Coal Canyon Bench

[Hatchcanyon]

My recent tour reports were from the Book Cliff area east of Green River.
- Right Hand Tusher Canyon (http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?73847-Right-Hand-Tusher-Canyon)
- Tusher Canyon Bench (http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?73885-Tusher-Canyon-Bench)

This is the third part of our trip to the east.


Coal Canyon Bench

Tusher Canyon Bench and Coal Canyon Bench are traveled by the same dirt road. We defined the transition between both benches at 12S 0582430 4323590 but this might be arbitrary. The road was in good conditions on both benches.

Just around the corner of the point mentioned is a hill from which we heard that locals call it either The Sphinx or alternatively Fat Mama. Location 12S 0583014 4323554.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/_DSC0313_12.jpg
Fat Mama or The Sphinx

Only some spots around the upper reaches of canyons from the right (south) we slightly more rough, but never hard to drive. One will not need a Jeep Wrangles as we had one.

To our left a ridge with sheer walls rises some 1,500 feet above the bench level. Everything is grey, tan or shades of yellow. Definitely no Red Rock Country.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/DSC00117_12.jpg
Right Hand Tusher Canyon on the other side of the ridge

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/DSC00118_12.jpg
Definitely no red rocks!

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/_DSC0316_12.jpg
A branch of Coal Canyon

Unfortunately we had a lot of haze over the Gunnison Valley. No cler view!

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/DSC00120_12.jpg
Impressive to us

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/DSC00121_12.jpg
Simply a layered rock. I love the color nuances.


http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/DSC00122_12.jpg
Another impressive wall

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/DSC00124_12.jpg
Panoramic view

The road has a southeastern direction. At 12S 0586354 4322305 a spur to the right descends into Coal Canyon. At 12S 0586735 4322109 another one goes straight and seems to be a dead end. We didn't test it.

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/_DSC0322_12.jpg
The very good road etween these branches

Some flowers:

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/_DSC0318_12.jpg
Common Globemallow (Spheralcea coccinea)

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/_DSC0319_12.jpg
We don't know much biology (???)

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/_DSC0323_12.jpg
Not that easy to break free from the scenery

http://hatchcanyon.eu/Navigation/USA/Utah/Green_River/Coal_Canyon_Bench/DSC00132_12.jpg
Stub Canyon

Near Stub Canyon the Coal Canyon Bench ends at a rock corner. You can see Stub Canyon and the road to Horse Canyon