Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Five days of backpacking in the Canyonlands Needles District can't be beat with sublime scenery and lots of Ancestral Puebloan ruins, rock art, and artifacts! Warning: Lots of pics--they tell the story.
My goals for this trip (with a zone backcountry permit for the Salt/Horse Zone) was to explore the lesser travelled canyons of Horse and Five Fingers. Horse is dry so I thought I'd have to move fast and get out to Salt Creek and water after one night. Going in I was blessed with a significant rain shower which provided me run off initially and pot hole water for the remainder of the trip. It was a miracle and my first time having to rely on finding pothole water sources! I used each sparingly and dipped into multiple ones to reduce the impact. In addition, the jeep trails have been closed from flooding so it felt like real wilderness! I saw no one in Horse or Five Fingers the whole trip. Not even recent tracks beyond my own! Both times on the main Salt Creek Trail I saw about 5 to 10 people.
Thurs 26th
Day one, hike into Horse Canyon just past junction of Trail Fork to position for tomorrow's day explorations, about 8 miles. The rain shower on the way filled my water bottles with slickrock run off and thus I never had to carry more than the gallon I started with and saved it all!
Getting started in showers alcove rain cover Precious aqua, in a dry canyon! a wet potty Rain subsides Clearing skies! Horse Canyon, Needles District Setting sun color Evening hits
Fri 27th
I started today up the fork to the Thirteen faces panel. Missing them at first was a blessing as I just continued up canyon to the slick rock pouroffs for the view of the backside of Castle Arch and thus was blessed to find more precious rain water in small potholes! This water allowed me to be comfortable for the entire 2nd day in this dry canyon and even have enough for the hike back out to Salt Creek tomorrow.
Bobcat! Pretty day Backside of Castle Arch More precious water! slit arch
Returning down canyon I found the faces and some other neat ancestral puebloan sites. Back in Horse I continued up canyon to Fortress Arch, also finding an isolated rock art Face and a couple other arches, too!
Frontside Castle Fortress Arch Fortress canyon Conical Arch Parapet Double Arch
The remainder of the day I spent locating and taking the only known route out of the Horse canyon system. I hoped to establish route potential for further explorations into Davis and/or Lavender Canyons on another trip. It goes, but with a multiday pack it will be delicate! The view into Davis Canyon was great. Returning back through Trail Fork Canyon, I roamed the alcoves (big ones!) and found some of the best ancestral puebloan sites of the entire trip: great art of little known Faces and dwellings, granaries, and even a kiva.
Trail Fork arch Trail Fork exit Davis Canyon view Where I came from Reentry 3rd class friction entry headed to camp Big alcove--hmm
I probably covered around 12 miles this day and 1500 vertical. I love the Trail Fork!
Sat 28th
Today was camp relocating day so I left for the 4 miles down Horse back to Salt Creek. Found another great archaeology site on a whim. My clue was that someone built a rock pile ladder to start a climb into an alcove!
downcanyon unnamed arch Canyonlands National Park: Paul Bunyan's Potty Paul Bunyans bastard child
Turning up Salt Creek I explored my way up canyon near Peekaboo for rock art and continued onto the junction with the Five Fingers Canyon system. I went up Five Fingers to the edge that my camping zone permit for Salt/Horse Zone would let me. Just beyond that I found a significant existing camp so I thought that would be best in following LNT practices! Five Fingers has clear running water off and on for the first mile and a half!
Into Five Fingers Canyon system Near a new camp Old Growth Crypto Camp canyon
Toward sunset I found a route out of a spur canyon onto the famous yellow and red formations of the Needles District slickrock for the sunset. Clouds muted it some but the view was great. All in all another 11 or 12 mile day with explorations.
Sunset on distant Wingate cliffs Setting sun colors
Sun 29th
My big day. The goal was to find a route out of Five Fingers for future traverse into the Butler/Chesler/Westside region of the Needles. This route would circumnavigate the Center of the Needles in a great loop some day if I found it. The shorter choice is the main West Fork of Five Fingers to Chesler Canyon. The longer, but maybe more reliable, would be the Middle Fork Five Fingers to Butler Wash. This is water free country so I opted for shorter. I made it out of the Main West Fork of 5 Fingers Canyon and in doing so actually scrambled a Benchmark (BM 6417'). I got fantastic views all around and down into Chesler Wash, but no way would I take a big pack over this and I had a bit of a route finding struggle to find my route back down. It all looks so similar!!!
small arch starting a big day Take the left one! I'll take the stairs! Looking back Pt 6417', a shrine? View Upper Salt Creek head View east Main W Fork Five Fingers Little seen arch Beautiful Chesler Wash Time to descend What did I do? W. Fk. arch Gotta try this Fun slickrock below moon
I finally retraced my steps and couldn't contain my curiosity (though tired) so I went up the main Middle Fork of Five Fingers in the late afternoon to scout. Wa La, without even trying the final climb I could see that this would go with much less difficulty into Butler Wash. When the time comes the concern will be the distance to travel with no water sources.
Moon up Der Needles End of the line arch That route out definitely goes!
Satisfied and happily returning to camp, I explored the nooks, junction buttresses, and alcoves for ancestral puebloan sites. Compared to Salt Creek this was paltry settlement with very simple and minimal construction but there is some interesting art. I wish I knew an archaeologist to confirm my crude observations! Another 12 mile day and about 1500 feet of climbing--rare for here.
Mon 30th
My body is a bit worn from many days in a row of hiking but I mosied out the 7 or 8 miles to the TH looking occasionally for arch. sites but mostly with my head contentedly in the sand!
