Udink
01-19-2010, 05:13 PM
I was hoping the snow would hold off for one more day so I could go on a hike in North Salt Wash on Monday, but I woke up to a couple inches of new snow, so instead I just went on a ride in the area. There was still a lot of snow in that part of the San Rafael Swell, about 8-10 inches at the most.
I parked the truck at Buckhorn Well, rode south to Fuller Bottom and crossed the frozen San Rafael River.
Parked at Buckhorn Well
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo0SKTFeI/AAAAAAAAHqE/IqOgUZnWt7A/s400/IMG_1600.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7as8JHTRgdawzsdLIixZTg)
Mugshot
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo0lAtpmI/AAAAAAAAHqI/UsDZ4MoTAt8/s400/IMG_1601.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ETKGJ_ntq_jVyAeX6awJsg)
BLM visitor register near Fuller Bottom
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo1MMtdvI/AAAAAAAAHqM/Yn_F2IR4xF4/s400/IMG_1603.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fWd250bHUH6kso8L5_5Tqw)
The tamarisk tunnel at Fuller Bottom
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo2qZQtyI/AAAAAAAAHqU/olzez-FSJ4s/s400/IMG_1608.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YI89U-ebqSzOuMClqGrgAw)
I'd been worrying that the river would be flowing, with icy ledges on either side of the flowing water, but it appeared to be frozen solid. I parked my ATV on the north bank and walked across the ice, testing it with a shovel in front of me as I approached the opposite bank.
Parked on the north bank
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo36Ezb0I/AAAAAAAAHqc/sJSFN6JyLcc/s400/IMG_1611.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/URfWEp4yPP0KTxX5Zm8D0Q)
View across the river crossing
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo4ZtiamI/AAAAAAAAHqg/_DdcvzlIFHI/s400/IMG_1615.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1qXomEMa_Zn9EXBZ2XJqTw)
Mmm...donuts.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo5Pqkg4I/AAAAAAAAHqk/ZvgjuNI_CQ4/s400/IMG_1618.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/P7Rbpsm_ZFeKgzHeCJVYKA)
After crossing the river, I took the east fork in the road that runs along the eastern edge of the Little Wedge. I parked and hiked a short distance to see a supposed Fremont pit house, then moved on south and parked again at the Sid's Mountain trailhead for lunch.
Parked at the WSA boundary
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo5_MvS7I/AAAAAAAAHqs/iAQiUq3Boac/s400/IMG_1631.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ud0X87ccKixbtO2tRtuROQ)
Panorama of the pit house area
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo6fd7S3I/AAAAAAAAHqw/Du4mzPVEaRE/s800/IMG_1633_stitch.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dlVV_26QFK6hNoE-sNtSpw)
Close-up of the pit house
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo7OGxdEI/AAAAAAAAHq0/XFqgaIg1fH4/s400/IMG_1654.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/H-FTl-TcQqaBRa9fHhDhHg)
Parked at the Sid's Mountain trailhead
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo7gzCQuI/AAAAAAAAHq4/7r1BSHTcXjQ/s400/IMG_1661.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Qc8JYPfQduopN87pZY3zGQ)
View toward Saddle Horse Canyon
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo8CZRg0I/AAAAAAAAHq8/pctnORmC8KA/s400/IMG_1664.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9TtyMiGZSjWDYqX3yxnA6Q)
After lunch, I continued on as the road curved to the west, then turned north at the next trail junction. This road went pretty much straight north back toward the earlier river crossing, and it was relatively flat and boring compared to the rest of the ride.
