4 days and 3 nights in the Coal Wash area

[Udink]

Thursday, June 3:
With the heat of summer fast approaching, I really wanted to get in one last camping trip to the San Rafael Swell, so I took last Friday off work and headed to the Coal Wash area on Thursday after work. My family and I camped just east of the Coal Wash staging area--it was a little wide-open, but it was close to all the action. After setting up camp, we had time for a short 4-wheeler ride before dusk, so we checked out the Yellow Seep area.


Our camp
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxqxBtaFSI/AAAAAAAALnM/4fBh6QWE3_I/s400/IMG_3881.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Dl_bwCUSp9bxgzH6Q3YVPg)

Wildflowers on the trail
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxqxwNR0VI/AAAAAAAALnQ/vr2EG1VNDTU/s400/IMG_3885.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p29dkg_vmI7F_9JLACJOUw)

More wildflowers
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxqypxmdKI/AAAAAAAALnU/p9gVaXIirz4/s400/IMG_3886.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WjVn4fwDApCgefuzSpgCKg)

Not much to see at Yellow Seep except for this old water trough
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxq0bVnqCI/AAAAAAAALng/g9Q38ngLmaQ/s400/IMG_3897.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9GB_a2vtL5BbRB1fv9QtDA)

View east from Yellow Seep at sunset
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxq2kBO0MI/AAAAAAAALns/uatoT7BoKIs/s400/IMG_3911.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/b5fAXyC--PTmJxOiQz1t0g)

View southeast
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxq4lIZk1I/AAAAAAAALn4/kwvYfADgDgs/s400/IMG_3917.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IJUQAUiWUra7ivHeXHI36w)


Friday, June 4:
The following morning we rode the Little Wedge loop, which follows the north rim of North Salt Wash, then the south rim of the San Rafael River, then follows the bottom of the Red Ledges back to Coal Wash. We stopped for a short 1.2-mile hike from the McCarty Canyon trailhead to the rim of North Salt Wash, and another 2-mile hike along a canyon that ends in a short slot before exiting above the San Rafael River. After lunch and again after dinner we spent some time less than half a mile from camp in North Salt Wash looking for frogs and enjoying the little oasis in the desert.


There were carpets of purple lupine all over the desert
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxq-W87rlI/AAAAAAAALoU/zVvMEIOZiVY/s400/IMG_3944.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p5LtThRlf9wVcT3rXTnFig)

View from the McCarty Canyon trailhead
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrC7RZSBI/AAAAAAAALog/fMs6gJfnOLs/s400/IMG_3949.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Y2fs05NIvx5yNIUJOVBLBQ)

North Salt Wash
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrKyeSHUI/AAAAAAAALo8/KoosUSOk1uc/s400/IMG_3965.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YYTkMGJ-p2a-T2f8yoteSg)

Some flowers that I'd never seen before
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrPJ_yHiI/AAAAAAAALpQ/99iOd6ePK5Y/s400/IMG_3991.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Q97lgkpIJmbJgoLcI--PYw)

A canyon that drains into the San Rafael River
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrUtmduiI/AAAAAAAALpo/2UYs6waI55s/s400/IMG_4006.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fUXGXK5MfacXMEAhb-D_WA)

A bend in the canyon ahead
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrbSUOrdI/AAAAAAAALqE/NYheX7g9730/s400/IMG_4022.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2S4FmbofZ2YLqafoi8ysLg)

View up-canyon
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrdVtaxoI/AAAAAAAALqM/YZ2VF_t6T7I/s400/IMG_4024.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/138hB4-xb6k-l_xAozWr-A)

A tree in a sand-filled pothole
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrhJIz-mI/AAAAAAAALqc/KqhKFO0Tgro/s400/IMG_4030.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lpcSZhzX5luUlQ4FNEv9-Q)

The very short narrows section
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxribmSAwI/AAAAAAAALqg/PA48cDuZrRI/s400/IMG_4031.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pLOQKu-KAlvhcaERGzw0Kw)

More narrows
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrkgtu5VI/AAAAAAAALqo/ILdK8sKUta0/s400/IMG_4037.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZiuU68fgn37RCCSBM1wL_Q)

