tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73651220976697986812024-03-13T04:34:38.737-06:00ALWAYS CHASING / BIG SKY CONVECTION BLOGAdventures, Storm Chasing & MeteorologyDann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.comBlogger486125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-15921282112753525182013-01-29T10:56:00.000-07:002013-01-29T10:56:02.884-07:00Full-UpMy apologies for this blog being silent for a couple of months. I made an error in that I didn't realize that Blooger has a limit to storage level for photos. I have reached that limit and thus cannot add any more pictures without paying Google. Since I am already paying for my domain and hosting, I am not willing to add an extra cost.<br />
<br />
As of now, I have not figured out what I am going to do, but it may mean moving blogs... perhaps to a Wordpress platform and hosting the images myself. <br />
<br />
Any suggestions?<br />
<br />
Thanks,<br />
DannDann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-79273632850430721832012-11-17T20:42:00.000-07:002012-11-17T20:42:02.754-07:002012 - May 22nd - Grand Mesa: Falls on Whitewater Creek, Lands EndWhile researching area waterfalls, I discovered an image supposedly taken of a plunge waterfall on the edge of Grand Mesa. I had often heard rumors of a significant fall on the Mesa somewhere but had never found any information online. I decided to comb the satellite imagery on Google Earth and see if I could find it. Sure enough, I did.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePyngiwK5hM/UKhSmwLR7oI/AAAAAAAAHAI/CWhwNwqddZk/s1600/WhitewaterCreekFalls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePyngiwK5hM/UKhSmwLR7oI/AAAAAAAAHAI/CWhwNwqddZk/s320/WhitewaterCreekFalls.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It actually kind of bothered me that I hadn't noticed this before. After all, I spend a lot of time on Google Earth, pouring over the terrain looking for interesting places to visit.<br />
<br />
I had that evening off and without anything better to do than sit at home, pouring over Google Earth, I figured I ought to pay this waterfall a visit. It was late May when runoff is normally in its prime, so I figured I'd get a good show out of the falls. They also didn't seem all that difficult to get to. I had been on a road less than two miles from the falls and there was also sign of a 4x4 road almost to its top.<br />
<br />
Normally, one would use Highway 65 to reach the top of the Mesa, but I decided to take Lands End Road, which had recently opened for the season. Lands End Road is quite the engineering marvel, hewn into the vertical basalt cliffs of the Mesa, built back in the '30s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.<br />
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I figured to be on top of the Mesa about a half hour before sunset and to the falls around sunset with a plan to stay until the light held out. <br />
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When I got to the top, the view was fantastic. It had been somewhat windy which put some dust into the atmosphere. The haze really contrasted the different terrain in the late evening light. <br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f-dhG2Z14AI/UKhM4Xs1llI/AAAAAAAAG9c/Cnc17LA0QfE/s1600/20120523.0159.50Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f-dhG2Z14AI/UKhM4Xs1llI/AAAAAAAAG9c/Cnc17LA0QfE/s400/20120523.0159.50Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Lands End, out over the Book Cliffs and beyond.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I didn't linger on the edge. Instead, I made my way to the falls. The trail off of the main road was a little rough. It was mostly dry, dusty earth but was occasionally encumbered by chunks of basalt. Once the road reached the edge of a group of trees, it began to descend and become a bit more rough.<br />
<br />
I decided to stow my vehicle in a little pullout and save it from the rocky path ahead, especially since I was so close to the top of the falls.<br />
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After a few minutes of walking, I reached the creek and followed it to the edge. I was disappointed with the amount of water that was flowing. It had been a dry winter and though I had visited the top of the mesa three weeks later in the year a year prior and found three feet of snow almost everywhere, there was almost no snow to be found except a couple of icy patches deep in the shaded trees.<br />
<br />
I looked out over the edge of the falls which were not in plunge-mode due to the low flow. The wind was picking up the water and spraying me in the face, which was nice, I guess.<br />
<br />
I crossed the creek and continued northwest along the ledge so I could have a look at the falls, which had carved a cleft in the cliff over the years. The color of the rocks, moss & lichens was fantastic but the falls were quite disappointing. I sat in a small perch for a while and captured images while the light began to fade. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ccr2x3Gnwo/UKhM8p-PLSI/AAAAAAAAG9k/KjRwFtNEmjY/s1600/20120523.0228.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ccr2x3Gnwo/UKhM8p-PLSI/AAAAAAAAG9k/KjRwFtNEmjY/s400/20120523.0228.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Falls on Whitewater Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBcr5laIyNM/UKhNA_XfktI/AAAAAAAAG9s/EzfkcOGPTWA/s1600/20120523.0229.01Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBcr5laIyNM/UKhNA_XfktI/AAAAAAAAG9s/EzfkcOGPTWA/s400/20120523.0229.01Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closer look</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RhX0J6-j0as/UKhNDEsY3XI/AAAAAAAAG90/spIyUP8Qn1I/s1600/20120523.0231.09Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RhX0J6-j0as/UKhNDEsY3XI/AAAAAAAAG90/spIyUP8Qn1I/s400/20120523.0231.09Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty skies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PHsk3kCVBx4/UKhNFGdzF9I/AAAAAAAAG98/BNjOlf3Npn8/s1600/20120523.0232.44Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PHsk3kCVBx4/UKhNFGdzF9I/AAAAAAAAG98/BNjOlf3Npn8/s400/20120523.0232.44Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More pretty skies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9MEaegGnAg/UKhNIHgexGI/AAAAAAAAG-E/e83ob2SkHEA/s1600/20120523.0236.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9MEaegGnAg/UKhNIHgexGI/AAAAAAAAG-E/e83ob2SkHEA/s400/20120523.0236.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A longer exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqki1iyP1co/UKhNJz7HV7I/AAAAAAAAG-M/dqiubaS86dU/s1600/20120523.0242.38Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqki1iyP1co/UKhNJz7HV7I/AAAAAAAAG-M/dqiubaS86dU/s400/20120523.0242.38Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q_boO0y9h8w/UKhNMlMGfaI/AAAAAAAAG-U/_EbmgjeF4bA/s1600/20120523.0246.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q_boO0y9h8w/UKhNMlMGfaI/AAAAAAAAG-U/_EbmgjeF4bA/s400/20120523.0246.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With foreground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Eventually, it started to get dark, so I returned to the top of the falls. This turned out to be a good idea as I found a couple of good frames. I also had to try hard not to get my camera wet as I was getting sufficiently misted.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RBScPpKIrOg/UKhNNllrYwI/AAAAAAAAG-c/eSz2J9eE20c/s1600/20120523.0251.22Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RBScPpKIrOg/UKhNNllrYwI/AAAAAAAAG-c/eSz2J9eE20c/s400/20120523.0251.22Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of the falls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfwbMpYPYIw/UKhNOid987I/AAAAAAAAG-k/jMbEPW7ImVQ/s1600/20120523.0254.22Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfwbMpYPYIw/UKhNOid987I/AAAAAAAAG-k/jMbEPW7ImVQ/s400/20120523.0254.22Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Eventually, it was time to head home. I started hiking back to my vehicle and sort of got lost. Apparently, there was more than one road and the one I was following was not the one I came in on. Once I reached the open space beyond the trees, I was able to reorient myself, but snapped a picture of the valley first.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AcbM0cw6dFQ/UKhNP4fwukI/AAAAAAAAG-s/FUxETDrSCUQ/s1600/20120523.0259.58Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AcbM0cw6dFQ/UKhNP4fwukI/AAAAAAAAG-s/FUxETDrSCUQ/s400/20120523.0259.58Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lights of the Grand Valley below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once in the vehicle, I returned to Lands End and captured the rest of the light on this windy night.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7nHgIrB_2nY/UKhNQ9TW1lI/AAAAAAAAG-0/xNKXvb5wMRU/s1600/20120523.0321.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7nHgIrB_2nY/UKhNQ9TW1lI/AAAAAAAAG-0/xNKXvb5wMRU/s400/20120523.0321.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Junction blow and a windy tree!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGGeYORvBiI/UKhNRwIpeZI/AAAAAAAAG-8/Rj3scwvld88/s1600/20120523.0325.10Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGGeYORvBiI/UKhNRwIpeZI/AAAAAAAAG-8/Rj3scwvld88/s400/20120523.0325.10Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No tree, with the edge of the Mesa in view.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Existing clouds drifted and uncovered the crescent moon. The earthshine on the dark side was incredible! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAmCEWkcb9k/UKhNTFFQd4I/AAAAAAAAG_E/novFSttsw8E/s1600/20120523.0331.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAmCEWkcb9k/UKhNTFFQd4I/AAAAAAAAG_E/novFSttsw8E/s400/20120523.0331.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And then Venus showed her face!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NPUHndXBUD0/UKhNUNPPpKI/AAAAAAAAG_M/oPncHMp1_a8/s1600/20120523.0337.04Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NPUHndXBUD0/UKhNUNPPpKI/AAAAAAAAG_M/oPncHMp1_a8/s400/20120523.0337.04Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TmponQuKPaI/UKhNVO54uII/AAAAAAAAG_U/D--wtMdNVOc/s1600/20120523.0337.40Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TmponQuKPaI/UKhNVO54uII/AAAAAAAAG_U/D--wtMdNVOc/s400/20120523.0337.40Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wide shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJdgcPmosys/UKhNW_jNnPI/AAAAAAAAG_c/j1KJZSuhmL0/s1600/20120523.0338.36Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJdgcPmosys/UKhNW_jNnPI/AAAAAAAAG_c/j1KJZSuhmL0/s400/20120523.0338.36Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RLBOLffHtmY/UKhNYs1yEPI/AAAAAAAAG_k/9sgfe7UKYII/s1600/20120523.0340.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RLBOLffHtmY/UKhNYs1yEPI/AAAAAAAAG_k/9sgfe7UKYII/s400/20120523.0340.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lands End Observatory and the sky.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Despite the lack of a decent waterfall, it was an amazingly beautiful and relaxing night. <br />
<br />
DannDann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-76787001715039573722012-11-10T15:42:00.000-07:002012-11-10T15:49:01.034-07:002011 - July 20th - Family Vacation Day 2 - Cascade Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park <i>July is a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielsen_ratings#Sweeps">sweeps</a>"
month. In the television industry, that translates to "no
vacations"... even though July is largely regarded as the "throw-away"
sweeps. <br /><br />
My extended family (on my mom's side) gets together biannually for a big
vacation. We've done this since I can remember, visiting places from
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to Lake Tahoe, California to Oglebay, West Virginia
to Depot Bay, Oregon and many places in Montana. For the last two
trips, we've gathered at the </i>
<i><a href="http://www.ymcarockies.org/snow-mountain-ranch-winter-park-colorado.html">Snow Mountain Ranch</a> near Tabernash, Colorado. <br /><br />
I was concerned that I would be unable to make this trip as it was in
sweeps and while I didn't ask for any time off, I realized I would be
able to attend a couple of days on my normal days off. If we weren't
gathering in Colorado, it probably wouldn't have happened!</i>
<br />
<br />
This is just one of several adventures we took on vacation. See the rest here: <br />
<a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/08/2011-july-19th-family-vacation-day-1.html">http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/08/2011-july-19th-family-vacation-day-1.html</a> (Foggy Night)<br />
<a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/10/2011-july-19th-family-vacation-day-1.html">http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/10/2011-july-19th-family-vacation-day-1.html</a><br />
(Columbine Lake)<br />
<a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/10/2011-july-19th-family-vaaction-day-1.html">http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/10/2011-july-19th-family-vaaction-day-1.html</a> (Falls on Pole Creek)<br />
<br />
We were off again early on the second day. This time, I wanted to check out Cascade Falls near Grand Lake in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm">Rocky Mountain National Park</a>. Joining me was my Uncle Scott, cousins Brad, Brian, Ashley and Chase. I had visited this area of the park before, twice hiking the Adams Falls area, one of which I talk about here: <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2009/08/2009-family-reunion-day-three-august.html">http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2009/08/2009-family-reunion-day-three-august.html</a> <br />
<br />
The trail to Cascade Falls is a relatively popular one and we had a bit of trouble finding a parking spot but eventually, we were off. Colorado had experienced an almost historic late-season snowpack, so despite the fact that it was mid July, the rivers and streams were still swollen with meltwater. North Inlet Creek, which the trail paralleled was no exception. The creek looked more like a river and had no discernible bank. It simply disappeared into the thick grass of the open meadows. In stretch, the creek actually encroached upon the trail itself which required a detour. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BzgwIMPiMVI/UJ6-WxfqYGI/AAAAAAAAG8U/2qNnR7HWQe8/s1600/20110720.1909.50Z.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BzgwIMPiMVI/UJ6-WxfqYGI/AAAAAAAAG8U/2qNnR7HWQe8/s400/20110720.1909.50Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Inlet Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After a while, the trail climbs slowly away from the meandering creek. Into the timber, a small bridge crosses a small stream which I found to be quite photogenic. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8t3dQ_SxqvQ/UJ69ywiIlgI/AAAAAAAAG5s/r4fOShnwzUM/s1600/20110720.1703.31Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8t3dQ_SxqvQ/UJ69ywiIlgI/AAAAAAAAG5s/r4fOShnwzUM/s400/20110720.1703.31Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The trail continues on in the timber, climbing well away from but still paralleling the creek. It's just over three miles to the falls which we found to be more of a cascade than anything else. In fact, it was difficult to find a vantage point where you could see the "falls" in their entirety.<br />
<br />
I busied myself for a while taking pictures, trying to get as many angles as possible.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-41qy2keE61Y/UJ690lt6UgI/AAAAAAAAG50/ktCfSX-s5Zs/s1600/20110720.1733.14Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-41qy2keE61Y/UJ690lt6UgI/AAAAAAAAG50/ktCfSX-s5Zs/s400/20110720.1733.14Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LY2_Xxwry9w/UJ692CqohGI/AAAAAAAAG58/2MzxGBdDHu0/s1600/20110720.1733.52Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LY2_Xxwry9w/UJ692CqohGI/AAAAAAAAG58/2MzxGBdDHu0/s400/20110720.1733.52Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And then my attention turned to smaller objects.<br />
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Everyone was ready to leave at a certain point and I was still running around looking for things to capture images of. Eventually, they all started to leave so I followed. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8BlODNhKDs/UJ6-MuqPIMI/AAAAAAAAG7k/cmThbgaM9lY/s1600/20110720.1813.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8BlODNhKDs/UJ6-MuqPIMI/AAAAAAAAG7k/cmThbgaM9lY/s400/20110720.1813.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the trail</td></tr>
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I picked up the rear almost all the way back and just when I had caught up, I found my idyllic little stream again. I took a few more minutes to image it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fvr3cjOKXdg/UJ6-U-fCWUI/AAAAAAAAG8M/i2cNiZ1Y1uc/s1600/20110720.1822.42Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fvr3cjOKXdg/UJ6-U-fCWUI/AAAAAAAAG8M/i2cNiZ1Y1uc/s640/20110720.1822.42Z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite shot of the day. </td></tr>
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I caught up to everyone again where the creek had flooded the trail. They were fishing or were otherwise occupied, so I sat down on a rock, took my shoes and socks off and dangled my legs into the crystal-clear, cool water, sitting in the sunshine for fifteen minutes or so. <br />
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Finally, everyone was ready to head back, so we left together. A half mile down the road, it was realized that someone forgot something, so if I recall correctly, Chase went back to get it. We were the last to arrive back at the cars.<br />
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Here's a useful map: (total elevation gain of about 400ft) <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wTJF1MXzdKk/UJ7XCjZWXXI/AAAAAAAAG88/7gDDHDbHY1M/s1600/cascadefalls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wTJF1MXzdKk/UJ7XCjZWXXI/AAAAAAAAG88/7gDDHDbHY1M/s400/cascadefalls.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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From the trailhead, we met a couple other relatives including my dad at the <a href="http://www.grandlakebrewing.com/">Grand Lake Brewery</a>. <br />
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Afterward, I left separately and met Erik & Amanda Burns in Granby for a beer and a visit. Then, it was back to the lodge to hang out with my family for a while longer before I hit the road back to Grand Junction. The visit was short, but I feel like I made good use of my time! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptxYze1-96o/UJ6-Yc7J1cI/AAAAAAAAG8c/-MnFE8B9r90/s1600/20110721.0230.26Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptxYze1-96o/UJ6-Yc7J1cI/AAAAAAAAG8c/-MnFE8B9r90/s400/20110721.0230.26Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset</td></tr>
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-42974196912826101152012-11-05T18:11:00.000-07:002012-11-05T18:12:12.756-07:002012 - May 8th - Colorado National Monument Petroglyphs, Monument Canyon/White Rocks AreaI had a little time one evening and was looking for a short, easy hike. So, I decided to see if I could find one or two of the popular petroglyph panels on the "front side" of the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm">Colorado National Monument</a>.<br />
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I had been neglecting to donate blood until after my <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/10/2012-may-1st-perseverence-arch-mcinnis.html">Perseverance Arch hike</a> since it usually takes some of my strength for a few days. So, down a pint, I headed off to something relatively easy. I started from the Gold Star Trailhead in the Redlands, an unincorporated but developed portion of Mesa County. <br />
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There were two sites I wanted to check out, one in Monument Canyon, northwest of the trailhead. The second was White Rocks, southeast of the trailhead. I headed for Monument Canyon first, along the boundary. Eventually, I came to a fork in the trail which didn't necessarily jive with my map. I elected to take a trail to the left which gained elevation and appeared to make a pass between some higher terrain, the precambrian bench on the left and a sandstone "island" on the right. Despite not having a lot of energy, I slowly climbed about 350 feet to the top, huffing and puffing and stopping several times along the way. All the while, I kept my eyes peeled for 'glyphs, which I found none of.<br />
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At the pass, I explored a ledge on the "island". (I call this an island because it is like a smaller version of the larger "Island" which is a large piece of sandstone sheered by the monocline fault which exists along the edge of the Monument. This smaller island was formed by similar circumstance. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4_4ICedqqEo/UJhZq0iicNI/AAAAAAAAG3c/_AIJqUAfKzs/s1600/20120508.2351.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4_4ICedqqEo/UJhZq0iicNI/AAAAAAAAG3c/_AIJqUAfKzs/s400/20120508.2351.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the ledge on the little "island" looking across the east portal of Monument Canyon to "The Island".</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xzIXLRaUy6E/UJhZsTCYaVI/AAAAAAAAG3k/wN18Y-YFPbQ/s1600/20120508.2352.27Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xzIXLRaUy6E/UJhZsTCYaVI/AAAAAAAAG3k/wN18Y-YFPbQ/s400/20120508.2352.27Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back to the southeast along the front side of the Monument.</td></tr>
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I lingered there for a few minutes, amused by the birds which flew swiftly by, seemingly inches from my head as they paralleled the cliff face. Woosh!<br />
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Eventually, I decided to head carefully off trail and descend into Monument Canyon. There was not a trail. I remained on loose sand and slickrock for the entirety and eventually met up with the trail in the bottom of the canyon. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCCf3VhuQ4s/UJhZungSIuI/AAAAAAAAG3s/91nXPjfNyGU/s1600/20120509.0018.56Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCCf3VhuQ4s/UJhZungSIuI/AAAAAAAAG3s/91nXPjfNyGU/s400/20120509.0018.56Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back the way I came from the little "island".</td></tr>
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There, I came across a small, worn panel right beside the trail. I had walked past this spot several times before without noticing it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ATFPOXHVhRQ/UJhZw01oaJI/AAAAAAAAG30/1OVPxa52_4M/s1600/20120509.0021.40Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ATFPOXHVhRQ/UJhZw01oaJI/AAAAAAAAG30/1OVPxa52_4M/s400/20120509.0021.40Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument Canyon trailside petroglyphs. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was not the panel I was looking for, however, so I continued searching the area until I eventually found another. The rock art was somewhat damaged and quite faint. The strong lighting did not help, but I attempted to take a couple of images to record the scene.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4oD75yA80SA/UJhZyTyGw3I/AAAAAAAAG38/qg_LfhLfqQo/s1600/20120509.0032.48Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4oD75yA80SA/UJhZyTyGw3I/AAAAAAAAG38/qg_LfhLfqQo/s400/20120509.0032.48Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Not wanting to climb the 350 feet back up to the pass, I decided to find an alternative way back. According to the map, there is a perimeter trail, but I could not find it. I did find a large, open portion of fenceline which seemed misplaced anyway. Based on my bearing, it did not match the angle of the Monument's perimeter. Directly on the other side was a trail which eventually linked back to the fork I spoke of earlier. It did not appear as if I was on private land, so hopefully I was not inadvertently trespassing. <br />
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I had a bit of energy left in me as I reached the trailhead, so I took the short trip southeast to White Rocks looking for more rock art. I found a couple of panels there and may have missed another (which I have seen pictures of). <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PBYOvLhN904/UJhZ2tvmRNI/AAAAAAAAG4U/Zd3rHpXw7jg/s1600/20120509.0101.34Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PBYOvLhN904/UJhZ2tvmRNI/AAAAAAAAG4U/Zd3rHpXw7jg/s400/20120509.0101.34Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer in an overhang (I think it's legit).</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S1J_pfIicdg/UJhZ73VgHNI/AAAAAAAAG4s/iFL9_KfrbHg/s1600/20120509.0110.22Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S1J_pfIicdg/UJhZ73VgHNI/AAAAAAAAG4s/iFL9_KfrbHg/s400/20120509.0110.22Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a view to the south.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8OCuCZEbkEg/UJhZ4GqXRtI/AAAAAAAAG4c/9hca27AyMvQ/s1600/20120509.0108.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8OCuCZEbkEg/UJhZ4GqXRtI/AAAAAAAAG4c/9hca27AyMvQ/s400/20120509.0108.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other panel.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Yy4UrGT8wM/UJhZ5wegsII/AAAAAAAAG4k/KjSo2DmOnhg/s1600/20120509.0109.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Yy4UrGT8wM/UJhZ5wegsII/AAAAAAAAG4k/KjSo2DmOnhg/s400/20120509.0109.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up.</td></tr>