Morning headed out Salt Creek beauty Where it all began
For those who go:
I have to add that I am maniacal about not busting crypto. I will say it is impossible to 100% do so, but that is my goal. At an archaeological site I watch every step and mostly only walk on bedrock and stop to view when I can no longer do so. The Park Service has a tough mission of protecting these fragile ecological and archaeological places so I will always try to leave no impact and ask the same. That said, these places bring me the absolutest great joy and I hope others can feel the power of these places. We are all better people for it, and we must protect it for those who follow. Here is a sample of what the Ancients left us to enjoy, protect, and ponder! (Thanks for listening to my sermon, sorry if it is too preachy)
Horse hands Painted design door granary tucked away Fingers in mud! Interior granary Nice granary 2 of 13 Faces, said to be Fremont influenced 5 of Thirteen Faces Well preserved Single outline face Castle Arch Canyon Hmm, storage cist? Petroglyph over metate Basic Kiva? High alcove dwelling Great view! This is in such an esoteric spot I was surprised to see it. In an area where this Fremont shape is mostly in pictographs. Great find: Faces! Fire cave and corrugated cherd High dwelling Granary, fire scar, pic Kiva with air vent Seldom scene but right there! Nice, obvious, Horse Canyon Oh wow! Barrier Canyon style Painted dots Small anthropomorph??? Cool surprise tower Tower view Greyware cherd at site Eerie at the end of the day Close up Black on white (Mesa Verde?) Summer residence (no fire?) Sentries of the canyon! Lots of hands Close up hands Cool. last find
“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.
|
Back to top |
|
|
the Zachster Member
Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 4776 | TRs | Pics Location: dog training |
"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
|
Back to top |
|
|
John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
“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.
|
Back to top |
|
|
GaliWalker Have camera will use
Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics Location: Pittsburgh |
|
GaliWalker
Have camera will use
|
Thu May 03, 2012 5:13 pm
|
|
|
Fantastic! Great report.
Reading through all that you saw, it's a bit deflating and exciting to realize that while I covered a lot of ground on my recent trip and saw so much good stuff, I've only scratched the surface. No way can I see it all...thankfully, I get to read your (and others') reports.
|
Back to top |
|
|
silence Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 4420 | TRs | Pics
|
|
silence
Member
|
Thu May 03, 2012 5:38 pm
|
|
|
wow .. we just dipped our toes in the needles for the 1st time a week b4 .. now you have me drooling for more ..
i agree about the crypto .. everywhere you look the ground was covered in it .. it's like heather here .. you REALLY don't want to step on it .. so we found off-trail travel was rather limited and thus somewhat disappointing ... but still we were willing to make the sacrifice
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
|
Back to top |
|
|
Benzarino Member
Joined: 26 Feb 2009 Posts: 309 | TRs | Pics Location: Bellingham |
5 days must have been amazing What a great time of year for that trip, I should really get back there.
Thanks for the report!
|
Back to top |
|
|
snowshoeman Member
Joined: 15 Jul 2011 Posts: 50 | TRs | Pics Location: Retired |
Spectacular place. Great photos capturing the raw beauty of Canyonlands. Thanks for sharing your trip report. Would love to get into the Needles District someday. I had the good fortune of taking a 5 day backpacking trip through The Maze and Ernies Country awhile back. Very remote place. We didn't run into anyone else the whole trip.
Seeing your pics of petroglyphs and artifacts reminds of what a very special place Canyonlands is. The excitement and element of discovery we experienced as we observed similar types of ancient structures, markings and artifacts was exhilarating. Really stretches the mind pondering their existence in these canyons. The combination of terrain, history and hydration challenges was like nothing I had ever experienced.
Here are a few pics of stuff we found that was left behind by those earlier inhabitants from The Maze area of Canyonlands
petroglyphs fragments structure? more glyphs
|
Back to top |
|
|
Hiker Mama Member
Joined: 25 Jun 2006 Posts: 3448 | TRs | Pics Location: Lynnwood |
|
Back to top |
|
|
John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Abert wrote: | We walked into Five Fingers Canyon the day you walked out. I should have known the only footprints I saw were a NWHiker's.
Entrance Five Fingers Canyon |
Well I'll be darned! I doubt that area is busy and yet two PNW'ers back to back. You didn't happen to be the group taking a break at Peekaboo when I went through toward the Salt Cr. TH were you? I was uncharacteristically untalkative--especially after 5 days.
Love the pics. Looks like you went up that same westernmost canyon I did. I'd love to see more pics if you are interested in posting a few more.
Thanks,
John
“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.
|
Back to top |
|
|
John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Great pics! Thanks for the link to your Picassa site.
I may have walked into your Salt Creek camp and said something stupid like, "Does this trail go back to the river?" Salt Creek is not much of a river. Incidentally we did some similar stuff on Cedar Mesa too:
https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7997880
Did you make it to the Chesler or Butler divide with Five Fingers? I wondered about that right gully.
Thanks for sharing.
John
“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.
|
Back to top |
|
|
harinama Member
Joined: 14 May 2004 Posts: 122 | TRs | Pics
|
|
harinama
Member
|
Tue May 15, 2012 1:57 pm
|
|
|
Thank you for the wonderful pictures. I went to southern UTAH 6 years in a row to see the canyons.
It's been a while, i think it's time to go back!
Tentative planning for spring 2013!
|
Back to top |
|
|
nickagee Member
Joined: 06 Jun 2012 Posts: 1 | TRs | Pics
|
|
nickagee
Member
|
Wed Jun 06, 2012 8:38 pm
|
|
|
Very cool, John. Thanks for sharing.
|
Back to top |
|
|
|