Straight Wash, San Rafael Swell

[gnwatts]

In April of 2008 my friend Spencer and I decided to explore Straight Wash in the San Rafael Swell. The irony here is that it isn't particularly straight, or scenic upon first view. I had come down Eardley a few years before from the top and exited through Straight Wash, but we wanted to see what Straight Wash was like beyond Eardley.
We arrived at the trail head/car park around 7, some nice spots along the wash.



It begins very open then winds it's way into some short narrows, the colors are irons and yelow, very little green, and no water. Super clean and crisp in the mid morning light. It's a rugged and sharp place. Angles and inclines.




P1050912 by greg watts photography, on Flickr












Our main objective of the day was The Big Pool, located a few hundred feet up Eardley Canyon, which comes in on the right. It is a beautifull pool, completely unexpected, encircled by rock that looks as if it was sculpted.



















We hung out here for most of the afternoon, then headed up the wash and camped a a mile or so up from Eardley. That evening we hiked a few miles up the wash, a surreal landscape, where on one side of the wash you have this straight shallow pitched incline that slams into the steeper, twisted opposite side. I felt like I was in one of those old Twilight Zone episodes, where they landed on Mars. A fun place.

[accadacca]

[gnwatts]

Thanks man!