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I hiked around the rocks for a while and then decided to head back to my vehicle as the light was getting low.<br />
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Here's a useful map: <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kqScCZSEFqw/UJhi1zCbqOI/AAAAAAAAG5M/7OeRzI8LYtk/s1600/CNMPetroglyphsMap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kqScCZSEFqw/UJhi1zCbqOI/AAAAAAAAG5M/7OeRzI8LYtk/s400/CNMPetroglyphsMap.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sorry, the petroglyph locations are not marked on the map. If you really want to see them, you should have no trouble finding them yourself. As always, remember not to touch, disturb or vandalize the rock art in any way.<br />
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-60664287958025279312012-10-28T17:47:00.000-06:002012-10-30T16:14:25.639-06:002012 - May 1st - Perseverance Arch, McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area/Black Ridge Canyons WildernessIn March of 2012, I was doing some research on area canyons and stumbled upon a photo from Rough Canyon which I did not recognize. It had been posted by a man named <a href="http://stanwagon.com/">Stan Wagon</a> whose natural arch images I had viewed before while doing other research. I e-mailed him about Rough Canyon but the topic of conversation turned to <a href="http://www.naturalarches.org/span-9701-cover-Perseverance.htm">Perseverance Arch</a>. Stan had been there <a href="http://stanwagon.com/wagon/Utah/BlackRidgeCanyonArches/HTMLLinks/BlackRidgeCanyonArches_2.html">once before</a> but planned a return visit in April to approach it from the bottom. After discussing our mutual interest in the area's arches, he invited me along. <br />
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As March ended and April began, I found myself quite excited by the prospect of the journey as well as being slightly intimidated by the 17+ mile length. The longest hike I had been on before that was the <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2011/08/2011-april-20th-rattlesnake-arches.html">14.5 mile trip to the Rattlesnake Arches the previous April (2011)</a>. As the day approached, however, I felt pretty confident that I wouldn't hold everyone up, so I was ready to go!<br />
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After a last minute planning change, we ended up meeting early on the morning of May 1st. Stan had two companions with him, John and Elke. I left my car at the Lunch Loops parking lot and we drove up into Glade Park with our destination being the Jones Canyon Trailhead. <br />
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It was a cloudy day and within an hour or so of sunrise when we arrived and began to hike. The trail is made of sandy double-track lined with grassland and patches of previously burned and never reclaimed piƱon-juniper (p-j). Originally overlooking Sieber Canyon, the trail then follows the canyon carved by the Little Dolores River, eventually approaching the rim as it continues west.<br />
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Eventually, we were in live p-j. After a few miles or so, we stopped for a break along the canyon's edge. I had an apple and some pumpkin seeds and we sat for ten minutes or so.<br />
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Back on the path, the p-j started to get a little more thick and the road a little more rocky. Eventually, it was to drop quickly in elevation and intersect an old airstrip on the Utah border. But we weren't there quite yet. We continued to pass Entrada sandstone monuments which rose from the side of the path. I also found myself in preoccupied with black splotches on the road which I originally thought to be tar. I eventually realized that they were scat from some animal.<br />
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The road was obviously once used more frequently, but it now exists as the boundary and within the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/mcnca/wilderness.html">Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness</a> and the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/mcnca.html">McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area</a>. Thus, no motorized travel is permitted in the area aside from the occasional "official" vehicle.<br />
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Finally, the trail began to descend over rocky switchbacks affording us a view into the Jones Canyon drainage and Utah.<br />
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We took our next break at the airstrip, which was mostly overgrown. A fence bound the end of the airstrip and a home or ranch was a bit beyond to the southwest. I snapped a few photos of an Entrada monument to the west which doesn't seem to have an official name as far as I can tell. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down the airstrip</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unnamed monument over the Little Dolores River</td></tr>
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The road that led to the airstrip disappeared off to the west and we were left to continue on, cross-country to the northwest. Perseverance Arch exists in a side-canyon of Jones, just west of the Utah border. As I mentioned, Stan had been to the arch before, viewing it from the top. His objective this time was to reach it from the bottom and had scouted a cliff break that he though we would be able to descend. It was our goal to find that break on the far side of the canyon.<br />
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We had to navigate around the small north-south gulches draining into this "southwestern" fork of Jones Canyon. The group was occasionally steering astray but we kept together and soon found ourselves with a view north, into the canyon and the stunning Perseverance Arch!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-damR4UYFhFA/UIQ8jBzpwII/AAAAAAAAGzo/lcHUPF_ln88/s1600/20120501.1748.56Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-damR4UYFhFA/UIQ8jBzpwII/AAAAAAAAGzo/lcHUPF_ln88/s400/20120501.1748.56Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first view of Perseverance Arch</td></tr>
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Stan's scouting turned out to be correct. The break in the cliff was steep but not impossible to descend without trouble. Once at the bottom, we followed the wash for a while.<br />
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We did eventually leave the wash and continued along on a bench above it all the way to the base of the arch. There was another break over the slickrock at the base which we scaled up.<br />
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It's difficult to explain the awe which this arch inspires. It's just hard to believe one of such size goes virtually unknown to the world. I was a little winded on the way up, so I took a few breaks to catch my breath and an image or two. The sun seemed to come out at the right moments to really add some color to the scene.<br />
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<b>Perseverance Arch is comprised of Wingate Sandstone with a Kayenta cap. Its opening is 55ft wide and 100ft tall and is considered a "buttress natural arch."</b> <br />
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Elke and John were content to have their lunch under the arch, while myself and Stan, both quick to grab our cameras continued capturing frames of the enormous arch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYY3B7THLLM/UIQ8vDOt-mI/AAAAAAAAG0g/YzmcoPM5iDw/s1600/20120501.1829.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYY3B7THLLM/UIQ8vDOt-mI/AAAAAAAAG0g/YzmcoPM5iDw/s400/20120501.1829.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stan, making a portrait of John & Elke</td></tr>
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Finally, I sat down under the arch's span for my lunch which consisted of an other apple, a protein bar, some wheat thins, more pumpkin seeds and plenty to drink. The wind occasionally picked up, blasting us with sand leaving it easy to understand how such a feature could be carved!<br />
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Before we headed back, I hiked to the other side to capture one poorly-lit image of the arch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2CJgIkz6cs/UIQ8zdDS4DI/AAAAAAAAG04/ADtiO10Oc1M/s1600/20120501.1902.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2CJgIkz6cs/UIQ8zdDS4DI/AAAAAAAAG04/ADtiO10Oc1M/s400/20120501.1902.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other side</td></tr>
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John and Elke were quick to head down into the bottom of the canyon while Stan and I lingered, trying to get a few more angles. These turned out to be my favorite shots. <br />
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We met John and Elke at the canyon's bottom where they were cooling their toes in the clear water of running length of the wash.<br />
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As we continued onward, there was some discussion as to whether we could find an alternative route out of the top of the canyon, but in the end we traced our footsteps. I was grateful for this since I knew we had a long way to go and wasn't looking forward to experimenting with other routes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back</td></tr>
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It was a tiresome climb back out of the canyon but I still had quite a bit of energy for the trek back. I stopped to catch my breath and get one more image of the canyon and arch from the rim.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back on the rim</td></tr>
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Our cross-country route back to the airstrip wasn't quite the same... perhaps a little more southerly, which was probably for the better. Oh, I also saw some cacti in bloom, so here are my "pretty flower pictures" of the day...<br />
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As we approached the airstrip, I realized one of my water bottles was missing. I had finished its contents while we sat there, so I figured I had left it there but I could never find it. I think it must have fallen out while we climbed back out of the canyon.<br />
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Back on the road now, I continued on with Stan while John and Elke led the way out of sight. I was beginning to tire and Stan nursed a sore hamstring.<br />
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The last seven miles of that road seemed to stretch on forever as I steadily worked through my water supply. Aside from the two ascents in the canyon, my lungs were never really tested but my legs and especially feet grew fatigued. Still, our spirits remained high with the accomplishment of seeing such a dramatic natural feature. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The canyon of the Little Dolores</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Entrada monument from the southwest</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now from the southeast</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two miles to go!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down Sieber Canyon toward the Little D</td></tr>
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My feet became quite heavy and I ran out of water nearing the end. We hadn't seen John or Elke in two hours or so but did see their footprints in the sand. We almost stepped on a Great Basin Gopher Snake which was lying across the path. It escaped before I could snap a picture.<br />
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The last two miles were grueling. On any other day, they would have been an easy trot, but with more than fifteen miles on my feet, I was exhausted. The lack of water wasn't helping matters either. I carried roughly 3.5 liters with me and managed to go through it quickly despite being hydrated at the start.<br />
<br />
Eventually, we reached the car and Stan was kind enough to share some ice-cold seltzer water with me which tasted amazing. We arrived roughly 20-30 minutes after John & Elke and around 9 hours after embarking. <br />
<br />
Here are a couple of maps:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1rUppGi8Tc/UI3A1pgTL1I/AAAAAAAAG24/Xp2j6YutAwE/s1600/perseverance1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1rUppGi8Tc/UI3A1pgTL1I/AAAAAAAAG24/Xp2j6YutAwE/s400/perseverance1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QT64bPhus3M/UI3A4c70HLI/AAAAAAAAG3A/FVZa4JVbPvM/s1600/perseverance2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QT64bPhus3M/UI3A4c70HLI/AAAAAAAAG3A/FVZa4JVbPvM/s400/perseverance2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I believe Stan measured 17.3 miles via GPS, though my crude Google Earth measurements show less. I'll defer to his length.<br />
<br />
Trailhead elevation: 6126ft<br />
Bottom of the canyon: 4730ft<br />
Arch base: 4900ft<br />
<br />
This is still one of the most satisfying and accomplishing hikes I have ever been on!<br />
<br />
Here's some information from Stan: <a href="http://stanwagon.com/wagon/Utah/BlackRidgeCanyonArches/HTMLLinks/BlackRidgeCanyonArches_1.html">http://stanwagon.com/wagon/Utah/BlackRidgeCanyonArches/HTMLLinks/BlackRidgeCanyonArches_1.html</a><br />
<br />
Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-39451637623364014222012-10-21T10:27:00.000-06:002012-10-21T14:01:44.249-06:002011 - July 19th - Family Vacation Day 1 - Falls On Pole Creek<i>July is a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielsen_ratings#Sweeps">sweeps</a>"
month. In the television industry, that translates to "no
vacations"... even though July is largely regarded as the "throw-away"
sweeps. <br /><br />
My extended family (on my mom's side) gets together biannually for a big
vacation. We've done this since I can remember, visiting places from
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to Lake Tahoe, California to Oglebay, West Virginia
to Depot Bay, Oregon and many places in Montana. For the last two
trips, we've gathered at the </i>
<i><a href="http://www.ymcarockies.org/snow-mountain-ranch-winter-park-colorado.html">Snow Mountain Ranch</a> near Tabernash, Colorado. <br /><br />
I was concerned that I would be unable to make this trip as it was in
sweeps and while I didn't ask for any time off, I realized I would be
able to attend a couple of days on my normal days off. If we weren't
gathering in Colorado, it probably wouldn't have happened!</i>
<br />
<br />
Intro is from previous entries of 2011's family vacation.<br />
See them here:<br />
<a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/08/2011-july-19th-family-vacation-day-1.html">http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/08/2011-july-19th-family-vacation-day-1.html</a><br />
<a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/10/2011-july-19th-family-vacation-day-1.html">http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/10/2011-july-19th-family-vacation-day-1.html</a><br />
<br />
Despite already having been on a decent hike earlier in the day, I was ready for more. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to spend as much time with my family as possible, so I tried to maximize my time by heading out for my next hike after dark.<br />
<br />
There was a 20 foot tall waterfall outside of the boundaries of the Snow Mountain Ranch that I had visited before. (See account here: <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2009/08/2009-family-reunion-day-one-august-5th.html">http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2009/08/2009-family-reunion-day-one-august-5th.html</a> ) I wanted to try something a bit different this time by visiting in the dark of night and using light to paint the falls.<br />
<br />
After recruiting the company of my cousin Chase, we were off for the falls at just before 11PM. The trailhead was only a couple of miles from our lodge and exists on a county road. At the trailhead, we set off, me with my headlamp and Chase with a flashlight.<br />
<br />
There was a sign that warned of large mammals, specifically black bear, moose and mountain lion which were known to be in the area. That was comforting.<br />
<br />
The moon wasn't up yet, so as soon as we were in the timber, it was pitch black out with only the light we were casting and the babble of the nearby stream to keep us company. It became unnerving quickly. Whether rational or not, my hackles were up. We spoke loudly and I clanked the metal legs of my tripod together as we walked as to not surprise any large mammals proficient in biting or trampling.<br />
<br />
The trail to the falls is a hair over a mile long with a 400 foot, gradual elevation gain. We arrived after twenty minutes or so and I sent to work trying to make images. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GueRrF51jtY/UIQXBlQGXqI/AAAAAAAAGyQ/uqESvDaWMsU/s1600/20110720.0524.54Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GueRrF51jtY/UIQXBlQGXqI/AAAAAAAAGyQ/uqESvDaWMsU/s400/20110720.0524.54Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAAIx5GZD-M/UIQXC5p3qyI/AAAAAAAAGyY/jKxOqhiclkA/s1600/20110720.0526.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAAIx5GZD-M/UIQXC5p3qyI/AAAAAAAAGyY/jKxOqhiclkA/s640/20110720.0526.00Z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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My shoes were still wet from the hike earlier in the day, so I had no qualms with standing midstream to get the shots I wanted. They came out ghostly and I was relatively pleased... though having a stronger light source would have probably done the scene more justice.<br />
<br />
We both posed for portraits before heading back.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iRgTf3iIvhE/UIQXEG2AKfI/AAAAAAAAGyg/AUwlVKU7e6Y/s1600/20110720.0530.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iRgTf3iIvhE/UIQXEG2AKfI/AAAAAAAAGyg/AUwlVKU7e6Y/s400/20110720.0530.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Finally, while heading back, I could see the moon beginning to appear on the horizon through the trees. We never did see any wildlife, but it sure felt like there were eyes on us most of the time! ... and I'm certainly glad I didn't go alone!<br />
<br />
Here's a useful map:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y85CTRX4UzU/UIQhnPMbMkI/AAAAAAAAGzA/nL0OU7W9YEE/s1600/polecreek.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y85CTRX4UzU/UIQhnPMbMkI/AAAAAAAAGzA/nL0OU7W9YEE/s400/polecreek.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-81667203598224718512012-10-14T14:52:00.002-06:002012-10-21T10:26:16.486-06:002011 - July 19th - Family Vacation Day 1 - Columbine Lake, Arapaho National Forest/Indian Peaks Wilderness<br />
<i>July is a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielsen_ratings#Sweeps">sweeps</a>"
month. In the television industry, that translates to "no
vacations"... even though July is largely regarded as the "throw-away"
sweeps. <br /><br />
My extended family (on my mom's side) gets together biannually for a big
vacation. We've done this since I can remember, visiting places from
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to Lake Tahoe, California to Oglebay, West Virginia
to Depot Bay, Oregon and many places in Montana. For the last two
trips, we've gathered at the </i>
<i><a href="http://www.ymcarockies.org/snow-mountain-ranch-winter-park-colorado.html">Snow Mountain Ranch</a> near Tabernash, Colorado. <br /><br />
I was concerned that I would be unable to make this trip as it was in
sweeps and while I didn't ask for any time off, I realized I would be
able to attend a couple of days on my normal days off. If we weren't
gathering in Colorado, it probably wouldn't have happened!</i>
<br />
<br />
Intro from my previous post which can be found here: <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/08/2011-july-19th-family-vacation-day-1.html">http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/08/2011-july-19th-family-vacation-day-1.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I was excited to do a hike or two on my trip and many of my family members were gung-ho about doing the same. So, I saddled up with my Uncle Scott and cousins Brian, Ashley, Stacey, Jo, Chase, Brad and his wife (fiancƩ at the time) Rita. We were headed for Columbine Lake, which sits at just above 11,000ft on the west side of the Front Range. <br />
<br />
We took two vehicles and were at the trailhead by late morning and it was a beautiful day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j64HgsLi_6g/UHICti81W4I/AAAAAAAAGxQ/Mve9hBDFZwU/s1600/20110719.2053.06Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j64HgsLi_6g/UHICti81W4I/AAAAAAAAGxQ/Mve9hBDFZwU/s400/20110719.2053.06Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The trail follows Meadow Creek which at this time even in mid-July was still burdened with runoff. In fact, we encountered meadows which seemed to be flowing themselves, the wildflowers and spongy plants almost floating. Occasionally, we had difficulty route-finding as the trail acted as a natural stream. Early on, I gave up on trying to keep my feet dry.. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jyLju1kpQsw/UHIBiZ84HiI/AAAAAAAAGs4/wyH15irFOtk/s1600/20110719.1723.46Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jyLju1kpQsw/UHIBiZ84HiI/AAAAAAAAGs4/wyH15irFOtk/s640/20110719.1723.46Z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Meadow Creek</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNx13niVKoM/UHIBkG8rrtI/AAAAAAAAGtA/ZiyXomzxlFs/s1600/20110719.1757.28Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNx13niVKoM/UHIBkG8rrtI/AAAAAAAAGtA/ZiyXomzxlFs/s400/20110719.1757.28Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The view up-valley to Mount Neva</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSub3AZ-FwA/UHIB27X9MHI/AAAAAAAAGuI/8ClHVc-ENeU/s1600/20110719.1824.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSub3AZ-FwA/UHIB27X9MHI/AAAAAAAAGuI/8ClHVc-ENeU/s400/20110719.1824.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Eventually, the terrain began to steepen. We encountered patches of snow here and there, sometimes deep in the shade under trees. Rita tripped up and cut up her leg but soldiered on.<br />
<br />
We then came to an open area with a small waterfall, the trail beyond gaining elevation fast.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0OZSSf5gKc/UHIB5uGqyHI/AAAAAAAAGuQ/QqiWjdM6uug/s1600/20110719.1827.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0OZSSf5gKc/UHIB5uGqyHI/AAAAAAAAGuQ/QqiWjdM6uug/s400/20110719.1827.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C8-5Eq1gddM/UHIB8JQ1pMI/AAAAAAAAGuY/QPLGscQUEDw/s1600/20110719.1828.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C8-5Eq1gddM/UHIB8JQ1pMI/AAAAAAAAGuY/QPLGscQUEDw/s400/20110719.1828.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Brian taking a picture of the falls</i></div>
<br />
Topping out into a hanging valley of sorts, we found several ponds filled with meltwater and ice bergs! <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SDI6MWftoJ0/UHIB90ZJaQI/AAAAAAAAGug/H-wEYKJMLJo/s1600/20110719.1850.44Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SDI6MWftoJ0/UHIB90ZJaQI/AAAAAAAAGug/H-wEYKJMLJo/s400/20110719.1850.44Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gAxINP70VzI/UHICY9P1OKI/AAAAAAAAGwI/eU7blMNz4ME/s1600/20110719.2007.18Z.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gAxINP70VzI/UHICY9P1OKI/AAAAAAAAGwI/eU7blMNz4ME/s400/20110719.2007.18Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qFP1gPqHtt0/UHICaZ_fhSI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/sIBtqwpy_rM/s1600/20110719.2009.20Z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qFP1gPqHtt0/UHICaZ_fhSI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/sIBtqwpy_rM/s400/20110719.2009.20Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And just beyond, Columbine Lake...<br />
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I hiked around the south side of the lake for a while, looking for waterfalls while others fished, rested or snacked. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3Gf9-ffrJA/UHICEJzXy0I/AAAAAAAAGu4/DCgkH4m3Pe0/s1600/20110719.1922.16Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3Gf9-ffrJA/UHICEJzXy0I/AAAAAAAAGu4/DCgkH4m3Pe0/s400/20110719.1922.16Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cpCinq22FAU/UHICHWi0lRI/AAAAAAAAGvA/PMu-8JSTlMg/s1600/20110719.1924.50Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cpCinq22FAU/UHICHWi0lRI/AAAAAAAAGvA/PMu-8JSTlMg/s400/20110719.1924.50Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Water, water everywhere</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpxKOcoKn7M/UHICJr4XVgI/AAAAAAAAGvI/AVWc3wSoyRg/s1600/20110719.1927.14Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpxKOcoKn7M/UHICJr4XVgI/AAAAAAAAGvI/AVWc3wSoyRg/s400/20110719.1927.14Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cTP2V616sVQ/UHICMhzVe8I/AAAAAAAAGvQ/DanmXPiOs3E/s1600/20110719.1928.38Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cTP2V616sVQ/UHICMhzVe8I/AAAAAAAAGvQ/DanmXPiOs3E/s400/20110719.1928.38Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6dOv_QQ33TU/UHICOq73C4I/AAAAAAAAGvY/Tey5ge4kmBI/s1600/20110719.1933.48Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6dOv_QQ33TU/UHICOq73C4I/AAAAAAAAGvY/Tey5ge4kmBI/s400/20110719.1933.48Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Brian trying his luck</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V5VKxOd1mg0/UHICQktYlkI/AAAAAAAAGvg/wNI08QUBzyU/s1600/20110719.1955.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V5VKxOd1mg0/UHICQktYlkI/AAAAAAAAGvg/wNI08QUBzyU/s400/20110719.1955.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZG6ydGX8VUo/UHICSRF3lHI/AAAAAAAAGvo/ZcwSm_93CzU/s1600/20110719.1956.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZG6ydGX8VUo/UHICSRF3lHI/AAAAAAAAGvo/ZcwSm_93CzU/s400/20110719.1956.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I even took a moment to enjoy the snow...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sVwwaJ0lkUk/UHsjwh0X9cI/AAAAAAAAGx4/wMgGrhaY1gs/s1600/268821_627798205923_4086799_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sVwwaJ0lkUk/UHsjwh0X9cI/AAAAAAAAGx4/wMgGrhaY1gs/s400/268821_627798205923_4086799_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxGR6CSDCOA/UHICUYDiOtI/AAAAAAAAGvw/gIq4iBpEnlE/s1600/20110719.1957.12Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxGR6CSDCOA/UHICUYDiOtI/AAAAAAAAGvw/gIq4iBpEnlE/s640/20110719.1957.12Z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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After a while, it was time to head back. Despite being mid-July, it was a bit chilly out. <br />
<br />
Here are several more shots from the return trip:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FoxL2sUwSCE/UHICVUwZkSI/AAAAAAAAGv4/PjYwe_jV2kc/s1600/20110719.2002.14Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FoxL2sUwSCE/UHICVUwZkSI/AAAAAAAAGv4/PjYwe_jV2kc/s640/20110719.2002.14Z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-muA_30fXuD0/UHICXEa8hPI/AAAAAAAAGwA/f8uCJxoT-n0/s1600/20110719.2004.30Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gAxINP70VzI/UHICY9P1OKI/AAAAAAAAGwI/eU7blMNz4ME/s1600/20110719.2007.18Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qFP1gPqHtt0/UHICaZ_fhSI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/sIBtqwpy_rM/s1600/20110719.2009.20Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZhXuNrwu3Y/UHICdEfSoiI/AAAAAAAAGwY/hW6QNXePjZk/s1600/20110719.2010.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZhXuNrwu3Y/UHICdEfSoiI/AAAAAAAAGwY/hW6QNXePjZk/s400/20110719.2010.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VlMwwfgRJK4/UHICf0nQw-I/AAAAAAAAGwg/qepicvarb4E/s1600/20110719.2013.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VlMwwfgRJK4/UHICf0nQw-I/AAAAAAAAGwg/qepicvarb4E/s400/20110719.2013.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5htfImJ4A4M/UHIChDovMiI/AAAAAAAAGwo/nbjBg5C_iOI/s1600/20110719.2019.27Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5htfImJ4A4M/UHIChDovMiI/AAAAAAAAGwo/nbjBg5C_iOI/s400/20110719.2019.27Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-StljPgzDXgs/UHICjy6uYdI/AAAAAAAAGww/buBCvm6EzKQ/s1600/20110719.2024.34Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-StljPgzDXgs/UHICjy6uYdI/AAAAAAAAGww/buBCvm6EzKQ/s400/20110719.2024.34Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Whole meadows just seemed to flow</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxXwqbda2o4/UHICnBhZk0I/AAAAAAAAGw4/YfGaSJLzkM8/s1600/20110719.2030.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxXwqbda2o4/UHICnBhZk0I/AAAAAAAAGw4/YfGaSJLzkM8/s400/20110719.2030.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>A ribbon cascade</i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sMUvAiG9aMg/UHICpWREE9I/AAAAAAAAGxA/nTP7cdoasXM/s1600/20110719.2037.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sMUvAiG9aMg/UHICpWREE9I/AAAAAAAAGxA/nTP7cdoasXM/s400/20110719.2037.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Plenty of snow on the trail</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-aqxtLSc4w/UHICrXg4QHI/AAAAAAAAGxI/k16rpC60apc/s1600/20110719.2046.06Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-aqxtLSc4w/UHICrXg4QHI/AAAAAAAAGxI/k16rpC60apc/s400/20110719.2046.06Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hSNz3PR1oo/UHICvp9IDhI/AAAAAAAAGxY/R8X0zL5omyg/s1600/20110719.2055.58Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hSNz3PR1oo/UHICvp9IDhI/AAAAAAAAGxY/R8X0zL5omyg/s400/20110719.2055.58Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Storm clouds began to brew over the higher terrain as we were finishing up. I stopped at Meadow Creek Reservoir on the way pack to grab this shot. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELIDaj8rHvo/UHICw_ObwxI/AAAAAAAAGxg/OXaf9OnhTBw/s1600/20110719.2152.14Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELIDaj8rHvo/UHICw_ObwxI/AAAAAAAAGxg/OXaf9OnhTBw/s400/20110719.2152.14Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-04_POv5STMw/UHIB_vzFdSI/AAAAAAAAGuo/VjwB9CDL6Ro/s1600/20110719.1852.10Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<i>*Note: I don't have an accurate map for this trail because the satellite imagery on Google Earth is shrouded in clouds. </i><br />
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-70362592077026454592012-10-04T18:52:00.002-06:002012-10-04T18:53:11.047-06:002012 Storm Chase 4 - April 26th - Rarely SevereIt's not often that I get to chase anything severe on the Western Slope. Sure, there are a few events per year, but my schedule is often in conflict. This day in late April 2012 was no exception. I was working news that day and was trying to ignore the probability of severe weather. The threat was minimal: probabilistic for damaging winds (<a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2012/day1otlk_20120426_2000.html">SPC outlook</a>).<br />
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Here's a look at the upper level pattern for the day: A shortwave rode the base of the larger trough in the northwest...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sT_OkmCGlag/UG4sCnWTzCI/AAAAAAAAGsk/92hXGyzhjqY/s1600/20120427.00Z+500mbAbsVort.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sT_OkmCGlag/UG4sCnWTzCI/AAAAAAAAGsk/92hXGyzhjqY/s1600/20120427.00Z+500mbAbsVort.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sT_OkmCGlag/UG4sCnWTzCI/AAAAAAAAGsk/92hXGyzhjqY/s400/20120427.00Z+500mbAbsVort.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
Though there was some nice support aloft, at the surface... things were a different story. By mid afternoon, the T/Td was 73Āŗ/33Āŗ. Hardly worth getting too excited about. Regardless, a line of storms formed along a wave in the mid-levels and rode north along the Uncompahgre Plateau. As it reached the edge, near I-70, it appeared as if there would be a decent wind threat to the I-70 corridor from Mack to Fruita.<br />
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I was watching at work while finishing up whatever I was reporting on that day when the first high-wind report of 74 mph came in...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" style="width: 580px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="rpttext">2230</td><td class="rpttext">74</td><td class="rpttext">5 NW MACK </td><td class="rpttext">MESA </td><td class="rpttext">CO</td><td class="rpttext">3927</td><td class="rpttext">10894</td><td class="rpttext">THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW WIND GUST AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN
<a href="http://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/Stormready/WFOlist.php">(GJT)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
My news director understood my love of severe weather and quickly dispatched me, though the storm was moving fast and already moving through the irigated valley and into the desert. My main goal was to shoot damage anyway. The first report prompted a severe thunderstorm warning, the first on the Western Slope in 2012 if I'm not mistaken. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-klMVKTfbEQI/UG4qWAnsvwI/AAAAAAAAGsc/5NtM2v5RJdU/s1600/KGJX_20120426_165626.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-klMVKTfbEQI/UG4qWAnsvwI/AAAAAAAAGsc/5NtM2v5RJdU/s400/KGJX_20120426_165626.png" width="251" /></a></div>
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I discovered some downed tree branches near Loma and took a little video so I could haul back to the station and have it on the 6PM newscast.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYd0HTGUkmA/UGh-QWG9jwI/AAAAAAAAGsI/M0xSa2L0D1M/s1600/20120426+wind+damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYd0HTGUkmA/UGh-QWG9jwI/AAAAAAAAGsI/M0xSa2L0D1M/s400/20120426+wind+damage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(mobile phone image)</i></div>
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And that was pretty much it. The storm climbed the Book Cliffs and then eventually dissipated. Still, it was nice to get to chase for work!<br />
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<u><b>STATS</b></u><br />
Mileage: 31<br />
2012YTD Mileage: 152<br />
States: Colorado <br />
<a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2012/day1otlk_20120426_2000.html">SPC Risk: Probabilistic</a><br />
Max Hail: None<br />
Tornadoes: None<br />
Other Phenomena: Wind Damage<br />
Chase Partner: None<br />
Applicable Mesoscale Discussions: None<br />
Applicable Weather Watches: None<br />
<a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/120426_rpts.html">Storm Reports for April 26th</a> <br />
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Detail Map:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PmJaVKwryTo/UGh8hId2UHI/AAAAAAAAGsA/x5NF4laGMJs/s1600/20120426+Storm+Chase+Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PmJaVKwryTo/UGh8hId2UHI/AAAAAAAAGsA/x5NF4laGMJs/s400/20120426+Storm+Chase+Map.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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DannDann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-5503592222322891762012-09-29T16:41:00.001-06:002012-09-30T11:05:10.374-06:002012 - April 30th - Juanita Arch/Maverick CanyonI had noticed Juanita Arch early on in my exploration of the maps of the area. Located in Maverick Canyon, which feeds the Dolores River south of Gateway, Juanita Arch is a natural bridge which spans the canyon's wash. Pictures of this bridge on the internet are largely unimpressive but I could tell this was a place that I really wanted to visit. <br />
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The most difficult hurdle related to reaching Juanita Arch is access. While the arch is only a couple of miles up-canyon from its confluence of the river, there is no bridge nearby. I surmised that it would be reached by old mining roads from the top, but there was no way of telling how good those roads are without going out and exploring them. <br />
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I passed by the mouth of Maverick Canyon while on a drive on Colorado 141 and thought it might be possible to ford the Dolores River on foot there.<br />
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So, I recruited my co-worker Shannon for a hike to the arch on this particular "Adventure" Monday. We arrived by late morning before it became too hot.<br />
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As we approached the river on foot from a small pullout on the highway, I started having second thoughts about our ability to cross the river. It was flowing fast and muddy thanks to runoff from its source, the San Juans. The river was also a bit difficult thanks to think willow and tamarisk along its banks. We found one little hollow we could climb through without getting too scratched up and found ourselves staring down the swift water. Unfortunately, though seemingly shallow all the way across, beside the bank it was deep and muddy. I sawed off a willow branch and did a depth test which was not promising. I realized that even if we were to get into the water here, the crossing would be treacherous to say the least. Suddenly, we found ourselves living out a bad <a href="http://www.oregontrail.com/hmh/site/oregontrail/">Oregon Trail</a> joke. The decision was make to not ford the stream there and also to not get dysentery if that could be avoided. <br />
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We walked upstream a bit to where the water was deeper and moving. I didn't like the looks of it. Shannon suggested that we should just swim, which would be the only way to get across the river there. I didn't think that was a good idea.<br />
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We then hiked back downstream below the first, shallow, fast-moving segment where we visited. The water was moving fast here and it was relatively deep. Shannon became adamant about swimming but I had a backpack full of gear that I did not want to get wet. All I could think was that this is how search & rescue stories usually begin. If the water had been clear, I think I would have been a lot more interested in trying to swim, but it was the color of cafƩ au lait. Who knew what kind of obstructions or snares lay beneath the surface?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lvx7fEjhsaM/UGdCSMOBdfI/AAAAAAAAGrc/Zqfd4YYrj14/s1600/20120430.2041.50Z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lvx7fEjhsaM/UGdCSMOBdfI/AAAAAAAAGrc/Zqfd4YYrj14/s400/20120430.2041.50Z.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Upstream</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0FNN6_Ei3SE/UGdCMcgTuqI/AAAAAAAAGrE/G_Ad2tqh_Kc/s1600/20120430.2041.14Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0FNN6_Ei3SE/UGdCMcgTuqI/AAAAAAAAGrE/G_Ad2tqh_Kc/s400/20120430.2041.14Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Directly across to the mouth of Maverick Canyon</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Uaw0POWHVA/UGdCObXXczI/AAAAAAAAGrM/DMpCDCpK2PQ/s1600/20120430.2041.20Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Uaw0POWHVA/UGdCObXXczI/AAAAAAAAGrM/DMpCDCpK2PQ/s400/20120430.2041.20Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Downstream</i></div>
<br />
Before I could sort this all out, Shannon was in the water and waited
only for me to hand over the one item I needed that I could get wet: sun
screen. After that was in her backpack (which only held a couple of
bottles of water), she started to swim. I was very concerned that she
would get caught on something or get swept away, so I ditched my
backpack (with my camera and everything else!) next to a rock and followed her in. <br />
<br />
Half-way across, her feet were no longer touching and she was swimming diagonal to the current and making decent progress. Soon, I found myself chest-deep in the cold water and before I knew it, I was also floating in the current. While certainly not one to attempt a crossing of the English Channel, I can at least swim to some extent and was able to maneuver to a place where my paddling feet were striking the rocks on the bottom of the stream bed once again. We lucked out in that there was nothing to catch us on the way across.<br />
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Walking ashore on the other side, I remarked that in my old age, my fears seem to become a little more intense. For good reason? I also lamented at the fact that my camera was residing in my backpack on the other side of the river.<br />
<br />
We made our way across the delta at the mouth of Maverick Canyon where several campsites could be found. The area is also apparently grazed from time to time as there were quite a few cow patties.<br />
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Eventually, we found the main wash and began to follow it upstream. It felt strange not to be burdened by my heavy backpack and doubly so to hear the constant squish of my wet hiking boots on the rocks and sand. Not even into the canyon yet, Shannon got into some cactus and we stopped for a few minutes while I helped her get the spikes out of the sole of her shoe while she related the tale of one of her roommates who had a far worse experience that required a hospital visit.<br />
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It was hot but not too hot as we continued upstream. Our wet clothes aided in evaporative cooling for a while under the full, late April sun. The stream bed became increasingly difficult as we continued; the canyon walls slowly narrowed in on each other.<br />
<br />
Occasionally, we came across pools of stagnant water lined with chameleon-like canyon tree frogs which was bothered, only just a little. Many areas were booby trapped by spiders which set Shannon off into several flailing fits. She does not like spiders.<br />
<br />
We came across a large slab of sandstone with paced indentations on it which I recognized as dinosaur footprints. I had read mention of one such rock being in this canyon and we entertained ourselves there for a while.<br />
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Moving on, I started getting concerned that the described easy to moderate trail was much more strenuous and stuffed with obstacles than I had anticipated. On several occasions, we had to put a lot of effort into bypassing piles of boulders or other obstructions. There was supposed to be a trail but aside from the wash, there wasn't much of a path.<br />
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Another tough obstacle lay at the junction of Maverick and Little Maverick Canyons which again required some climbing. Several more of these instances lay ahead as we continued, but we carried on.<br />
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Eventually, the canyon tightened further and began to meander and I knew we were close to the arch. We finally found it after climbing up a notched slick-rock drop, which was actually quite fun. When we reached the top, Shannon asked if we were close to the arch. I was staring at its gaping depth. When she turned to see it, I think it shocked her.<br />
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The wash in Maverick Canyon effectively cut through the sandstone fin carved by an older meander of the stream, leaving the meander high and dry and creating a "natural bridge." While the wash likely only flows during extreme runoff or flooding events, it is none-the-less impressive.<br />
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I forget my original estimates of its opening, but thinking back, I would put it at more than 100 feet wide and 80 feet high. Here is a picture of the arch which I did not take... <a href="http://www.naturalarches.org/gallery-COjuanita.htm">http://www.naturalarches.org/gallery-COjuanita.htm</a><br />
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We sat in the shade of the arch and had some water, enjoying the peace of this deep, desert canyon. Nearby, we could hear bees buzzing loudly and we both took make-believe pictures of the arch, even simulating the shutter noise.<br />
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On the way back and still above the junction of the canyons, I stumbled across a cairn and a trail which led up and away from the stream bed. Upon following it a little way, I realized that *this* was the trail that I had read about. It remained above the wash and eventually climbed to quite a height, easily avoiding any of the jumbled piles of nonsense in the canyon below.<br />
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We stopped alongside one particularly flat wall of Wingate sandstone and joked that we should carve our own petroglyphs into the rock, describing our journey since there would be no photographic evidence. We left the rock untouched and continued on. <br />
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The journey back was much easier and faster! Soon, we found ourselves staring down the river once again and crossed a second time without trouble. I took the only pictures of the day from the other side (the ones above are used to set the scene). <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-44Kczbv1EzA/UGdCQdWWKjI/AAAAAAAAGrU/tufTBs5qXCI/s1600/20120430.2041.36Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-44Kczbv1EzA/UGdCQdWWKjI/AAAAAAAAGrU/tufTBs5qXCI/s400/20120430.2041.36Z.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Luckily, I had a dry towel in my backpack (which no animal or human had carried off). When we returned to the car, I changed into some flip-flops and put the towel on the seat of her car so I didn't get it messy.<br />
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We then headed on in to Gateway and enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner on the patio at the <a href="http://www.gatewaycanyons.com/paradox-grille.aspx">Paradox Grille</a> at the <a href="http://www.gatewaycanyons.com/">Gateway Canyons Resort</a>. I had a delicious burger and like four glasses of Dr. Pepper.<br />
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It was a nice cap to an interesting day.<br />
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When I got home, I decided to make an image of the journey since I didn't really have any photos. Don't worry, I used Photoshop. No rocks were harmed in the making of this image. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrbrP-vD4y4/UGdCThc4_aI/AAAAAAAAGrk/ewgCa0Pw3FM/s1600/20120430.2359.59Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrbrP-vD4y4/UGdCThc4_aI/AAAAAAAAGrk/ewgCa0Pw3FM/s640/20120430.2359.59Z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The Journey to Juanita Arch: Crossing the river, the "scenic route" to the arch and the more direct way back... complete with everything we saw along the way... </i></div>
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Dann. </div>
Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-40552880382983335762012-09-23T12:16:00.001-06:002012-09-23T12:16:14.782-06:002012 - April 19th - Unaweep-Tabeguache BywayOccasionally while working as a reporter, I would be able to head out to shoot a story and not be bounded by time. This was one of those days. I was shooting a story that would air on a later date and because of the distance required to travel. On days like, this I occasionally stop on the roadside to snap a photo. Below is a collection of those photos taken along Colorado Highway 141, also known as the <a href="http://www.coloradodot.info/travel/scenic-byways/southwest/unaweep-tabeguache">Unaweep-Tabeguach Byway</a> between Whitewater, Colorado and the Nucla/Naturita, Colorado area, which was my destination. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qIqgh9Whr8k/UF9KPFcOQ4I/AAAAAAAAGpI/gPxO-up8IWg/s1600/20120419.1617.34Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qIqgh9Whr8k/UF9KPFcOQ4I/AAAAAAAAGpI/gPxO-up8IWg/s640/20120419.1617.34Z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>"The Palisade" towering over Gateway.</i></div>
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<i>Afternoon convection across the San Miguel Basin toward the San Juan Mountains.</i></div>
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<i>The Dolores River looking upstream from its confluence with the San Miguel.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QKZr9cNsW6E/UF9KT7I0t9I/AAAAAAAAGpg/8eSLY2epTjY/s1600/20120420.0033.38Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QKZr9cNsW6E/UF9KT7I0t9I/AAAAAAAAGpg/8eSLY2epTjY/s400/20120420.0033.38Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Confluence of the San Miguel River (foreground) with the Dolores (left to right).</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVnV2UAxBSQ/UF9KVZIkWeI/AAAAAAAAGpo/ks1yTMX_x_w/s1600/20120420.0037.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVnV2UAxBSQ/UF9KVZIkWeI/AAAAAAAAGpo/ks1yTMX_x_w/s400/20120420.0037.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Remnants of the Hanging Flume along the San Miguel River.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zR7r6I5Y8N8/UF9KXc4qdmI/AAAAAAAAGpw/H5vVpClRMRw/s1600/20120420.0037.28Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zR7r6I5Y8N8/UF9KXc4qdmI/AAAAAAAAGpw/H5vVpClRMRw/s400/20120420.0037.28Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ALM8Tbl-348/UF9KY96M5qI/AAAAAAAAGp4/pAlKltZLKzY/s1600/20120420.0039.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ALM8Tbl-348/UF9KY96M5qI/AAAAAAAAGp4/pAlKltZLKzY/s400/20120420.0039.00Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Newly restored segment of the Hanging Flume.</i></div>
