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View Full Version : Trip Report West Fork of Moonshine Wash



Udink
04-05-2016, 08:36 PM
I realized a few weekends ago, after a few short hikes, that I need to get into better hiking shape, so the following weekend I did something about it. I chose the West Fork of Moonshine Wash since it was relatively easy but left open the option for a longer hike. The pups and I started the hike west and a little north of Saucer Basin. An old road led me to a spot where I was able to drop into the wash, where I headed downstream. The watercourse was mostly flat and sandy or gravelly, but I encountered a few places where it narrowed up and dropped suddenly. The first such spot I climbed out of the canyon to bypass it. Another the dogs and I were able to downclimb easily. Yet another required me to climb out of the canyon and walk the rim for half a mile before I could drop back in. I regret not getting to see that part of the canyon, but at the time I didn't want to add another mile to the hike.




Descent into the canyon
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nsu4wDTh4so/VvH5Fe1Z0bI/AAAAAAAAxQM/AJsWaToDUW4YVGbW9EP0yyKa1I_SqK31QCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0929.JPG


West Fork of Moonshine Wash
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BTonbgyeDN4/VvH5IeeUZbI/AAAAAAAAxQM/ETez_85KsJ0kOwei5cHM4q85on6HebEfgCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0933.JPG


Small potholes that required a bypass on the right
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q1yT44zi0IY/VvH5KslLGUI/AAAAAAAAxQM/jQF1tdRxJ707XVvGm54GHI6eZsXc0QAwQCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0934.JPG


A cow
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4AU5I_gYT2M/VvH5Mvu4sbI/AAAAAAAAxQM/GJW4mXlFIo0WlfJnMWSfQuvghYArQ3j9wCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0937.JPG


Lupine blooms
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-37Y03f0qQbA/VvH5O-ac8wI/AAAAAAAAxQc/M8jgRvUmGMkn8IgNJmwBpzGpgURAvugfgCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0945.JPG


Shallow, sandy alcove with a natural arch
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jihm145rO3c/VvH5RQBHN_I/AAAAAAAAxQc/JAcj9YvJTUUPCJx1EbUbNnCn6j9ibBheACCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0947.JPG


Easy-to-downclimb narrows
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n3JlSEIlxkE/VvH5ZDF0PMI/AAAAAAAAxQ4/Pzfr9R9O_hUcwzkKg0WYL5GmA6MA85cOQCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0957.JPG


Boulder and Torrey in a pool
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KcHItMuRRWY/VvH5bTbc_8I/AAAAAAAAxQ4/WqFTSP8nqPUupkJzJwoSQ5l8p7VfsgWxQCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0959.JPG


Impassable potholes
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jb7QcXnqIPY/VvH5dU6OjiI/AAAAAAAAxQ4/EXC5JlXnWEIi0heJndtL68FMncN7Rlx1wCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0960.JPG


Dogs above the West Fork of Moonshine Wash
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gvpwYxC7PXs/VvH5hcN9MiI/AAAAAAAAxQ4/uaEJxvMH6XIw31Ezy-v-llZaoaOLSbePwCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0972.JPG


Back in the canyon
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SpMIEDIhgV0/VvH5jmqVeyI/AAAAAAAAxQ4/pGfk3fw1yRIiPGYDRdXHgt4MUG3rw3yaQCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0979.JPG




I found another mylar balloon--the latest of many this year--that I packed out with me. The lower portion of the west fork held several short side canyons, many of which had springs and/or alcoves at their heads. I hadn't intended to hike all the way to the moonshine tanks, where supposedly moonshine was made during prohibition, but when I got within a mile of there I decided to press on. I'd hiked to the moonshine tanks once before, 11 years ago, but I took a much shorter route then. Nothing much has changed, except I think the climb back up the ledge just upstream from the tanks has gotten more difficult.




Get Well Soon
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5CjZjZIG0uY/VvH5m5wPgDI/AAAAAAAAxQ4/ZFySIQSI1QI_o63jZGeDWKW74rppiq0PgCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0981.JPG


Spring water in a fork
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y35mHd66Amw/VvH5xyboFeI/AAAAAAAAxRc/SkJ7LLRlMrcK4nsuHF0NNf07K0oODWAHACCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0988.JPG


Ice in perpetual shade
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nj1jvswHuMo/VvH51GXzj_I/AAAAAAAAxRc/6_bYIurgpk86-rLJVcdJKnLlGkp6J6-eQCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0991.JPG


Short side canyon
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Brm2ztgK5o0/VvH53gbRSQI/AAAAAAAAxRc/TEmWIFKrLUEFfBm-xctveyYdBgr6lNjxwCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0995.JPG


Alcove in a short side canyon
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x6IwHuD9oG4/VvH56fBDyRI/AAAAAAAAxRc/6MO6qE175xoAPWXshpL2NxrkX4pf-nyfwCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_0997.JPG


Rockfall
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9ospvwQAHew/VvH5_feW1aI/AAAAAAAAxRc/NSAVgx8DnncbpxG9blpcOzAmoT8A5XFqACCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1014.JPG


Above the moonshine tanks
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8UNHJFVaCU8/VvH6CY58S1I/AAAAAAAAxR8/ivGu5tecciYmneKbQya1RJJgfhoUx_mvQCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1017.JPG


Hanging cactus
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gBRwrwJXe2U/VvH6EmDPL2I/AAAAAAAAxR8/wCyCKfzgBu4WkOyO8hDOkHc3-LeMMxJ5wCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1019.JPG


Trowel at the moonshine tanks
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BbtpahSRo_8/VvH6IJb4SlI/AAAAAAAAxR8/no2_j6TiZt8jfFi4iyWfMVNVL1mAvt5SgCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1026.JPG


Moonshine tanks
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dWtrLqN1qwU/VvH6LoXli0I/AAAAAAAAxR8/osvj4A3k_fYa7R0lfuP1COOEDPt32jT7wCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1031.JPG


Boulder going for a swim
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o1_OTsSwKTI/VvH6OQYwfXI/AAAAAAAAxR8/_BE7KxnZTfgDHK2bzYa5OqGlNq4Kg3z1QCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1034.JPG


Difficult climb above the tanks
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d2_mBY5HBqU/VvH6SGemzSI/AAAAAAAAxSM/4Z1sEEHgEiM-S28wEghpnRLgQsiifIHwQCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1042.JPG




After leaving the moonshine tanks I took a small fork that quickly climbed to the west and had a couple of branches to explore. Finding nothing of interest there, I exited the canyon system and headed toward the road. I was really disappointed that I hadn't seen a single sign of historic or prehistoric occupation. I'd hoped to find some inscriptions, rock art, flint--anything really--that told part of the story about earlier inhabitants. During the walk to the road I was surprised to actually find a worked piece of flint that had been discarded before being finished. At least it was something. Once I reached the road, the hike back to my vehicle was a slog! The dogs and I were exhausted but feeling good after a hard workout once we arrived at the Jeep. The GPS registered exactly 10 miles for the hike. It was more than I'd planned for the day, though I was glad to have covered most of the West Fork of Moonshine Wash in a single trip.




Difficult upclimb in the exit fork
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wwN8RgjP3xs/VvH6XmTq0sI/AAAAAAAAxSM/7agyFNWEenUk7NqJI4jaFSO6aJWHiQWiwCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1045.JPG


Slotty
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7XAXYzDM3y4/VvH6b3f4woI/AAAAAAAAxSM/sI-XmSwk1OcEoOZf2BZTliURMi3rbDA2ACCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1049.JPG


Alcove at Moonshine Spring
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GvGB5SrgEI0/VvH6eaqxXNI/AAAAAAAAxRg/6gvgQ6R56KwOgo9Sb6YxQ82QuwuWtseKwCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1051.JPG


La Sals over the San Rafael Desert
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4sRvNbxlIiM/VvH6gQr7M8I/AAAAAAAAxSM/o28hjLiTVfoTQ24tWXlYqkFUqcZLrCDPACCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1057.JPG


The climb up to the road
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A5tJtx2RLi8/VvH6lEEOFtI/AAAAAAAAxSQ/KzSQNECJI6cGvRCXdu1SninvdEvQ7pPWQCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1062.JPG


Ooh, a pretty rock!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bP2uuh_6zo0/VvH6nPYi-AI/AAAAAAAAxSQ/Q0hHlrgINiAQjFTdrmg-10HJrRnc4jdqwCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1063-4.jpg


Starting the two-mile road walk back to the Jeep
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--OZ8oNFLKeI/VvH6qdVs3PI/AAAAAAAAxSQ/tlvFeQ0qYIcvwUCwrhsO6SceFZG0h1OuQCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1069.JPG


The Cone
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vdnUThef5Sk/VvH6syPpvqI/AAAAAAAAxR4/7lQguYHjMbo-ec-vyIbUuwuocAODzbBcgCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1073.JPG


La Sal Mountains
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KllvXDmz5FY/VvH6veEYQxI/AAAAAAAAxSQ/YFYpf6XNpXM5V52L0LTQ0v6aQfQ2f4gtwCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1074.JPG


Boulder and Torrey resting
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BKpJ9fZflKY/VvH6yD5wmfI/AAAAAAAAxSQ/yhRPAfLbM_ESPG3Y9VYA8Ra0NELOaJteACCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1077.JPG


10 miles
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cPQz5HW98hc/VvH60XwaGaI/AAAAAAAAxSQ/mbfEH2EB19YXZS2_vNgbx4NCXk9gVtZGQCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1078.JPG


Interesting alignment of the Flat Tops and Henry Mountains
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PUZlhEgBr8s/VvH62a_NqBI/AAAAAAAAxO4/LzoFEwXsDUQPA5KV_DTl_coZIsRDtUM8QCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1080.JPG


Horse Bench Reservoir
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Sc-gyl3Pag/VvH41Eap0_I/AAAAAAAAxLk/ui9zhXhtPak-PRZYAILw3WgvxIP0FQaewCCo/s800-Ic42/IMG_1082.JPG




Photo Gallery: West Fork of Moonshine Wash (https://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/WestForkOfMoonshineWash)
GPS Track and Photo Waypoints:
[ Google Earth KMZ (https://sites.google.com/a/udink.org/geo/WestForkOfMoonshineWash.kmz) ] [ Gmap4 Satellite (http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=38.686916,-110.199975&z=14&t=s&q=https://sites.google.com/a/udink.org/geo/WestForkOfMoonshineWash.kmz) ] [ Gmap4 Topo (http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=38.686916,-110.199975&z=14&t=t4&q=https://sites.google.com/a/udink.org/geo/WestForkOfMoonshineWash.kmz) ]