The last bit of narrows before the canyon's end
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrjT6214I/AAAAAAAALqk/YzrPcEGafis/s400/IMG_4034.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WIklgINI6tpxF38zQV_bAA)

View of the San Rafael River from the end of the canyon
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrlo37CgI/AAAAAAAALqs/NkCTjaefZeU/s400/IMG_4041.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ol_pvcaBd7lFXyDK2cEO3w)

More lupine along the Red Ledges
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrs2wZJrI/AAAAAAAALrI/nIwV3vpYirE/s400/IMG_4074.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mO3ZVeT4JDmy2s4BFKSpcw)

Looking for frogs in North Salt Wash near camp
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxtjSfclOI/AAAAAAAALzU/72Wi7CcVX-A/s400/IMG_6259.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ESCThC_9U26kCovjfRmrVg)

Bradley holding a frog
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrvudGsNI/AAAAAAAALrU/BgTqQQb6NP4/s400/IMG_4082.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n3Bw_JSd17xM0UbzXh_BIQ)

A frog
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxrxcRIZsI/AAAAAAAALrc/fukM4QlI47Y/s400/IMG_4084.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6alPR3klLUqCf1BuhgzwbA)

Torrey hunting water skeeters
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxr1AewfSI/AAAAAAAALrs/QhzkfI8ZfeY/s400/IMG_4096.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HMIt5B-0lJQ6UAvESc0b8w)

Frog eggs
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxr1nVsQRI/AAAAAAAALrw/2SR6IazJuyY/s400/IMG_4108.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iHexql05GfXjeneSIET7EQ)

The family in North Salt Wash at dusk
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxr7bt51zI/AAAAAAAALsI/CjiogToxPhc/s400/IMG_4136.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vU0_1oB0nX-6fvg8_CQYvQ)

[Udink]

Saturday, June 5:
The next day was the big ride--the Coal Wash loop. We did the loop counter-clockwise: from camp to the South Fork of Coal Wash, Eva Conover Road, Secret Mesa, Eagle Canyon, Swasey's Cabin, Head of Sinbad, Devil's Racetrack, North Fork of Coal Wash, and back to camp. It was a long day, with about 10 hours on the trail and covering over 50 miles.


Ready to leave camp
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsCakzYYI/AAAAAAAALs0/Y7UMNxmIG9k/s400/IMG_4173.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WJrlFryObmqPZwYFG1o14g)

Splashing through North Coal Wash
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsDXZFOdI/AAAAAAAALs4/cT2T-Rm4X3w/s400/IMG_4174.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TzifB0Xa0hUXrwuS1xF2mQ)

The Drips
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsFVv87EI/AAAAAAAALtA/1TWfOYDv_64/s400/IMG_4177.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/axSg0NA-uLz-EeLachxURw)

Hiking through a short canyon near the Drips
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxtqZVKNhI/AAAAAAAALzw/OlCFxd1wsaQ/s400/IMG_6314.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I-tDuKVCzMegxkP2n0Wu-g)

Coal Wash Fork
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsQbeIizI/AAAAAAAALts/Q1Sl_d410a4/s400/IMG_4210.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ol20ZlNnSJiAWgE_LCSJSg)

Looking at tadpoles in the South Fork of Coal Wash
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsU7G91zI/AAAAAAAALuA/ndJ31jB8nTo/s400/IMG_4223.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nBVm-5LQK3-nn4eB4pk77Q)

Near the north end of the Eva Conover Road
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsXN0vB1I/AAAAAAAALuI/VZUBrr-MNB0/s400/IMG_4230.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0VL4fYdGo20GXPoIUb5xlg)

Desert bighorn near the Eva Conover Road
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsa1CSQwI/AAAAAAAALuU/GtFS_WATePI/s400/IMG_4240.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Cf__5AgHN0WLaBT5eQgCpA)

Another bighorn sheep near the Eva Conover Road
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsdYsK-JI/AAAAAAAALug/cLh6ITYtg8c/s400/IMG_4249.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0_Zgb9Hl_I6dJcrrCVgANg)

View north toward Joe and his Dog
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsgJ0z0DI/AAAAAAAALuw/UvdS0vLoX6w/s400/IMG_4258.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SbYV5PVMy6hUD7hAIkPvtQ)

