Beckwith Plateau, Mt. Elliott
This was an incredible trip! I've been wanting to hit Mt. Elliott ever since a geocache was placed there in 2007. It's taunted me every time I've driven by on the highway below, and this weekend I finally made it up there.
Two friends and I started out just off US-6 near Woodside at 10:00 in the morning. The first several miles of road were nice, but at the end of county maintenance, the trail is plagued with rockfalls and boulders. One section was steeply off-camber, and I had a bit of trouble there. My friend applied some weight to the uphill side of my ATV and kept me from rolling down into the river. From there it was pretty easy going until the crossing of the Price River. 50 CFS is supposed to be the upper limit for crossing the river, and it was running at over 60 CFS when we crossed. It was the highest water any of us had ever forded.
Mt. Elliott from near our starting point
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3359.JPG
The trail along the Price River
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3367.JPG
One of the tougher spots
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3371.JPG
The Price River crossing
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3373.JPG
Getting our courage up
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3374.JPG
Video of the crossing (both ways)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i78UMBRb9ho
After a successful crossing of the river, we started up the switchbacks as the trail climbed up out of the canyon. After a flat stretch and another set of switchbacks, we were on top of Beckwith Plateau. From there it was a pretty straight shot to Mt. Elliott. Just before reaching the parking spot where the hike begins, we descended a huge road cut and dugway. The hike involved a lot of scrambling, and we gained just under 600' of elevation in about 0.4 miles. The view from the top was amazing. I could see well into the San Rafael Swell, and the views north and south along the Book Cliffs were impressive. After the hike we returned to the 4-wheelers and ate some snacks, then pressed on along the trail to its end at the drill hole.
Stopped to enjoy the view off the switchbacks
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3381.JPG
View of the river crossing from above
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3393.JPG
More switchbacks ahead
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3399.JPG
First view of Mt. Elliott from the backside
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3409.JPG
View along the Book Cliffs to the north
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3415.JPG
View up the dugway from the start of the hike
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3428.JPG
Parked at the start of the hike
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3433.JPG
Mt. Elliott
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3431.JPG
Nearing the saddle
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3438.JPG
Panorama from the saddle
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...452_stitch.jpg
Near the top
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3466.JPG
View north from the peak
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3475.JPG
The valley floor below
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3486.JPG
View south from the peak
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3495.JPG
The trail to the drill hole was rough at first, as it skirted around the heads of two canyons. Once the trail reached Elliott Mesa, it straightened out and was much smoother--lots of fifth gear. We made it to the drill hole in good time, then took a quick jaunt over to an old corral with a nice view down Short Canyon. It was getting late by then, so we burned back toward the trucks and didn't make many more stops.
The trail as it skirts Long Canyon
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3521.JPG
More of the trail near Long Canyon
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3523.JPG
View from an overlook near Elliott Mesa
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3528.JPG
Snow flurries
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3541.JPG
The trail on Elliott Mesa
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3543.JPG
The drill hole
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3548.JPG
The corral
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...559_stitch.jpg
View down Short Canyon toward the Green River
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3568.JPG
Book Cliff views on the return trip
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/S9...0/IMG_3577.JPG
Lots more photos here:
.KMZ file for Google Earth:
http://castlecountry.org/geo/Beckwit...uMtElliott.kmz
My blog entry (if'n ya like readin' words):
http://udink.org/archives/2010/05/beckwith_platea.shtml