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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
April 4; Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, The Gulch Wilderness Study Area:
Wow, sad chills realizing what happened on this day 50 years ago. Had he lived....
Well, I have been about as indecisive as I can be this trip. Annoying myself some. Am I this bad with partners? Don't anyone answer that. But I finally decided to keep it to dayhikes until I start a Canyonlands backpack next week.
This was an exploration outside Boulder Town, UT to look at teh possibilities for a future backpack in the area. Plus some Navajo sandstone domes were present for scrambling and I'd have a chance to view some of the deeper canyon of Deer Creek. A short version of the Deer Creek approach is now featured in Rick Stinchfeld's new book, "Beyond Capitol Reef". I extended it into the neat slickrock expanses of the plateau between The Gulch and Deer Creek.
I'll let the map and pics explain...
Deer Creek GSENM Side canyon into Deer Creek Descending into Deer Creek Deer Creek, wet feet wade and thrash Climbing out of Deer Cattle trail out The Gulch/North Escalante Canyons Wilderness Study Area, UT crazy stilted boulder water and pine slickrock basin Another pretty slickrock basin Peak 6209' next The Gulch, North Escalante Canyons Wilderness Study Area, UT Yet another slickrock basin Class 4 by the two little bushes Along the return route Great little draw returns to Deer Cr Cross Deer Creek
I will add that the scramble of Peak 6209' entails some 15 feet of Class 4 that I could not find anything easier to avoid. In the picture of the crack with bushes, locate the two small bushes in the middle. Either do the crack directly or move out right onto mod angle crossbedded slickrock face as I did. The descent is exciting, I recommend sticky sole shoes for sure.
April 5; Capitol Reef National Park, "Capitol Tanks Draw" and Peak 7040.
Peak 7040' is an awesome endeavor. Worth my third visit to Tanks Draw (my informal reference). Please leave no trace if you head here. I feel a bit guilty posting. Note the obvious gully on the east side of the peak. Class 3, no problems, and mostly solid hugging climber's left. Then to get through the carmel formation cap I chose a zig zag route. Straight ahead from the gully top is a dihedral up a moderate angle face. It looked inviting but quite blank above. Avoiding that 40 foot high face I went far south (left) for 400 yards where the face lessens. This, on a wide sloping dirty ledge. Then up the short easy face and a equally long traverse back to the right to find a way through the cap. It is very apparent.
Tanks Draw dryfall bypass (go higher) Idyllic Tanks Draw "The stem crack" looking down upper Tanks Draw the sand flat Peak 7040', my destination Class 3 gully (hug left) Seldom traveled canyons below Famous Navajo domeland George Benchmark Crazy scarp The route up gully and zigzag ledges Last look return one of my favorite canyons lots to see at the tanks little bridge
April 6; Capitol Reef National Park, South Fork Sheets Gulch exploration and fail, then Sheets Gulch.
First, it was up the pretty lower Sheets to the arch.
Sheets Gulch First Sheets slot Sheets arch Sheet Gulch mid canyon
Just past the arch I located the entrance to the S. Fk. which begins inconspicuously as a slotty impassable dryfall. Easily bypassed out of Sheets on the left with a staircase climb, I entered and found the first mile enchanting.
Start of S. Fk. Sheets S. Fk. Sheets Gulch nice little canyon broad bottom spot gets a bit tighter
Then I hit a 150 foot long slot. Tight, and with a 15 foot high chockstone at the far end I'd have to climb over. Fortunately it was consistent width and with lots of small crossbedded ledges for hand and foot holds. I stemmed it continuously. Unnerving being 15 feet off the deck of water but quite exhilarating.
Uh oh, crazy stem slot through, above the 15' high chockstone
Unfortunately, 1/4 mile later I was stopped by a dryfall grotto. I tried an exit side canyon back to main Sheets but it didn't go w/o 5th Class. So it was back down to Sheets.
The blocker dryfall side canyon at dryfall failed back down canyon
I finished the day returning to, and hiking the length of, Sheets main canyon. Which, despite my second time, is always a gorgeous endeavor.
Back into Sheets Sheets narrows I really love this canyon Lots of Navajo buttes and peaks Middle narrows, Sheets Gulch, Capitol Reef NP Big faces in upper portion Sheets Gulch; Capitol Reef National Park, UT Into the Wingate and Chinle Turn around "Big Cottonwood Spring" Capitol Reef National Park, UT descending Capitol Reef National Park, UT eased with log placed the middle narrows lowest narrows
April 7; Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area, Moab.