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Check out my recent blog post on the Hanging Flume restoration: <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/08/2012-april-13th-unaweep-tabeguache.html">http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/08/2012-april-13th-unaweep-tabeguache.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rncE1lzDTs4/UF9KaWDCp_I/AAAAAAAAGqA/JKxu4UtIsY8/s1600/20120420.0052.08Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rncE1lzDTs4/UF9KaWDCp_I/AAAAAAAAGqA/JKxu4UtIsY8/s400/20120420.0052.08Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Dolores River overlook. </i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQPXKzig-lw/UF9KbfuapNI/AAAAAAAAGqI/TLfTIN_HIJg/s1600/20120420.0122.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQPXKzig-lw/UF9KbfuapNI/AAAAAAAAGqI/TLfTIN_HIJg/s400/20120420.0122.00Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Fading light touches the wingate sandstone cliffs above the Dolores River, south of Gateway.</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q06czpZzGkc/UF9Kc2Fqr9I/AAAAAAAAGqQ/Usy1ry_xirA/s1600/20120420.0122.36Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q06czpZzGkc/UF9Kc2Fqr9I/AAAAAAAAGqQ/Usy1ry_xirA/s400/20120420.0122.36Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>The gates of Maverick Canyon along the Dolores River.</i></div>
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And a few more shots from the Unaweep Canyon before the light faded...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zzwr3et-l_A/UF9KeKI8PKI/AAAAAAAAGqY/xDvNR2h6Iyk/s1600/20120420.0151.56Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zzwr3et-l_A/UF9KeKI8PKI/AAAAAAAAGqY/xDvNR2h6Iyk/s400/20120420.0151.56Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's really hard to not see something beautiful in this country. Always bring your camera!<br />
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-39169200122054255172012-08-20T00:30:00.000-06:002012-08-20T00:30:04.272-06:002012 - April 18th - The Pollock Windows, McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area/Black Ridge Canyons WildernessI was in need of a warm-up hike. I had made plans with Stan Wagon, an arch-enthusiast, to hike to Perseverance Arch late in the month. That would be a 17-mile trek. Since the longest hike I'd ever completed was the grueling 14.5 mile, "oops I ran out of water" <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2011/08/2011-april-20th-rattlesnake-arches.html">jaunt to the Rattlesnake Arches</a> a year previous, I figured I ought to be ready. <br />
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A little arch-crazy at the time, I planned an ambitious tour of all of the known arches between Pollock and Rattlesnake Canyons in the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/mcnca.html">McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area</a>. It would be mostly off-trail and cover varying elevations.<br />
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To access this area, you have to take the Black Ridge Road out of Glade Park. There is an upper and lower road and both are closed between February 15th and April 15th. The upper road opens in April and I called the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gjfo.html">BLM</a> to verify that it had indeed opened. It had. <br />
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So, on this particular Tuesday, I set out early so I'd have all day to work with. The road coming out of Glade Park is a little rough but once you get up on top of Black Ridge, it levels out. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AkL8m-2T3q4/UDGd4cmKNII/AAAAAAAAGlA/AGa13k_q7-I/s1600/20120418.1639.12Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AkL8m-2T3q4/UDGd4cmKNII/AAAAAAAAGlA/AGa13k_q7-I/s400/20120418.1639.12Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Stacked lenticulars floating off the La Sals in Utah.</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1CAFpuEajw/UDGd5hts1wI/AAAAAAAAGlI/8Xb3V0poECg/s1600/20120418.1639.24Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1CAFpuEajw/UDGd5hts1wI/AAAAAAAAGlI/8Xb3V0poECg/s400/20120418.1639.24Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Eventually, the road drops down off the ridge onto the tapered layers of the Morrison Formation.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtnNYQDEC10/UDGnx4neVnI/AAAAAAAAGoQ/r_rkxXbVRiI/s1600/blackridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtnNYQDEC10/UDGnx4neVnI/AAAAAAAAGoQ/r_rkxXbVRiI/s400/blackridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Cell phone pic of the descent off of Black Ridge.</i></div>
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The road meets the gated lower road and then continues north along the ridge line toward Rattlesnake Arches trailhead. There are numerous signs along this road reminding people not to park alongside it, though I did find a couple of pullouts. Just to be safe, I continued all the way to the trailhead parking lot. After all, I would be doing a giant loop which included part of the road in the route, so it didn't really matter where I parked along it.<br />
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It was a warm morning as I got underway but high clouds seemed to be thickening. I stopped near the head of Rattlesnake Canyon to take a couple of pictures. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yKOrEdMJtyI/UDGd8xJjHVI/AAAAAAAAGlQ/FN1vRqOWWhw/s1600/20120418.1702.44Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yKOrEdMJtyI/UDGd8xJjHVI/AAAAAAAAGlQ/FN1vRqOWWhw/s400/20120418.1702.44Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Rattlesnake Canyon</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytABSxV1M_c/UDGeAEVEaJI/AAAAAAAAGlY/t2I8Oj8DvN0/s1600/20120418.1703.02Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytABSxV1M_c/UDGeAEVEaJI/AAAAAAAAGlY/t2I8Oj8DvN0/s400/20120418.1703.02Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Finger Arch or West Rim Arch on the far side of the canyon.</i></div>
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As I continued to walk south on the road, I could see the breaks of
the west fork of Pollock Canyon to my east. My first destination was
the Pollock Windows, a double arch in an Entrada fin along the divide
between the two forks of Pollock Canyon. <br />
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I was navigating by paper map and the GPS on my phone. I had a decent signal here along the ridge line and planned to depart the road at a light-colored knoll and head cross-country to the head of the canyon.<br />
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The terrain off-trail wasn't too bad. The PiƱon-Juniper was thin and the area seemed to be occasionally grazed. As I approached the edge of the canyon, I soon found myself spending a little more time and effort getting over and around larger rocks. <br />
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Another thing I should mention is that there is no trail to this arch. I was trail-blazing. My route required that assumptions I made while studying Google Earth stayed true. The biggest assumption was that I would be able to descend from this higher plateau of Morrison shale down onto the Kayenta bench. I had located a break in the cliffs to allow me to do this, but there was no guarantee I would be able to make that descent.<br />
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So, I kept on, finally rounding the main branch of the west fork just above the pour-off down into the cobbled depths lined with Wingate sandstone. After some effort, I was able to ascend back out of the wash and round the corner, which provided a spectacular view of the west fork of Pollock Canyon. <br />
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Luckily, I found a game trail which seemed to parallel the sloped cliff. Eventually, I came to the break and was relieved to find I would be able to scale my way down without too much difficulty. Soon, I found myself on the Kayenta bench and moving relatively quickly east along the edge of the canyon. <br />
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The west fork technically has two heads and I had to round the second one next. Looking across the second head to the divide between the bigger east and west forks, I became someone unsure that I wouldn't be able to handle the terrain due to its slope, but I had no problems. Looks can sometimes be deceiving. <br />
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Here, I was afforded a great view to the north, across the canyon to the second arch I wished to visit, West Pollock Arch. The sun came out for a bit which made it even more photogenic.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zanoiKlk7Uk/UDGeCaXSLeI/AAAAAAAAGlg/QXEA4t28tdc/s1600/20120418.1923.14Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zanoiKlk7Uk/UDGeCaXSLeI/AAAAAAAAGlg/QXEA4t28tdc/s400/20120418.1923.14Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>West Pollock Arch (note the small sliver of light under the D in the watermark)</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjIWYZo94Us/UDGeF1XLA3I/AAAAAAAAGlo/kLSc2FRHzhw/s1600/20120418.1923.26Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjIWYZo94Us/UDGeF1XLA3I/AAAAAAAAGlo/kLSc2FRHzhw/s400/20120418.1923.26Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Upper West Fork Pollock Canyon</i></div>
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I continued to follow the Kayenta bench north and then around a corner to the northeast. Finally, it was visible! <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gcuR7mQ5ZRc/UDGeISfRqOI/AAAAAAAAGlw/T_RsmQZmStM/s1600/20120418.1928.50Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gcuR7mQ5ZRc/UDGeISfRqOI/AAAAAAAAGlw/T_RsmQZmStM/s400/20120418.1928.50Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>The Pollock Windows</i></div>
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Excited, I decided to explore the area for a few minutes. To the south of the windows, I found another developing arch. You could probably call it an arch, though it struggles to be completely detached from the cliff face. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AUs5_52dBdU/UDGeKZi8hTI/AAAAAAAAGl4/Id7yy3HRChM/s1600/20120418.1930.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AUs5_52dBdU/UDGeKZi8hTI/AAAAAAAAGl4/Id7yy3HRChM/s400/20120418.1930.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Another arch?</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hvGXeLgDIVI/UDGeNIjJjiI/AAAAAAAAGmA/hMGZRFxgJAk/s1600/20120418.1932.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hvGXeLgDIVI/UDGeNIjJjiI/AAAAAAAAGmA/hMGZRFxgJAk/s400/20120418.1932.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Another view and more daylight.</i></div>
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Eventually, I decided to round the fin to the north and view the windows from the other side.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Rh6NCumKWM/UDGeT5k-QRI/AAAAAAAAGmY/5c95r209a7I/s1600/20120418.1944.40Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Rh6NCumKWM/UDGeT5k-QRI/AAAAAAAAGmY/5c95r209a7I/s640/20120418.1944.40Z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And then I found another hole along the face of the cliff that could be a new arch forming or even part of the other possible arch from the other side. It's hard to say. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOmtP4x1_Uc/UDGeRSJazZI/AAAAAAAAGmQ/s0SLAIFFjzs/s1600/20120418.1941.05Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOmtP4x1_Uc/UDGeRSJazZI/AAAAAAAAGmQ/s0SLAIFFjzs/s400/20120418.1941.05Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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As I continued south along the fin, I found another small arch of sorts... more like a pillar. It was hard to tell, but it almost looks like there may have been a man-made structure up in the alcove, but I couldn't climb anywhere near it to tell. Here are a few photos. What do you think?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljjSfO_hVPI/UDGeWnI7ztI/AAAAAAAAGmg/czfR0-sRrCE/s1600/20120418.1950.50Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljjSfO_hVPI/UDGeWnI7ztI/AAAAAAAAGmg/czfR0-sRrCE/s400/20120418.1950.50Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rPMF33az4Kk/UDGebukkYXI/AAAAAAAAGmw/E0c8FS9paEg/s1600/20120418.1951.18Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rPMF33az4Kk/UDGebukkYXI/AAAAAAAAGmw/E0c8FS9paEg/s400/20120418.1951.18Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After that, I returned to the windows and tried to climb up to them but failed. So I returned to the west side and had my lunch. As I was sitting there, I realized that I was already getting really sore. In retrospect, the trail-less terrain was quite difficult at times. Moreover, looking across the canyon, I had no idea how I would be able to continue on the bench to West Pollock Arch. It didn't look like the bench continued all the way around. <br />
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In the end, I decided not to take the route I had planned. I figured I'd try and climb back up to the bench above which would give me somewhat easier terrain to work with. <br />
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So, as some high clouds moved, I found a route up onto the fin in which the windows are carved. I tried to crawl to the end of the fin near the windows but was unable to safely do so. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKBtN_ehL5g/UDGeeOu04KI/AAAAAAAAGm4/Yzqtzc8jReo/s1600/20120418.2055.02Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKBtN_ehL5g/UDGeeOu04KI/AAAAAAAAGm4/Yzqtzc8jReo/s400/20120418.2055.02Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>The Entrada sandstone fin</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmZR2SX_AIE/UDGehdYUU9I/AAAAAAAAGnA/fAUG1roKjLU/s1600/20120418.2057.38Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmZR2SX_AIE/UDGehdYUU9I/AAAAAAAAGnA/fAUG1roKjLU/s400/20120418.2057.38Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Another view of the fin with the windows (left) and the other arch? (right)</i></div>
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Up on the higher bench, I hiked west along the edge of the cliff. The whole time, I could see across the canyon and felt confident that I would not be able to follow the bench around. In the photo below, you can see the smooth salmon-colored Entrada sandstone layer and below it, the flaky-looking Kayenta. I planned to follow the Kayenta around, but due to the debris flows and steep surfaces, here, it looks difficult if not impossible to traverse. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eQDHfNAVoew/UDGen_xqsBI/AAAAAAAAGnQ/VweS1i5VYSE/s1600/20120418.2104.08Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eQDHfNAVoew/UDGen_xqsBI/AAAAAAAAGnQ/VweS1i5VYSE/s400/20120418.2104.08Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>The western head of the west fork of Pollock Canyon</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vwNRZyxXBU/UDGej1s78vI/AAAAAAAAGnI/VS3XzLppVFg/s1600/20120418.2103.58Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vwNRZyxXBU/UDGej1s78vI/AAAAAAAAGnI/VS3XzLppVFg/s400/20120418.2103.58Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>A punchbowl pour-off at the eastern head of the west fork of Pollock Canyon</i></div>
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I realized if I wanted to continue to any of the other arches, I would have to stay on the difficult terrain above the Kayenta bench. This meant climbing into and out of the gulches that feed the main canyon and climbing over whatever rubble lay within. To top things off, my left hamstring was suddenly burning. I started losing ambition and started losing it quickly. <br />
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Coming out of the east head, I almost stepped on a baby rattlesnake!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zDG2432u5AY/UDGerIJekvI/AAAAAAAAGnY/SSKgFIov6WA/s1600/20120418.2127.38Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zDG2432u5AY/UDGerIJekvI/AAAAAAAAGnY/SSKgFIov6WA/s400/20120418.2127.38Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mQx-lR-aCZg/UDGeuwbnxCI/AAAAAAAAGng/5_uJK9BSFPg/s1600/20120418.2128.14Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mQx-lR-aCZg/UDGeuwbnxCI/AAAAAAAAGng/5_uJK9BSFPg/s400/20120418.2128.14Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Just a little guy, with my compass for scale.</i></div>
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I used a stick to pick the snake up and place it on a boulder. It wasn't acting aggressively at all but I kept my distance... minus the part with the stick.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kbekiTbAuIw/UDGezbq0oLI/AAAAAAAAGno/ezhke10dJc8/s1600/20120418.2129.12Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kbekiTbAuIw/UDGezbq0oLI/AAAAAAAAGno/ezhke10dJc8/s400/20120418.2129.12Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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While the ups and downs of the terrain were a pain, it did afford me great views of the canyon. Occasionally, the sun would come out and help things a bit.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_jb6-CVVvA/UDGe2fkhe4I/AAAAAAAAGnw/KlDvinEp3Js/s1600/20120418.2136.38Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_jb6-CVVvA/UDGe2fkhe4I/AAAAAAAAGnw/KlDvinEp3Js/s400/20120418.2136.38Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the images above you can really get a picture of the canyon. You can also really see the faulting in action. Look into the canyon at about the point where the tall cliffs end on each side. You can see cliffs down in the canyon as well. This is the same layer of rock but it is at a much lower elevation due to the faulting. This is the place in Pollock Canyon where the Precambrian rock is exposed... see both of my waterfall hunts in the two forks of the canyon (<a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/03/2012-march-6th-west-fork-pollock-canyon.html">WEST</a>) (<a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/08/2012-april-2nd-east-fork-pollock-canyon.html">EAST</a>)<br />
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In reality, I was only a few miles (of the 15 planned!) into the hike and for some reason, I was absolutely exhausted. The terrain was rugged and I was having problems with my hamstring which only seemed to get worse. At some point, I made the decision to head back to my vehicle and call it a day. Even this seemed to be an arduous task.<br />
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It seemed to take forever to do anything, which was a bit frustrating. I never really did retrace my steps back but eventually ended up right at the knoll where I left the road. Just before that, there were several white flowers on the almost barren ground which begged a picture. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3h--5HzNkA/UDGe79KcpZI/AAAAAAAAGoA/WzJEh8_BHCc/s1600/20120418.2222.10Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3h--5HzNkA/UDGe79KcpZI/AAAAAAAAGoA/WzJEh8_BHCc/s400/20120418.2222.10Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I wasn't really in the mood for much else and continued along the road for the last mile and a half, limping all the way back to the car. <br />
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The fun wasn't quite over just yet, though. While driving back, I heard a HUGE clunk in the drive train of the Expedition I was driving. I didn't pay it any mind until I was back up on the flat area of Black Ridge Road. Then, I noticed that when I would accelerate, the speedometer would go up to 60 or 70mph! Trust me, I was only going 20-30. The revs seemed really high as well, like it was in a low gear. I tried to take it out of four wheel drive, but it wouldn't budge. <br />
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I found out later that it was stuck in low gear 4x4. I limped along at 20mph for the 30 mile drive home, which I can say was not fun. This was one of the more frustrating hikes I've been on, but the windows were great. Glad to have them checked off the list! But I still have a lot more arches to visit in McInnis. <br />
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Here's a useful map:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_caG6vOdvc/UDHY4wyBpEI/AAAAAAAAGog/ytOSWWhrfkg/s1600/PollockWindows.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_caG6vOdvc/UDHY4wyBpEI/AAAAAAAAGog/ytOSWWhrfkg/s400/PollockWindows.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-75984140847283295552012-08-13T00:05:00.000-06:002012-08-13T00:05:20.013-06:002012 - April 13th - Unaweep Tabeguache Byway, Hanging FlumeI was more than a little excited on this particular April morning. Though I was at work, I was covering the reconstruction of the historic <a href="http://www.hangingflume.org/">Hanging Flume</a>. I left a little early to allow time to stop for photo ops off the clock.<br />
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The Hanging Flume is located in the relatively remote Dolores River Canyon near Uravan, Colorado. To get there, I would have to take Colorado 141 out of Whitewater, a road that is known also as the <a href="http://www.coloradodot.info/travel/scenic-byways/southwest/unaweep-tabeguache/">Unaweep Tabeguache Byway</a>. It is a scenic byway for a reason. <br />
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The road slowly climbs from the Gunnison River up a canyon that actually gets deeper as the elevation gets higher. It is believed that this canyon was originally cut by the primeval Gunnison or even Grand (Colorado) Rivers. The area was then raised by the Uncompahgre Uplift and the river changed its course, leaving the canyon high and dry. It now has a natural divide in the middle. <br />
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The most scenic part of the Unaweep Canyon is the Thimble Rock Point area. It is awe-inspiring to round the corner and find yourself there. <br />
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<i>Thimble Rock Point (left)</i></div>
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I stopped here for a minute or two and took some images from the area. An earthen dam on West Creek floods the meadow with a shallow reservoir, adding to the scenery. <br />
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Standing there, it was hard not to notice the roaring coming from behind me. Though my images are lackluster, the falls on Fall Creek are relatively spectacular. Unfortunately, access to the falls is on private land, so the highway is about as close as you can get. There are several other unnamed waterfalls in this canyon as well that are equally removed from access.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EHvTGAFeLmo/UChqXBXllyI/AAAAAAAAGik/hd9ZyP0a-64/s1600/20120413.1437.42Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EHvTGAFeLmo/UChqXBXllyI/AAAAAAAAGik/hd9ZyP0a-64/s400/20120413.1437.42Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Falls on Fall Creek</i></div>
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I only made one stop on the way as I had to make it to the Hanging Flume by a certain time. I spent an hour or two observing and interviewing those who were working and snapped a couple of images when I was done. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zTH_uTpYp5g/UChqZ4iB3eI/AAAAAAAAGis/QHVLkEb-_LU/s1600/20120413.1735.08Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zTH_uTpYp5g/UChqZ4iB3eI/AAAAAAAAGis/QHVLkEb-_LU/s400/20120413.1735.08Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>The Hanging Flume from across the Dolores River</i></div>
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Before I left, the topic of rock art came up with a gentleman who worked with the resort in Gateway. He gave me a tip on an easy-to-find panel along the highway. <br />
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The entire drive is gorgeous, but my time constraints and the high cloudcover precluded me from stopping much. <br />
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<i>Dolores Canyon overlook</i></div>
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I did take five minutes to stop and take images of the petroglyphs panel, which was pretty neat. I forget exactly where it is, but it's right off the road.<br />
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<i>A parting shot of the surroundings</i></div>
