A Swell Plan B

Nick

-
.
Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
12,949
I'm still behind on trip reports from over the winter, but here's a quick one from this weekend. I dug out my old point and shoot camera so I didn't have to spend any time processing photos - what a concept!

2 months ago I secured a permit to float Westwater Canyon on the Colorado River on St. Patricks Day. It would be my first trip through the class III-IV stretch of whitewater. Early spring might not be the best time of year for it but I wanted to get a run under my belt at lower, safer water levels before going big. But as the trip grew closer, the weather got worse and worse. With less than 48 hours before we would leave, the weather looked like crap, but we were committed. We'd already be in dry suits to avoid hypothermia, so what's a little wind, rain and snow?!

That all seemed good (but a bit crazy) until the updated forecast dropped 24 hours before the trip. 45 mph wind gusts and a 60% chance of rain and snow. That's not going to work. So with great sadness, we pulled the plug on it. I spent the night that should have been spent packing working on a new cataraft build, feeling bummed out that my first river trip of the year now wouldn't be until late April. And then at about 11pm, I got a message from Tim (@lostlandscapes) proposing that we could still go get in a quick overnighter before the worst of the wind and precipitation hit the area. It didn't take me long to think about that - hell yes.

We both put in a short day at work and made the relatively quick 3 hour drive down to the San Rafael Swell in time for an evening day hike up Cottonwood Wash. It was great to be hiking with Tim again after more than a year.
swell-3-2018-1.jpg

Cottonwood was still in winter mode, but it was beautiful nonetheless.
swell-3-2018-2.jpg swell-3-2018-3.jpg

I've never really looked seriously at backpacking here, but walking up it a mile or so made me think twice about that.
swell-3-2018-4.jpg swell-3-2018-5.jpg swell-3-2018-6.jpg

We camped near the mouth of Cottonwood that night. The wind was a little active but not too bad. The next morning we woke up and headed south to Smith Cabin to hike to the top of the San Rafael Reef.
swell-3-2018-7.jpg swell-3-2018-8.jpg

There was a group camped out at Smith Cabin with multiple horse trailers. They passed us on the way up. You don't see that very often in the desert.
swell-3-2018-9.jpg swell-3-2018-10.jpg

Hiking up the reef is sublime. Great views and a nice gradual incline.
swell-3-2018-11.jpg swell-3-2018-12.jpg swell-3-2018-13.jpg swell-3-2018-14.jpg swell-3-2018-15.jpg

After about 2 miles and 900 some odd feet of elevation gain, we were at the top looking down at Mexican Mountain, the San Rafael River and Spring Canyon.

Click for larger image.
reef-pano-1-web.jpg


swell-3-2018-16.jpg swell-3-2018-17.jpg swell-3-2018-18.jpg

From there we walked along the rim for a while to get some different views of the San Rafael River.

Click for larger image.
reef-pano-2-web.jpg


swell-3-2018-19.jpg swell-3-2018-20.jpg swell-3-2018-21.jpg swell-3-2018-22.jpg

As we took in the view, the first of the really strong winds started kicking up, inspiring us to start making our way back down. After a little celebration at the trailhead, we made our way home. It felt like a longer trip than it was (in a good way) and it really took the edge off of having to skip Westwater. And on the bright side, we were able to move our Westwater permit to a few weeks later, so hopefully we get a break on the weather next time.
 
Really pretty views! Love the sky patched with clouds.
 
I was thinking about taking the fam out to the swell this weekend, but the forecast doesn't look favorable for a 7 week old, and a 22 month old. I'll have to wait.
 
Last edited:
That’s some amazing scenery. Is there a scientific explanation as to why the sky and clouds seem to photograph so well or is it just me?
 
I've never really looked seriously at backpacking here, but walking up it a mile or so made me think twice about that.
It is a favorite place to backpack in the Swell because it has water and is not well known.
 