I explored the area for rock art and to locate Michael Kelsey's "shortcut" into Pritchett Canyon. Then I roamed a couple of forks in the WSA with little luck finding rock art but finding possibilities for a longer exploration someday.
Pritchett Climbing out Into the "Rocks" The heart up ahead Pritchett Canyon Pritchett descent gully 1st side canyon dead end Along the jeep trail...entertainment Next side canyon Higher in canyon Coming back out...wilderness to be? Wet now art art art Art
For being indecisive, I enjoyed this selection of dayhikes and forgave myself for not doing an ambitious backpack in Capitol Reef. Had last night's rain come a week ago, it may have lured me into the backpack with the increased possibility of finding water. But, I'll have it for Canyonlands!
April 8: Stairmaster Trail to crosscountry across Moab Rim to Jeep Trail
This hike was in danger of being not "Off the beaten path" but, despite the popularity of the Stairmaster Trail with it's parallel Jeep Trail, I managed a bunch of neat crosscountry travel across the top of Moab Rim to rejoin the Jeep Trail at its Moab Viewpoint.
Stairmaster Trail is indeed popular but once I left it I saw no one and never a jeep. I accepted that it parallels the Jeep Trail the whole way.
Moab Rim Pritchett Hikes Nearing top of Stairmaster trail View west Take these Keyenta rock forms south on along rim
Then the fun began as I found mostly durable rock (Keyenta formation ledges) and crypto free surfaces to run the Moab Rim a couple miles south for great travel and constant changing views. In soft ground I saw little evidence that people do this. Or they are all as careful around cryptobiotic soil as I try to be. Why more people dont' do this is beyond me!
Moab with Arches grandeur beyonds Left the jeep trail view north Moving south along rock ribs going's easy view back north Keyenta ledges go easy almost done The route
I arrived for lunch at the viewpoint where I'd return partially on the Jeep Trail. Wanting to avoid it, and search for rock art, I hugged the big Navajo Domes and knobs as shown on the map.
At Jeep trail end view at Hidden Valley view west neat side canyon
It included walking along a rim of a side canyon and into it.
Behind the Rocks Dropping into drainage
Then it was up and back out to Stairmaster trail.
slickrock and arch afternoon La Sals!
Like I said, the petroglyphs in the area are special!
art! art art art art art art art
“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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some names Member
Joined: 08 Jan 2012 Posts: 243 | TRs | Pics
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Really nice trip report and pictures John!
somesignaturehere and somesignaturethere
somesignaturehere and somesignaturethere
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
I added day five which was along the Moab Rim yesterday.
Moab Rim Pritchett Hikes
If you notice on the map, someday I'd like to connect the two routes through the awesome fins of Behind the Rocks.
“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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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
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GaliWalker Have camera will use
Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics Location: Pittsburgh |
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GaliWalker
Have camera will use
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Mon Apr 09, 2018 10:13 am
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Stunning scenery!
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Eric Hansen Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2015 Posts: 860 | TRs | Pics Location: Wisconsin |
Behind the Rocks is too cool! Been there and would gladly return
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Rainie Too! Member
Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Posts: 377 | TRs | Pics
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Tanks Draw just got added to my list. Could camp there forever......
Did you ever make it up the Golden Throne?
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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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Mon Apr 09, 2018 8:15 pm
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Nice
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Rainie Too! wrote: | Tanks Draw just got added to my list. Could camp there forever......
Did you ever make it up the Golden Throne? |
Just no way w/o mid to high 5th climbing now that I've viewed all sides, unfortunately. "Northern Throne" was my attempt at declaring a significant consolation....All attempts at a non rappel route circumnavigating the Golden Throne failed, too. Too bad, because that'd make a nice way through that section on the "Grand traverse of the Reef".
“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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Sculpin Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2015 Posts: 1376 | TRs | Pics
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Sculpin
Member
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Fri Apr 20, 2018 2:27 pm
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John Morrow wrote: | If you notice on the map, someday I'd like to connect the two routes through the awesome fins of Behind the Rocks. |
Good luck, did not work for me. Tried a few routes, hit dead ends, ran out of time. Shoulda just paid the damn parking fee at Pritchett!
The jeep road up to Moab Rim is great for reading sign. In addition to the nocturnal desert critters making various odd tracks, you will see a gasoline stain on one rock, a red splash of transmission fluid on another, maybe a smear of CV grease...
Between every two pines is a doorway to the new world. - John Muir
Between every two pines is a doorway to the new world. - John Muir
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