Forum Index > Trip Reports > "Mazing" Six day backpack in Canyonlands Maze District Pt 1. April 10-12, 2017
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John Morrow
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Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics
Location: Roslyn
John Morrow
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PostSun Apr 16, 2017 2:35 pm 
With Abert. Carcamped the first night just outside Canyonlands National Park Maze District in order to get to the Ranger Station at 8AM opening. We had a long 14.5 mile descent into the Maze ahead of us.
Overview
Overview
April 10, 2016: To the Maze. Our route started at the car park one mile from the North Trail Canyon Trail. 6 miles of trail brought us to a 6 mile road stretch to reach the famed Maze Overlook. An even more famous 1 mile long Overlook Trail descent got us to the bottom of the S. Fk. Horse Canyon where we found camp a couple meander bends up canyon.
Day 1
Day 1
Cleopatra's Chair at start
Cleopatra's Chair at start
North Trail Canyon
North Trail Canyon
Descending into North Trail Canyon
Descending into North Trail Canyon
.
.
Dropping
Dropping
About out of canyon
About out of canyon
Looking back
Looking back
Onto white rim/moenkopi bench
Onto white rim/moenkopi bench
Into the dry flats
Into the dry flats
Long stretch
Long stretch
A look back at the expanse
A look back at the expanse
Finally the Park!
Finally the Park!
Fork of Horse Canyon
Fork of Horse Canyon
Maze District
Maze District
Maze Overlook at last!
Maze Overlook at last!
Finally...the infamous
Finally...the infamous
Lower S. Fk. Horse Canyon
Lower S. Fk. Horse Canyon
Double Arch, upper right.
Double Arch, upper right.
Time to head in.
Time to head in.
flower
flower
Interesting trail
Interesting trail
The moki steps
The moki steps
The chocolate drops!
The chocolate drops!
April 11, 2017: Basecamp dayhike of Pictograph Fork--Chimney Rock Fork--Pete's Mesa Trail--Pete's Mesa Fork back to camp. Passed the amazing Harvest Scene Barrier Canyon Style Pictograph Panel among other rock art. Interesting canyon entries and exits snaking along ledges to find the breaks in the vertical. All cairned very clearly for the most part.
Days 2 and 3
Days 2 and 3
Camp Nights 1 and 2
Camp Nights 1 and 2
Pictograph Fork water
Pictograph Fork water
The Harvest Scene
The Harvest Scene
harvest
harvest
HS 1
HS 1
HS 2
HS 2
HS 3
HS 3
HS 4
HS 4
HS 5
HS 5
HS 6
HS 6
HS 7 detail
HS 7 detail
HS 8
HS 8
HS 9
HS 9
HS 10
HS 10
HS 11
HS 11
sometimes, I feel like it is a crime that people can drive so close to sites like these. 17 miles of hiking for us.
sometimes, I feel like it is a crime that people can drive so close to sites like these. 17 miles of hiking for us.
HS 12
HS 12
HS
HS
HS
HS
Maze District
Maze District
Picto Fork 2
Picto Fork 2
Picto Fork 3
Picto Fork 3
Canyonlands National Park, UT
Canyonlands National Park, UT
BCS Petroglyphs
BCS Petroglyphs
Potty style arch
Potty style arch
Climbing out Chimney Fork
Climbing out Chimney Fork
Chinmey Fork blockages
Chinmey Fork blockages
Looking down exit
Looking down exit
On top near Chimney Rock
On top near Chimney Rock
Looking into Jasper Canyon, Maze District
Looking into Jasper Canyon, Maze District
Pete's Mesa Trail and arch behind David
Pete's Mesa Trail and arch behind David
Jasper Canyon
Jasper Canyon
More Jasper
More Jasper
Dropping into Pete's Mesa Fork
Dropping into Pete's Mesa Fork
Weird jasper arch
Weird jasper arch
looks familiar
looks familiar
Pete's Mesa Fork arch
Pete's Mesa Fork arch
April 12, 2017: Pack up. Head up the S. Fk. Horse Canyon to its' head. Climb out onto the Land of Standing Rocks. Walk 5 miles of jeep road in the LoSR....so interesting and beautiful on the ridge between the Maze to the north and The Fins/Ernies Country to the south that I didn't mind the road walk (rare for me...). Reach Chimney Rock again and descend into Shot Canyon via the most interesting of trail construction. Walk through Shot and exit a neat slickrock divide to Water Canyon, appropriately named, and home for night 3.
Camp morning
Camp morning
lots of water in S. Fk.
lots of water in S. Fk.
appears scratched
appears scratched
Elaterite Butte peeks over
Elaterite Butte peeks over
S. Fk. long hike
S. Fk. long hike
More H2O
More H2O
nice stretch
nice stretch
arch
arch
Upper S. Fk. water
Upper S. Fk. water
Time to exit
Time to exit
climbing out
climbing out
bridge
bridge
Onto the Land of Standing Rocks!
Onto the Land of Standing Rocks!
Standing Rocks
Standing Rocks
pinnacles and paintbrush
pinnacles and paintbrush
The fins and Tibberts Arch
The fins and Tibberts Arch
Dolls House and distant Needles Dist.
Dolls House and distant Needles Dist.
Shot and Water
Shot and Water
Head of Water
Head of Water
Shot entry
Shot entry
Chinmey Rock above Shot Canyon
Chinmey Rock above Shot Canyon
Descending Shot Canyon
Descending Shot Canyon
Crazy Trailwork!
Crazy Trailwork!
Shot's descent
Shot's descent
Shot walls
Shot walls
More Shot Canyon, Canyonlands, Maze District
More Shot Canyon, Canyonlands, Maze District
Middle Shot Canyon
Middle Shot Canyon
water!
water!
Canyonlands National Park, UT
Canyonlands National Park, UT
Fun exit on slickrock
Fun exit on slickrock
Water Canyon at last!
Water Canyon at last!
Water descent
Water descent
Water Canyon scene
Water Canyon scene
Still to come: April 13-16, 2017: Water Canyon to the Green/Colorado River Confluence. On from there to the Dolls House. Across all of Ernie's Country and the Fins. Climb the Golden Stairs to China Neck. Go crosscountry over Elaterite Mesa and descend to Big Water Canyon through Elaterite Basin. Return back up the long climb of the North Trail Canyon Trail.
Day 4
Day 4
Day 5
Day 5
Day 6
Day 6