The south end of the Eva Conover Road on Secret Mesa
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsj_s-QPI/AAAAAAAALvA/pS5GEfO8tCE/s400/IMG_4263.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9CEKISyrlL8lKCyNVKwjXA)

Lunch spot on Secret Mesa
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsmWXbQqI/AAAAAAAALvI/a0vD1ftT8UM/s400/IMG_4266.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JLhHq4AQPV_ie8lrqPNPUw)

View of the Eagle Canyon bridges
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxso3oDYII/AAAAAAAALvQ/N0J0iI_8jA8/s400/IMG_4272.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GZwkACmnfo7YQSQSqvvkrw)

Under the bridges
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsr1kIQkI/AAAAAAAALvc/EBxJvrCrhHY/s400/IMG_4278.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qdpXqCrI7uYM1CHmnNkS-w)

Eagle Canyon Arch
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxsy6-cePI/AAAAAAAALv0/dpTzaHmjNBc/s400/IMG_4298.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9MHE-ElttxLA36dN2p_Mlg)

A tree in the Ice Box near Swasey's Cabin
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxs3ejSncI/AAAAAAAALwI/LrAYxOI0L1E/s400/IMG_4315.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IvSQTOaD5s7y8y2EL5JPPA)

Me, the boys, and Torrey in the Ice Box
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxttAmEe-I/AAAAAAAALz8/j0S6_U4ULy4/s400/IMG_6398.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T50eqDoXnJvC7RDvFTZR-w)

Swasey's Cabin
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxs6xTarlI/AAAAAAAALwY/bFjKG7tfkU8/s400/IMG_4333.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5Mf9x0lhEl5SFDj0t2VSMA)

Dutchman Arch
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxs96PwuKI/AAAAAAAALwo/ROC84ian_z4/s400/IMG_4346.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rG9IP5e9etKhfePEZFbdcQ)

Devil's Racetrack
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxtBdnoo2I/AAAAAAAALw8/IetpTwMvrPY/s400/IMG_4355.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Psm7vSabEFD0PbYERFYXiQ)

A nice overlook along Devil's Racetrack
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxtCdcle1I/AAAAAAAALxA/OFfR_9J8MnU/s400/IMG_4359.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lk20bSAF1s_qEddR8cDYqA)

Three-wheel motion
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxtH6jvW5I/AAAAAAAALxc/O5HWDhP_v6M/s400/IMG_4373.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ScVGiZmJ1U2azFU7ulOxAA)

Winching up a really ugly spot on Devil's Racetrack
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxtIlulrYI/AAAAAAAALxg/0-7Wq7obkok/s400/IMG_4375.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kgycVpZmVmcBKOmlF2tqpg)

The series of ledges we had to winch up
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxtJu_FmSI/AAAAAAAALxk/v-kWMlHQasc/s400/IMG_4377.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qic_jOedP7b5ytyNzPVUYw)

Twin Priests along Devil's Racetrack
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxtKpGY1CI/AAAAAAAALxo/SuW_KlTJvDM/s400/IMG_4383.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kjRKtQNIrhFSRDfm4oEsYw)

Slipper Arch
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxtNQnvNzI/AAAAAAAALx0/6JGXMND1Ffc/s400/IMG_4388.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_6bHfaSBjvFhAlxVOF3Ttw)

Joe and his Dog
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxtQdtj7GI/AAAAAAAALyE/LCR4_4cc2Uo/s400/IMG_4401.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xtbi94RAond89m_WfUwM9w)

Finally at the end of Devil's Racetrack
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TAxtSV2E7ZI/AAAAAAAALyM/oV32LNgA_Pg/s400/IMG_4406.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5VLa757tgeSlLBnOigwHPw)


Sunday, June 6:
On our last day there, we took it easy and went for a short ride and hike to a degree confluence (N 39

[accadacca]

Wow! What a great trip! Epic win! :popcorn:

[middlefork]

Sweet pictures. I have done Devils Racetrack several times but never from the top down always from the bottom up. I don't have a winch and could never imagine getting up that one spot:eek2: It has given me enough trouble the other way.:mrgreen: