Udink
04-24-2011, 06:06 PM
This was my 14th semi-annual geocaching event in the San Rafael Swell, and it was a great one, with almost 30 people in attendance. The group camped near South Salt Wash just off exit 108 on I-70, and we went to a lot of nearby places, including Lone Tree Wedge overlooking the upper Muddy Creek gorge, the Dike and Horizon Arch, Kimball Draw and Cat Canyon, and the Sid and Charlie rock formation.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fcastlecountry.org%2Fgeo%2FSanRafaelSw ellSpring2011.kmz&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.572881,86.572266&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11
http://castlecountry.org/geo/SanRafaelSwellSpring2011.kmz
I arrived Wednesday evening to stake a claim on our campsite, but spent the evening in the trailer because of some nasty wind and a bit of rain. The next morning I went for a 4-wheeler ride south to Lone Tree Wedge and eventually found myself overlooking the upper Muddy Creek gorge. That afternoon people started showing up, and we had a nice night around the campfire.
Alone at camp on Wednesday evening
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GL0ScAAI/AAAAAAAASn0/3PyOrkuOBuQ/s640/IMG_2837.JPG
Bridge over Muddy Creek at Lone Tree Crossing
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GOoHxXbI/AAAAAAAASn8/Dp9iNgVEnHs/s640/IMG_2842.JPG
Muddy Creek north of Lone Tree Wedge
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GSa6O09I/AAAAAAAASoI/qZ1kMij45W4/s640/IMG_2848.JPG
View along Muddy Creek from the eastern point of Lone Tree Wedge
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GWFweznI/AAAAAAAASoY/P6JVM7o9bzA/s800/IMG_2864_stitch.jpg
Interesting clouds
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GYraKEEI/AAAAAAAASok/JpkYl1cYEuQ/s640/IMG_2884.JPG
Slab of pavement in Devil's Canyon left over from an old I-70 gravel quarry
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GezWOf4I/AAAAAAAASpA/ONFORFwyODA/s640/IMG_2906.JPG
Camp on Thursday evening
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GgVfT5_I/AAAAAAAASpI/CRkqMhdvKak/s640/IMG_2912.JPG
Campfire on Thursday night
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GiaBv6OI/AAAAAAAASpU/Wy-aVSZBBzg/s640/IMG_2938.JPG
On Friday a few of us rode/drove out to the Dike, hiked around the Horizon Arch area, and found a few geocaches near the end of the road. It's a very interesting drive to the arch, and the views from there are amazing. That evening we got crazy around the campfire and blew some stuff up.
Driving to Horizon Arch
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GkYIgphI/AAAAAAAASpc/3rawfPYQjVU/s640/IMG_2953.JPG
Near the end of the road at Horizon Arch
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GlV_cSmI/AAAAAAAASpg/4_0cMQyEZ6k/s640/IMG_2955.JPG
Horizon Arch
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GqF3p_kI/AAAAAAAASp0/B7I-fKtIA7w/s640/IMG_2979.JPG
The canyon north of Horizon Arch
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GrUv_K4I/AAAAAAAASp4/nbJ0e9SQSWA/s640/IMG_2980.JPG
Cliffs southwest of Horizon Arch
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8Gt1SojUI/AAAAAAAASqA/tZYyKtC_hnc/s640/IMG_2992.JPG
Horizon Arch
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GxuKRepI/AAAAAAAASqM/3g5T-q1Phzg/s640/IMG_3001.JPG
Jeep on the way back to camp
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8G4WpwuQI/AAAAAAAASqk/VqkeQBmgDyw/s640/IMG_3026.JPG
Kimball Draw
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8G7XjIVfI/AAAAAAAASqw/mdhttsmaOIs/s640/IMG_3046.JPG
Camp on Friday evening
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8G8hjlaEI/AAAAAAAASq4/RXp1cjlYhJY/s640/IMG_3057.JPG
Around the campfire
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8G9L_bB_I/AAAAAAAASq8/IpnHwjwq3UY/s640/IMG_3064.JPG
A 1-gallon can of green beans in the fire
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8G-CZquRI/AAAAAAAASrE/clUkHfkwQyY/s640/IMG_3067.JPG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn5VkjmF8n4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn5VkjmF8n4
Everybody split up into little groups on Saturday, and since I only needed to find two geocaches within 20 miles of the area, my wife and I rode our ATVs from camp through Kimball Draw and Cat Canyon. We saw some pictographs right along the road in Kimball Draw, and stopped at an awesome area at the head of Cat Canyon. Somebody had build a steel dam at the end of a small slot canyon there, and there were tall ponderosa pine trees surrounding the area. It was a beautiful place, one that I'd like to return to and camp for a few days while hiking around and exploring.