Trail junction
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo8uNd9-I/AAAAAAAAHrI/FU_M-C8YWw0/s800/IMG_1672_stitch.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OkghUB3hjc2CwmPpw-m_4w)
I kicked up a lot of powder that stuck to the ATV
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo9b6VWoI/AAAAAAAAHrM/tqLYG7NPeBU/s400/IMG_1674.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zTG3H8EXh724m50s3BW8dA)
Stopped to open a gate
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo9rvNjQI/AAAAAAAAHrQ/5qBa-Bd2QLs/s400/IMG_1677.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lId-i76A1csYu5v5y2rLGw)
A flowing water well along the way
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo_-QZogI/AAAAAAAAHrc/AvqLwGmSnLs/s400/IMG_1684.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YrM-aT8mT-kIMfpm8n60TQ)
Another shot of the well
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpBGuDYpI/AAAAAAAAHrk/wLkRWxIe_bo/s400/IMG_1687.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/W34tsZEHqs6uorpGo0EAwg)
Nearing the river crossing again
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpB0klvXI/AAAAAAAAHro/yRX84FRqyLI/s400/IMG_1690.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0xt-_c9iGVjXwCm7ir_7uw)
After getting back to the truck and loading up the ATV, I drove out to the Wedge Overlook / Little Grand Canyon, hoping to see that magnificent view covered in snow. Instead, this is what I found:
Fog at the Wedge Overlook
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpDrmO8hI/AAAAAAAAHr0/kBNwRn34EUU/s400/IMG_1697.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cZ7A2Kj2arYH-zsFsG-ECA)
Parked at the eastern overlook
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpFHmNDfI/AAAAAAAAHsA/JSakrCEPCCo/s400/IMG_1701.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T_6xBxApPH7CS_LT4pPZHg)
This is normally the best view at the overlook
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpFSUU5yI/AAAAAAAAHsE/D0CACOr-_lY/s400/IMG_1712.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VlUYJRohWCqXu1SWNwUJkA)
Before I left the Wedge Overlook, I snapped some photos of the snowflakes falling on the truck's bedrails. The flakes were pretty big, some of them about the size of my pinky fingernail, and they were beautifully formed.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpGeovk7I/AAAAAAAAHsM/2ENUgdd3ji8/s400/IMG_1716.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rdDcT3bwmLcci6gIcujBkw)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpGxd4wHI/AAAAAAAAHsQ/YTzF--dWohE/s400/IMG_1717.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/q78QNizxCcHwVcRgzfZiKg)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpIXLEvrI/AAAAAAAAHsU/i_YUoIfvKU8/s400/IMG_1719.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fTr0QEH7Oh8ZcMrrq_cdRA)
More photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/LittleWedgeLoop#
GPS tracklog and waypoints here:
http://castlecountry.org/geo/LittleWedgeLoop.kml
I parked the truck at Buckhorn Well, rode south to Fuller Bottom and crossed the frozen San Rafael River.
Parked at Buckhorn Well
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo0SKTFeI/AAAAAAAAHqE/IqOgUZnWt7A/s400/IMG_1600.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7as8JHTRgdawzsdLIixZTg)
Mugshot
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo0lAtpmI/AAAAAAAAHqI/UsDZ4MoTAt8/s400/IMG_1601.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ETKGJ_ntq_jVyAeX6awJsg)
BLM visitor register near Fuller Bottom
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo1MMtdvI/AAAAAAAAHqM/Yn_F2IR4xF4/s400/IMG_1603.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fWd250bHUH6kso8L5_5Tqw)
The tamarisk tunnel at Fuller Bottom
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo2qZQtyI/AAAAAAAAHqU/olzez-FSJ4s/s400/IMG_1608.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YI89U-ebqSzOuMClqGrgAw)
I'd been worrying that the river would be flowing, with icy ledges on either side of the flowing water, but it appeared to be frozen solid. I parked my ATV on the north bank and walked across the ice, testing it with a shovel in front of me as I approached the opposite bank.
Parked on the north bank
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo36Ezb0I/AAAAAAAAHqc/sJSFN6JyLcc/s400/IMG_1611.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/URfWEp4yPP0KTxX5Zm8D0Q)
View across the river crossing
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo4ZtiamI/AAAAAAAAHqg/_DdcvzlIFHI/s400/IMG_1615.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1qXomEMa_Zn9EXBZ2XJqTw)
Mmm...donuts.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo5Pqkg4I/AAAAAAAAHqk/ZvgjuNI_CQ4/s400/IMG_1618.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/P7Rbpsm_ZFeKgzHeCJVYKA)
After crossing the river, I took the east fork in the road that runs along the eastern edge of the Little Wedge. I parked and hiked a short distance to see a supposed Fremont pit house, then moved on south and parked again at the Sid's Mountain trailhead for lunch.
