Lower-Lower Muley Twist 4/12/2013

slc_dan

slc_dan

Desert Rat-Weekend Warrior
Joined
Jun 7, 2012
Messages
1,687
I've been hiking Capitol Reef as my favorite destination for the past 5 or 6 years. I keep finding new places, and each new spot fails to disappoint. NateGeesaman initiated me with some amazing car camping, and a longer hike called Navajo Knobs that extends past the Hickman Bridge trail in the center of the park. We've hiked most parts of the park between the two of us, and I don't see us stopping CR as our favorite destination anytime soon.

This weekend was originally going to be me joining langutah for some recon along Upper Muley Twist. You can see his input on the actual recon done here. Jammer was hoping for an easy way down the Waterpocket fold from the top of Upper Muley Twist.

It didn't work out for me due to a previous commitment. So I talked my wife into doing a little backpacking-leaving Saturday morning. She decided to not come, so I was able to go solo. If you've never backpacked solo, do it. The solitude and thinking done is simply incredible. This was a shorter outing, but provided some very nice insight.

I set off Saturday morning at 5:30 am. I get up about that time everyday, and the excitement was enough to get me up on a day off. I got to the Visitor Center near Torrey about 9:00. After waiting for quite a few people speak to the Ranger(s) I was able to secure my FREE permit, and be on my way. I cruised through the park at a natural and safe speed of doubling the limit. The turn off to the Notom Road came quickly, as I wove in and out of Capitol Dome, next to the Fremont River, and through the major touristy part of the park. Even that part is amazing.

The forecast didn't look perfect. Good temperatures, but high winds. Before I left NateGeesaman reminded me that high winds made good clouds. He knows what he's talking about when it comes to clouds and Capitol Reef.


Notom Road Gigantor Lenticular by slc_dan, on Flickr

To the east on this road is a spectacular view of the Henry Mountains. Last mountain range in the lower 48 to be drawn on a map. Kicking up great clouds, as always.

Henry Stacks by slc_dan, on Flickr

I had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road as I speed quickly down the Notom Road. The beauty surprises me every time. After what seamed like no time at all I was at The Post.

Looking south, the show continued.

Post South Clouds by slc_dan, on Flickr


After filling my platypus 4 liter bladder with my car reserves, I threw it in my pack and was on my way. I took the route staight west and up into the Water Pocket Fold. This route cuts the beginning of the hike off, and gets you into the lower part of Lower Muley. Near the top I saw a Bighorn Sheep walking towards me, then posed up on a high ridge. I was able to switch lenses and catch a great shot.


Big Horn 2 by slc_dan, on Flickr

I continued up and over the fold into the deep canyon. It required a bit of route finding, but the cairns were decent enough. I did spot the arch, but just wasn't excited about it at the time. I decided to continue on. I'm sure I'll spend more time taking pictures of it another time.

I came into the canyon, and automatically it started looking great.


LMT Undercut by slc_dan, on Flickr


LMT Dan by slc_dan, on Flickr


LMT Fat Cottonwood by slc_dan, on Flickr

As I went around a larger bend I was blasted with winds. It was some of the strongest winds I have ever experienced. I decided to turn around, and cruise back to a big undercut 500 yards back for a rest. I hoped it would calm down and I could continue later. What I found looked like a modern cowboy camp. TONS of fresh(er) cow shit, and remains of several recent camp fires. I remembered that there is still legacy rights of cattle grazing in this National Park. Can't we stop that yet?

It made for a decent resting spot. It certainly got me out of the wind for a while.


LMT Modern Cowboy Camp rest 1 by slc_dan, on Flickr


LMT Modern Cowboy Camp rest 3 by slc_dan, on Flickr

I continued on after resting for 30-40 minutes. The wind let up a bit, and I put my rain jacket on. With the billed hood I could get a good block on the wind. It was too hot to wear the damn thing though, so I took it off after not too long. Luckily most of the bad headwind was gone.

I continued through the massive canyon. The tales of massive undercuts throughout the hike are no joke. The size makes you feel very small in comparison.


LMT Under-Undercut 1 by slc_dan, on Flickr


LMT Under-Undercut by slc_dan, on Flickr



One of the final undercuts include an old Cowboy Camp. Some inscriptions read 1921. There is a good source of water right here as well.


LMT Cowboy Glyphs by slc_dan, on Flickr


LMT Cowboy Camp 1 by slc_dan, on Flickr

It looked to be bubbling up, so a kind of spring? I love my platypus gravity filter!!!

LMT Water refil by slc_dan, on Flickr


A while later you start seeing a cut in the fold. Just the amount of time I've spent in the area let me know that this meant the end of Lower Muley was coming.


LMT ending verto by slc_dan, on Flickr

A turn around the bend led east, and out of the fold.


LMT Ending by slc_dan, on Flickr

It led through some great lines.


LMT Sandstone Caridiogram by slc_dan, on Flickr

If one were interested in doing this loop backward, it's a bit hard to tell where the turn off is. There are 3-4 side canyons that lead west as you are hiking south. It let me to a failed attempt into the twist one trip out this last fall. I snapped some pics looking in from this route. Here they are.


Looking north coming out

LMT South end Entrance-Exit 2 by slc_dan, on Flickr

West looking into the fold-the Entrance/My exit.


