San Rafael Reef March 2011; Day 1

Tyler

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Joined
Jan 18, 2012
Messages
464
Note: Some of these pictures were taken with my iphone's "hipstamatic" camera, which I really like. Sorry if they don't look a little over-processed.

This was the 6th year in a row that we've done a camping trip to the Swell in March, but this one was cut a day short due to weather. Still, we made the most of the opportunity to be down there.

We had been watching the weather report and for at least a week out, it was looking pretty good, then doom and gloom (i.e. cold and rain/snow) started showing up on the forecast and things weren't looking so good. Still, we carried on with our plans because part of us (me) were optimistic that the weather man would suck (as usual) in his forecast, while the other half of us were just hell-bent on continuing the tradition.

On our way down we encountered heavy rain/snow all the way until we reached the green river area. Things were looking somewhat hopeful when we started to see some blue sky, then we arrived at the Reef and it started to hail like crazy.

This is what the ground looked like at our favorite campsite (which we always luck out and score when we go there)



We even experienced seeing some awesome run-off of water and realized how quickly an amazingly a flash flood starts. No, we didn't see a flood, but in the short amount of rain/hail that happened, there was quite a bit of run-off off the reef into little ditches all around. It was awesome.

The wet slickrock around our campsite



Like typical Utah desert fashion, it dried up quickly and blue skies started showing up. We quickly set up camp and hung around for a bit.

Caiden and bailey played in the sand for a while













We also explored around the reef. The dogs were loving their new freedom







My new all-wood Proof sunglasses



We decided to head north to Farnsworth canyon to do a little hike. I forgot how much I LOVED Farnsworth. It's easy for kids and there are some really scenic spots in this slot.

The trail going toward the canyon



Farnsworth canyon in the background



Dropping down into the canyon and looking East



Bailey taking a ride



Caiden







Bailey found a little chair



It starts to narrow up







So cool to see how much flash flooding can change a canyon. A year ago we came here to this spot and had to scramble around multiple potholes of water. This time they were full of dirt and rocks





Under the large rock and choke stone







Same spot that was full of water last year (reverse angle), along with last year's picture



(last year)



Selfies on the way out







It started to get pretty cold, so we headed back to camp, made dinner, sat around for a bit, then hit the sack



 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
J Moving down to Southern San Rafael Reef Wilderness for two more loop hikes April 13-14 2021 Hiking & Camping 1
J San Rafael Reef Wilderness. Rambling on the Reef March 30-31, 2021 Hiking & Camping 1
kansas San Rafael Reef Trip Planning 2
Udink San Rafael Reef Hiking & Camping 2
Udink San Rafael Reef Exploration Hiking & Camping 7
Udink San Rafael Reef between LWH and Chute Hiking & Camping 3
Michael Black Dragon Slickrock 'Trail' - San Rafael Reef, 6-2011 Hiking & Camping 5
Udink San Rafael Reef above Spring Canyon Hiking & Camping 3
Udink San Rafael Reef Rock Art Hiking & Camping 3
Udink San Rafael Reef between Iron Wash and Mormon Tanks Hiking & Camping 10
Udink Old Woman Wash, San Rafael Reef Hiking & Camping 4
Tyler San Rafael Reef March 2011; Day 2 Hiking & Camping 0
M Lost a drone in the San Rafael River area/below the wedge. No time to hike in to retrieve. General Discussion 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
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
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
Jackson Jurassic National Monument and San Rafael Swell Conservation Area General Discussion 9
TrektheWorld The San Rafael Sure is.....Swell Hiking & Camping 1
Jackson Return to the San Rafael River Gorge Backpacking 17
fiber Invite Late March 3-4 day San Rafael Swell Backpacking Loop Meet Up (Members Only) 1
Devin Ashby Nate’s Canyon/ Spring Canyon San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 2
George_Washington_Hayduke Packrafting and Bikepacking from the San Rafael River to Muddy Creek On The Water 0
Jackson San Rafael River Backpacking 7
S Moab/San Rafael Swell Trip advice-family Trip Planning 6
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
Udink San Rafael Fall 2015 Hiking & Camping 4
Artemus Conserving the San Rafael Swell - Interested? General Discussion 13
P Noob looking for solitary beauty in canyon lands, san rafael, escalante Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
IntrepidXJ Legislative resolution: Drilling is ‘best use’ for Cedar Mesa and San Rafael Swell General Discussion 13
kansas Sunsets in the San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 13
kansas Hunting in San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 2
steve San Rafael River Float On The Water 5
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
Udink San Rafael Spring 2014 Hiking & Camping 11
Scott Chandler Easter Weekend Day 3: The Upper San Rafael Hiking & Camping 2
steve Invite San Rafael Swell River Float - dates TBD depending on water levels Meet Up (Members Only) 73
steve Floating the San Rafael General Discussion 9
K This weekend: San Rafael Swell or Moab? Trip Planning 4
steve San Rafael Swell Quickie Off Road 8

Similar threads

Back
Top