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On the way back, I tried to shoot the falls again, but the light was terrible. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NK65LgUmiuk/UChq03FdqFI/AAAAAAAAGj0/YOcbOBzGQh8/s1600/20120413.1953.16Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NK65LgUmiuk/UChq03FdqFI/AAAAAAAAGj0/YOcbOBzGQh8/s400/20120413.1953.16Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VBR4JK0w8Hs/UChq31cAiiI/AAAAAAAAGj8/YsMRyiSDihI/s1600/20120413.1953.17Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VBR4JK0w8Hs/UChq31cAiiI/AAAAAAAAGj8/YsMRyiSDihI/s400/20120413.1953.17Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.kjct8.com/news/Historic-Hanging-Flume-Reconstructed/-/163152/14381968/-/w87eftz/-/index.html"></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.kjct8.com/news/Historic-Hanging-Flume-Reconstructed/-/163152/14381968/-/w87eftz/-/index.html"></a>And finally, here's my story on the Hanging Flume from that day:<br />
VIDEO: <a href="http://www.kjct8.com/news/Historic-Hanging-Flume-Reconstructed/-/163152/14404230/-/vt02h6z/-/index.html">http://www.kjct8.com/news/Historic-Hanging-Flume-Reconstructed/-/163152/14404230/-/vt02h6z/-/index.html</a><br />
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Full write-up: <a href="http://www.kjct8.com/news/Historic-Hanging-Flume-Reconstructed/-/163152/14381968/-/w87eftz/-/index.html">http://www.kjct8.com/news/Historic-Hanging-Flume-Reconstructed/-/163152/14381968/-/w87eftz/-/index.html </a><br />
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-68006660798039437432012-08-05T21:06:00.001-06:002012-10-21T10:25:45.926-06:002011 - July 19th - Family Vacation Day 1 - Early Morning Fog at the Snow Mountain RanchJuly is a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielsen_ratings#Sweeps">sweeps</a>" month. In the television industry, that translates to "no vacations"... even though July is largely regarded as the "throw-away" sweeps. <br />
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My extended family (on my mom's side) gets together biannually for a big vacation. We've done this since I can remember, visiting places from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to Lake Tahoe, California to Oglebay, West Virginia to Depot Bay, Oregon and many places in Montana. For the last two trips, we've gathered at the <a href="http://www.ymcarockies.org/snow-mountain-ranch-winter-park-colorado.html">Snow Mountain Ranch</a> near Tabernash, Colorado. <br />
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I was concerned that I would be unable to make this trip as it was in sweeps and while I didn't ask for any time off, I realized I would be able to attend a couple of days on my normal days off. If we weren't gathering in Colorado, it probably wouldn't have happened!<br />
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Anyway, I left Grand Junction on a Monday (the 18th) after work, trying hard not to get distracted by a lone (likely) supercell in the White River Valley. I kept my nose on target even when word of a tornado in Montezuma County reached me.<br />
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I would be arriving late at night... close to midnight. I took the most direct route which may or may not have been the fastest, but probably was the most scenic... a fact that was lost on me since it was dark.<br />
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As I reached the high valleys of Grand County, it was actually kind of cold out! Nearing the resort, I realized that fog was settling into the upper basin of the Fraser River. The moon made the vistas stunning. I stopped at the entrance and took some images.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qptib2mAgTQ/UB4F4oCFKEI/AAAAAAAAGfY/alt8Meeqgkg/s1600/20110719.0641.48Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qptib2mAgTQ/UB4F4oCFKEI/AAAAAAAAGfY/alt8Meeqgkg/s400/20110719.0641.48Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Self-portrait with headlamp.</span></div>
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Eventually, I proceeded to the lodge where the family was staying. They had been there for a day already, so I was arriving late and everybody was asleep I just couldn't get myself to go inside with how amazing the surroundings looked. I probably spent another half hour taking images while the fog slowly rolled in and obscured everything.<br />
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<i>Thickening</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5MktslXK6jU/UB4GBJ1rghI/AAAAAAAAGgA/Uqgky_k3zVw/s1600/20110719.0717.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5MktslXK6jU/UB4GBJ1rghI/AAAAAAAAGgA/Uqgky_k3zVw/s400/20110719.0717.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Moon colors</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pTBJc4dLZCg/UB4GCsFd9AI/AAAAAAAAGgI/oO2EscTpRgU/s1600/20110719.0721.08Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pTBJc4dLZCg/UB4GCsFd9AI/AAAAAAAAGgI/oO2EscTpRgU/s400/20110719.0721.08Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Back toward the main resort area</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JRCLZV6083s/UB4GD1lZ9mI/AAAAAAAAGgQ/s6yNvlBPvHg/s1600/20110719.0725.10Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JRCLZV6083s/UB4GD1lZ9mI/AAAAAAAAGgQ/s6yNvlBPvHg/s400/20110719.0725.10Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Fully entrenched</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-15ds9QZezz0/UB4GFpDSmDI/AAAAAAAAGgY/d8Fa-HJL0JQ/s1600/20110719.0726.04Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-15ds9QZezz0/UB4GFpDSmDI/AAAAAAAAGgY/d8Fa-HJL0JQ/s400/20110719.0726.04Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Aliens landing?</i></div>
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<i>A final shot</i></div>
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<i></i>Even when I woke up the next morning and prepared to go hiking with some family members, the fog was still there... so I popped off a few more shots.<i> </i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWaRky8jCxg/UB4GJKwN6VI/AAAAAAAAGgo/avM8eiXWhFg/s1600/20110719.1527.56Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWaRky8jCxg/UB4GJKwN6VI/AAAAAAAAGgo/avM8eiXWhFg/s400/20110719.1527.56Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-68749959323516915312012-08-04T21:11:00.000-06:002012-08-04T21:11:42.325-06:002012 - April 2nd - East Fork Pollock Canyon, McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area/Black Ridge Canyons WildernessAbout a month prior to this day, I had visited the <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/03/2012-march-6th-west-fork-pollock-canyon.html">West Fork of Pollock Canyon</a>. On that trip, I though I might have time to explore the east fork as well, but it didn't work out. So, it remained on my list of desired destinations. <br />
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On this particular April morning, a Monday if I'm not mistaken, I enlisted the company of my co-worker Shannon for an adventure into the east fork... promising the possibility of a waterfall. If you'll recall (as detailed in my post for the west fork), faulting in the area has exposed the hard, Precambrian era stone. While the water that only occasionally flows through these canyons has an exceptional ability to erode the attendant sandstones and shales, it seems to have a difficulty with the Precambrian stone. It is that reason, in combination with the vertical depth of the faulting that causes natural drops in the canyons where they cross the fault. There are exposures of the Precambrian stone in many area canyons and these are the locations that I have found waterfalls; several, in fact. <br />
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So, we hit the trail by late morning on this particular "Adventure Monday"... that's what we call it when we head out for an expedition on a Monday since we share(d) Mondays off. On a previous adventure on the Pollock Bench (<a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/02/2012-january-23rd-pollock-bench-flume.html">detailed here</a>), I had explained to her about the fun of climbing in and out of Pollock Canyon. This would be the day to show her in person! <br />
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We made good time, though I was slightly annoyed with the cloudcover. It's always cloudy in Pollock Canyon, apparently. Route-finding into the canyon was easy and fun and soon we were on the canyon bottom and headed for the east fork. <br />
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To my disappointment, there wasn't any water in the wash. Once in the east fork, however, we did find a couple of muddy pools... but that was it.<br />
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On a great bend in the canyon, we discovered an alcove high up on the canyon wall and speculated that we might be able to climb into it. The sandstone seemed manageable, so we began to ascend. It was a little more steep than we had initially thought, however, and soon we found ourselves at a level where we could no longer proceed. <br />
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Shannon sat down for a while and I decided to hike along at the same elevation on the slickrock wall to see if there was another way up. I snapped the following picture after I realized I wouldn't be able to safely get any higher. I think it's a good example of how steep the stone was!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_K-UNPdPaog/UB3VB5JN6vI/AAAAAAAAGbA/5baGqbe1SYo/s1600/20120402.1815.07Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_K-UNPdPaog/UB3VB5JN6vI/AAAAAAAAGbA/5baGqbe1SYo/s640/20120402.1815.07Z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Shannon or Spider Man? </span></div>
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We gave up trying to climb and hit headed back down into the wash, our destination still upstream. Soon, we caught sight of a Precambrian stone wall up-canyon.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JXSiELoilxM/UB3VFkfsFcI/AAAAAAAAGbI/V3re46xyjUg/s1600/20120402.1901.44Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JXSiELoilxM/UB3VFkfsFcI/AAAAAAAAGbI/V3re46xyjUg/s400/20120402.1901.44Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I noticed soon that there was a small amount of water trickling along in the wash as well, which was promising... but not near enough to have any sort of waterfall. As we approached, it became obvious that there was a little notch in the wall that the water had carved or at least used as the path of least resistance. It was like a short slot canyon which opened up to a little hollow. Water trickled down the far side of the hollow at what would be the waterfall if the flow was higher.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uk1vhkScKYI/UB3VehJ7qoI/AAAAAAAAGcI/04033g-CNqU/s1600/20120402.1927.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uk1vhkScKYI/UB3VehJ7qoI/AAAAAAAAGcI/04033g-CNqU/s400/20120402.1927.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Into the hollow.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SlPK1088V9Y/UB3VJXagYXI/AAAAAAAAGbQ/Ga1CHM3_vyg/s1600/20120402.1914.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SlPK1088V9Y/UB3VJXagYXI/AAAAAAAAGbQ/Ga1CHM3_vyg/s400/20120402.1914.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Looking up the "trickles"</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKv8iwtLgfU/UB3VMkT49OI/AAAAAAAAGbY/kVai4KQgdxA/s1600/20120402.1916.09Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKv8iwtLgfU/UB3VMkT49OI/AAAAAAAAGbY/kVai4KQgdxA/s400/20120402.1916.09Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>A little wider shot.</i></div>
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We decided to take a bit of a rest here and have a snack. I enjoyed some tropical trail mix and ad libbed a little tune about it. Then, I tried to take some creative photos with relatively mixed results.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nS0AiOGeHXk/UB3VPvw7JBI/AAAAAAAAGbg/Uf3jn1l_hEw/s1600/20120402.1917.44Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nS0AiOGeHXk/UB3VPvw7JBI/AAAAAAAAGbg/Uf3jn1l_hEw/s400/20120402.1917.44Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NI0kEgzl3aY/UB3VRr8CYYI/AAAAAAAAGbo/TV9NDDxGw3Q/s1600/20120402.1918.02Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NI0kEgzl3aY/UB3VRr8CYYI/AAAAAAAAGbo/TV9NDDxGw3Q/s400/20120402.1918.02Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We also took each other's picture at the pool. Not sure where mine went, but here's Shannon for scale...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4-wbXUFBsP4/UB3VVAupG3I/AAAAAAAAGbw/qYfQZN5JMtA/s1600/20120402.1920.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4-wbXUFBsP4/UB3VVAupG3I/AAAAAAAAGbw/qYfQZN5JMtA/s400/20120402.1920.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pAPToGscdNI/UB3VYeES9eI/AAAAAAAAGb4/6XkORDeZEdE/s1600/20120402.1921.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pAPToGscdNI/UB3VYeES9eI/AAAAAAAAGb4/6XkORDeZEdE/s400/20120402.1921.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>No scale! What's the scale? Nobody knows!</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J1p1q1BFE_I/UB3VbX4RvfI/AAAAAAAAGcA/Ui7_0oxRvRM/s1600/20120402.1926.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J1p1q1BFE_I/UB3VbX4RvfI/AAAAAAAAGcA/Ui7_0oxRvRM/s400/20120402.1926.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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After hanging out there for a while, we headed back. Walking along the wash, Shannon was suddenly startled by something to our left. It turned out to be an abandoned shepherd's cabin! I'm not sure how we missed it the first time by... I had actually noticed an old fenceline nearby which was on the edge of a relatively clear park above the wash. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PxGxN1N85X8/UB3VwuxQybI/AAAAAAAAGdI/Iove828Z1ds/s1600/20120402.1954.56Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PxGxN1N85X8/UB3VwuxQybI/AAAAAAAAGdI/Iove828Z1ds/s400/20120402.1954.56Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We decided to explore the little cabin and its contents.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CblNXFCsplY/UB3Vh4TAHJI/AAAAAAAAGcQ/kY7bbhZPXKE/s1600/20120402.1940.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CblNXFCsplY/UB3Vh4TAHJI/AAAAAAAAGcQ/kY7bbhZPXKE/s400/20120402.1940.00Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Old trash heap.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MJBVNlVFrXs/UB3VjnqdthI/AAAAAAAAGcY/s985kqS-hjY/s1600/20120402.1941.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MJBVNlVFrXs/UB3VjnqdthI/AAAAAAAAGcY/s985kqS-hjY/s400/20120402.1941.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Old stove.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEFp5oZZgEY/UB3Vl7Co4yI/AAAAAAAAGcg/sTkZCOAq-Rg/s1600/20120402.1946.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEFp5oZZgEY/UB3Vl7Co4yI/AAAAAAAAGcg/sTkZCOAq-Rg/s400/20120402.1946.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Some sort of animal trap.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j0Hh7aGJG40/UB3Vnxzha5I/AAAAAAAAGco/mnanm-w9ego/s1600/20120402.1948.48Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j0Hh7aGJG40/UB3Vnxzha5I/AAAAAAAAGco/mnanm-w9ego/s400/20120402.1948.48Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Shelf contents.</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opGuBXvYsI4/UB3Vpud6H-I/AAAAAAAAGcw/SaMKiTz92f4/s1600/20120402.1950.26Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opGuBXvYsI4/UB3Vpud6H-I/AAAAAAAAGcw/SaMKiTz92f4/s400/20120402.1950.26Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9hBE3vnwMs4/UB3VrehTxFI/AAAAAAAAGc4/ElzNTwqSn70/s1600/20120402.1951.38Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9hBE3vnwMs4/UB3VrehTxFI/AAAAAAAAGc4/ElzNTwqSn70/s400/20120402.1951.38Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>This was my favorite image from the day. </i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dMLrl6qi8k0/UB3Vtg2lWnI/AAAAAAAAGdA/Xqiu6UlQZPQ/s1600/20120402.1952.30Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dMLrl6qi8k0/UB3Vtg2lWnI/AAAAAAAAGdA/Xqiu6UlQZPQ/s400/20120402.1952.30Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The area had been historically utilized for sheep farming, though it is no longer and is now a conservation area. There is a similar cabin in Devils Canyon ... which I talk about in this <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2011/05/2011-march-15th-devils-canyon-mcinnis.html">post</a> from 2011.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzrv_VnUOjQ/UB3VzkJRwwI/AAAAAAAAGdQ/CwgL7fObrTI/s1600/20120402.2012.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzrv_VnUOjQ/UB3VzkJRwwI/AAAAAAAAGdQ/CwgL7fObrTI/s400/20120402.2012.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>A muddy obstacle course on the way out of the East Fork</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCi3bW_LfEY/UB3V2SpJKnI/AAAAAAAAGdY/cb3djbcsxvo/s1600/20120402.2018.54Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCi3bW_LfEY/UB3V2SpJKnI/AAAAAAAAGdY/cb3djbcsxvo/s400/20120402.2018.54Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Shannon vs. the mud trap</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfWX749sZ1Y/UB3V4D96nvI/AAAAAAAAGdg/b-tmNsRUSv8/s1600/20120402.2105.56Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfWX749sZ1Y/UB3V4D96nvI/AAAAAAAAGdg/b-tmNsRUSv8/s400/20120402.2105.56Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Flowers back up on the Pollock Bench.</i></div>
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<br />
The rest of the hike was uneventful. We made our way out of the canyon, back up on to the bench and to the car. There may have been a stop for lunch at Wendy's on the way out in Fruita... but that's not too exciting and I'm beginning to wonder why I even included it can't stop typingggg. Alright, I'm done. <br />
<br />
Here's a useful map:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-See2xyZYPZs/UB3jxRdCHnI/AAAAAAAAGec/VGyny86OHBU/s1600/EastForkPollock.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-See2xyZYPZs/UB3jxRdCHnI/AAAAAAAAGec/VGyny86OHBU/s400/EastForkPollock.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
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<br />
At 8.8 miles round-trip, the hike was a little on the long side, but the terrain wasn't *too* difficult. It would have been nice to have some sunshine to work with, but it did a pretty good job of staying behind the clouds. I would love to be in the area during a strong runoff or during a flash flood to see what the falls are really capable of.<br />
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Dann.<br />Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-65263103696483078202012-08-01T23:45:00.000-06:002012-08-01T23:46:17.680-06:002011 Storm Chase 17 - July 17th - Dinner Break Desert Chase<i>Note: This storm chase log is from 2011 but has not been posted yet.</i><br />
<br />
A Sunday evening during the monsoon usually keeps me pretty busy at work, but on my dinner break, I elected to head out to the edge of the desert... just a few minutes from the studio to get some video for the 10PM show. I also brought along my camera to try and snag some lightning shots.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lckrYxBwI5E/UBoTZ5jpusI/AAAAAAAAGaI/UWaYUwrnGjk/s1600/eta500_vrt_2011071720.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lckrYxBwI5E/UBoTZ5jpusI/AAAAAAAAGaI/UWaYUwrnGjk/s400/eta500_vrt_2011071720.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Big H5 high over the center of the country, nice fetch of moisture through the Rockies.</i> </div>
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<br />
So, I sat out in the desert, hiding from the rain when I could... it seemed to want to sprinkle a lot.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DoGPDKDmD1M/UBoPPNikeKI/AAAAAAAAGZY/taiKcs3U3sI/s1600/20110718.0213.08Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DoGPDKDmD1M/UBoPPNikeKI/AAAAAAAAGZY/taiKcs3U3sI/s400/20110718.0213.08Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">The only bolt I captured... you have to look real closely to the right of the frame. (click to enlarge)</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2k6YFzKDVfM/UBoPQB_lO2I/AAAAAAAAGZg/2NnSRO3M8hM/s1600/20110718.0216.52Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2k6YFzKDVfM/UBoPQB_lO2I/AAAAAAAAGZg/2NnSRO3M8hM/s400/20110718.0216.52Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MH6eHcc74sM/UBoPRaI7xII/AAAAAAAAGZo/16dgZBAcZpw/s1600/20110718.0231.08Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MH6eHcc74sM/UBoPRaI7xII/AAAAAAAAGZo/16dgZBAcZpw/s400/20110718.0231.08Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JjwJGJ5fUVk/UBoPSv4TlxI/AAAAAAAAGZw/D8d28TTstIM/s1600/20110718.0238.18Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JjwJGJ5fUVk/UBoPSv4TlxI/AAAAAAAAGZw/D8d28TTstIM/s400/20110718.0238.18Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwUTL2yGz3Y/UBoPUcnH5OI/AAAAAAAAGZ4/yfl3rTn-jzc/s1600/20110718.0243.50Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwUTL2yGz3Y/UBoPUcnH5OI/AAAAAAAAGZ4/yfl3rTn-jzc/s400/20110718.0243.50Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nothing too exciting, just some pretty desert vistas.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYsvm3ZSBuY/UBoRbyeaT1I/AAAAAAAAGaA/C3XEmKdY6w4/s1600/20110717+Storm+Chase+Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYsvm3ZSBuY/UBoRbyeaT1I/AAAAAAAAGaA/C3XEmKdY6w4/s320/20110717+Storm+Chase+Map.png" width="316" /></a></div>
<br />
<u><b>STATS</b></u><br />
Mileage: 18<br />
2011YTD Mileage: 1777<br />
States: Colorado<br />
<a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2011/day1otlk_20110718_0100.html">SPC Risk: Categorical</a><br />
Max Hail: None<br />
Tornadoes: None<br />
Other Phenomena: None<br />
Applicable Mesoscale Discussions: None<br />
Applicable Weather Watches: None<br />
<a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/110717_rpts.html">Storm Reports for July 17th</a><br />
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-59063937762767187702012-08-01T00:47:00.000-06:002012-08-01T19:28:14.879-06:002012 - March 27th - "Sand Castle Canyon" - Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area/Dominguez Canyons WildernessIt's not uncommon for me to spend my dinner break scanning Google Earth. On one particular evening in March, I was specifically looking for tight, narrow canyons nearby. Eventually, one area stuck out. This canyon drained Cactus Park in the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/denca.html">Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area</a> (Mesa County, Colorado) and exited at the Gunnison River. Further, it was bounded on the south by Triangle Mesa which acts as a divide between the canyon and Big Dominguez Canyon, an area that I have visited several times.<br />
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As I tried to find more information on this canyon, I encountered one big problem: it doesn't have an official name... nothing on the USGS quads or any of the topo maps that I own. That made finding information on it difficult. I speculated that at least the head of the canyon was accessible but had no idea whether its length would be traversable. All I knew was that the starting elevation was about 6200 feet with the Gunnison River at 4725ft. This elevation was lost over roughly six miles of canyon. I was looking at a twelve mile round-trip with a 1500ft climb on the way out. It didn't sound too bad. Based on what I could see on Google Earth, there weren't any big drops in the canyon. Sure, it tightened up in places and looked to be filled with boulders, but I figured I had a shot to make it.<br />
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So, on Tuesday, March 27th, I set out. To access the area, I traveled south on US 50 from Grand Junction and then followed Colorado 141 out of Whitewater. Cactus Park can be reached by K 2/10 Road, which I initially blew by. The road is roughest right off the highway but then becomes more manageable in the park. I had thought to check out a small slot canyon in the park but couldn't find it easily and decided I'd try again if I had time on the way out. <br />
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The weather was warm for late in March. Highs were close to 70ĀŗF, if I recall. Eventually, I came to a locked gate which marks the Cactus Park trailhead. It was late morning and the sun was shining with thin patches of cirrostratus. <br />
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As I set out on the trail, I quickly crossed the wash which eventually carves the canyon that I planned on exploring. So, I followed the wash and left the trail. I noticed immediately that the area had interesting geology. The wash seemed to fan out on big plates of a blue-green shale which I believe are in the Morrison Formation, possibly the Brushy Basin Member (<i>see this map of geology in the area: <a href="http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/co/field_offices/denca/Maps.Par.79108.File.dat/DENCA_AMS_geology_map.jpg">- the drainage just north of Triangle Mesa)</a></i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
The Morrison Formation is not known as the most scenic geologic layer to look at unless you're into dinosaur bones. For the most part, the first portions of the canyon were highly-reflective light colored sandstones and shales lined with sparse PiƱon-Juniper wood. I also noticed another set of footprints in the gravel and sand that lined the wash. The footprints soon disappeared, however, leading me to believe that someone had thought to explore the wash a little but then had turned back or left the canyon into the surrounding hills.<br />