Parked at the WSA boundary
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo5_MvS7I/AAAAAAAAHqs/iAQiUq3Boac/s400/IMG_1631.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ud0X87ccKixbtO2tRtuROQ)
Panorama of the pit house area
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo6fd7S3I/AAAAAAAAHqw/Du4mzPVEaRE/s800/IMG_1633_stitch.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dlVV_26QFK6hNoE-sNtSpw)
Close-up of the pit house
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo7OGxdEI/AAAAAAAAHq0/XFqgaIg1fH4/s400/IMG_1654.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/H-FTl-TcQqaBRa9fHhDhHg)
Parked at the Sid's Mountain trailhead
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo7gzCQuI/AAAAAAAAHq4/7r1BSHTcXjQ/s400/IMG_1661.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Qc8JYPfQduopN87pZY3zGQ)
View toward Saddle Horse Canyon
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo8CZRg0I/AAAAAAAAHq8/pctnORmC8KA/s400/IMG_1664.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9TtyMiGZSjWDYqX3yxnA6Q)
After lunch, I continued on as the road curved to the west, then turned north at the next trail junction. This road went pretty much straight north back toward the earlier river crossing, and it was relatively flat and boring compared to the rest of the ride.
Trail junction
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo8uNd9-I/AAAAAAAAHrI/FU_M-C8YWw0/s800/IMG_1672_stitch.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OkghUB3hjc2CwmPpw-m_4w)
I kicked up a lot of powder that stuck to the ATV
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo9b6VWoI/AAAAAAAAHrM/tqLYG7NPeBU/s400/IMG_1674.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zTG3H8EXh724m50s3BW8dA)
Stopped to open a gate
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo9rvNjQI/AAAAAAAAHrQ/5qBa-Bd2QLs/s400/IMG_1677.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lId-i76A1csYu5v5y2rLGw)
A flowing water well along the way
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1Uo_-QZogI/AAAAAAAAHrc/AvqLwGmSnLs/s400/IMG_1684.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YrM-aT8mT-kIMfpm8n60TQ)
Another shot of the well
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpBGuDYpI/AAAAAAAAHrk/wLkRWxIe_bo/s400/IMG_1687.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/W34tsZEHqs6uorpGo0EAwg)
Nearing the river crossing again
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpB0klvXI/AAAAAAAAHro/yRX84FRqyLI/s400/IMG_1690.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0xt-_c9iGVjXwCm7ir_7uw)
After getting back to the truck and loading up the ATV, I drove out to the Wedge Overlook / Little Grand Canyon, hoping to see that magnificent view covered in snow. Instead, this is what I found:
Fog at the Wedge Overlook
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpDrmO8hI/AAAAAAAAHr0/kBNwRn34EUU/s400/IMG_1697.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cZ7A2Kj2arYH-zsFsG-ECA)
Parked at the eastern overlook
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpFHmNDfI/AAAAAAAAHsA/JSakrCEPCCo/s400/IMG_1701.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T_6xBxApPH7CS_LT4pPZHg)
This is normally the best view at the overlook
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpFSUU5yI/AAAAAAAAHsE/D0CACOr-_lY/s400/IMG_1712.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VlUYJRohWCqXu1SWNwUJkA)
Before I left the Wedge Overlook, I snapped some photos of the snowflakes falling on the truck's bedrails. The flakes were pretty big, some of them about the size of my pinky fingernail, and they were beautifully formed.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpGeovk7I/AAAAAAAAHsM/2ENUgdd3ji8/s400/IMG_1716.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rdDcT3bwmLcci6gIcujBkw)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpGxd4wHI/AAAAAAAAHsQ/YTzF--dWohE/s400/IMG_1717.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/q78QNizxCcHwVcRgzfZiKg)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S1UpIXLEvrI/AAAAAAAAHsU/i_YUoIfvKU8/s400/IMG_1719.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fTr0QEH7Oh8ZcMrrq_cdRA)
More photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/LittleWedgeLoop#
GPS tracklog and waypoints here:
http://castlecountry.org/geo/LittleWedgeLoop.kml