San Rafael Swell trip, Feb 9-12

[MOODY]

What if I come down Friday night? Where do you expect to be?

 

[sixstringsteve]

still working on that...

 

[Stephen]

Just because she was going to use cardboard barrels and then laugh at the hobos as the cardboard barrel burned to the ground doesn't make her evil. Mean, funny, insensitive, maybe.....evil.....no.

Sounds like your wife and my wife have the same sense of humour.

 

[Stephen]

The imbedded maps are awesome! Thanks Shane!

Who wants to head down a bit earlier? I can bail out of work by noon or so, and I'd like to head out sooner rather than later. I'm not a huge fan of setting up camp in the dark.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Here's what I'm thinking so far for Friday. Still a work in progress. I'd like to hike the Jackass Benches (2 hour hike). They start near the sinkhole (spot D on this map). I'll be adding to this map as I plan out the rest of Friday.

A --> wedge Overlook
B --> San Rafael Bridge
d --> sinkhole/jackass benches

planning on driving up to swazey's leap as well, but I'm still trying to learn how to get there.

[MAP]http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=39.164235,-110.756006+to:39.1682789,-110.7517071+to:Buckhorn+Draw+Rd%2FCo+Rd+332+to:Unknown+road+to:Unknown+road+to:Unknown+road&hl=en&ll=39.049585,-110.64949&spn=0.460192,0.617294&sll=38.929469,-110.596082&sspn=0.014405,0.01929&geocode=Fe28VAIdMetl-Q%3BFUuZVQIdWv9l-SkdndAo30ZJhzHWbgIqGTYDUw%3BFRapVQIdJRBm-SlRL_4fGUdJhzEt9vzMEPNACQ%3BFcBUVAIdK15n-Q%3BFbMDUgIdympo-Q%3BFSkAUgIdMIFo-Q%3BFaz8UQIdWodo-Q&mra=mi&mrsp=6&sz=16&via=1,2&t=h&z=11[/map]

If anyone has any cool stuff to see nearby our route, let me know. I'm just picking a few spots and linking 'em together. For all I know, I could be driving right past the coolest part of the trip.


I'd like to have a potential plan for Eagle Canyon in case the weather is nice, with a contingency plan if the weather is not nice.

 

[DAA]

I'd like to have a potential plan for Eagle Canyon in case the weather is nice, with a contingency plan if the weather is not nice.

Contingency plan for...? Which way do you want to go from Eagle canyon? Eva Connover, Copper Globe? Or were you thinking of coming up it from Copper Globe and then going under the freeway and doing DRT?

Pretty much whether you want go up Eagle, or down it, if it's a no-go, I think I-70 is the only real contigency plan for bypassing it.

- DAA

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm mainly concerned with the snow that Kurt mentioned. If it looks snowy, I'll pick the contingency plan and explore another part of the swell that day. If it looks do-able for Greg in his wife's runner, I hope to do it. Was there much snow when you were out there a few days ago?

I'm so new to this whole area that I don't even know where eagle canyon is yet (or eva connover, copper globe). The area under the two I-70 bridges looked fun to explore (both in vehicle and walking around).

 

[DAA]

Ahhh, I gotcha. The area under the I-70 bridge is Eagle canyon.

Almost no snow when I was out there. But I was further south and lower elevation and not down in a deeply shaded canyon. Portions of that Eagle canyon trail beneath Swasey cabin probably don't see much sun and I can imagine snow/ice lingering there for a long time.

So... As you are looking at maps, researching etc... Eagle Canyon is the section of trail from Swasey cabin just south of I-70, to the bottom of the canyon just north of I-70. It is the section where you go under the I-70 bridges. From the bottom, going south takes you up to Justensen flats/Copper Globe, going north takes you up Secret Mesa/Eva Connover. From Swasey cabin/Lone Warrior, going north takes you to DRT, going south takes you through Rods valley - from where you have a lot of choices. Going east from Swasey cabin takes you basically back to an I-70 interchange where you can access the main Cottonwood road to the north, or wherever you want to go on the main road heading south.

