides! I am sorry that we don’t have more photos — only a couple from just when we started. I should have heeded the warning sign, but it was too late, and I couldn’t turn around! This road would be great for a sports car (wish I still had my Corvette) or a motorcycle, but NO RVs, please! I don’t recall seeing any campgrounds along that 27-mile stretch, so if you are looking for one that was mentioned in the article, you should find it from either north of Boulder or from south of Escalante.
Anyway, we offer this as a caution to all our fellow RVers ˛ venture there at your own risk!
― Bill & Sharyn Hill, F489521
Byron Center, Michigan
Super Event For Diesel Owners
The Freightliner Chassis Owners Club has announced a National Super Event, which will be held at Fortuna de Oro RV Resort in Yuma, Arizona. FCOC is joining forces with the Fleetwood Motorhome Association (FMA) and the Diesel RV Club (DRVC) chapter of FMCA. The event is open to all FMCA members.
Having these groups work together enables expanded variety and enhanced seminars to include information on the coach itself in addition to chassis education. We are pleased to be able to offer seminars on topics such as air conditioning, electrical, batteries, slideouts, and more. Although the exact agenda of seminars has not yet been established, you can rest assured that many topics of concern for all recreational vehicle owners will be addressed.
The rally will begin on Monday, April 8, 2024, and conclude with departure on Friday, April 12. For those with motorhomes built on Freightliner chassis, an optional Camp Freightliner class will be held on April 6 and 7, just prior to the event. So, those attending Camp Freightliner will need to arrive at the resort a few days early. Attendees can expect an abundance of educational seminars, food, professional entertainment, crafts, and mostly fun. There will also be time for exploration of the local area for those who wish to do so. In addition, we are working with a local RV dealer to get coaches on display.
Cost for the event is $450 for two members in the coach; $350 for one. For each additional person beyond the two, add $110 each. These prices include four nights of camping, meals, entertainment, and all the other activities of the rally. The event is limited to 150 motorhomes. Those wishing to attend Camp Freightliner will need to pay Freightliner directly for the cost of that class. Enrollment information for Camp Freightliner will be included in the confirmation letter you receive from the Diesel RV Club after signing up for the rally. Simply state on the registration page for the rally that you wish to attend Camp Freightliner, and we will send you the information needed to enroll in the class.
Yuma is in the southwest corner of Arizona on the banks of the Colorado River and is near the Mexico and California borders. It is the largest city in Arizona outside the metro areas of Phoenix and Tucson.
There are abundant things to see and do in the Yuma area, including several golf courses, museums, historic parks, and casinos. The old downtown area has a historic theater with shows and performances throughout the year, several art galleries, boutique shops, and locally owned restaurants.
The National Super Event provides an opportunity for Diesel RV Club members to participate in chassis and other component seminars and for FMCA members owning coaches on a Freightliner chassis to attend a Camp Freightliner educational session.
For more information, visit www.dieselrvclub.org/i4a/calendar/index.cfm?userHome=true&pageID=3271.
― Pam Stalnaker, F479305
VP Membership
Diesel RV Club Chapter
Cedar Falls, Iowa