2019 EJS Moab and then San Rafael Swell

Desert Rose JK

Desert Rose JK

Member
We did our normal week at EJS this year but since I just retired and don't have to rush back to work, we added another week to the Jeeping week and explored a new area... But first EJS......

The week at EJS as great, got to see the new JT trucks, and ran some great trails.
From our RV site, we had a great view of the La Sal Mountains.
DSC_0045.JPG
DSC_0004.JPG

We did 'Metal Masher' on Monday but didn't get any photos of the Jeep on any of the obstacles.
DSC_0087.JPG
This is the group and lunch break on the rim.

On Wednesday we ran 'Backward Bill'.
DSC_0022.JPG
We had no problems getting up 'Wipe Out Hill'.
DSC_0039.JPG
Uranium Arch was our lunch break.

On Tues & Thurs we went out and did some area sight seeing and hiking, and Friday was the vendor show. But Saturday's run was the wife's drive and she picked 'Tip Toe Behind the Rocks'. She did great and had lots to talk about afterward.
DSC_0010.JPG
Coming down 'High Dive alt. or Nose Dive' with no problems.
DSC_0015.JPG
Going up the other side after 'High Dive'.
DSC_0042.JPG
She is rocking it like a pro !
DSC_0024.JPG
DSC_0029.JPG
A couple of arches found.

Vendor show landed us with a couple of 'needed' goodies and the short hikes were a good change in the week of Jeeping.
Thursday night we met some friends at the Branding Iron Streak house and just as we were being seated we saw the EVO & WayaLife gang heading out, got a quick Hi in to Eddie and Cindy but missed the others. Maybe longer talks next time.....Good to say Hi !
Part Two to follow.
 
The Second Week....
About a 150 miles west of Moab is an area called the ' San Rafael Swell' . Anyone driving to Moab from the West on I-70, crosses the northern parts of this old geological uplifting of the red rock sand stone west of Green River. We left Moab on Sunday morning and turn south just past Green River and went about 50 miles to the Goblin Valley area and to the open BLM camping area of Wild Horse Butte / Creek to spend a another week of Jeeping and Hiking this area with a group of friends from the WS4W club from Montrose Colorado.
View attachment 326452
Camp under the Wild Horse Butte.

Monday, first day was slightly overcast and cooler so we all headed to a long 9 mile hike through the combination of 'Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon. Both are slot canyons but what makes these neat slot canyons, is that they are quite long for normal slots canyons.... Little Wild Horse is about 3-1/2 miles of continuous, narrow slot canyon. A 2 -1/2 mile overland cross over hike to reach the start of Bell canyon and another 2 miles of Bell slot canyon down to the starting point trailhead. An Awesome hike!!!
View attachment 326451
View attachment 326453
View attachment 326454

Tuesday took us on a Jeeping run north of the Wild Horse area to the Temple Mountain area and McKay mesa.
068.JPG
A great four wheeling trail including this tight squeeze which had an inch to spare !!!
DSC_0092.JPG

We did a short hike up to this arch called Wild Horse arch, which was neat with an oculus hole in the ceiling and some pictographs on one wall.
DSC_0053.JPG
047.JPG

Wednesday we headed east back toward the west side of the Canyonland National Park to hike a canyon called Horseshoe Canyon or Barrier Canyon which has the 'Great Gallery' of Pictographs painted high on a rock wall in the canyon. These are considered to be the oldest native pictographs in North America... they think they may be as old as 2000 years BC....
DSC_0165.JPG
DSC_0172.JPG
DSC_0173.JPG
DSC_0176.JPG

Thursday we toured the local Utah State Park of 'Goblin Valley' which has the strange eroded sand stone that creates stacked rocks called 'goblins'. You just let you imagination go and you can see all different 'figures or objects' in the rock shapes.
DSC_0215.JPG
DSC_0227.JPG
DSC_0229.JPG
DSC_0240.JPG

Friday Headed back towards the East, half way toward the Canyonlands NP which is the 1880's hang out area called Robbers Roost, where Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch gang hide out. We found the reported remains of the hide out which is only a fireplace now.
DSC_0318.JPG
We also did a short hike to an unusual arch the has multiple openings, five to be exact, called Colonnade arch or Five hole arch.
DSC_0312.JPG
Along the way to the arch we found this very unique piece of sandstone that looks like a miniature Monument Valley or a Dinosaur mouth....
DSC_0280.JPG

Saturday took us back in the Canyonlands NP, in to the Maze district and we toured out the 4x4 road to the panorama point and Cleopatras chair area.
DSC_0341.JPG
Everyone headed out on Sunday except us as we had mechanical problems with one of our slides on our RV which I worked on all day Sunday and got it back in that afternoon so we stayed and extra day and headed back Monday.
Hope you enjoy the photos and try to check out the area next time you pass through....
 
What a great post to close out the weekend. Gotta get down there myself. I’ve never ran the Swell. Always just head straight to Moab. Thanks for sharing!
 
Reloaded these couple of photos that screwed out....


The Second Week....
About a 150 miles west of Moab is an area called the ' San Rafael Swell' . Anyone driving to Moab from the West on I-70, crosses the northern parts of this old geological uplifting of the red rock sand stone west of Green River. We left Moab on Sunday morning and turn south just past Green River and went about 50 miles to the Goblin Valley area and to the open BLM camping area of Wild Horse Butte / Creek to spend a another week of Jeeping and Hiking this area with a group of friends from the WS4W club from Montrose Colorado.
DSC_0016.JPG
Camp under the Wild Horse Butte.

Monday, first day was slightly overcast and cooler so we all headed to a long 9 mile hike through the combination of 'Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon. Both are slot canyons but what makes these neat slot canyons, is that they are quite long for normal slots canyons.... Little Wild Horse is about 3-1/2 miles of continuous, narrow slot canyon. A 2 -1/2 mile overland cross over hike to reach the start of Bell canyon and another 2 miles of Bell slot canyon down to the starting point trailhead. An Awesome hike!!!
030.JPG
034.JPG
019.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom