Udink
07-14-2015, 02:33 PM
Yesterday morning I made last-minute plans to hike from Price Canyon Recreation Area (referred to as simply "Price Rec" by many locals) to Ford Ridge. The hike has been languishing on my to-do list for years, and when I woke up it just seemed like a good, close-to-home, strenuous hike was what I needed. The lower portion of the trail leads to an overlook of Crandall Canyon. Before reaching the overlook there's not much of a view, but beyond the canyon rim the trail follows a ridge and there are great views in all directions. I've hiked the lower trail many times with my family but had never gone beyond the Crandall Canyon overlook. On the ridge there are bristlecone pine trees and brief views of the highway in Price Canyon.
Start of the trail at Price Canyon Recreation Area
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZwdossqEMBo/VaQx1cPcykI/AAAAAAAAuO8/rO1dLp3Gs-8/s640-Ic42/IMG_2826.JPG
15 minutes up the trail, first view of peak 9,519'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fTyVEe3N-oU/VaQx6FtdFSI/AAAAAAAAuPE/t3Y6nwCdWrg/s640-Ic42/IMG_2830.JPG
Dead ponderosa pines
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8JPPUZWMNVg/VaQx9WLC1ZI/AAAAAAAAuPM/Qo7WmTKBWRA/s640-Ic42/IMG_2835.JPG
Bristlecone pines growing in the boulders
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aTQuU5QQKng/VaQyA01dlII/AAAAAAAAuPU/uD9XWZvDlCg/s640-Ic42/IMG_2851.JPG
On the ridge, approaching peak 8,510'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cTsvdMFkhwk/VaQyHZiHISI/AAAAAAAAuPk/hn_frbh9AV4/s640-Ic42/IMG_2863.JPG
Highway 6 and railroad in Price Canyon
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FYWzt9Cq2kE/VaQyLt8M09I/AAAAAAAAuPs/5YrHhcx6cko/s640-Ic42/IMG_2864.JPG
The elevation gain is pretty gradual except for the ascent to the two larger peaks on the ridge. In one of the saddles before reaching peak 9,001' was a log that had been hollowed out with an axe to create a trough. I followed a faint ATV trail beyond the saddle to the base of peak 9,001', atop which was a small cairn. In the saddle just beyond the peak I spotted a bear track that thankfully wasn't fresh. That makes three times in a row that I've been in the vicinity of Ford Ridge and seen tracks, scat, or an actual bear.
Peaks 9,519' (left) and 9,001' (center)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yD1nhJyLhGQ/VaQyOlNHpnI/AAAAAAAAuP0/RX8zXD_nHB4/s640-Ic42/IMG_2875_stitch.jpg
Sego lily (Calochortus nuttallii)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YdrP-87ObkE/VaQyQa7TvwI/AAAAAAAAuP8/NoLab5HHL9g/s640-Ic42/IMG_2882.JPG
View over Price Canyon to the distant Book Cliffs
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PBZQ5zeFRLQ/VaQyTB1-FFI/AAAAAAAAuQE/bRFsBNVhohU/s640-Ic42/IMG_2883.JPG
Log hollowed out into a trough
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6xM3zILcvlE/VaQybrccodI/AAAAAAAAuQU/B9citeT5EgY/s640-Ic42/IMG_2887.JPG
View east from just below peak 9,001'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_BHJiw36iIg/VaQyiZKugcI/AAAAAAAAuQk/_d59KKHBrfs/s640-Ic42/IMG_2891_stitch.jpg
Peak 9,001'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rR2w1OJdTPs/VaQylVtEHxI/AAAAAAAAuQs/2-cRPZKsork/s640-Ic42/IMG_2894.JPG
Cairn on top of peak 9,001'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6Z8Hz8w0mUw/VaQyr2IYF1I/AAAAAAAAuQ8/YkTvOTHDUIM/s640-Ic42/IMG_2901.JPG
Radio towers
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZbZxKcj_mZA/VaQyuOQHjkI/AAAAAAAAuRE/CNuZXisTvv4/s640-Ic42/IMG_2905.JPG
Peak 9,519'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XbPQkq9qKBI/VaQyxAKbTlI/AAAAAAAAuRM/GUCGT448pm8/s640-Ic42/IMG_2907.JPG
Views of Spring Glen, Price, and Wellington
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LP0FRQw5s7o/VaQyyzl3P0I/AAAAAAAAuRU/j5ykT2r7mxA/s640-Ic42/IMG_2909.JPG
Peak 9,519'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kQrIXg_4Z60/VaQy5blbwrI/AAAAAAAAuRs/eWaQFZo8tyk/s640-Ic42/IMG_2917.JPG
Old bear track
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YY0pmGUOGEI/VaQy9ZY1OhI/AAAAAAAAuR0/ANtMpCQWfu4/s640-Ic42/IMG_2923.JPG
During the steady ascent the rest of the way to peak 9,519' I saw gnarled bristlecone pines, deer, another log-trough, and a curious prairie dog. At the top of the peak I found the 1910 survey marker and only briefly enjoyed the views before heading back down the way I'd come. On the descent I noticed an axe carving on a tree from 1940 that I hadn't spotted on the way up. Climbing back up peak 9,001' wasn't as painful as I'd expected--it was the only major uphill portion on the way back to the recreation area. It had taken me almost four hours to ascend and well under two hours to descend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mil7CkEPVb8
Bristlecone pine
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OPDXLFoHofc/VaQzAlsnoxI/AAAAAAAAuR8/0vp2si6pl5I/s640-Ic42/IMG_2926.JPG
Two handsome bucks in velvet
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T9AmJkxQg_I/VaQzEyx9elI/AAAAAAAAuSE/UVVnNkkkV4A/s640-Ic42/IMG_2931.JPG
Retreating bucks
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RM_M_RnjGX0/VaQzH6zi9MI/AAAAAAAAuSM/hIjYqfD4Vjg/s640-Ic42/IMG_2936.JPG
Another hollowed out log trough
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HdWZGxiNngI/VaQzRA9f3xI/AAAAAAAAuSU/FFJBU7MpxV0/s640-Ic42/IMG_2944.JPG
Ascending to peak 9,519'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7v4lgijB5kU/VaQzVvWUYVI/AAAAAAAAuSc/w8h_LMo-bt4/s640-Ic42/IMG_2945.JPG
Bristlecone pine
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XnL8_86e_gg/VaQzY_PKSiI/AAAAAAAAuSk/oCufhwaoens/s640-Ic42/IMG_2946.JPG
Prairie dog
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HulULUXUn2s/VaQzg98TiBI/AAAAAAAAuS0/Dk3eRA_BHbU/s640-Ic42/IMG_2960.JPG
Crandall Canyon
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IAd6a5KtiSA/VaQzldjwn8I/AAAAAAAAuS8/SjkJK2NiONk/s640-Ic42/IMG_2968.JPG
Chiseled triangle survey marker from 1910 on peak 9,519'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o7PbFT_GyvY/VaQzp1OBUzI/AAAAAAAAuTE/VVbgIDOMBt0/s640-Ic42/IMG_2977.JPG
View back along my route
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fQs8SMUL8i0/VaQzvyMTf0I/AAAAAAAAuTU/pInRNN6UuE8/s640-Ic42/IMG_2985.JPG
Doe checking me out
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DGQePgty3sk/VaQz0MDmltI/AAAAAAAAuTc/nhXCQUJT9-8/s640-Ic42/IMG_2992.JPG
L.D. 1940 carved with an axe into a tree
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-azRU8hvlJIY/VaQz5Keg6KI/AAAAAAAAuTk/-rWVl_1TptI/s640-Ic42/IMG_2999.JPG
Horned lizard
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-44d4auVlyjI/VaQz9mwTp8I/AAAAAAAAuTs/FIon7ZlcDvo/s640-Ic42/IMG_3008.JPG
The Jeep below
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8ez1JVNVYFE/VaQ0BLOxeVI/AAAAAAAAuT0/3ZTJ9GkPYBw/s640-Ic42/IMG_3013.JPG
Cottontail rabbit
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZtEtXyHl-Nw/VaQ0FRyr01I/AAAAAAAAuT8/Z5gEUcd7cm8/s640-Ic42/IMG_3015.JPG
GPS back at the trailhead
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EOj7OyA_9hs/VaQ0HXrIxzI/AAAAAAAAuUQ/1p_KWWmfzXo/s640-Ic42/IMG_3018.JPG
Photo Gallery: Price Canyon Recreation Area to Ford Ridge (https://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/PriceCanyonRecreationAreaToFordRidge?noredirect=1)
GPS Track and Photo Waypoints:
[ Google Earth KMZ (https://sites.google.com/a/udink.org/geo/PriceCanyonRecreationAreaToFordRidge.kmz) ] [ Gmap4 Satellite (http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=39.759551,-110.939581&z=15&t=s&q=https://sites.google.com/a/udink.org/geo/PriceCanyonRecreationAreaToFordRidge.kmz) ] [ Gmap4 Topo (http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=39.759551,-110.939581&z=15&t=t4&q=https://sites.google.com/a/udink.org/geo/PriceCanyonRecreationAreaToFordRidge.kmz) ]
Start of the trail at Price Canyon Recreation Area
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZwdossqEMBo/VaQx1cPcykI/AAAAAAAAuO8/rO1dLp3Gs-8/s640-Ic42/IMG_2826.JPG
15 minutes up the trail, first view of peak 9,519'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fTyVEe3N-oU/VaQx6FtdFSI/AAAAAAAAuPE/t3Y6nwCdWrg/s640-Ic42/IMG_2830.JPG
Dead ponderosa pines
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8JPPUZWMNVg/VaQx9WLC1ZI/AAAAAAAAuPM/Qo7WmTKBWRA/s640-Ic42/IMG_2835.JPG
Bristlecone pines growing in the boulders
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aTQuU5QQKng/VaQyA01dlII/AAAAAAAAuPU/uD9XWZvDlCg/s640-Ic42/IMG_2851.JPG
On the ridge, approaching peak 8,510'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cTsvdMFkhwk/VaQyHZiHISI/AAAAAAAAuPk/hn_frbh9AV4/s640-Ic42/IMG_2863.JPG
Highway 6 and railroad in Price Canyon
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FYWzt9Cq2kE/VaQyLt8M09I/AAAAAAAAuPs/5YrHhcx6cko/s640-Ic42/IMG_2864.JPG
The elevation gain is pretty gradual except for the ascent to the two larger peaks on the ridge. In one of the saddles before reaching peak 9,001' was a log that had been hollowed out with an axe to create a trough. I followed a faint ATV trail beyond the saddle to the base of peak 9,001', atop which was a small cairn. In the saddle just beyond the peak I spotted a bear track that thankfully wasn't fresh. That makes three times in a row that I've been in the vicinity of Ford Ridge and seen tracks, scat, or an actual bear.
Peaks 9,519' (left) and 9,001' (center)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yD1nhJyLhGQ/VaQyOlNHpnI/AAAAAAAAuP0/RX8zXD_nHB4/s640-Ic42/IMG_2875_stitch.jpg
Sego lily (Calochortus nuttallii)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YdrP-87ObkE/VaQyQa7TvwI/AAAAAAAAuP8/NoLab5HHL9g/s640-Ic42/IMG_2882.JPG
View over Price Canyon to the distant Book Cliffs
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PBZQ5zeFRLQ/VaQyTB1-FFI/AAAAAAAAuQE/bRFsBNVhohU/s640-Ic42/IMG_2883.JPG
Log hollowed out into a trough
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6xM3zILcvlE/VaQybrccodI/AAAAAAAAuQU/B9citeT5EgY/s640-Ic42/IMG_2887.JPG
View east from just below peak 9,001'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_BHJiw36iIg/VaQyiZKugcI/AAAAAAAAuQk/_d59KKHBrfs/s640-Ic42/IMG_2891_stitch.jpg
Peak 9,001'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rR2w1OJdTPs/VaQylVtEHxI/AAAAAAAAuQs/2-cRPZKsork/s640-Ic42/IMG_2894.JPG
Cairn on top of peak 9,001'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6Z8Hz8w0mUw/VaQyr2IYF1I/AAAAAAAAuQ8/YkTvOTHDUIM/s640-Ic42/IMG_2901.JPG
Radio towers
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZbZxKcj_mZA/VaQyuOQHjkI/AAAAAAAAuRE/CNuZXisTvv4/s640-Ic42/IMG_2905.JPG
Peak 9,519'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XbPQkq9qKBI/VaQyxAKbTlI/AAAAAAAAuRM/GUCGT448pm8/s640-Ic42/IMG_2907.JPG
Views of Spring Glen, Price, and Wellington
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LP0FRQw5s7o/VaQyyzl3P0I/AAAAAAAAuRU/j5ykT2r7mxA/s640-Ic42/IMG_2909.JPG
Peak 9,519'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kQrIXg_4Z60/VaQy5blbwrI/AAAAAAAAuRs/eWaQFZo8tyk/s640-Ic42/IMG_2917.JPG
Old bear track
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YY0pmGUOGEI/VaQy9ZY1OhI/AAAAAAAAuR0/ANtMpCQWfu4/s640-Ic42/IMG_2923.JPG
During the steady ascent the rest of the way to peak 9,519' I saw gnarled bristlecone pines, deer, another log-trough, and a curious prairie dog. At the top of the peak I found the 1910 survey marker and only briefly enjoyed the views before heading back down the way I'd come. On the descent I noticed an axe carving on a tree from 1940 that I hadn't spotted on the way up. Climbing back up peak 9,001' wasn't as painful as I'd expected--it was the only major uphill portion on the way back to the recreation area. It had taken me almost four hours to ascend and well under two hours to descend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mil7CkEPVb8
Bristlecone pine
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OPDXLFoHofc/VaQzAlsnoxI/AAAAAAAAuR8/0vp2si6pl5I/s640-Ic42/IMG_2926.JPG
Two handsome bucks in velvet
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T9AmJkxQg_I/VaQzEyx9elI/AAAAAAAAuSE/UVVnNkkkV4A/s640-Ic42/IMG_2931.JPG
Retreating bucks
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RM_M_RnjGX0/VaQzH6zi9MI/AAAAAAAAuSM/hIjYqfD4Vjg/s640-Ic42/IMG_2936.JPG
Another hollowed out log trough
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HdWZGxiNngI/VaQzRA9f3xI/AAAAAAAAuSU/FFJBU7MpxV0/s640-Ic42/IMG_2944.JPG
Ascending to peak 9,519'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7v4lgijB5kU/VaQzVvWUYVI/AAAAAAAAuSc/w8h_LMo-bt4/s640-Ic42/IMG_2945.JPG
Bristlecone pine
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XnL8_86e_gg/VaQzY_PKSiI/AAAAAAAAuSk/oCufhwaoens/s640-Ic42/IMG_2946.JPG
Prairie dog
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HulULUXUn2s/VaQzg98TiBI/AAAAAAAAuS0/Dk3eRA_BHbU/s640-Ic42/IMG_2960.JPG
Crandall Canyon
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IAd6a5KtiSA/VaQzldjwn8I/AAAAAAAAuS8/SjkJK2NiONk/s640-Ic42/IMG_2968.JPG
Chiseled triangle survey marker from 1910 on peak 9,519'
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o7PbFT_GyvY/VaQzp1OBUzI/AAAAAAAAuTE/VVbgIDOMBt0/s640-Ic42/IMG_2977.JPG
View back along my route
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fQs8SMUL8i0/VaQzvyMTf0I/AAAAAAAAuTU/pInRNN6UuE8/s640-Ic42/IMG_2985.JPG
Doe checking me out
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DGQePgty3sk/VaQz0MDmltI/AAAAAAAAuTc/nhXCQUJT9-8/s640-Ic42/IMG_2992.JPG
L.D. 1940 carved with an axe into a tree
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-azRU8hvlJIY/VaQz5Keg6KI/AAAAAAAAuTk/-rWVl_1TptI/s640-Ic42/IMG_2999.JPG
Horned lizard
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-44d4auVlyjI/VaQz9mwTp8I/AAAAAAAAuTs/FIon7ZlcDvo/s640-Ic42/IMG_3008.JPG
The Jeep below
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8ez1JVNVYFE/VaQ0BLOxeVI/AAAAAAAAuT0/3ZTJ9GkPYBw/s640-Ic42/IMG_3013.JPG
Cottontail rabbit
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZtEtXyHl-Nw/VaQ0FRyr01I/AAAAAAAAuT8/Z5gEUcd7cm8/s640-Ic42/IMG_3015.JPG
GPS back at the trailhead
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EOj7OyA_9hs/VaQ0HXrIxzI/AAAAAAAAuUQ/1p_KWWmfzXo/s640-Ic42/IMG_3018.JPG
Photo Gallery: Price Canyon Recreation Area to Ford Ridge (https://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/PriceCanyonRecreationAreaToFordRidge?noredirect=1)
GPS Track and Photo Waypoints:
[ Google Earth KMZ (https://sites.google.com/a/udink.org/geo/PriceCanyonRecreationAreaToFordRidge.kmz) ] [ Gmap4 Satellite (http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=39.759551,-110.939581&z=15&t=s&q=https://sites.google.com/a/udink.org/geo/PriceCanyonRecreationAreaToFordRidge.kmz) ] [ Gmap4 Topo (http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=39.759551,-110.939581&z=15&t=t4&q=https://sites.google.com/a/udink.org/geo/PriceCanyonRecreationAreaToFordRidge.kmz) ]