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.” ― MLK Jr.
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wildernessed
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Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
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PostMon Apr 17, 2017 5:33 am 
up.gif

Living in the Anthropocene
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GaliWalker
Have camera will use



Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics
Location: Pittsburgh
GaliWalker
Have camera will use
PostMon Apr 17, 2017 5:45 am 
Spectacular! stun.gif

'Gali'Walker => 'Mountain-pass' walker bobbi: "...don't you ever forget your camera!" Photography: flickr.com/photos/shahiddurrani
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Distel32
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Joined: 03 Jun 2014
Posts: 961 | TRs | Pics
Location: Edmonds, WA
Distel32
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PostMon Apr 17, 2017 6:11 am 
up.gif

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RichP
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Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 5628 | TRs | Pics
Location: here
RichP
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PostMon Apr 17, 2017 6:17 am 
You are a lucky man, John. Enjoy!

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Jim Dockery
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Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 3092 | TRs | Pics
Location: Lake Stevens
Jim Dockery
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PostTue Apr 18, 2017 8:02 pm 
Looks like a great trip up.gif

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ale_capone
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Joined: 22 Sep 2009
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ale_capone
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PostThu Apr 20, 2017 8:25 am 
Nice John! Great trip and photos. I Love that part of the world. Lived in Vegas before I moved here, and went up to Utah often. Where your ears ringing? We did the route up mastiff, based on your old report, last weekend. The chute to lost lake where your track ended might have been the best riding of the day. To windy to summit, but your up and down track went pretty good!

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ree
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Joined: 29 Jun 2004
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ree
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PostThu Apr 20, 2017 11:36 am 
Love your pictograph shots. Gorgeous. cool.gif

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Forum Index > Trip Reports > "Mazing" Six day backpack in Canyonlands Maze District Pt 1. April 10-12, 2017
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