Setting out for a ride on Saturday
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HBQpZKwI/AAAAAAAASrQ/eNEoZ8lZqH4/s640/IMG_3087.JPG
Pictographs in Kimball Draw
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HE-xv23I/AAAAAAAASrc/8ffZVSOVVPU/s640/IMG_3094.JPG
Pictographs in Kimball Draw
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HKINQ0iI/AAAAAAAASro/1D_KyZA9h9Q/s640/IMG_3098.JPG
Pictographs in Kimball Draw
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HMyBFbgI/AAAAAAAASr0/eRWrkoK7N68/s640/IMG_3100.JPG
The road where it enters Cat Canyon
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HbRInAaI/AAAAAAAASsU/ChULM6nt1jc/s640/IMG_3116.JPG
Cat Canyon
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8Hc3K_anI/AAAAAAAASsY/BCrSShg0BC0/s640/IMG_3117.JPG
Near the head of Cat Canyon
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HfdDwKdI/AAAAAAAASsg/c9YMWLLf0Ho/s640/IMG_3120.JPG
Steel dam
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HgtCDeHI/AAAAAAAASsk/SjkEF8H8_-U/s640/IMG_3123.JPG
My youngest climbing the steel dam
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8Hks-GaAI/AAAAAAAASsw/zjivv0OkAOg/s640/IMG_3130.JPG
The kids heading up the canyon above the dam
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8Hq4AJw2I/AAAAAAAAStA/WE3SBB3O9K4/s640/IMG_3135.JPG
The dam canyon
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HuXpLjwI/AAAAAAAAStM/IOqK__KKtPg/s640/IMG_3166.JPG
The dam canyon
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8Hw1wrcsI/AAAAAAAAStU/_GxeNPYVgUQ/s640/IMG_3179.JPG
My dog got really crazy at camp Saturday night
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H3DsiOvI/AAAAAAAAStw/OJ_qoXjBFgc/s640/0417010051.JPG
On Sunday I only went for a short 4-wheeler ride north of the Moore Cutoff Road, along Sand Bench toward Sid and Charlie. After returning from the ride, I pulled my camp trailer home, then fueled up and returned to pull a friend's trailer home because his truck was having engine problems. It was an awesome, fun filled weekend.
The Red Ledges and Lookout Point on the way north along South Salt Wash
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H4HF420I/AAAAAAAASt0/qpqlnA7v5ho/s640/IMG_3216.JPG
Crossing a wash near Sid and Charlie
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H5_aYVnI/AAAAAAAASt4/WauEpEO-xiw/s640/IMG_3218.JPG
Sid and Charlie
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H7PTXqnI/AAAAAAAASt8/cy_S038D_3w/s640/IMG_3221.JPG
Gopher snake in the rocks near a geocache
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H8EAIKvI/AAAAAAAASuA/dETlvknVsxE/s640/IMG_3223.JPG
Sid and Charlie
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H8zC7rkI/AAAAAAAASuE/IgwhwcDYZE4/s640/IMG_3225.JPG
Pulling my friend's trailer to Price
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H-t4vJ1I/AAAAAAAASuU/b5Ph4pmmZso/s640/0417011948.JPG
SanRafaelSwellSpring2011
https://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/SanRafaelSwellSpring2011#
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fcastlecountry.org%2Fgeo%2FSanRafaelSw ellSpring2011.kmz&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.572881,86.572266&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11
http://castlecountry.org/geo/SanRafaelSwellSpring2011.kmz
I arrived Wednesday evening to stake a claim on our campsite, but spent the evening in the trailer because of some nasty wind and a bit of rain. The next morning I went for a 4-wheeler ride south to Lone Tree Wedge and eventually found myself overlooking the upper Muddy Creek gorge. That afternoon people started showing up, and we had a nice night around the campfire.
