[John Morrow]

April 8: This was a big loop at times on the mountainbike/jeep trail system out to Amasa Back. I ventured past Pothole Arch as far as the highpoint near the northern tip of Amasa Back. In order to search for rock art I went mostly crosscountry above the trail system on the contact of the Navajo and Kayenta sandstone. I returned via the pleasantly graded Jackson's Trail. Long but very fun loop with "Grrrrreat!" views

Getting started above Amasa Back Trail

Cirque of the Climbables

Turning a corner

Jackson Butte

Jaskson Butte and Amasa Back

Could be distant Pyramid Butte

Over the river

Behind the Rocks distant

Behind the Rocks and LaSals

three arches across river

Northern end Shafer Basin

stratification

Long Canyon across river

Amasa Back's petrified dune navajo sandstone

Day Canyon

Amasa Back domeland

Pothole Arch

Return to Jackson's Trail

Arch along Jackson's Trail

April 9: Unfinished business in the Mill Creek Canyon Wilderness Study Area. This crosscountry route took me over an unnamed mesa 5400' above the Steelbender 4x4 Trail. The descent off of it was an exciting knife edge and friction downclimb. Avoidable if returning the route up, but I wanted the loop. Expect dense brush flooded by beaver dams until out of the valley. I tried my best to avoid private property, complicating the route.

Mill Canyon

Fork of Mill Canyon

Above Mill Canyon

Sand Flats to Arches Windows Section

On Mesa 5400' between Mill Canyon Forks

Down at Steelbender 4x4 canyon

steep descent

a bit of knife edgy fun!

steep friction descent

found my way down

up-canyon view

Some Rock Art:

An old favorite

An old favorite

[Eric Hansen]

Behind the Rocks is mind boggling. I remember an early guidebook describing it as similar to a loaf of bread and you are hiking between the slices.

[trent]

Cool rock art! Thanks for the inspiration!