John Morrow
Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2015
- Messages
- 1,015
April 13:
David and I opted to head down to the reef for our last two days of hiking together, with summits, canyon narrows, and rock art in mind. So much to do down there.
We started at the Wildhorse Window TH and hiked up the reef passing the window to the top of Peak 6180'.

Wildhorse trailhead by John Morrow, on Flickr

To window by John Morrow, on Flickr

slaby walking by John Morrow, on Flickr

views emerge by John Morrow, on Flickr
Then we had a fun descending and re-ascending traverse to the next Peak to the west, Pk 6080'. Connecting the two took us through and across a neat little unnamed canyon that appears to split the reef, feasibly by non-technical walking.

Descending toward Wildhorse by John Morrow, on Flickr

turning up canyon (view down) by John Morrow, on Flickr

time to exit by John Morrow, on Flickr

getting over the wingate by John Morrow, on Flickr

On Peak 6080+ by John Morrow, on Flickr
Fun easy slope walking on the margin of the Kayenta and the Navajo led us intuitively descending back into Wildhorse Wash and out.

back into Wildhorse by John Morrow, on Flickr

a bit of narrow by John Morrow, on Flickr

Wildhorse wall by John Morrow, on Flickr
April 14:
We did a nice, albeit a bit long, loop connecting Forgotten and Old Woman Wash by running behind the reef on great Chinle ledges. The Chinle meant lots of beautiful petrified wood and interesting mining history. No peaks today, imagine that....In part so we could remain convinced that we can have a complete and gorgeous day without needed to get on the top of something. Of course, the rock art was still quite extensive, interesting, and wonderful. Not having paid close attention to site beta, I know we missed a bunch too. Sometimes the canyon has to neither be Tall nor narrow to be beautiful
Up Forgotten:

Heading to Forgotten Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr

Into Forgotten by John Morrow, on Flickr

narrows by John Morrow, on Flickr

exit the narrows by John Morrow, on Flickr
Next, up and around the Reef's backside:

out behind the Reef climbing by John Morrow, on Flickr

Looking back south by John Morrow, on Flickr

Old Woman Wash ahead by John Morrow, on Flickr

More wood by John Morrow, on Flickr

explore the slot by John Morrow, on Flickr

turnaround spot by John Morrow, on Flickr

out and traversing south side by John Morrow, on Flickr

Heading down to mouth by John Morrow, on Flickr

descending by John Morrow, on Flickr

canyon bottom ahead by John Morrow, on Flickr
A more complete story can be told in the complete photo set found here:
www.flickr.com

Wildhorse peaks loop by John Morrow, on Flickr

Forgotten-Old Woman Loop by John Morrow, on Flickr
David and I opted to head down to the reef for our last two days of hiking together, with summits, canyon narrows, and rock art in mind. So much to do down there.
We started at the Wildhorse Window TH and hiked up the reef passing the window to the top of Peak 6180'.

Wildhorse trailhead by John Morrow, on Flickr

To window by John Morrow, on Flickr

slaby walking by John Morrow, on Flickr

views emerge by John Morrow, on Flickr
Then we had a fun descending and re-ascending traverse to the next Peak to the west, Pk 6080'. Connecting the two took us through and across a neat little unnamed canyon that appears to split the reef, feasibly by non-technical walking.

Descending toward Wildhorse by John Morrow, on Flickr

turning up canyon (view down) by John Morrow, on Flickr

time to exit by John Morrow, on Flickr

getting over the wingate by John Morrow, on Flickr

On Peak 6080+ by John Morrow, on Flickr
Fun easy slope walking on the margin of the Kayenta and the Navajo led us intuitively descending back into Wildhorse Wash and out.

back into Wildhorse by John Morrow, on Flickr

a bit of narrow by John Morrow, on Flickr

Wildhorse wall by John Morrow, on Flickr
April 14:
We did a nice, albeit a bit long, loop connecting Forgotten and Old Woman Wash by running behind the reef on great Chinle ledges. The Chinle meant lots of beautiful petrified wood and interesting mining history. No peaks today, imagine that....In part so we could remain convinced that we can have a complete and gorgeous day without needed to get on the top of something. Of course, the rock art was still quite extensive, interesting, and wonderful. Not having paid close attention to site beta, I know we missed a bunch too. Sometimes the canyon has to neither be Tall nor narrow to be beautiful
Up Forgotten:

Heading to Forgotten Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr

Into Forgotten by John Morrow, on Flickr

narrows by John Morrow, on Flickr

exit the narrows by John Morrow, on Flickr
Next, up and around the Reef's backside:

out behind the Reef climbing by John Morrow, on Flickr

Looking back south by John Morrow, on Flickr

Old Woman Wash ahead by John Morrow, on Flickr

More wood by John Morrow, on Flickr

explore the slot by John Morrow, on Flickr

turnaround spot by John Morrow, on Flickr

out and traversing south side by John Morrow, on Flickr

Heading down to mouth by John Morrow, on Flickr

descending by John Morrow, on Flickr

canyon bottom ahead by John Morrow, on Flickr
A more complete story can be told in the complete photo set found here:

South San Rafael Swell loop hikes April 13-14, 2021
Explore this photo album by John Morrow on Flickr!

Wildhorse peaks loop by John Morrow, on Flickr

Forgotten-Old Woman Loop by John Morrow, on Flickr