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Just over a mile and a half into my hike, the wash became more difficult to navigate. The canyon seemed to be filled with boulders and small drops which I had to climb over and find ways down. I then came across a flat area, where I paused for a moment.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U73tw2_E-zo/UBYydgsgw5I/AAAAAAAAGRg/H9w8eewoZw4/s1600/20120327.1833.22Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U73tw2_E-zo/UBYydgsgw5I/AAAAAAAAGRg/H9w8eewoZw4/s400/20120327.1833.22Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bA_NWOuTWvY/UBYygJmm0YI/AAAAAAAAGRo/21nNZAu_0xY/s1600/20120327.1833.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bA_NWOuTWvY/UBYygJmm0YI/AAAAAAAAGRo/21nNZAu_0xY/s400/20120327.1833.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Looking back up-canyon at some of the obstacles that required more hands-on hiking.</i></div>
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Getting going again, I soon realized I might be at the end of my hike. I came upon a huge drop... perhaps forty or fifty feet high with sheer ledges on both sides. The view down the canyon nice, but I realized that even if I did make it down, I'd get the pleasure of climbing through the boulder-strewn canyon below.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_bujgV9WcG8/UBYyikLEvCI/AAAAAAAAGRw/dZW_9eaiyuA/s1600/20120327.1835.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_bujgV9WcG8/UBYyikLEvCI/AAAAAAAAGRw/dZW_9eaiyuA/s400/20120327.1835.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Looking down the *first* big drop.</span></div>
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I paced the ledge for a while like a caged tiger before
deciding that if I cut through some bushes on the right, I could
probably climb down a broken slope there. I wasn't about to be conquered, so I made my way through the bushes and gingerly down the slope, deciding it would be possible to return that way as well.<br />
<br />
As I speculated, the path below was also treacherous. Climbing over boulders for a little while is fun, but when your entire path is paved in them, it becomes taxing. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S2NQroJO1ls/UBYylIRRoqI/AAAAAAAAGR4/Q6qWN-ZAvvs/s1600/20120327.1841.22Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S2NQroJO1ls/UBYylIRRoqI/AAAAAAAAGR4/Q6qWN-ZAvvs/s400/20120327.1841.22Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">Terrain below the first big drop.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QnkOfAFfsI0/UBYyoHlrtgI/AAAAAAAAGSA/1edor8RZg18/s1600/20120327.1843.50Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QnkOfAFfsI0/UBYyoHlrtgI/AAAAAAAAGSA/1edor8RZg18/s400/20120327.1843.50Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Looking back to the first big drop.</i></div>
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Eventually, the boulders became less impeding and the wash opened back up again. After a while, I noticed the familiar colors of the Entrada Sandstone making their appearance along the cut of the wash. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6i3RwS8B2aA/UBYyqJFfZOI/AAAAAAAAGSI/3TYVS_Ztmlw/s1600/20120327.1849.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6i3RwS8B2aA/UBYyqJFfZOI/AAAAAAAAGSI/3TYVS_Ztmlw/s400/20120327.1849.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Enter Entrada</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpJ9b-UCkXU/UBYytDcZZbI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/m0a5aZ_Fzsk/s1600/20120327.1856.38Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpJ9b-UCkXU/UBYytDcZZbI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/m0a5aZ_Fzsk/s400/20120327.1856.38Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-12yVwdxJYt4/UBYyv43gYsI/AAAAAAAAGSU/irdgSKSE8XU/s1600/20120327.1856.39Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-12yVwdxJYt4/UBYyv43gYsI/AAAAAAAAGSU/irdgSKSE8XU/s400/20120327.1856.39Z.jpg" width="300" /> </a></div>
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<i>Pooling of water along the Entrada Sandstone</i></div>
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<br /></div>
The Entrada certainly added a lot of color to the canyon and with it,
water seemed to seep out of the porous material and pool in places. The
water, of course, attracts wildlife so it was no surprise that I would
suddenly hear movement nearby. <br />
<br />
I watched as several desert bighorn scrambled up out of
the side of the canyon. I was intent on not distressing them too much
the BLM likes to remind the humans not to disturb the sheep.<br />
<br />
After they had made their escape, I continued on, spooking a yet unseen sheep. She jumped out of the shadows on one side of the canyon, topping a tall boulder in its middle and then bounding to the other side. The entire feat was extremely impressive. It's hard to imagine an animal with such small feet could have such traction. I'm still amazed to this day. <br />
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I had a few anxieties about the hike concerning my ability to make it all the way to the river through unknown obstacles, but I was really starting to enjoy myself. <br />
<br />
Yet another obstacle arrived, however, when I came across a second big drop. This one was a deep slot, cut into the Entrada with no easily observable route into the inner canyon. So, I took the long way around and ascended a bit to the south to a relatively wide slope that was covered in PiƱon-Juniper. Here, I took time to observe the patina of the sandstone wall, looking for petroglyphs. It looked like a good place to carve, but I was unable to find any. <br />
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Eventually, I found a way down and took a moment to snap a photo of the drop with my cell phone. I forgot to with my real camera. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-utictu_hBzg/UBidlAU0psI/AAAAAAAAGXo/_8HrNjszkKs/s1600/539036_733264929763_1534495908_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-utictu_hBzg/UBidlAU0psI/AAAAAAAAGXo/_8HrNjszkKs/s400/539036_733264929763_1534495908_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Cell phone pic of the second drop and its pool.</i></div>
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Onward I went. The next interesting feature was a shallow alcove which the wash cut into the Entrada. It was certainly nothing compared to the alcoves in Hunter and Mee Canyons, but nonetheless offered a bit of shade.<br />
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The wash seemed to trail on forever. I was occasionally impeded by boulders which filled the canyon along with several small drops. But there were neat things to see as well, like these hoodoos which to me resembled a sand castle.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g_R5l4dmagI/UBYy78xwP9I/AAAAAAAAGTA/emqCRTvfcAk/s1600/20120327.1933.56Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g_R5l4dmagI/UBYy78xwP9I/AAAAAAAAGTA/emqCRTvfcAk/s400/20120327.1933.56Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And another group, just a little way down...<br />
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At this point, I came across a third, big drop... which I neglected to take any pictures of. Suffice it to say that it was a big one and filled with boulders. I was unable to climb straight down the 30 to 40 foot plunge, so I had to climb up on the side of the canyon and around, dropping back into a thicket of cottonwood and other shade trees. There was no direct trail or route, so it certainly required a bit of path finding. At the bottom, I reflected a little bit about how there were no footprints or trails anywhere; just the wash and the canyon to navigate. Though I know many have probably trodden through the area, it felt more personal and private than any other place I have visited on the Western Slope.<br />
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Just a few moments later, as I continued on, I caught my toe and fell face-first into the gravel of the wash. The chances of me tripping on this flat area with a soft landing compared to all of the other terrain I had already traversed was pretty low, so I feel pretty lucky that this was the place I had chosen to fall. Aside from a couple of pokes into the palm of my hand, I came away unscathed.<br />
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The canyon seemed to meander a bit below the third drop and it even tightened up into a narrow corridor. I really enjoy exploring the narrower canyons and this was no exception. <br />
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The canyon had carved down through the Kayenta and Wingate layers and opened up with steep Wingate sides. The travel was easier here; less boulders and more gravelly wash.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2unVkD9c6o/UBYzGOCHCMI/AAAAAAAAGTg/urzhTcmnMMg/s1600/20120327.2008.14Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2unVkD9c6o/UBYzGOCHCMI/AAAAAAAAGTg/urzhTcmnMMg/s400/20120327.2008.14Z.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<i>Low bridge!</i></div>
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I did sit down for five minutes for a water break and also pulled my phone out to see if I could get a GPS location. I had a very weak signal but after a few minutes, it seemed to narrow down to once place which made sense based on my surroundings. I realized that though it has seemed I had traveled far, I still had a good haul ahead of me! </div>
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This portion of the canyon is reasonably uneventful, however, so there's not much detail to entertain. I did find a deceased bighorn lamb under a rock but not predated. I'm unsure how it died, but I supposed that the fact that it had not been consumed spoke to a lack of a scavenging predator like a lion in the canyon. I could be wrong, however. </div>
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As far as the geology, the wash cut through the Wingate into the Chinle below and that's about as deep as it got. Though it continued to lose elevation, the rock strata actually started to rise a bit again toward the river. </div>
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As I finally approached the river, I knew that the wash actually entered private land before the confluence. I feared that this might impede my progress and sure enough, I came to a poorly constructed fence.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oNyAggQ5plw/UBYzPhU_sgI/AAAAAAAAGT4/cns151aYzI0/s1600/20120327.2156.08Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oNyAggQ5plw/UBYzPhU_sgI/AAAAAAAAGT4/cns151aYzI0/s400/20120327.2156.08Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Even though I could hear the river in the distance, I elected to respect the private landowner and go around. Luckily, there was a trail to the left of the wash (going downstream), which followed the fenceline over a few hills to a corner. I now had direct access to the river across a cow-patty covered field of alluvium. I made haste to the river's edge where I enjoyed a few moments of peace.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_UBIOPxRw8k/UBYzJI7Tk8I/AAAAAAAAGTo/Ekqv2ROkq3E/s1600/20120327.2130.54Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_UBIOPxRw8k/UBYzJI7Tk8I/AAAAAAAAGTo/Ekqv2ROkq3E/s400/20120327.2130.54Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">The Gunnison River and Tunnel Point</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r6E_HH0ANV8/UBYzMxTZewI/AAAAAAAAGTw/yZbB6-lhW_M/s1600/20120327.2135.34Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r6E_HH0ANV8/UBYzMxTZewI/AAAAAAAAGTw/yZbB6-lhW_M/s400/20120327.2135.34Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Looking downstream on the Gunnison</i></div>
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I stopped for a few minutes and sat on a log in the willows, taking a moment to drink some water and eat a protein bar. It had taken me roughly three and a half hours to cover the six mile distance down the canyon and it was already 3:30 in the afternoon. I knew that I'd be pushing daylight, so I quickly hit the trail again... honestly, already exhausted.<br />
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A short way up the canyon, I found myself absolutely startled to look up and see an amazing panel of petroglyphs.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGEb0gpV1ss/UBYzRaIR3CI/AAAAAAAAGUA/9hWtdQ116Yo/s1600/20120327.2159.22Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGEb0gpV1ss/UBYzRaIR3CI/AAAAAAAAGUA/9hWtdQ116Yo/s640/20120327.2159.22Z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I was excited! Jumping up and down excited. It literally gave me chills, almost like discovering a new waterfall or seeing a tornado touchdown. It really had that kind of impact on me. I was really hoping to see something new and amazing on this journey and this really did it for me. The panel is obviously not unknown, but most of the dated graffiti is pre-1950. The river bottom had been previously utilized for peach orchards but is mostly just for grazing now. This isn't a canyon that is easily accessible from the river, so it's likely not overly explored. I would speculate that it is only visited by the occasional hiker and the nearby ranchers who drive cattle into the canyon's lower reaches.<br />
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Here are a few more pics from the panel...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJDiQEDEdc8/UBYzqVFrXLI/AAAAAAAAGU4/jSqX2mUv35A/s1600/20120327.2202.02Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJDiQEDEdc8/UBYzqVFrXLI/AAAAAAAAGU4/jSqX2mUv35A/s400/20120327.2202.02Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>... and even a few more around the corner.</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sKCCiuvPds/UBYzwM83Y6I/AAAAAAAAGVI/WtT05G0baMo/s1600/20120327.2203.21Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sKCCiuvPds/UBYzwM83Y6I/AAAAAAAAGVI/WtT05G0baMo/s400/20120327.2203.21Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Behind a bush, I found a small canine etched into the rock as well. I'm unsure if it is a dog or coyote or perhaps something else.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lB6tPgQBvv4/UBYz1e5CBiI/AAAAAAAAGVY/bOBetAknAoQ/s1600/20120327.2206.04Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lB6tPgQBvv4/UBYz1e5CBiI/AAAAAAAAGVY/bOBetAknAoQ/s400/20120327.2206.04Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QIQnnyRodg/UBYz4yCzcDI/AAAAAAAAGVg/0hzfTGQfXq4/s1600/20120327.2206.16Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QIQnnyRodg/UBYz4yCzcDI/AAAAAAAAGVg/0hzfTGQfXq4/s400/20120327.2206.16Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The panel is much more easily visible heading upstream than down, which is why I had missed it. I also found a panel of more modern etchings on the rock dividing the two main forks of the canyon near its mouth.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l06zRFivO8I/UBYz69hF5HI/AAAAAAAAGVo/9fss_SJxjo0/s1600/20120327.2212.32Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l06zRFivO8I/UBYz69hF5HI/AAAAAAAAGVo/9fss_SJxjo0/s400/20120327.2212.32Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8vXwdR2gGo/UBYz8w6EshI/AAAAAAAAGVw/B8TUUtTSkFM/s1600/20120327.2213.08Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8vXwdR2gGo/UBYz8w6EshI/AAAAAAAAGVw/B8TUUtTSkFM/s400/20120327.2213.08Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Did Rodney add his name to an existing carving(s)?</i></div>
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After my discover, I was pretty charged up and made haste up-canyon, back through the narrows...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vONTWBMW8W8/UBY0D_cxf9I/AAAAAAAAGWI/c64ZauBP4D8/s1600/20120327.2234.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vONTWBMW8W8/UBY0D_cxf9I/AAAAAAAAGWI/c64ZauBP4D8/s400/20120327.2234.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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... through a small alcove...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BC4DCHRxauQ/UBY0Gpz14QI/AAAAAAAAGWQ/j-tySiDks-k/s1600/20120327.2241.54Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BC4DCHRxauQ/UBY0Gpz14QI/AAAAAAAAGWQ/j-tySiDks-k/s400/20120327.2241.54Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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... up a number of small drops...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNhg0xsa2Ik/UBY0I6TN7-I/AAAAAAAAGWY/C2wmDa_vJRg/s1600/20120327.2250.36Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNhg0xsa2Ik/UBY0I6TN7-I/AAAAAAAAGWY/C2wmDa_vJRg/s400/20120327.2250.36Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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... and sharing the privacy of the area with the wildlife...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBSCqI1WZt0/UBY0L0BQQLI/AAAAAAAAGWg/D6zXmMohbKY/s1600/20120327.2253.20Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBSCqI1WZt0/UBY0L0BQQLI/AAAAAAAAGWg/D6zXmMohbKY/s400/20120327.2253.20Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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... even the sun's low light gave the canyon a bit of extra character...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hbpK2iudZfg/UBY0OYKNYEI/AAAAAAAAGWo/WD6jb-v20ZE/s1600/20120327.2258.54Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hbpK2iudZfg/UBY0OYKNYEI/AAAAAAAAGWo/WD6jb-v20ZE/s400/20120327.2258.54Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once I reached the third drop, I realized that there might be a small cairn alongside the wash, indicating the way around. Still, there was no trail or path at all. Back up top, I took a brief moment to admire the hoodoos and decided at that moment to call the canyon "Sand Castle Canyon" since it lacked a name. The hoodoos aren't unique to this canyon, by any means, but I thought they added special character. Who knows, maybe it will catch on?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PqOTb65Z8UM/UBY0RgP-d7I/AAAAAAAAGWw/tU1EdhrOG18/s1600/20120328.0007.10Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PqOTb65Z8UM/UBY0RgP-d7I/AAAAAAAAGWw/tU1EdhrOG18/s400/20120328.0007.10Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>The sand castles of "Sand Castle Canyon"</i></div>
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That was the last image I captured. It started to get dark at that point and I still had several miles of hard terrain to contend with. The fields of boulders were more difficult to climb up than down. My body was already hurting and I was running low on water, despite bringing three large bottles with me.<br />
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There were several instances when I would stare at an obstacle, almost unwilling to tackle it, but I kept on. Ascending the first drop was the most difficult. The boulder fields above and below it were very taxing on my legs, which were turning into jello.<br />
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At the top, I squeezed the last drops of water out of the bottle and carried on. As I was coming out of the canyon and into Cactus Park, the light was very low. My phone rang to my surprise, my first real contact with anything outside of the wilderness in quite a while. It was Shannon inviting me to a meal with our coworkers at one of the sit-down chains near the mall. I was very hungry and it sounded great, but I couldn't even fathom making it in time, so I declined.<br />
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Though the ground was much more level at this point, the last mile to my vehicle was laden with dragging feet. My entire body was stiff and drained of energy. I'm almost embarrassed to admit how tired I was.<br />
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Back at my vehicle, I was almost too tired to drive, but felt ambitious enough to get back to town so I could at least have something to drink; I was completely out.<br />
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It was almost completely dark as I exited Cactus Park and headed back down into the valley. I stopped at the Dairy Queen in Orchard Mesa for a slushy or some sort, but they were out of "slush" apparently, so I had some ridiculously syrupy strawberry lemonade over ice. It didn't do much to quench my thirst.<br />
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At the end of the day, I was exhausted, but the petroglyph discovery and the accomplishment of having tackled this relatively unknown place was very rewarding and it will go down as one of my favorite hikes that I've done. Additionally and much to my astonishment, the only piece of trash that I found in the entire canyon was a popped balloon which had obviously drifted in from somewhere else, some time ago.<br />
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Here's a useful map: (click for a larger version)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBTaW3J5msE/UBjQIkx1KPI/AAAAAAAAGYg/fSajrfSCk00/s1600/SandCastleCanyon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBTaW3J5msE/UBjQIkx1KPI/AAAAAAAAGYg/fSajrfSCk00/s400/SandCastleCanyon.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-2215517205119463222012-06-03T20:24:00.000-06:002012-06-03T20:24:16.753-06:002011 - July 12th - Rifle Falls State ParkI took a trip to <a href="http://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/riflefalls/Pages/RifleFallsHome.aspx">Rifle Falls State Park</a> early on a Tuesday morning in July (2011) with my friend Shannon. The weather was cloudy and somewhat drizzly and I was looking forward to some good waterfall photography. We went early to take advantage of early light and also so that she could be back in Grand Junction for work that afternoon.<br />
<br />We arrived at the park before the ranger but there were several people there already. After paying the lofty admission fee, we wandered in. I was surprised by the size and force of the falls, which had looked smaller in pictures. <br />
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Similar to Hanging Lake, which I've visited in this blog several times ago, Rifle Falls is formed by mineral deposits attendant in the water. This is known as travertine. <br />
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I set up and tried to take longer exposures, but it was simply too bright out for my camera's aperture. It is a point-and-shoot, after all. <br />
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We continued exploring for a while under a light mist and found the entrance to a cave. I had fortuitously packed my headlamp and an additional flashlight, so we climbed in. We were surprised to find a large chamber where we could easily stand and walk around. I set up a few shots with the tripod.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z2dzFl61r3o/T8Q3t2Vka9I/AAAAAAAAGOs/yTD_eJZiJHg/s1600/20110712.1524.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z2dzFl61r3o/T8Q3t2Vka9I/AAAAAAAAGOs/yTD_eJZiJHg/s400/20110712.1524.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Shannon looking ghostly.</i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i>Spotlight</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YEWNHW7l2pc/T8Q3zvu7XEI/AAAAAAAAGO8/wuPTtDHnFio/s1600/20110712.1530.16Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YEWNHW7l2pc/T8Q3zvu7XEI/AAAAAAAAGO8/wuPTtDHnFio/s400/20110712.1530.16Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-WkImclDNw/T8Q31QtRBGI/AAAAAAAAGPE/7yd_6niaSxA/s1600/20110712.1531.08Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-WkImclDNw/T8Q31QtRBGI/AAAAAAAAGPE/7yd_6niaSxA/s400/20110712.1531.08Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After leaving the caves, we hiked to the top of the falls and looked around for a while. We decided to take different ways down and I paused behind a small stream for a close-up shot of the clear water. It turned out to be one of my favorites from the day.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6IrVoo_fb8Y/T8Q337uFt2I/AAAAAAAAGPM/Ml20K2e60PQ/s1600/20110712.1602.24Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6IrVoo_fb8Y/T8Q337uFt2I/AAAAAAAAGPM/Ml20K2e60PQ/s400/20110712.1602.24Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Back at the base of the falls, I attempted to get some longer exposures again. The results were not great, but I'm going to share them anyway...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn-gKPSOl3k/T8Q38lrfdII/AAAAAAAAGPU/gHYf6Bw9kuA/s1600/20110712.1608.36Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn-gKPSOl3k/T8Q38lrfdII/AAAAAAAAGPU/gHYf6Bw9kuA/s400/20110712.1608.36Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NB6TQqY3dbA/T8Q3-VD6bLI/AAAAAAAAGPc/T7LxU7-n2TI/s1600/20110712.1609.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NB6TQqY3dbA/T8Q3-VD6bLI/AAAAAAAAGPc/T7LxU7-n2TI/s400/20110712.1609.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>It was a little misty at times...</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zcds3HpaelE/T8Q4UoxGJhI/AAAAAAAAGQk/vLYyBJI4rtE/s1600/20110712.1621.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zcds3HpaelE/T8Q4UoxGJhI/AAAAAAAAGQk/vLYyBJI4rtE/s640/20110712.1621.00Z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I'm usually rather ambitious when it comes to trip-planning and as a result, I thought we might have time to hike to Rifle Arch which is not too far away. We left the park and headed on over, with an absolute turnaround time. When we hit the trail, we hiked fast. <br />