Alone at camp on Wednesday evening
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GL0ScAAI/AAAAAAAASn0/3PyOrkuOBuQ/s640/IMG_2837.JPG
Bridge over Muddy Creek at Lone Tree Crossing
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GOoHxXbI/AAAAAAAASn8/Dp9iNgVEnHs/s640/IMG_2842.JPG
Muddy Creek north of Lone Tree Wedge
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GSa6O09I/AAAAAAAASoI/qZ1kMij45W4/s640/IMG_2848.JPG
View along Muddy Creek from the eastern point of Lone Tree Wedge
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GWFweznI/AAAAAAAASoY/P6JVM7o9bzA/s800/IMG_2864_stitch.jpg
Interesting clouds
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GYraKEEI/AAAAAAAASok/JpkYl1cYEuQ/s640/IMG_2884.JPG
Slab of pavement in Devil's Canyon left over from an old I-70 gravel quarry
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GezWOf4I/AAAAAAAASpA/ONFORFwyODA/s640/IMG_2906.JPG
Camp on Thursday evening
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GgVfT5_I/AAAAAAAASpI/CRkqMhdvKak/s640/IMG_2912.JPG
Campfire on Thursday night
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GiaBv6OI/AAAAAAAASpU/Wy-aVSZBBzg/s640/IMG_2938.JPG
On Friday a few of us rode/drove out to the Dike, hiked around the Horizon Arch area, and found a few geocaches near the end of the road. It's a very interesting drive to the arch, and the views from there are amazing. That evening we got crazy around the campfire and blew some stuff up.
Driving to Horizon Arch
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GkYIgphI/AAAAAAAASpc/3rawfPYQjVU/s640/IMG_2953.JPG
Near the end of the road at Horizon Arch
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GlV_cSmI/AAAAAAAASpg/4_0cMQyEZ6k/s640/IMG_2955.JPG
Horizon Arch
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GqF3p_kI/AAAAAAAASp0/B7I-fKtIA7w/s640/IMG_2979.JPG
The canyon north of Horizon Arch
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GrUv_K4I/AAAAAAAASp4/nbJ0e9SQSWA/s640/IMG_2980.JPG
Cliffs southwest of Horizon Arch
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8Gt1SojUI/AAAAAAAASqA/tZYyKtC_hnc/s640/IMG_2992.JPG
Horizon Arch
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8GxuKRepI/AAAAAAAASqM/3g5T-q1Phzg/s640/IMG_3001.JPG
Jeep on the way back to camp
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8G4WpwuQI/AAAAAAAASqk/VqkeQBmgDyw/s640/IMG_3026.JPG
Kimball Draw
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8G7XjIVfI/AAAAAAAASqw/mdhttsmaOIs/s640/IMG_3046.JPG
Camp on Friday evening
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8G8hjlaEI/AAAAAAAASq4/RXp1cjlYhJY/s640/IMG_3057.JPG
Around the campfire
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8G9L_bB_I/AAAAAAAASq8/IpnHwjwq3UY/s640/IMG_3064.JPG
A 1-gallon can of green beans in the fire
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8G-CZquRI/AAAAAAAASrE/clUkHfkwQyY/s640/IMG_3067.JPG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn5VkjmF8n4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn5VkjmF8n4
Everybody split up into little groups on Saturday, and since I only needed to find two geocaches within 20 miles of the area, my wife and I rode our ATVs from camp through Kimball Draw and Cat Canyon. We saw some pictographs right along the road in Kimball Draw, and stopped at an awesome area at the head of Cat Canyon. Somebody had build a steel dam at the end of a small slot canyon there, and there were tall ponderosa pine trees surrounding the area. It was a beautiful place, one that I'd like to return to and camp for a few days while hiking around and exploring.