Any interesting routes or do you usually just do an out and back? I noticed Road Trip Ryan has one detailed that leaves the canyon and goes south overland and loops back around. I was thinking about doing something like that sometime this year. (https://www.roadtripryan.com/go/t/utah/san-rafael-swell/cottonwood-wash)

View attachment 62782
Dang that Ryan, always publishing my stuff :)

There are several loops to be done and also out and back although that is short-ish.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
BJett Part 2 - Tour de Canyon Country. Swell Times Hiking & Camping 0
D Horseshoe Canyon or San Rafael Swell? Trip Planning 9
D San Rafael Swell Recommendations Trip Planning 9
J Bunch O' N. San Rafael Swell summit scrambles April 10-12, 2021 (now w/rock art) Hiking & Camping 3
fossana San Rafael Swell MTB and salvaged packraft weekend Everything Else 13
Yvonne Backcountry Fest and some Swell explorations Hiking & Camping 8
Stephanie B Old Woman Wash, Three Finger Petroglyphs, and Wild Horse Canyon (Backcountry Fest in the San Rafael Swell) Hiking & Camping 6
Mikjik86 Video Hiking/Camping San Rafael Swell/Goblin Valley/Horseshoe Canyon - Feb 2019 Hiking & Camping 2
Nick Things to do in the Swell: Backcountry Fest Edition Meet Up (Members Only) 34
J San Rafael Swell Wilderness Designations General Discussion 13
Nick Invite Backcountry Fest! - April 5-7, 2019, San Rafael Swell Meet Up (Members Only) 274
SKLund Norteño Gets Elevated in the Swell Hiking & Camping 8
Jackson Jurassic National Monument and San Rafael Swell Conservation Area General Discussion 9
TrektheWorld The San Rafael Sure is.....Swell Hiking & Camping 1
fiber Invite Late March 3-4 day San Rafael Swell Backpacking Loop Meet Up (Members Only) 1
Ugly The Swell Wedge Hiking & Camping 5
Devin Ashby Nate’s Canyon/ Spring Canyon San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 2
S Moab/San Rafael Swell Trip advice-family Trip Planning 6
westy Roost and Swell fun Canyoneering 3
Artemus Help Requested - Conserving the San Rafael Swell Wilderness - Interested? General Discussion 16
SwimsWithTrout Best time of year for San Rafael Swell/Cedar Mesa ? Trip Planning 4
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell: South Fork Eagle Canyon Off Road 2
Kullaberg63 Eardley, the Swell Canyoneering 2
Artemus Conserving the San Rafael Swell - Interested? General Discussion 13
IntrepidXJ Legislative resolution: Drilling is ‘best use’ for Cedar Mesa and San Rafael Swell General Discussion 13
Udink Valentine's Day in the Northern Swell Everything Else 0
kansas Sunsets in the San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 13
kansas Hunting in San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 2
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell - Cane Wash Off Road 4
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell - Swaseys Leap (2006) Hiking & Camping 4
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell - The Western Slope - Slaughter Slopes Off Road 4
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell - The Western Slope and Lone Tree Wedge Off Road 0
hatchcanyon San Rafael Swell - The Western Slope and Mesa Butte Off Road 2
steve Invite San Rafael Swell River Float - dates TBD depending on water levels Meet Up (Members Only) 73
IntrepidXJ Tour de Swell Hiking & Camping 8
DAA Weekend Camping trip to The Swell Hiking & Camping 6
John Mckean Suggestions for the Little wild horse area of the Swell? Trip Planning 3
K This weekend: San Rafael Swell or Moab? Trip Planning 4
steve San Rafael Swell Quickie Off Road 8
gnwatts Victory!.. for you Swell fans General Discussion 6
PureLightImages Daughter's First Campout - San Rafael Swell Hiking & Camping 5
regehr car camping in the Swell Trip Planning 9
Dave Ding & Dang Canyons, San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 0
Udink Sid's Mountain, San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 0
PureLightImages Horsethief & Grotto - San Rafael Swell - 10.19.2012 Hiking & Camping 5
PureLightImages Solo Hike with Baby - Northern Swell & Little Wild Horse 10.06.2012 Hiking & Camping 10
Nick Southern Baptist Canyon, San Rafael Swell Canyoneering 13
Nick Lower Black Box, San Rafael Swell Canyoneering 15
Go-deep San Rafael Swell and the Chute of Muddy Creek Trip Planning 3
HomerJ San Rafael Swell - April 2012 Hiking & Camping 14

Similar threads

Back
Top