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It soon became apparent that we were not going to make it to the arch in time. Both of us were huffing and puffing as we almost jogged along the trail. Eventually, we settled on a view of the arch and then turned back. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gnqrHJAcwQ8/T8Q4XPz4CJI/AAAAAAAAGQs/Jq09Ge5mMDU/s1600/20110712.1727.40Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gnqrHJAcwQ8/T8Q4XPz4CJI/AAAAAAAAGQs/Jq09Ge5mMDU/s400/20110712.1727.40Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Rifle Arch</i></div>
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On the way home, we stopped at Sonic and I had a burger that had ridiculously hot jalapeƱos on it and we also came very close to running out of gas in her car. It was nip and tuck but still fun.</div>
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Here's a map of the Rifle Arch hike. We just kind of wandered around Rifle Falls, so a map wouldn't be useful.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--56PzKgHVco/T8wbvv8OePI/AAAAAAAAGRA/9SabyZtW-7E/s1600/rifle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--56PzKgHVco/T8wbvv8OePI/AAAAAAAAGRA/9SabyZtW-7E/s320/rifle.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dann.</div>Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-70207220935309762962012-05-28T20:16:00.001-06:002012-05-28T20:16:54.923-06:002011 Storm Chase 16 - July 9th - The Great Escalante Lightning BustIt was a Saturday night after work and I somehow got the idea in my head to drive far away to catch up with some storms that had fired on the Uncompahgre Plateau. We were in southwest flow aloft and several weak shorties had come through with more on the way. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TA4u7wfG7f0/T8MrHE4G3fI/AAAAAAAAGOE/t9QzBNsERj8/s1600/eta500_vrt_2011070920.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TA4u7wfG7f0/T8MrHE4G3fI/AAAAAAAAGOE/t9QzBNsERj8/s400/eta500_vrt_2011070920.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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I hauled out of town on US 50 all the way to the turnoff to Escalante Road, just inside Delta County. There was a nice lightning show ongoing, but there was also a lot of rain, so I wasn't able to get out and shoot it.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zRdtNRBwB-c/T8MrGiaoT1I/AAAAAAAAGN8/7kYNCYhXsGs/s1600/cent_Rockies_201107100530.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zRdtNRBwB-c/T8MrGiaoT1I/AAAAAAAAGN8/7kYNCYhXsGs/s400/cent_Rockies_201107100530.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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Eventually, the first storm complex waned and I started to head back to Grand Junction. Several smaller cells popped up, so I tried to get a few of them from the western slopes of the Grand Mesa via Lands End Road, but they stopped spitting out C2Gs, so I called it a night.<br />
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Detail Map:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdQeeFfOnM0/T8MpuBSXQdI/AAAAAAAAGN0/otenXE0zcFI/s1600/20110709+Storm+Chase+Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdQeeFfOnM0/T8MpuBSXQdI/AAAAAAAAGN0/otenXE0zcFI/s400/20110709+Storm+Chase+Map.png" width="388" /></a></div>
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<u><b>STATS</b></u><br />
Mileage: 73<br />
2011YTD Mileage: 1759<br />
States: Colorado<br />
<a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2011/day1otlk_20110710_0100.html">SPC Risk: Probabilistic (Wind)</a><br />
Max Hail: None<br />
Tornadoes: None<br />
Other Phenomena: None<br />
Applicable Mesoscale Discussions: None<br />
Applicable Weather Watches: None<br />
<a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/110709_rpts.html">Storm Reports for July 9th</a><br />
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-25888298360088914452012-05-28T01:13:00.000-06:002012-05-28T01:13:17.376-06:002012 - March 19th - Potash Road PetroglyphsIt had already been a full day of adventure, but we weren't done yet. Just to catch everyone up to speed, my cousin Brad was visiting from Montana and we decided to head into Utah on this particular Monday.<br />
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It had been a cool morning with even a light dusting of snow, <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/05/2012-march-19th-richardson-amphitheater.html">as seen on our drive through the Richardson Amphitheater Area</a>. We spent most of the afternoon hiking through the Devils Garden area of <a href="http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm">Arches National Park</a>, <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/05/2012-march-19th-devils-garden-arches.html">exploring arches and petroglyphs</a>. After that, we decided to drive along the Colorado River and <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/05/2012-storm-chase-3-march-19th-leaving.html">see the results of a storm that had passed</a>. <br />
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That road is known as Potash Road or more officially as the Utah Highway 279, <a href="http://byways.org/explore/byways/2014">The Potash-Lower Colorado Scenic Byway.</a> The road is quite scenic, but unfortunately for my desire to take some images of the area, the light was less than fantastic. So, I did what I could.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lS08f-d7iu0/T8LcX_6J6vI/AAAAAAAAGGY/WpAbOLtoOxg/s1600/20120319.2330.14Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lS08f-d7iu0/T8LcX_6J6vI/AAAAAAAAGGY/WpAbOLtoOxg/s400/20120319.2330.14Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">A mesa in Jackson Hole, an abandoned meander of the Colorado River</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lv3IMUaVtbY/T8LcZ_a_IcI/AAAAAAAAGGg/QzfAYn85t_s/s1600/20120319.2339.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lv3IMUaVtbY/T8LcZ_a_IcI/AAAAAAAAGGg/QzfAYn85t_s/s400/20120319.2339.00Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Jug Handle Arch</i></div>
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Unbeknownst to me before taking this drive, there are petroglyphs alongside the highway. In fact, there are several signs that note "Indian Writings". In the days prior, I had encouraged Brad's interest in rock art and we both found ourselves pouring over the canyon walls, looking for etchings. Along Utah's 279, there are many, many panels to be found. The following set of fifty images or so is the result of our exploration, walking from south to north along the wall, inspecting every area we could. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U87cg02W25c/T8Lccksm4DI/AAAAAAAAGGo/CLXMAS45QyI/s1600/20120319.2355.48Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U87cg02W25c/T8Lccksm4DI/AAAAAAAAGGo/CLXMAS45QyI/s400/20120319.2355.48Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v9tbXYaPKrk/T8LcfxpeahI/AAAAAAAAGGw/6QRORsAiUcg/s1600/20120319.2356.02Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v9tbXYaPKrk/T8LcfxpeahI/AAAAAAAAGGw/6QRORsAiUcg/s400/20120319.2356.02Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>A large panel filled with figures.</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZwkkFeSf6E/T8Lci94O3_I/AAAAAAAAGG4/0XzJNOaHP8c/s1600/20120319.2356.03Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZwkkFeSf6E/T8Lci94O3_I/AAAAAAAAGG4/0XzJNOaHP8c/s640/20120319.2356.03Z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>It almost appears as if a man is standing atop something and conjuring.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KcKewe6nTac/T8Lcl196kPI/AAAAAAAAGHA/JAxbxh_LbUg/s1600/20120319.2356.20Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KcKewe6nTac/T8Lcl196kPI/AAAAAAAAGHA/JAxbxh_LbUg/s400/20120319.2356.20Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsvoFClwpWk/T8Lc7423o4I/AAAAAAAAGH4/JBDjNf6KV1A/s1600/20120319.2359.28Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsvoFClwpWk/T8Lc7423o4I/AAAAAAAAGH4/JBDjNf6KV1A/s400/20120319.2359.28Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Almost-hidden sheep.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iCB7aguGpyY/T8Lc-Zs4AiI/AAAAAAAAGIA/9_HlM-WLLFM/s1600/20120320.0002.40Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iCB7aguGpyY/T8Lc-Zs4AiI/AAAAAAAAGIA/9_HlM-WLLFM/s400/20120320.0002.40Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v1W8PJtDhJg/T8LdAis4taI/AAAAAAAAGII/pb_pKL7vHKs/s1600/20120320.0003.46Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v1W8PJtDhJg/T8LdAis4taI/AAAAAAAAGII/pb_pKL7vHKs/s400/20120320.0003.46Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Some graffiti photoshopped out of this one.</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYe3ydlRzL8/T8LdDVeqz5I/AAAAAAAAGIQ/GWxr6yT5kt8/s1600/20120320.0004.08Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYe3ydlRzL8/T8LdDVeqz5I/AAAAAAAAGIQ/GWxr6yT5kt8/s400/20120320.0004.08Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2T1MdXSCJNY/T8LdF8PX8DI/AAAAAAAAGIY/Hko5f8dYW_o/s1600/20120320.0004.09Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2T1MdXSCJNY/T8LdF8PX8DI/AAAAAAAAGIY/Hko5f8dYW_o/s400/20120320.0004.09Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-WtskbAjW8/T8LdW8KptXI/AAAAAAAAGJI/Hm-uI6Xb7U4/s1600/20120320.0007.10Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-WtskbAjW8/T8LdW8KptXI/AAAAAAAAGJI/Hm-uI6Xb7U4/s400/20120320.0007.10Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0UVAeCZnE2Y/T8LdaLCSfRI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/1Q9VVky8aCY/s1600/20120320.0007.16Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0UVAeCZnE2Y/T8LdaLCSfRI/AAAAAAAAGJQ/1Q9VVky8aCY/s400/20120320.0007.16Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Sheep hunt.</i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qmMtSh1TRcc/T8Ldd2PG3HI/AAAAAAAAGJY/cVmc1mpAS10/s1600/20120320.0007.17Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qmMtSh1TRcc/T8Ldd2PG3HI/AAAAAAAAGJY/cVmc1mpAS10/s400/20120320.0007.17Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Crane? Heron? Some other bird, perhaps.</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Af9vFVWdMo/T8LdgjDQKLI/AAAAAAAAGJg/dLFwQYQXItY/s1600/20120320.0007.34Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Af9vFVWdMo/T8LdgjDQKLI/AAAAAAAAGJg/dLFwQYQXItY/s400/20120320.0007.34Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Would love to know what this is. A crab, maybe?</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G7ZHuxy9P5c/T8LdjUos9uI/AAAAAAAAGJo/e8j75uSk1xg/s1600/20120320.0007.46Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G7ZHuxy9P5c/T8LdjUos9uI/AAAAAAAAGJo/e8j75uSk1xg/s400/20120320.0007.46Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IefYxgaCkxs/T8LdlxxH94I/AAAAAAAAGJw/uvSznTvYCKM/s1600/20120320.0008.04Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IefYxgaCkxs/T8LdlxxH94I/AAAAAAAAGJw/uvSznTvYCKM/s400/20120320.0008.04Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nRFxx61qRE/T8LdzTQhVoI/AAAAAAAAGKY/riSn4JIS2Wk/s1600/20120320.0009.40Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nRFxx61qRE/T8LdzTQhVoI/AAAAAAAAGKY/riSn4JIS2Wk/s400/20120320.0009.40Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pwupLl0l3_I/T8Ld552WdDI/AAAAAAAAGKo/DpqOoiD1j0Y/s1600/20120320.0010.40Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pwupLl0l3_I/T8Ld552WdDI/AAAAAAAAGKo/DpqOoiD1j0Y/s400/20120320.0010.40Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZHm_V_WX2k/T8Ld8ChpHFI/AAAAAAAAGKw/Az2xAA5ojtI/s1600/20120320.0011.01Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HZHm_V_WX2k/T8Ld8ChpHFI/AAAAAAAAGKw/Az2xAA5ojtI/s400/20120320.0011.01Z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Hidden around a corner.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2srd7lozoOM/T8Ld_IzXkyI/AAAAAAAAGK4/ubpQ5t8JH4Q/s1600/20120320.0012.16Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2srd7lozoOM/T8Ld_IzXkyI/AAAAAAAAGK4/ubpQ5t8JH4Q/s400/20120320.0012.16Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And my favorite, the bear panel...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U0Q_nAe2Ht4/T8LeB6Zb2nI/AAAAAAAAGLA/NDo0OuWoi4Y/s1600/20120320.0016.12Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U0Q_nAe2Ht4/T8LeB6Zb2nI/AAAAAAAAGLA/NDo0OuWoi4Y/s400/20120320.0016.12Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nkamuFLmUqU/T8LeEG1RfpI/AAAAAAAAGLI/IQs9HdsPtWE/s1600/20120320.0019.20Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nkamuFLmUqU/T8LeEG1RfpI/AAAAAAAAGLI/IQs9HdsPtWE/s400/20120320.0019.20Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uVN2TFrnuzA/T8LeGd85b7I/AAAAAAAAGLQ/tGTkQvuPrXE/s1600/20120320.0020.16Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uVN2TFrnuzA/T8LeGd85b7I/AAAAAAAAGLQ/tGTkQvuPrXE/s640/20120320.0020.16Z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>It looks like the bear was carved over a previously existing scene. Also, some of the graffiti is photoshopped out.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BTJNxA_wiuo/T8LeIRFPTeI/AAAAAAAAGLY/harsuvNz-84/s1600/20120320.0025.38Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BTJNxA_wiuo/T8LeIRFPTeI/AAAAAAAAGLY/harsuvNz-84/s400/20120320.0025.38Z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The last ten or so images are of a panel that is about twenty to thirty feet above the road. In the last image, you can see where the debris at the cliff-base was cleared to make way for the road. Before the road cut, the 'glyphs were at a normal height. <br />
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Through the art is well-known, it was a lot of fun to canvas the roadside, looking for figures. The ground had been soaked with a recent rain and the air smelled absolutely incredible. <br />
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Light failed us eventually and we made our way into Moab for dinner and a beer at the <a href="http://www.themoabbrewery.com/">Moab Brewery</a>, which has excellent beer and food, by the way. <br />
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Then it was back to Grand Junction. Brad headed back to Montana and I went back to work, but I've had plenty of adventures since then. More coming soon...<br />
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-33141102350268253042012-05-19T20:27:00.001-06:002012-05-19T20:27:44.619-06:002012 Storm Chase 3 - March 19th - Leaving The Devil's GardenI've debated for some time as to whether to make this into a storm chase log or not. Technically, we really didn't chase the storm; just inspected its remnants. <br />
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It all started on a hike through the Devils Garden, which isn't a metaphor, by the way. I've you've not read the previous few entries of this blog, my cousin was in town for the weekend, so we spent a lot of time outdoors, exploring the area. <br />
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While hiking around the Devils Garden area of <a href="http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm">Arches National Park</a>, I was frequently distracted by convection on the area. A storm system had moved through the day before leaving us under the cold, upper level trough. Though there wasn't much if any expectation of thunderstorms (see <a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2012/day1otlk_20120319_2000.html">SPC's outlook</a>), the lapse rates were good enough for rain/snow showers early and thunderstorms in the afternoon. <br />
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Highs only topped out in the upper 40s that day, but when the sun came out, it was beautiful. As we neared the end of our hike, I was reasonably captivated by a decent looking storm which was billowing over the Moab area. <br />
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I was able to pull a radar scan and noted its intensity. When we got back to the car, we discussed what to do next. <br />
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I would have dropped everything and chased the storm were it not for two factors:<br />
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1) I was driving a borrowed vehicle while mine awaited repair. <br />
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2) I hadn't planned on making Brad come storm chasing with me. <br />
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So, I did my best to monitor the situation while we took in a few more of the park's features. The first storm dissipated as moved into the La Sals, but a second developed to the west. They were moving south-southeast. The second storm seemed to be producing some hail and developed a decent anvil. <br />
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<i>Looking WSW across the Salt Valley.</i></div>
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<i>Stormy skies behind Balanced Rock.</i></div>
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<i>Anvilling</i></div>
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I continued to keep an eye on the storm as we toured the Windows Section, stopping briefly to take a photo or two. <br />
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It was getting late and we were trying to decide what to do next. We had done what we could via car in the park and did not desire to embark on another hike. I suggested we head over to<a href="http://www.utah.com/stateparks/dead_horse.htm"> Dead Horse Point State Park</a> for the sunset, but that seemed a little far. The second suggestion as to check out the <a href="http://byways.org/explore/byways/2014">Potash-Lower Colorado Scenic Byway</a>. The state highway (UT 279) leaves US 191 near Moab and follows the Colorado River to Potash where it essentially ends. <br />
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Brad seemed up for exploring the highway and I was happy that the heaviest core of the storm was passing over that area. I aimed to see what it had laid down. We stopped briefly on the way out of the park to witness the storm as it began to die off, just west of Moab. <br />
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The drive through the canyon was fairly uneventful. We found some small hail... perhaps 0.25" in diameter, which I unfortunately neglected to take a picture of. <br />
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I'll detail any non-weather-related observations in a separate post. <br />
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Unfortunately, we never really enjoyed the glow of sunset, but the light tried to poke through a couple of times. <br />
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<i>A small mesa in Jackson Hole near Potash.</i></div>
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So, like I said... hardly a storm chase, but I would say that I deviated from my normal path in pursuit of a storm, so it loosely qualifies with my definition. <br />
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We did find some amazing sights in this canyon, though... so check back soon for my next post!<br />
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<u><b>STATS</b></u><br />
Mileage: 42<br />
2012YTD Mileage: 121<br />
States: Utah<br />
<a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2012/day1otlk_20120319_2000.html">SPC Risk: None</a><br />
Max Hail: 0.25"<br />
Tornadoes: None<br />Other Phenomena: None<br />
Chase Partner: Brad Pascoe <br />
Applicable Mesoscale Discussions: None<br />
Applicable Weather Watches: None<br />
<a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/120319_rpts.html">Storm Reports for March 19th</a> <br />
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Detail Map:<br />
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-33467634406910573082012-05-13T00:19:00.000-06:002012-05-13T00:35:56.503-06:002012 - March 19th - Devils Garden, Arches National ParkMy cousin Brad had come to visit over the Saint Patrick's Day weekend. We had already gone on several hikes... you can read about those <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/04/2012-march-17th-bridgeportdeer-creek.html">here</a> and <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/04/2012-march-18th-hanging-lake-trail.html">here</a>. On his final full day in town, we decided to head on over to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm">Arches National Park</a>. It really is an exceptional place and worthy of a visit or five in your lifetime. <br />
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I already posted a few photos of our journey to the park (<a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/05/2012-march-19th-richardson-amphitheater.html">which you can see here</a>), so this post will detail a hike that we took through the Devils Garden. <br />
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Weather was going to be a little touchy during the day... scattered rain and snow showers had already started to develop across eastern Utah. The previous day's storm system was clearing out, but in its wake, cold air aloft was leading to convection. Still, the intermittent light and cloud left for some beautiful vistas of the landscape... like these two images of the Courthouse Towers area...<br />
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<i>The Three Gossips & Sheep Rock (left), The Tower of Babel & The Organ (right)</i></div>
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<i>The Organ (front) & The Tower of Babel (back)</i></div>
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The Devils Garden is the northernmost vehicle-accessible area of the park, at least as far as paved roads are concerned. It exists as a long series of sandstone fins that stick up in parallel ridges. Here's an example of the terrain:<br />
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Of course, there are a ton of arches in the area, some hidden and some very well-known. I wasn't specifically after the arches, however. I had heard tell of a petroglyph panel near the Dark Angel, a sandstone spire at the end of the trail. Though I was interested in the arches, my main goal was to see the 'glyphs.<br />
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As we set out on trail, it was a little cool. Temperatures were only in the upper 40s and small patches of fresh snow could be found in recessed areas. The previous days' storm had caused sand to drift over the trails, making them almost untrodden. We passed by the famous landscape arch, which I neglected to image since I had already done so on a previous journey and under somewhat better lighting conditions.<br />
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<i>Landscape Arch (March 2011)</i></div>
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I had not done the entire Devils Garden Primitive Loop yet, however, so that was our goal for the day. We planned to visit each of the small side trails as well. The first took us to Navajo Arch.<br />
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<i>Navajo Arch</i></div>
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A kind family took a photo of me and Brad looking rather tough. <br />
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After Navajo, we continued back and took a second off-shoot to Partition Arch. I had imaged that arch before as well, but from a much different perspective.<br />
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<i>Partition Arch (March 2011)</i></div>
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This time, we took the trail to the "back" of Partition Arch. The light was kind of terrible thanks to a passing snow shower, but I tried to get the best exposures possible. <br />
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<i>See the falling snow!</i></div>
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<i>The view east from Partition Arch.</i></div>
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After Partition, we rejoined the main trail and continued northwest up into a dense network of fins. The trail actually ascends and rides the crest of several of the fins, affording us with fantastic views. It helped that the sun occasionally showed its face. <br />
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<i>Looking into Fin Canyon.</i></div>
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<i>West, across the Salt Valley to the Klondike Bluffs.</i></div>
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<i>A shower to the south.</i></div>
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<i>More weather to the southwest, over the Salt Valley.</i></div>