Setting out for a ride on Saturday
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HBQpZKwI/AAAAAAAASrQ/eNEoZ8lZqH4/s640/IMG_3087.JPG
Pictographs in Kimball Draw
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HE-xv23I/AAAAAAAASrc/8ffZVSOVVPU/s640/IMG_3094.JPG
Pictographs in Kimball Draw
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HKINQ0iI/AAAAAAAASro/1D_KyZA9h9Q/s640/IMG_3098.JPG
Pictographs in Kimball Draw
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HMyBFbgI/AAAAAAAASr0/eRWrkoK7N68/s640/IMG_3100.JPG
The road where it enters Cat Canyon
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HbRInAaI/AAAAAAAASsU/ChULM6nt1jc/s640/IMG_3116.JPG
Cat Canyon
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8Hc3K_anI/AAAAAAAASsY/BCrSShg0BC0/s640/IMG_3117.JPG
Near the head of Cat Canyon
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HfdDwKdI/AAAAAAAASsg/c9YMWLLf0Ho/s640/IMG_3120.JPG
Steel dam
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HgtCDeHI/AAAAAAAASsk/SjkEF8H8_-U/s640/IMG_3123.JPG
My youngest climbing the steel dam
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8Hks-GaAI/AAAAAAAASsw/zjivv0OkAOg/s640/IMG_3130.JPG
The kids heading up the canyon above the dam
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8Hq4AJw2I/AAAAAAAAStA/WE3SBB3O9K4/s640/IMG_3135.JPG
The dam canyon
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8HuXpLjwI/AAAAAAAAStM/IOqK__KKtPg/s640/IMG_3166.JPG
The dam canyon
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8Hw1wrcsI/AAAAAAAAStU/_GxeNPYVgUQ/s640/IMG_3179.JPG
My dog got really crazy at camp Saturday night
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H3DsiOvI/AAAAAAAAStw/OJ_qoXjBFgc/s640/0417010051.JPG
On Sunday I only went for a short 4-wheeler ride north of the Moore Cutoff Road, along Sand Bench toward Sid and Charlie. After returning from the ride, I pulled my camp trailer home, then fueled up and returned to pull a friend's trailer home because his truck was having engine problems. It was an awesome, fun filled weekend.
The Red Ledges and Lookout Point on the way north along South Salt Wash
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H4HF420I/AAAAAAAASt0/qpqlnA7v5ho/s640/IMG_3216.JPG
Crossing a wash near Sid and Charlie
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H5_aYVnI/AAAAAAAASt4/WauEpEO-xiw/s640/IMG_3218.JPG
Sid and Charlie
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H7PTXqnI/AAAAAAAASt8/cy_S038D_3w/s640/IMG_3221.JPG
Gopher snake in the rocks near a geocache
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H8EAIKvI/AAAAAAAASuA/dETlvknVsxE/s640/IMG_3223.JPG
Sid and Charlie
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H8zC7rkI/AAAAAAAASuE/IgwhwcDYZE4/s640/IMG_3225.JPG
Pulling my friend's trailer to Price
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/Ta8H-t4vJ1I/AAAAAAAASuU/b5Ph4pmmZso/s640/0417011948.JPG
SanRafaelSwellSpring2011
https://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/SanRafaelSwellSpring2011#