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| Hiking | 6.69 Miles |
1,382 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.69 Miles | | | |
| 1,382 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Breakfast at Slot Canyon Inn was so good, we did not hit the op order's intended 0600 SP. It definitely is not MREs.  Finally got on the road about 0830. The road beyond Devils Garden (12.5) miles is very washboarded. Personally, I would not drive it in anything that was not 4x4 / AWD. My objective was to Hike Davis Gulch out to Everett Ruess's last known camp spot, perhaps all the way to Bement Arch -- originally known as Ruess Arch until the dam was built -- water level permitting. I figured it would be an 8-9 mile round trip, followed, time permitting, by a quick trip down Hole-in-Rock. Well, Davis Gulch is like 52 miles out Hole-in-Rock Rd, and when we got to Dance Hall Rock, at 36.4 miles, it was already after 1000. A quick calculation told me if we went all the way to Davis Gulch, I would not be on the trail until 1130, and thus our last few miles back up Hole-in-Rock Rd would likely be in the dark, even without the extra trip to Hole-in-Rock. That I did not want to do. Before we ever left for our Utah trip, I had already begun researching further Escalante hikes, and had rough drafted a Dance Hall Rock loop. However, I had not downloaded the route, nor printed out a map. But I have good visual memory, so I called an audible. (My wife, though Dutch, has lived in the USA for 50 years, and I when I told her I was calling an audible, I still had to explain what that meant.  )
I knew there was a wash I should get into, and so after cimbing over a small rock, that is what I did and started heading east. Imagine my surprise when I soon found myself in a slot canyon. A very small slot canyon. So small I named it Hundred Yard Slot Canyon. Even better, there were etchings in there that were 90+ years old -- at least three of which pre-dated Reuss's 1934 expedition. No sign of Reuss's "NEMO 1934" mark, though.
Lots of interesting formations and strata along what turned out to be Fortymile Wash, both the combined water course, and Right Fork, which I had started in. It was real easy walking -- something that would hold true the whole loop. While exercise was occuring, this hike was more about the sights. 
Fortymile Spring caught me by surprise. I mean, I knew it was there, but when I stepped through the gate for a closer look, I sunk very quickly in the soft sand.  I don't know if it was quick sand, but I backed up quick nontheless. Which is when I discovered the second really cool thing on this hike: The old, rusted, remains of a revolver. (You won't see it, because I took it with me.  )
Sat view had given me the impression there were ranch ruins above Fortymile Springs, but it turned out the "ruins" were some kind of irrigation or mining deal (there was a generator, a small tank, and piping that appeared to lead to a compound about 500 yards southeast). I thought about checking out the compound, as it was in good shape and on federal property, and right out in the open, so likely not a meth lab, but I figured why risk it?  Instead, I headed back into Fortymile Wash, then north up the jeep trail to what I knew would be an X-intersection.
Along the jeep trail I saw quite a bit of broken PVC pipe, hundreds of yards worth, seemingly leading nowhere. When I arrived at the X-intersection, I saw that it had a hitching post and a metal lid-covered small cement tank. Inside the tank was a metal arm with a hand-sized plastic float. It was dry, and there were no turds, so it was not a toilet.
I then headed west towards Lone Rock, where I discovered three more pre-Reuss etchings, but still no "NEMO 1934". 
After Lone Rock, I crawled under a barb wire fence, then started up / across Dance Hall Rock. I had no idea where in particular I was, other than "on the rock", nor where the TH was, other than "on the west side". So, I basically picked my way across it. Twice I dead-ended at areas I was not comfortable crossing. (As I recall they were large & deep craters.) Despite having to retrace my steps, it was okay because I was seeing some really cool terrain that, at least on Haz, no one has reported on before.
Eventually I found a sandy wash with footprints, and followed that back to the amphitheater, and then the trailhead. As I told my wife when I hugged her, "That was the coolest hike I've ever done!"  |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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