The 2014 Utah Adventure: May 10

It's my 3 day week-end and its time to escape SLC for southern UT and Capitol Reef. When I made the reservations on Tues - no rain, 50-60s perfect weather. Well that changed Thursday when I looked and saw Fri & Sat were good but Sun 39 degrees for a high -- might have to rethink Sunday but I've brought 2 sets of gloves; ears muffs and a wool cap (I'm ready for anything! I hope.)

SLC was raining when I left at 8am on Firday and it was supposed to rain the entire day - let it rain!!! Had rain most of the way to my turn-off in Nephi and the clouds just followed me down. This is the 1st time I've driven south thru Nephi to HWY 70 and it was all ranchland -- farms, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, llamas (or alpaca, hard to tell apart). And its Spring, so there were lots of calves, lambies (some still with their long tails), colts, baby goats!!! Kept my interest.

There were also lots of hawks flying or perched on fence posts. Scared one off the road, BIG bird and either a dead snake in it mouth or the guts of some roadkill.

I came upon a pretty decent size lake; actually Koosharem Reservoir. There were a number of large white birds on the lake. Thought they might be swans but as I got closer, they were actually white pelicans!

Took about 3.5 hrs to get to Torrey UT ele 6800ft (which is pretty much where everyone stays when visiting Capitol Reef --- just a very small town with tourist business).

My goal today was to make another attempt at a slot canyon (failed last year at Little Wild Horse because there was a big rock in my way that I couldn't figure out how to get around or over; and I wasn't sure I was in the right spot -- abort!!). I've heard a lot about Notom Rd which is just east of Capitol Reef park from several folks at work. There are several slot canyons: Burro Wash, Cottonwood Wash, and Sleets Gulch. They are have varying degrees of difficulty. One of the guys I work with recommended Sleets Gulch as its the easiest (and its his wife's favorite.) So I drove thru the park to Notom Rd then headed south.

I was expecting just barren nothingness since it is on the other side of the Waterpocket Fold (i.e. a 100 miles N/S "wrinkle" in the earth's crust) but there were a good number of dirt roads heading somewhere and a few ranches. I first past the parking area for Burro Wash and then Cottonwood along the paved road. Then the road turns to dirt; and about 4 miles further was the parking area for Sheets Gulch.

A little surprised that the Wash was not right there (it was for the other 2). Nope there was a little trail that went uphill - and there were some pretty amazing flowers in bloom!! (I timed this trip for spring flowers because I saw plenty.) Very windy out so it was hard to get photos as they blew in the wind but I tried anyway.

This is either Annual or Silvery Townsendia.

And Pretty Buckwheat (it's endemic to Southern UT)

Also, Yellow Catspaw (lots of it), Greenthread (yellow flower), several types for vetch, Notched leafed Scorpionweed (pretty purple), Mt Pepperplant (white flower), Whitestem Evening Primrose, Great Rushy Milkvetch (white),UT Penstemon (bright red), and many others.

The trail of course led to the wash and I followed along. Its supposed to be about 1.5-2 miles before I actually get to the canyon. I just followed the footprints in the sand, they actually made more sense than the trail instructions. I saw one butterfly - a Lady. And plenty of little lizards.

I got past the twisted Cottonwood trees, past 3 side gulches and finally got to what looked like the start of the canyon -- yea!

I followed along as the walls got narrower and narrower. Down to about an arms length apart.

And not too much further, there was a rock on top of the narrow canyon and my 1st obstacle: 2 rocks on top of each other about 5ft tall.

Now this would've been pretty easy but the upper rock jutted out about 6 in over the lower rock. Now I'm not a Gumbie and my knees don't bent backwards (normally) nor do have any skills as a monkey so this was not easy. Too high to jump up, tried the old one foot on one wall and hands on the other (but I couldn't move :)), tried looking for something on the upper rock to hold on to but foiled again! :(. Oh well, I tried.

So back to the car. On the way back to Capitol Reef on Notom Rd, there are a couple of rock formations that I stopped at because I lived them. Just single towers standing alone.

Back in the park, I decided to do the Grand Wash. There was parking and I've never been there before. Its a 2.5 mile walk up a wash (a grand one). Pretty wide at the start with tall walls. Flowers and bushes blooming really nice. It does get narrower as I go along. Loved the honey cone structures of the rock in some areas and the different "textures"/colors of the rocks.

And the way the water has carved out the caves along the walls.

Walked about an hour, figured I must be close to the end, and since it ends in another parking lot, decided to turn around and head back.

Saw a chipmunk and a bird with A.D.D. It was a gray bird with a black feather around his eyes and a black tail.

And he was just diving into bushes, hovering about, diving again. Then he flew over to the bushes along the rock wall and continued to do so. Not sure what he was hunting; I have to assume insects. Pretty strange (but fun to watch).

Got out of the canyon and crossed the road to have a look at the Fremont River.

Drove down a little further to get a good look at the Navaho Dome. The dome is a remnant of an ancient desert sand dune.

It was after 4 now. Quick stop at the Visitor's Center to check the weather forecast. Well my 39degree Sunday became a Winter Weather Advisory Sat night/all day Sunday with significant snow in the Central/Eastern mountains and strong winds. Yuk!

After supper, took a quick drive back into the park, the colors are quite nice in the evening light. Stopped at various pull-outs