In The Shadow of Longs Peak
San Rafael Swell, South Side
October 2022
Sunday, 23 October 2022
We were on our way by 11:30 AM, taking a half-hour or so to load my gear into Gary’s truck.
Like many October trips in the past, we go west on I-70 and head up Floyd Hill while driving into the storm with rain drifting in sheets across the landscape. Pines are snow speckled as we approach Eisenhower Tunnel though the ski runs at Loveland are barely covered. Continuing west, the trees are dusted with snow as we approach the exit for Copper Mountain.
There is a snow tire requirement in effect for passenger cars on Vail Pass so things may be kind of dicey. Indeed, traffic grinds to a halt about halfway up the pass. CDOT says Vail Pass is closed between exits 195 and 190. But we are already between these two and almost to exit 190. Two tow vehicles have passed. After 90 minutes, at 3:10 we are on our way.
Glenwood Canyon is surreal with a dusting of snow up high, wet lower, and trees along the river still clothed in gold and yellow and rust.
Even in Grand Junction there is snow. I do not think I have ever actually seen snow in Grand Junction! And the scene is surreal with snow up high on the mesas of sand and stone and trees down low clothed in snow.
We arrive at the Ramada Inn, a bit early, but that gives me time to make notes. We’ll see what tomorrow brings!
San Rafael Swell, South Side
October 2022
Monday, 24 October 2022
We roll out of bed just after 8 AM, pack up, and are ready to roll. There’s frost on the truck windows. I am glad to have a jacket.
Wisps of clouds hang overhead. Fog hangs over the river valley, just north of Colorado National Monument and there is lots of snow covering the rocks and outcroppings of the Monument itself.
Our plan is to make our way to McDonalds and then gas up at the Conoco on the west side of town. This ends up being a bit of an adventure. We got off at Road 24, then south toward US 50. The McDonalds is supposed to be on the north side of US 50, between Road 24 and 24 ½. We find our way to US 50 and road 24 and 24 ½ but no McDonalds, despite using both my cell phone and Gary’s navigation system. We decide to skip it and head back to US 50. But I have breakfast on my mind and revert to using my cell phone. We get off US 50 at Road 24 ¾ and wig-wag our way along the frontage road, across Road 24 ½ and there it is! Mystery solved and Ie get our McDonalds breakfast fix!
We head back to US 50, west to the Conoco and fuel up, then onto I-70 and west toward Utah.
There is snow high up, both to the north and south. Once in Utah, we see steam rising. At one point, we descend into a low area filled with fog. Then climb out into blue sky and sunshine.
On to Green River, Utah where we gas up again. Then west to the exit for UT 24 where we turn off and head south.
We pass a road on the right with a big sign for Hatt Ranch “A Bird Hunting Ranch”, continue, and take the next right which is a couple of miles further south. We are on the old UT 24 and drive north, passing Hatt Ranch’s pheasant coop. We continue north, stopping to take a waypoint at the intersection of another road that leads west to ranch buildings, then turn east, cross the San Rafael River then back at UT 24 at the “Hatt Ranch” sign. We backtrack, to just south of the San Rafael River and the intersection where we took the waypoint. We park here and walk up the road as per the map it will lead to the trailhead at Uneva Mine Canyon. We pass what turns out to be a quail coop and I stop to photo then take a couple of other snapshots. Gary hikes a bit further then returns. We both hike in the other direction past the quail coop then return to the truck. We decide against this road as it’s a bit washed out and perhaps a bit too rough.
We return to UT 24 and drive to just south of MM 153, where we turn west. Before long, there is a T intersection. We head north, eventually crossing a wide wash and continue north. We take what I think is the left to Three Fingers Canyon as mentioned on page 242 of Steve Allen’s guidebook “The San Rafael Swell’. Here we take a waypoint, then continue west, coming to a high flat area, nice for camping, but unprotected if the wind came up. We continue driving, down a rough drop, into a wash and out again. This is still a BLM designated route. Before long, we come across another nice spot to camp, just below a bluff, which would provide protection from the wind. We take a waypoint and decide we are home for the night.
Before unloading, we take a short walk further along the road, which climbs up, curves around, and stays on a level grade. After a few minutes of walking, we turn back, return to camp and work on setting up camp and enjoying the afternoon light as it bounces off the face of the swell.
From our camp, the land bends downward to the east, ever so slightly. Tomorrow we will bike to the road’s end and see where it leads us.
Description of our camp and the view off to the west: We parked on a level plain at the foot of a line of short bluffs. The colors are tan and the grey green of fall and early winter. The winter afternoon sun is casting a soft shadow and there is a slight breeze.
Photos: One photo of the white sandstone layer that trends east away from our camp, trying to capture the quality of light.
Around 4:30, I walked up the road to capture the uplifted escarpment (to the north) of the swell in the afternoon sun. The rock directly to the west of our camp was already in the shade, so I will need to walk up here at 3:00 or 3:30 tomorrow to catch those while they are still in the sunlight.
San Rafael Swell, South Side
October 2022
Tuesday, 25 October 2022
We crawled into our tent around 8:30 PM. I read for an hour or so as sleep seems to have eluded me. It was not too cold overnight.
We are up at 8:30 AM or so. The sun is out and not too chilly. I make coffee while Gary starts breakfast. Once done eating, we clean up the tent and cab of the truck and do dishes.
We are ready for today’s outing and pedal away by noon. It is only a couple of miles to Three Fingered Canyon. The idea was to bike from camp to the trailhead. Gary pedals up the steep section just past our camp, but I walk until the road flattens, then realize the front clamp on my bike has sprung open. I catch up to Gary and he steadies the bike while I engage the clamp. I get on and ride a bit. My knee is not quite rehabilitated, and I end up getting off for both the downhill and uphill. I am on a flat section where my tire begins making a weird noise. I look down. It is not flat but is low on air. I get off and walk while Gary waits again.
We decide to part ways. I walk as far, which is to the wilderness boundary, then head back to camp. Gary will check out Three Fingered Canyon. We arranged for a 2 PM then a 3 PM call.
Description of the view looking east: The clouds began moving in from the west just before noon, traveled eastward and are now bunched up over the horizon in the distance.
Looking east before sunset, we could see mesas and monuments and valleys and beyond that, jagged ridges. We wonder where they might be.
There is another monument at the north end of the horizon, which is rounded and appears to be closer than the others. Now, another set of clouds are rolling in. These look almost turbulent, just a bit bumpy on the bottom and are nearly stationary.
San Rafael Swell, South Side
October 2022
Wednesday, 26 October 2022
It rains overnight. We wait till it quits then get up. It’s much colder today and I am uneasy about getting stuck out here so we pack up and leave though Gary would prefer to stay.