LMT South end Entrance-Exit 1 by slc_dan, on Flickr

I headed back north a few more miles in search of a good spot to camp. I've often heard people say that this part of the walk down Grand Gulch is less interesting than the massive Twist canyon. I disagree wholeheartedly.


LMT Grand Gulch Return south by slc_dan, on Flickr

You can see a little dust storm in this pic

LMT Grand Gulch return 4 by slc_dan, on Flickr

Some nice Cactus flowers.

LMT Cactus Flowers by slc_dan, on Flickr


The sun was setting, so I found a spot up on some redrocks in the middle of Grand Gulch, and hunkered down. I sipped on some High West Campfire whiskey, and made a freeze-dried meal. I didn't stay up real late due to the early morning, and the fast pace I had been keeping all day. It was a fairly early bed time. I was woken up by high winds a few times, but I just buried my head into my pack sitting close to my head and let it pass. I was able to stare up at the stars when I was awake, and always fell back asleep quickly.


LMT camp by slc_dan, on Flickr


LMT stars 1 by slc_dan, on Flickr


LMT night by slc_dan, on Flickr


I awoke to a beautiful sunrise, and no more wind.


LMT Good Morning by slc_dan, on Flickr

I hiked the last 4 miles or so very quickly, and reunited with my 2001 Civic. I made it to my car at 9AM. I decided to drive through Boulder. I've been to CR about a dozen time, and I'd never driven through Boulder. What a beautiful drive. The speed limits were again-often doubled for most of the drive.


LMT Burr Trail Switchbacks by slc_dan, on Flickr

It added about an hour to my drive. Between the views and Hell's Backbone breakfast it was definitely worth it. The chili-migas were great.

I stopped once more in Scipio to gas up, and I was back in SLC by about 2:30.

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That Long Canyon drive is gorgeous. Looks like a nice trip.
 
I have some other things to say about this trip, and questions about your route. But for now, I would just like to commend you on your choice of whiskey. I picked up a bottle of Campfire over the winter when I was not able to walk without crutches. That stuff literally tastes like drinking whiskey in the desert, no matter where you are. I think it's high time I pickup another bottle for my trip next weekend.
 
NIce report Danny-Boy. A wild sheep - Hell Yes! So, you were able to power through sleeping without shelter. I'll bet you had some sand in your teeth and were covered with it in the morning. :( I was covered in it INSIDE my tent that night farther north in UMT.

Yes we have to get the non-wild animals (cows) banned from this last National Park as we should from all designated wilderness. I encountered cow patties all through my hike as well. And the Lamppost road north and west of the park was some of the most cow-hammered terrain in all of Utah. Sad.
 
Nice Tr. I was hoping you were gonna hit the Hamburger Rocks. Pretty darn close. Time constraints?
What a cool place!!!!
 
powderglut said:
Nice Tr. I was hoping you were gonna hit the Hamburger Rocks. Pretty darn close. Time constraints?
What a cool place!!!!
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I had been to them last fall, and planned on going down there if I didn't find water in the canyon. I found some great water by the old Cowboy Camp, and didn't find it necessary to go down there again so soon.

I'll post some pics when I get home of the Hamburger Rocks. The are definitely worth seeing, but I was a bit itchy to get home. I was in a hot seat with my wife, and the extra time Sunday smoothed it over.
 
intuitive cat said:
Dan, you drove through Boulder and didn't stop at the store to say hello? shame on you! ;)
great TR. I've gotta get over to the fold more this year.
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I almost asked the server at Hell's Backbone if there was a store around that had a worker named Darren, but I figured me telling them you were an internet friend would just raise eyebrows. :) Another time sir.
 
Great TR
I hiked with my wife and 5 year old daughter up Upper Muley to Jug Handle Arch and then up to the top of waterpocket fold. We had a picnic at the top and just soaked in the view of the Henry's and the length of the fold. My wife still mentions it as being one of her favorite views. Of course, didn't see another person the whole day.
We also did surprise canyon (I think that is the name). We car camped at the official primitive campground on Notom Road. Saw about 50 wild turkeys.
Another very very short hike we did was south of the Visitor Center to see some rock art mentioned in a Kelsey book. It was very good. I asked about it in the Visitor Center and they looked at me real nervous and told me there wasn't anything there. Of course, not another person there all day at an incredible huge rock art panel. Good family fun.
We had dinner at Hell's Backbone Grill even though the guy at H&H told us to go to Burr Trail Grill.
I have been to Hills and Hollows and bought one of my favorite t-shirts there. Most of the time when people look at it they get confused because they have never heard of Boulder, UT. Even life long Utahns.
 
slc_dan said:
I had been to them last fall, and planned on going down there if I didn't find water in the canyon. I found some great water by the old Cowboy Camp, and didn't find it necessary to go down there again so soon.

I'll post some pics when I get home of the Hamburger Rocks. The are definitely worth seeing, but I was a bit itchy to get home. I was in a hot seat with my wife, and the extra time Sunday smoothed it over.
Click to expand...


Here are some pics of when I was in the area Sept 2012


Wear Pattern Burgers by slc_dan, on Flickr


IMG_0288 by slc_dan, on Flickr


Hamburger Rocks top by slc_dan, on Flickr
 
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