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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Back in Moab from this wonderful backpack in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. I always wanted to complete a loop around the heart of the Needles. I confirmed the possibility of a route on this prior trip (https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8004685; Sunday April 28th)but that potential lack of water on the west side stopped me from trying it then. Caching water almost turned out to be unnecessary but firmed up the possibility of completing it.
Aptil 9: Dayhike loop of Chesler Park with side trip to cache my water in Chesler Canyon Wash.
Granted a permit by NPS to cache water for a dry leg of this 6 day backpack Lower Elephant Canyon Heading to Chesler Park Gap to Chesler Park Needles View to the Maze District Chesler Park! Eastside Chesler Park Dropping into Elephant Canyon Above Elephant Canyon Return to Elephant Hill TH
April 10: Start my 6 day backpack from Squaw Flat TH taking various Needles District maintained trails toward the Grabens. Graben is a geologic term for how the straight line canyons of this region within the park formed
To the Grabens from Squaw Flat TH Water in side canyon Headed to Devil's Pocket Needles
The trail route becomes circuitous so I tried a shortcut that went into and through a nice parkland after a beginning scrambling through a notch between Needles. That saved time to Devil's Pocket. From there I continued to Devil's Lane (these are all "grabens") and found a nice camp location in the appropriate "Zone" in a side canyon of Cyclone Canyon.
Tree notch for shortcut Devil's Pocket Devil's Lane Trail to Cyclone Devil's Lane Evening above camp Camp canyon
April 11: Dayhike loop around the Grabens and explorations of unnamed side canyons. The map explains it.
Starting down to Cyclone Perfect graben definition Cyclone Canyon, a graben
After walking south in Cyclone to its end, I had to descend to Butler Canyon Wash. Chesler Canyon wash forks upstream. My plan was to take it to the Devils Pocket Trail but I got stopped by an impassable dryfall. Backtracking, I found an easy scramble out of Butler that put me back on track into Chesler and onto Devil's Pocket to complete the loop. Fun little sidecanyons in the otherwise overlooked area. I even found water which was amazing. It rained 0.3" 5 days prior but the one pothole was longer lived than that and could be relied upon in a normal April.
Down to Butler Wash Canyon gully down in shadow Up Chesler Canyon denied!, dryfall blockage ...back down then An exit out Butler Across point of Butler/Chesler junction back down to Chesler Wash Water! in Chesler Wash Over to Devil's Pocket next, lovely trail tomorrow's destination I love Devil's Pocket! Devil's Pocket Water in DP unnamed side canyon sunset above camp above camp; Canyonlands NP, Needles District
April 12: Time to start for the loop. I met my 2 gallon cache so I had lots of water and time to make the crossing into the Salt Creek watershed. But I just decided to push for it because I like the informally named Five fingers Canyon system. Long day made longer by not recognizing my turn off toward what I call Butler Park. That is the location of my notch route through that I scouted in 2013. Oh well, upper Butler Canyon was pretty and worthy...if my feet hadn't been getting so sore!
Time to head up Chesler Wash claret cup almost out met my cache!
My first potential exit connecting Chesler with Butler failed to go.
possible route through to Middle Butler Wash wow, water in CW side canyon Try this side canyon as passage Uh, no go
Back down Chesler a ways I thought a lower divide would go and it did, fine.
This lower side canyon ought to go Goes! Looking down to Butler wash descending to BW big sand now for a while Butler Wash getting more interesting My inconspicuous turn What I am calling "Butler park"
Lots of big sandy wash until I reached the beautiful "Butler Park" and my through route.
The talisman tower my guide through Butler Park climbing out, view back There it is...Five Fingers! Through!, looking up at descent
Loose scree down the Five Fingers side required careful slow descending but I finally made it to a nice camp at the forks of two of the Fingers.
April 13: Spending the day in the Five Fingers exploring crossings and bumping camp.
Five Fingers canyon morning canyon look needles in Second Finger, Canyonlands National Park Second Finger
I hoped to connect 2nd Finger with 1st Finger (which I've explored and found a route out of to Upper Salt Creek). Got through a notch but was stoppped in the First Finger side by verticality.
Exit route to First Finger? Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, UT Down Second Finger Denied! no access into 1st Finger Camp evening
April 14: Back to my old friend Salt Creek to revisit sites, possibily find new ones and maybe notice new stuff in sites I've already visited; always possible in the ancestral puebloan world. I hadn't seen Angel Arch in almost ten years so I'd ceck out that canyon too. There I found a real special pictograph panel I missed my first time. Walked right under it.
Morning Five Finger reflection Angel Arch Canyon water in canyon side of Angel Canyon view down canyon Massive Angel Arch side canyon arch Back in Salt Creek down Salt Creek Salt Creek, Needles District, Canyonlands NP
April 15: Time to depart via the really scenic Peekaboo Trail.
Final morning hike, Salt Canyon Salt Creek Canyon morning atmosphere Onto incredible Peekaboo trail walking the "red and white" trail on the ledge traverse inaccessible canyons everywhere headed to TH, Canyonlands National Park, UT Drop into Lost Canyon
Some of what the ancients left:
Barrier Canyon Style Needles District, Canyonlands National Park Barrier Canyon Style Barrier Canyon Style Barrier Canyon Style Needles District, Canyonlands National Park 7 White Faces!
As I drove out through Indian Creek, I was listening to a popular song with this line:
"Hold the line, the line of strength that pulls me through the fear..." San Jacinto, Pete Gabriel
His very respectful tribute to the peoples that inhabited places like the Needles for over 5000 years. A version sung to the backing of an orchestra...powerful. Brought me to tears. This place is sacred for sure. It is easy to feel it strong. Go immerse yourself, respectfully.
“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.
“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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Yana Hater
Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 4212 | TRs | Pics Location: Out Hating |
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Yana
Hater
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Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:17 pm
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PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
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joker seeker
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 7953 | TRs | Pics Location: state of confusion |
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joker
seeker
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Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:31 pm
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Burly trip on multiple fronts, and quite cool I'm sure!! I bet you had a lot of solitude for a NP too!
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Rigafari Member
Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 98 | TRs | Pics
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Rigafari
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Mon Apr 16, 2018 5:51 pm
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That place surely does have a feel to it. I did a similar loop like that once. Thanks for the stoke to get back that way!
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Rainie Too! Member
Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Posts: 377 | TRs | Pics
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neek Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2011 Posts: 2329 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
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neek
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Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:57 pm
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I've really been enjoying your Utah reports. We were at Island in the Sky on the 13th, didn't get to spend nearly enough time there. Kinda windy a few of those days huh?
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silence Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 4420 | TRs | Pics
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silence
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Tue Apr 17, 2018 6:26 am
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Nice!!! You covered it all ... lucky to have found water too.
PHOTOS
FILMS
Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
PHOTOS
FILMS
Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
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DIYSteve seeking hygge
Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 12655 | TRs | Pics Location: here now |
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DIYSteve
seeking hygge
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Tue Apr 17, 2018 7:51 am
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cascadetraverser Member
Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 1407 | TRs | Pics
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John, your southwest adventures are a great read. Thanks for posting. It inspires me to get back down there with my kids!
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