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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
I have been doing trips to Philly to help my ailing brother, so this brief escape into the canyons is truly spiritual, espicially when I leave the car behind for a few days.
Lower Muley Twist Canyon backpack: a 12 mile long canyon with a loop possiblity back through the Grand Gulch of Halls Creek, connecting back to Lower Muley at the four mile point.
April 22:
I hiked the length of Lower Muley to the 11 mile point where a neat side canyon enters through the red Wingate sandstone formation, complete with water and a beautiful little camp on a bed of juniper needles beneath the trees. The canyon seemed long on loose gravel, but beautiful with flowers and the ocassional cottonwoods.
first narrow area varnish and alcoves abound nice colors spring in desert equals flowers! heading downstream love the cottonwood color Cottonwood leafing out Cowboy cave
I searched and searched near the narrows for a camp before finding this great spot.
Lower Muley Twist IMG_3320 Nearing the narrows at end Look at tomorrow's narrows camp canyon with water
April 23:
Plan today was to leave camp set up, head out through the narrows to Halls Creek, view the Muley Tanks and Hamburger Rocks, and a different twist. The "twist" was to then try an untested loop return by walking low on the Navaho reef southward to the next canyon that cuts through it on the map. From there I planned to go through it and behind the reef. Then I'd climb out the west side on the rising Chinle formation to a divide with the drainage that trends back NE into the canyon that my camp was at the base of. Hopefully no dryfalls or impasses would block my loop back to camp. What fun, as it went fine!
Starting toward the Muley Tanks:
the narrows of Muley Twist Into Grand Gulch of Halls Creek paintbrush Muley Tanks Tanks and Halls creek Hamburger rocks unknown
Then work the Navaho uplift traversing southward to the next canyon. Head west through it to the backside, where I was surprised to see the evidence of the well known uranium mining history of the Chinle:
Down Halls Creek Try this, does it go? Narrows go in unnamed cnayon Nice narrows Climbing out into Chinle Formation A route cutting through Capitol Reef like scarlet gilia but not Uranium mine in Chinle at top
Then through the divide and hopefully back down the northward drainage back to camp. The further I got the more nervous I got about a late impasse forcing me to retrace all the steps of the 8 or 9 mile loop:
Then descend this Does this go? Whew, it does fun exploring, hope it goes
Finally to find a neat arch in the Wingate sandstone just west of camp:
Camp canyon, yes? Capitol Reef National Park, Lower Muley Twist Canyon Yeah, it goes to camp!
This was a super fun loop I highly recommend if travelling on a multidayer in Muley twist!
April 24:
It has been raining a lot since I have been here and this morning was no different, only hard enough to get the washes flowing and make for beautiful skies.
I started through the Muley narrows one more time, but headed north up Halls creek when I emerged through. This took me up the Halls Creek trail to the Post parking area in 5 miles. The clay sure was problematic travel once it was wet. I detoured to a mediocre petroglyph panel about halfway to the Post.
Showers make waterfalls! 15 minutes old! one in narrows Lower Muley Twist-Grand Gulch of Halls Cr loop Lower Muley Twist-Grand Gulch of Halls Cr loop beautiful claymation petroglyph canyon glyphs Halls creek and entrada blobs barrel cactus bloom love the walls last look to stormy Brimhall Pt Capitol Reef National Park, Halls Creek
Then it was a 2 mile climb back up and over the reef on a great trail called "The Cutoff".
time to climb over new snow on Henrys Capitol Reef National Park, Lower Muley Twist Canyon, Cutoff trail
By the time I returned to Muley for the final 4 miles back to the car the rains swelled the canyon wash a bit, but not entirely throughout. It was wild to come up upon this advancing front of water. It was never enough to be intimidating, but hard to keep the feet dry. As usual, it is easier to give up and just get the feet wet. Hence hiking in cross-trainers.
Navaho, Kayenta, and Wingate layers narrow spot flooded, I'll bypass love the wingate slickrock garden almost out
Back at the car it was a fine sense of a trip well traveled. Now the usual-late in the day-search for a car camp.
I honestly am not sure what to do next? On one hand my Honda Civic limits many options because the clay roads are snowy or wet. On the other I can not decide among the options that paved access grants me, that I haven't done yet and I have about 4.5 days more to hike before returning to WA to fly to Phila.
“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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David¹ Token Canadian
Joined: 25 Jul 2002 Posts: 3040 | TRs | Pics Location: The Great White North |
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David¹
Token Canadian
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Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:27 am
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I believe this is the first trip report I've seen for this particular hike - looks like a great place to explore.
Thanks so much for the report
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Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
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Randy
Cube Rat
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Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:15 pm
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Good to see you out in the SW John.
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Matt Lemke High on the Outdoors
Joined: 15 Jul 2010 Posts: 2052 | TRs | Pics Location: Grand Junction |
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Matt Lemke
High on the Outdoors
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Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:26 am
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Another great part of Capitol Reef...did you get a good look at the massive overhangs in Lower Muley?
Love the dryfall uncertainties...I know how that goes
Nice photos btw and well done knowing the geology!
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ragman and rodman Member
Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 1219 | TRs | Pics Location: http://rgervin.com/ |
Beautiful area... thanks for the info... we spent 12 days in CRNP last September and didn't quite have time to fit this one into our schedule... in the Muley Twist area we were able to do short day hikes in Headquarters Canyon and Surprise Canyon, but Muley Twist looks nicer... hopefully next time.
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Yana's Dad Member
Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 53 | TRs | Pics Location: Orange, So Cal |
Thanks for the TR. I have not been yet in Capitol Reef and your report certainly convinced me what a great place to visit Capitol Reef is. I guess you had plenty of solitude - this makes a trip better. Great pictures... all these shapes and colors; and water and flowers make it even better.
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marta wildflower maven
Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 1761 | TRs | Pics
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marta
wildflower maven
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Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:50 pm
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Beautiful. I love the canyon, solitude and most of all the flowers. The scarlet gilia like flower is a firecracker penstemon. They can really brighten the desert and a favorite of hummers.
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Thanks all for the comments!
Marta: Thanks for the flower ID, makes sense to me, penstemon like for sure.
“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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