San Rafael Swell - The Western Slope - Slaughter Slopes

[Hatchcanyon]

Heading back from Lone Tree Wedge we decide to stroll through the area for another two hours or so. At first we were heading to Mussentuchit Flat and going South to Cedar Mountain. Years ago we visited some point on the south end above Chimney Canyon where a trail starts down into the Chute.

Our maps (we use electronic topomaps on a notebook) showed a jeep Trail maybe 5 Miles long north of East Cedar Mountain. It ends on top of a cliff line and we thought there might be some views. Chimney Canyon Wash is more than 1,200 Feet below.

The area is called Slaughter Slopes and it is said that the name sticked to it after a large hunt for wild horses in the 1930ies.

Lets start with some pictures from the Mussentuchtit Flat.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Mussentuchit/DSC00054_12.jpg
Hebes Mountain and the Upper Willow Spring Wash Badlands

Its easy to see that the strata is rising eastward to the middle of the Swell, but the grade is much less than on its eastern side - the reef! Hebes Mountain is capped by a resistant sill of cooled down volcanic material. More volcanic features can be seen around Cedar Mountain.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Mussentuchit/_DSC0242_12.jpg
Grey in Grey - rocks and sky

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Mussentuchit/_DSC0248_12.jpg
Mussentuchit sand dune

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Mussentuchit/_DSC0250_12.jpg
East Cedar Mountain

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Chimney_Canyon_Overlook/_DSC0251_12.jpg
More sills and a volcanic neck at West Cedar Mountain

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Mussentuchit/DSC00079_12.jpg
Debris from the sill

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Chimney_Canyon_Overlook/_DSC0254_12.jpg
East Cedar Mountain again

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Chimney_Canyon_Overlook/DSC00062_12.jpg
On a view point high above Chimney Canyon

Coordinates: 12S 0496420 4275710

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Chimney_Canyon_Overlook/DSC00058_12.jpg
Chimney Canyon

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Chimney_Canyon_Overlook/DSC00059_12.jpg
Our maps read "Johns Hole"

The trail runs along the rim in a northeastern direction. The maps don't show it anymore but it is still not too difficult to follow. We haven't explored it the whole lenght. (I guess it ends above the headwater of Ireland Mesa Canyon.)

After a little bit more than a mile we decided to stop, take some more pictures and later return to I 70 and Moab. It is 6:30 pm.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Hondu%20Country/DSC00063_12.jpg
Tomsich Butte and Hondu (Hondoo?) Country

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Hondu%20Country/DSC00074_12.jpg
Using a "long" lens shows the top of Hondu Arch

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Hondu%20Country/DSC00068_12.jpg
Suddenly some sunshine in the evening

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Hondu%20Country/DSC00066_12.jpg
Looking back to Chimney Canyon

On the right the rim the trail follows to the northeast.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Hondu%20Country/_DSC0261_12.jpg
Muddy Creek Canyon, Factory Butte and the Hernry Mountains in an distance

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Hondu%20Country/DSC00069_12.jpg
Muddy Creek Gorge through the Reef

The dumps from the infamous Delta (Hidden Splendor) Mine can be seen. Years ago we travelled the gorge several times by car (SUV).

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Hondu%20Country/DSC00070_12.jpg
Zoomed in: Black Beauty Factory Butte

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Hondu%20Country/DSC00072_12.jpg
Red Dot below the rim

Flowers we found:

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Chimney_Canyon_Overlook/_DSC0258_12.jpg
???

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Chimney_Canyon_Overlook/_DSC0260_12.jpg
Newberry's Twinpod

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Hondu%20Country/_DSC0271_12.jpg
Oreocarya flavoculata - Forget-me-not

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Hondu%20Country/_DSC0272_12.jpg
Showy Stoneseed(?)

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/San_Rafael_Swell_S/Western_Slopes/Hondu%20Country/DSC00078_12.jpg
A last view in evening light over Chimney Canyon

We returned to the Interstate via Salt Creek Road entering the freeway at exit 108.

[Sun Dance]

Cool! That Factory Butte picture - is that the northern part of the Henrys in the background? Bull Mountain or something?

[Sun Dance]

Also, are those UTM meters coords? If so, why would it be 12S? Shouldn't we be in 12N?

[Scott P]

Bull Mountain or something?

Yes, that is Bull Mountain.

[Hatchcanyon]

Thanks for the nice comments!

Right, the Factory Butte picture has Bull Mountain from the Henries in the background.

Coordinates are given in the UTM/UPS system which is basically metric. 12S has nothing to do with "South", it is a longitude zone marker. Coordinates on the southern hemispere have an "-" im front of the second number (4275710)

The UTM/UPS sytem is also used on the USGS Topomaps.

Iceaxe told me that the third picture from bottom up has to have the description "Oreocarya flavoculata - Forget-me-not", not "Phlox". Thanks for sharing the information.