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<i>Black Arch viewpoint.</i></div>
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After a little trouble, we found our way to Double O Arch. The only reason I say trouble is that we encountered someone coming out of the back country and assumed he had come from the trail. But, we found our way eventually and landed at Double O.<br />
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After waiting for a few minutes, I finally got the light I wanted.<br />
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<i>Double O Arch</i></div>
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After I got the shots I wanted, I tried to return back through the little O of Double O but found that I couldn't easily ascend a ledge. It had been a lot easier to jump off of! So, I found another way out of the area and rejoined Brad on the trail. <br />
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<i>Double O, one more time.</i></div>
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The official "end of the trail" is at Dark Angel, which is not too far from Double O. So, we continued on. I think it is pretty obvious why Dark Angel is named as such.<br />
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<i>Dark Angel</i></div>
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Now for the petroglyphs. From what I understand, the petroglyphs aren't openly advertised by the park service. It's unfortunate, but often times, cultural resources like these are often harmed by people. So, I can understand why they aren't openly described. In that vein, I'll be vague about how to get there. I figure that if you have a keen interest in them, you'll be able to find them. Just walk west from Dark Angel and explore a little. Just make sure to stay off the soil crust!<br />
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We found them without too much trouble and I was surprised at how many there were. I had only expected there to be one panel, but there are many. The light wasn't great when we arrived, so we explored areas to the north and I found a couple of interesting places to occupy my small lens. <br />
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<i>It's a squeeze, either way.</i></div>
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Eventually, the sun came out and I set started snapping images... lots of them. I've included most below.<br />
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<u><i>Dark Angel Petroglyphs</i> </u></div>
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Just when we though we'd found them all, we'd come across another panel. The area is spectacular and well worth the trip off-trail. Again, please preserve not only the petroglyphs but the soil crusts as well.<br />
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Satisfied with our discoveries, we sat for fifteen minutes or so and had lunch. The view to the south was spectacular. <br />
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Done with lunch, we headed back to the trail and passed near Double O Arch once again.<br />
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<i>Looking northwest along the fins, Dark Angel on the left.</i></div>
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We also stopped at Double O once again to get a picture of Dark Angel through the little O. <br />
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From there, it was on to the "primitive" loop of the trail. The loop heads northeast from Double O and passes a couple of small arches. The first spur on the trail takes you to Private Arch, was I found to be pretty fantastic. <br />
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<i>Private Arch</i></div>
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<i>Look closely and you may see Brad taking a siesta.</i></div>
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Back on the main trail, it continues east and then drops southeast into a wash. There are several exposed areas that area little uncomfortable to walk on as the sand makes the slickrock slippery. As we were coming down into the wash, we spotted another arch off to the right that did not have a trail. We carefully navigated a few fresh sand dunes to find the unnamed arch. Eventually, it would discover its name to be Box Arch.<br />
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<i>Box Arch</i></div>
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The trail crosses Fin Canyon and then begins to climb back to the south toward the main trail. <br />
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The sun was spending more time out and the small showers seemed to coagulate into large, more organized cells. In fact, there seemed to be a big cell to the south near Moab. The light was absolutely gorgeous. <br />
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Three days of hiking had made us a little tired and I was out of water. Luckily, the temperatures were only in the upper 50s to perhaps low 60s. The storms certainly captivated my attention too. We took one last stop at Pine Tree Arch to complete the full loop with all spurs. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-30Kr0Zp2w5A/T6d0UGCcRbI/AAAAAAAAGD0/IMBx9V7Ebfc/s1600/20120319.2140.00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-30Kr0Zp2w5A/T6d0UGCcRbI/AAAAAAAAGD0/IMBx9V7Ebfc/s640/20120319.2140.00Z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Hard to beat that lighting!</i></div>
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Once we got close to the car, my mouth began to salivate at the nearby convection. Due to the high, exposed nature of the area, I was able to pull a radar scan and found there to be several strong thunderstorms in the area.<br />
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To chase or not to chase? That was the question. To be continued...<br />
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Here's a useful map: (click for a larger version)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rCpFb1GUW1M/T69QZ4rocHI/AAAAAAAAGEM/lPDys5FwWBE/s1600/Arches.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rCpFb1GUW1M/T69QZ4rocHI/AAAAAAAAGEM/lPDys5FwWBE/s400/Arches.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-90162581087844071902012-05-07T00:25:00.001-06:002012-05-07T00:26:20.380-06:002012 - March 19th - Richardson Amphitheater Area, Grand County, UtahAs a general rule, any time I've driven to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm">Arches National Park</a>, I've taken Utah 128. This route departs I-70 near Cisco, Utah and drops south to the Colorado River, following it through its canyons to Moab. The scenery is spectacular and has earned it a spot among <a href="http://byways.org/explore/byways/2013/travel.html">America's Scenic Byways</a>. (follow link to a map)<br />
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I was to spend the day in Arches with my cousin Brad, who was visiting from Montana. We got an early start and were not let down by the early morning light on the canyon walls. <br />
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The tight canyons eventually open up on the Richardson Amphitheater, which is a wide park flanked by towering sandstone monoliths and bounded by the snow-capped La Sal Mountains. The view is recognizable and it frequently seen in movies. In fact, Brad and I watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401729/">John Carter of Mars</a> the night before and were greeted with one such scene. <br />
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On this morning, I was absolutely delighted to see a light coating of snow on the ground. <br />
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<i>Castleton Tower (AKA Castle Rock) & The Rectory (AKA Priest & Nuns) [Left], Sister Superior [Center], The Convent [Right], Parriott Mesa [Behind Right]</i></div>
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<i>Castleton Tower & The Rectory</i></div>
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<i>Another view from Professor Creek</i></div>
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From there, we continued on to Arches. To be continued...<br />
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-71725393261596588782012-04-09T01:06:00.000-06:002012-04-09T01:06:04.226-06:002011 Storm Chase 15 - July 8th - Desert Disappointment<i>Catching up on a few 2011 entries since I'm still backlogged on 2012 imagery...</i><br />
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This entry details a storm chase from July 8th, 2011. <br />
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I was at reporting at work on this particular Friday afternoon. We had been in a Monsoon pattern for a while and that was keeping thunderstorm opportunities more frequent. <br />
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I was downtown shooting a story (or attempting to) with my co-worker PJ. My phone was blowing up with text from Eddie and Drew about storms in the area, which I could see to the west. I was trying to ignore them to the best of my ability as I couldn't exactly do anything about it. Winds were whipping through the downtown area as outflow from the storms passed. The strongest cell was north of town, heading into the desert. <br />
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I talked with my boss and he told me I could make a pursuit, so I headed
off to the north side of town, cursing traffic in the mean time. Drew,
who was also out chasing, met up with us and jumped in the car. The
storm was on its way out of the valley at this point, but I wanted to see what it had put down since it was carrying a decent amount of reflectivity. <br />
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We drove north into the desert, which was fine until we left the gravel road and got into the clay. PJ and Drew seemed horrified at how the vehicle reacted to the road, but I was used to it and was drifting adeptly in all-wheel drive. I don't think they've experienced the "cake batter" before. Long story short, we didn't find any hail, though we did find a golf ball. It fooled us at first. Then, it was back to the station empty handed. <br />
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Detail Map:</div>
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<u><b>STATS</b></u><br />
Mileage: 24<br />
2011YTD Mileage: 1686<br />
States: Colorado<br />
<a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2011/day1otlk_20110708_2000.html">SPC Risk: Probabilistic (Wind)</a><br />
Max Hail: None<br />
Tornadoes: None<br />
Other Phenomena: None<br />
Applicable Mesoscale Discussions: None<br />
Applicable Weather Watches: None<br />
<a href="http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/110708_rpts.html">Storm Reports for July 8th</a><br />
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-50321972697906535092012-04-01T21:11:00.002-06:002012-04-01T21:12:30.334-06:002012 - March 18th - Hanging Lake Trail, Spouting Rock & Dead Horse Creek; White River National ForestOn day two of my cousins being in town, we headed for a Colorado favorite: Hanging Lake. (<a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2012/04/2012-march-17th-bridgeportdeer-creek.html">Day one's adventure can be found here.</a>) It's best to avoid the area during the summer months as the parking lot is often full. Though it was a weekend day, the weather was not going to be nice. I was hoping that it would detract the crowds. I was lucky to <a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2011/09/2011-april-27th-hanging-lake-spouting.html">visit on a very "dead" day last spring</a>. Of course, it was a week day and the weather was a little cool back then as well. <br />
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Brian had to head back to the Front Range to study; he's in the last semester of his graduate program. So, I thought it would be a good idea to go some place that would be on his way home and just have him follow us out there.<br />
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I think we all slept in a bit after the previous night's fun, which was probably good. We hit the road by late morning under cloudy skies and I knew that we'd be facing rain in the afternoon when the cold front arrived and possibly more light warm air advection stratoform precip before then. <br />
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It's funny traveling with Brad and Brian. Both are avid fishermen and they look at the rivers like I look at the skies. I think there is a mutual respect of each other's passion. <br />
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The parking lot was half-full as we arrived around noon. Brian didn't have a lot of time to waste, so we immediately began our trek up the hill. I decided to keep my camera stowed on the way up the hill to save time and only shoot on the way down, so Brian could go ahead if he was running short on time.<br />
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We found the trail to be muddy and quite icy in spots. I witnessed several people fall on their hikes down. Though the previous night's revelry did have some impact on my constitution, I trudged on up the hill and remained steady on my feet.<br />
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There was more snow than on my previous trip, so that subtly altered the character of the trail, which was nice. Another strange thing was that the water level in Dead Horse Creek was lower, but it was flowing in more areas. Last time, the creek disappeared beneath the earth for several long stretches. Perhaps, though the water level was lower, the ground was frozen which resulted in more surface water in spots. That is just speculation.<br />
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It rained and snowed occasionally, but never heavily on the way up. After reaching Hanging Lake, I waited for people to cease climbing out onto the long log which floats upon the surface and then paused for a few pictures. Brad and Brian stared into the water and watched the trout (or char, perhaps) swim about.<br />
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I'm not sure what it is with Hanging Lake (and I found this last time as well), but I was having trouble being happy with my compositions. On the bright side, or dark side I suppose, it was dark enough for longer exposures, so that is a plus. Here are several pictures that I'm not necessarily sure if I like. Enjoy. <br />
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After hanging out at Hanging Lake for a bit (get it?), I wanted to show them Spouting Rock. So, we hiked a little farther on the trail... it only takes a couple of minutes. I was happy to see a giant ice pillar next to the falls, which still emerge directly from the face of the rock. At some times of the year, an additional waterfall pours off the top of the cliff. The ice pillar is a result of that flow. We spent some time looking around and I took probably too much time trying to get some good images. I have trouble deciding which ones are more presentable, so I've posted quite a few. <br />
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I could tell Brian was ready to get on the road, so I tried to put my camera away, but not before getting a few more shots. I was crouched behind a rock, against the wall to get the best angle when a woman walked up. Apparently she didn't see me until she was right on top of me, because she jumped about a foot in the air. I captured a couple of good frames from that spot, though.<br />
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The drizzle continued as we began our trek down the canyon. I stopped once more at the top of the falls over Hanging Lake for a couple of shots.<br />
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<i>Rain & Snow obscuring the view.</i></div>
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On our way down, I ran into a young lady that didn't have a camera. I awkwardly tried to explain how to get to my blog. (Hope you got a chance to check out the photos!) It made me realize that I need to have an easier name than "bigskyconvection" ... thus my eventual pull toward "alwayschasing." Too bad I'm paying for hosting on the former and everything is already locked down there, including all of my old blog entries. Eh, I'll figure it out some time... anyway, back to the trip.<br />
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Poor Brian did biff it once on the way down and luckily, I believe, didn't do any further damage to his arm. I saw plenty of others fall too on the icy path, but I remained on my feet. It was very difficult not to stop at every little riffle in the creek and take pictures, though I did stop at a few.<br />
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Once at the bottom, Brian headed back to Denver and me and Brad wandered on in to Glenwood Springs for a late lunch. We were referred to <a href="http://charcoalburger.com/">Vicco's Charcoalburger</a>. I was hoping for a place to sit down and eat but I didn't realize it was a drive-in until we arrived. At that point, I was too hungry to go some place else. We originally planned on eating outside, but the cold front arrived at that moment... FROPA! ...and ruined any thought of that. It was incredibly windy! So, we ate in my car. Honestly, I wasn't a big fan. Both Brad & I had mushroom & Swiss burgers. They use fake American-style Swiss cheese, though, which is awful. The smoke sauce was decent, but the burger overall was kind of disappointing. The chocolate malt was runny and unpleasant as well. We had full bellies, though, so I suppose that's all that really mattered.<br />
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On the way back, we battled light rain and wind with occasional bursts of heavy snow.<br />
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We topped off the evening by watching <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401729/">John Carter of Mars</a>, which was pretty good. A lot of it was shot in Utah and I recognized several areas which I told Brad we'd be driving by on the next day. Our plan was to visit <a href="http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm">Arches</a>.<br />
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Here's a useful map:<br />
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Dann.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365122097669798681.post-65277660941873317382012-04-01T00:46:00.001-06:002012-04-01T00:47:42.467-06:002012 - March 17th - Bridgeport/Deer Creek Petroglyphs & Big Dominguez Canyon, Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area/Dominguez Canyons WildnernessMy cousins Brad and Brian were coming into down for Saint Patrick's Day weekend. I basically grew up with Brad in Montana and I lived with Brian and his family in Denver for a year when I moved to Colorado. Brad and Brian are also cousins to each other. I hope that all makes sense. Anyway, both were coming into town and I wanted to show them some of the sights. Our first hike excursion was to the Dominguez Canyon area. I had been there once previously (<a href="http://blog.bigskyconvection.com/2011/08/2011-april-6th-big-dominguez-creek.html">read here</a>) and wanted to visit again, especially to show others around. <br />
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Both arrived on Friday night (the 16th), one by car and one by air. After a hearty breakfast of Swedish Pancakes (a family favorite), we hit the road on St. Paddy's Day morning. This time around, I wanted to see if I could find some petroglyphs near the trailhead. On my previous journey, I came across the well-known 'glyphs in the canyon, but another local adventurer (rock art fanatic) told me of another panel near the trailhead.<br />
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It was a warm day already and the wind was starting to pick up in advance of the next storm that would arrive on Sunday. A few high clouds, many terrain-induced were already setting up. <br />
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At the trailhead, I looked around for possible locations of the panel and discovered it without too much trouble. Again, with respect to cultural preservation, I won't divulge the exact location. But industrious folks who might decide to look for it should be able to find it without much trouble. Just a reminder, though... don't touch! Stand back, in awe and snap photos. <br />
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We explored the vicinity a bit and looked an old structure. I'm not sure if it was created by the picture-makers or someone else, but it was still cool to see.<br />
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As we were exploring around, I could swear that I smelled smoke. It turned out that someone had camped there the night before and did not fully extinguish their fire.<br />
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Pleased with the discovery of the "new to me" panel, I was eager to show my cousins the rest of the canyon, so we hit the trail. There were several other groups of people and a few cars at the trailhead, but it wasn't extremely busy.<br />
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Despite the wind blowing sand into our eyes occasionally, it was a beautiful day.<br />
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<i>The Gunnison River and Sand Flat beyond.</i></div>
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<i>Looking downstream on the Gunny from the pedestrian bridge to the old Bridgeport bridge.</i></div>
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I'll spare you the details of the entire hike and skip to the highlights. Last year, during the flooding in May and June, part of the trail had washed out. It was repaired to some extent and open to hikers but nothing else.<br />
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<i>A dead Cottonwood at the canyon entrance.</i></div>
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Our first stop was the big waterfall. The water was a lot muddier than last year! We hiked around the waterfall and sat on an opposite ridge to eat some beef jerky, trail mix and Starburst jelly beans. Here are several photos of the falls. I couldn't decide which one I liked the best, so I've posted them all. I hung around on the ridge while Brad and Brian hiked back over to the top of the falls.<br />
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And now a couple with Brad and Brian for scale. The waterfall is rather impressive and surprisingly not listed on <a href="http://www.usgs.gov/">USGS</a> maps. It does run year-round as I understand. <br />
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I joined them at the top of the falls and then took them a bit upstream to see the good petroglyph panels. We stopped at all the places that I visited last time, though avoided one panel since there was a group of people smoking pot there. I'm sure they had their MMJ cards.<br />
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Anyway, as we began to wander back, we noticed a couple of people at the top of the rubble at the base of the canyon wall. Sure enough, there was another panel; one that I had not seen on my previous visit. I was suddenly quite excited. As soon as they started to work their way down, we headed up. <br />
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I was pretty excited to have found two new panels on a hike I had already been on. Plus, it was great to be able to show the area to my cousins. On our way out of the canyon, their eyes were glued to the canyon walls looking for more. After being in the area for a while, I'm almost used to them... but it's awesome to see someone discovering them for the first time. <br />
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I was a little worried about Brian. He was in a pretty bad car accident a couple of months ago and ended up with fractures and a dislocated elbow. His arm is still healing and he had to wear a sling while hiking. Also, he was sick the night before. He was a trooper though and seemed fine on the hike.<br />
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When we got back to my place, I realized that though I had taken my sunscreen out, I neglected to put any on and was dealing with a wicked sunburn. I wasn't going to let that bother me, though. I invited a bunch of friends over and we grilled up some beer sausage made from elk and a ton of Hebrew National Hot Dogs. Then, it was a night of revelry downtown... it was Saint Patrick's Day after all.<br />
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The last thing I remember that night was the absolutely epic wind coming out of the south as we walked home. I soaked it up, to say the least.<br />
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Here's a useful map (click for larger):<br />
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Dann.<br />
PS: We weren't done yet. Hanging Lake was next on our agenda.Dann Ciancahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03217653557093873612noreply@blogger.com4