Plan B - San Rafael Swell, 11/23-11/25

[cruiseroutfit]

Why Plan B? Because as we arrived at the Canyonlands visitor center Friday morning to begin the White Rim Trail, we were greeted with 6" of snow . The rangers were not allowing anyone down for the day, and likely not tomorrow either. After a short discussion and 2M weather reports, the SR Swell was looking like the best option!

The visitors center parking lot

One member of our group had never been in the Swell, so we decided to show him some of the best spots. We started with Black Dragon Wash, ended for the evening on ************** Flats at the end of the Swazey Leap Road. We hiked to the leap in the morning and packed up camp after returning. From there we traveled to the Swinging Bridge and onto the Buckhorn picto. panel. Our last stop for the day would be the Wedge, Utah's own "Little Grand Canyon", equally as impressive and far more secluded IMHO. There we said goodbye to the Russels. Their two young boys had been awesome on the trip thusfar, they decided not to jinx it with a cold night ahead . Richard and I set camp on the edge of the Wedge, what more could you ask for in life.

Black Dragon Wash

Black Dragon Wash

 

[cruiseroutfit]

The Wedge

The moon coming up over camp @ the Wedge

Saturday was pretty much a "call it as it comes" day, zero plans. We decided to check out the Fuller Bottom river crossing, as it turns out we passed the Hayes clan along the way (good seeing you ). After crossing the San Rafael River we explored the Sids Mountain Loop, I had always bypassed it, I'm wishing I hadn't all these times. The views it offers back into the Sids Mountain area are un-parralleled, worthy of the extra mileage on the trail.

Awoke to this:

View from Sids Mountain Loop

 

[cruiseroutfit]

From the intersection with the Fuller Bottom road, we decided to head down the northern portion of the Eagle Canyon access road. Maps and atlas's listed the canyon crossing as "impassable to full-size vehicles" or "cannot cross, washout". I wanted to see it for my own eyes after hearing it was potentially passable. I honestly hadn't planned to drive it in my Tacoma, rather attempt it in the Land Cruiser at a later day. Richard and I spent a couple hours hiking the washedout section, and eventually decided we would give it a try. We were both a bit aprehensive, I had my Trail Trailer in tow and Richards FJ62 is both diffs.

Natural Bridge enroute to Eagle Canyon

Eagle Canyon

Richard coming down a ledge

Long story short we made it for the most part unscathed... a lot of spotting, some careful rock placement (not stacking ) and a bit of rocker damage (not mine ). As it turned out, the hardest obstacle ended up trying to get my Tacoma up a sand/rock hill at the end of the washout, my trailer was stuck on a rock ledge below while the Taco was in a deep sand pile, all amidst a 45 degree slope. I ended up taking a bit of a tug from Richard ahead of me. We were out! The rest of the trip was uneventful, a short jaunt to the intersection with the Moore Cutoff Road, and all pavement back to Sandy. Good times!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Thats it for now... the rest of the details and trip report will be on my website sooner or later

 

[Willman]

Kurt.....your truck is coming along!!!

Were brothers!!! (black wheels, snorkel, ARB, and a trailer!)

Going to needs some details on your latest mods.....(tires, sus. wheels, etc..)

Looks like a great trip!!!

Keep the pictures coming!

:chowtime:

 

[Overland Hadley]

Thanks for the pictures.

 

[Desertdude]

Great stuff Kurt - Always like that area.

 

[kcowyo]

Another great write-up and set of photos. Love that 62.

I was down in Capitol Reef and Escalante the week before and the weather was great. Glad the snow decided to wait for you to show up.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Nice writeup and pictures. I really enjoyed the Swell when I was there this summer. I need to get back to do some more exploring

 

[bh4rnnr]

Kurt,

Glad you guys had a good time! Sure wish I was there, going to be putting my little trip off for a bit.... These pics should help me get through until I get out agian.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Kurt,

Glad you guys had a good time! Sure wish I was there, going to be putting my little trip off for a bit.... These pics should help me get through until I get out agian.

I'll get you some more from this coming weekend too. Plan is to run Devils Racetrack & Eva Conover Road (North Fork and South Fork Coal Wash), up over Fix-It Pass to Buckhorn Wash, do the Mountain Dew trail near Buckhorn Reservoir and head home sometime Monday?

What time would you need to leave Denver to get to Green River by ~6pm Friday?

 

[bh4rnnr]

I'll get you some more from this coming weekend too. Plan is to run Devils Racetrack & Eva Conover Road (North Fork and South Fork Coal Wash), up over Fix-It Pass to Buckhorn Wash, do the Mountain Dew trail near Buckhorn Reservoir and head home sometime Monday?

What time would you need to leave Denver to get to Green River by ~6pm Friday?

Sure, rube it in.... At least your not telling me your going to explore Sids Mountain Cabin or somethin like that........ Yep, need to get the 4runner going again.

 

[DaveInDenver]

You're killin' me! Thanks for giving me a window to the outside world, great pictures.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Sure, rube it in.... At least your not telling me your going to explore Sids Mountain Cabin or somethin like that........ Yep, need to get the 4runner going again.

I plan to hike to the cabin eventually... during better weather though. Its ~22miles round trip, thats a pretty long hike in the sun

 

[Willman]

Kurt.....gotta tell us more about your red truck!.....Can you say mod thread???

:jumping: