North Wash - Horse Play

[ajroadtrips]

I'll cross post my TR from the canyons group in case anyone is interested:

Work left me mentally tired last week, so I decided at the last minute
to head south. A quick call to leave a check-in, a few things thrown
into the car, and I was off!

I arrived in North Wash around 10PM. A quick pass through, and glance
at the large number of cars parked around told me this would not be
the place to find quiet, contemplative solitude. Venturing above
Turkey Knob, however, I found a nice quiet location and setup camp. It
was a perfect starry night, with many shooting stars. Having
experienced snow flurries in the Swell 2 weeks ago, I had brought
extra warm gear, which turned out to be overkill. Temps were perfect
for sleeping.

Saturday morning my loquacious coyote neighbor began chattering bright
and early. My attempts to communicate back with him or her seemed
unsuccessful, but worth a try. After a half or hour so, he left to do
whatever he had to do, leaving me to ponder what the life of a coyote
must be like and what he was trying to communicate.

Loaded for bear, I headed off before sunrise to check out a small
project I had peeked into years ago. I wasn't really expecting much,
and ended up pleasantly surprised. The canyon, Horse Play, turned out
to be a delightful mix of stemming, and squeezing. Never too narrow to
awaken the beast in me, but narrow enough to be engaging. Likely one
of the most action packed short canyons I have seen in awhile. No
rappels or wetsuit needed, this is a fun little romp. A mere 2-3 hours
later found me back at the car enjoying a late breakfast.

Next up was Main Butler. I had been through it several years ago. Some
very old prints and my old webbing at the rappel make me wonder if
anyone else had done it over the last few years? The last rappel was
just going into the sun, so I lazily napped in the sand at it's base
enjoying the ambiance.

All too soon motivation began to overpower laziness, and I hiked out.
With lot's of daylight left, more exploring was to be done before
finally heading north as the suns rays were waning in the sky.

From SLC to SLC I had been gone a mere 30 hours or so, but it seemed
like a world away. Refreshing and rejuvenating.

I wrote up Horse Play and Main Butler with some pics if your
interested. The usual place-

http://www.outdoorzen.org/

Fall is a great time to be out.

[CarpeyBiggs]

Damn You Ryan! You never do anything for the community you good for nothing nobody!

Seriously though, thanks for the posts, Horsing around sounds fun. I am trying to figure out which is Main Butler. There looks like there might be another fork to the northwest of what I think is the Main Fork. Anyone know the scoop on that one?

I can't remember my outdoorzen login, so I am not sure if you have a topo on there or not. I requested a new username, btw.

- D

[sparker1]

Very interesting. Thanks for the TR and nice photos.

[shaggy125]

I am trying to figure out which is Main Butler. There looks like there might be another fork to the northwest of what I think is the Main Fork. Anyone know the scoop on that one?
- D

It is in Kelseys book, it's the right main fork (the one that reaches closest to the road on the map) closest to Stair Canyon, one rappel at the end. We were going to check it out two years ago, but took too long in Stair and never did, so I still haven't done it. Seems like it rarely gets done from what Ryan said, and from asking around. Ryan is the first person I've heard of actually doing it.

Eric.

[CarpeyBiggs]

It is in Kelseys book, it's the right main fork (the one that reaches closest to the road on the map) closest to Stair Canyon, one rappel at the end. We were going to check it out two years ago, but took too long in Stair and never did, so I still haven't done it. Seems like it rarely gets done from what Ryan said, and from asking around. Ryan is the first person I've heard of actually doing it.

Eric.

Interesting. Thanks for the info. Looks like there is a slew of other tributaries of Stair and Marinus down there. They all been explored? Some look like they would be a beast to approach, but not sure if they slot up or not from the Topo.

[ajroadtrips]

Interesting. Thanks for the info. Looks like there is a slew of other tributaries of Stair and Marinus down there. They all been explored? Some look like they would be a beast to approach, but not sure if they slot up or not from the Topo.

I think many (most) of the forks are fault canyons. The other ones I've looked at were not interesting, hence the big surprise in Horse Play. Main Butler is not a great slot, but a nice hike none the less.

As you exit out of the upper Butler area, you get an incredible view of how the fault canyon cuts through both Horse Play and Main Butler. Very interesting geology. A fun casual area.

I'll admit to being a little OCD, and getting many of the obscure ones others don't do.

[CarpeyBiggs]

Ah, just saw your map. Horse play is the canyon I was asking about that is northwest of main butler. Can you upclimb all of Horse Play? Might make a fun loop hike.

[ajroadtrips]

Down Main Butler and up Horse Play is definitely a way to do it. Up Horse Play would be a pretty fun up-a-neering adventure, without any show stopper climbing problems.

Ah, just saw your map. Horse play is the canyon I was asking about that is northwest of main butler. Can you upclimb all of Horse Play? Might make a fun loop hike.

[Iceaxe]

Just curious.... why the name "Horse Play"?

[ajroadtrips]

Just curious.... why the name "Horse Play"?

Calling it West-Main Butler lacked a certain flair (the proper name). Descriptive, but lacking in aesthetic appeal and a bit confusing with all of the other forks of Butler.

On the way out, Horse Play popped into mind.

It fit perfectly; fun, playful, but not too serious. It also fits nicely with the naming of the other Butler Forks (Monkey Business, Shenanigans, and Fooling Around - Named by the Emperor Tom perhaps?)

[ratagonia]

Just curious.... why the name "Horse Play"?

Calling it West-Main Butler lacked a certain flair (the proper name). Descriptive, but lacking in aesthetic appeal and a bit confusing with all of the other forks of Butler.

On the way out, Horse Play popped into mind.

It fit perfectly; fun, playful, but not too serious. It also fits nicely with the naming of the other Butler Forks (Monkey Business, Shenanigans, and Fooling Around - Named by the Emperor Tom perhaps?)

Sounds like a good name to me.

I've also checked out a few other potential slots in the area, and none had more than a few pleasant sections. down-canyon forks of stair did not slot up and prove interesting. As one progresses south, you are lower in the Navajo and then into the Kayenta and Wingate - sections of rock that prove less interesting. Upper Stair is really good, but from there, much less interesting.

But if you find anything good, let me know.

Thanks, Ryan, for sharing this one.

Tom