Since you had a Jackass benches hike towards the end of the intinerary you have fleshed out so far, and asked about Eagle canyon, I just assumed you planned to go down it from Swasey cabin, but had no idea where you intended to go from there. If you plan on heading towards Copper Globe from the bottom of Eagle, then rigs can easily bypass Eagle canyon I-70 and rejoin you at Justensen flats. But if you plan on heading north from the bottom of Eagle, the bypass would be the state or county road shed access off I-70 at the beginning of Eva Connover (assuming bypass rigs don't want to descend from Justensen and climb via Secret Mesa).

Hopefully this is more helpful than confusing. But, re-reading it, I'm not too sure...

- DAA

 

[sixstringsteve]

Thanks daa. The more I read your post, the more I understand. I think I need a better map. I can't find a map with all of these places on it.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I just found a great resource that helps a lot:


http://www.emerycounty.com/7FE9F3C5...6-3930AA21E344/travel/maps/MapRevised2009.pdf

http://www.emerycounty.com/travel/san-rafael-swell-hondu-country.html

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm trying to find a good way to connect solomons temple to swasey cabin. Feel free to propose a route if you have one in mind.

 

[sixstringsteve]

does anyone know if caineville have gas?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm trying to connect to the south-west for Friday night, but we simply don't have time to cover that much ground. I'll make you a deal Greg: If you come with me and do the north section of the swell on this trip, I'll I'll come back on March and do the south-west part with you. You can pick the route for the Soutwest March trip. How does that sound? I'm free March 9-11 or 16-18th (preferred dates).

 

[Greg]

Sounds good! There's no need to plan this trip around me, so don't!

 

[sixstringsteve]

is the swinging bridge near the san rafael bridge? from what I gather, they're about 100 feet apart. Is that correct?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

No gas @ Cainville.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Fwiw as of this weekend the trail down into Eagle Canyon from both the Swasey side and the north side had ~6" of snow on it and was extremely icy (remember our icy trip there in '06 Greg, it's similar to that). While its totally passable its not something I would do with a large group or with full-size vehicles. It could get more snow or it could melt off and be bone dry, hard to say.

Is the decent into this cayon steep on the sides? Is there risk of someone sliding off a switchback to their death, or is it ok to try 1/4 mile in the snow to see how we're doing? I'd really like to get down there, but you've been there recently and you'd have a better idea of what it'd take. I'm trying to find pictures of the swasey side of the entrance to the canyon, but I'm not finding anything. I'm stuck at swasey cabin and I"m trying to find an interesting route out without backtracking 40 miles.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

is the swinging bridge near the san rafael bridge? from what I gather, they're about 100 feet apart. Is that correct?

More like 30'. The new bridge (steel/cement) replaced the original swinging bridge. While you can no longer drive the older bridge, you can still get out and walk across it.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Is the decent into this cayon steep on the sides? Is there risk of someone sliding off a switchback to their death, or is it ok to try 1/4 mile in the snow to see how we're doing? I'd really like to get down there, but you've been there recently and you'd have a better idea of what it'd take. I'm trying to find pictures of the swasey side of the entrance to the canyon, but I'm not finding anything. I'm stuck at swasey cabin and I"m trying to find an interesting route out without backtracking 40 miles.

Starts of pretty steep but you can give it a try and go from there... its just a bit out of your way logistically with a big group. Plenty of neat stuff to see and do south of Swasey, Red Canyon, Tomsich Butte, Hidden Splendor. There is little interpretive history about those sites on the ground but there are some great books and web history that add to the excitement (for me at least).

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm guessing we'll have 5 vehicles max, but we'll just have to see who shows up. How long is eagle canyon? Can I connect to copper globe mine rd from swasey cabin?

I'm starting to get to that point on the map where my head isn't spinning... for now.