San Rafael Swell - The Western Slope - Slaughter Slopes

hatchcanyon

Member
Joined
May 29, 2013
Messages
136
Heading back from Lone Tree Wedge we decide to stroll through the area for another two hours or so. At first we were heading to Mussentuchit Flat and going South to Cedar Mountain. Years ago we visited some point on the south end above Chimney Canyon where a trail starts down into the Chute.

Our maps (we use electronic topomaps on a notebook) showed a jeep Trail maybe 5 Miles long north of East Cedar Mountain. It ends on top of a cliff line and we thought there might be some views. Chimney Canyon Wash is more than 1,200 Feet below.

The area is called Slaughter Slopes and it is said that the name sticked to it after a large hunt for wild horses in the 1930ies.

Lets start with some pictures from the Mussentuchtit Flat.

DSC00054_12.jpg

Hebes Mountain and the Upper Willow Spring Wash Badlands

Its easy to see that the strata is rising eastward to the middle of the Swell, but the grade is much less than on its eastern side - the reef! Hebes Mountain is capped by a resistant sill of cooled down volcanic material. More volcanic features can be seen around Cedar Mountain.

_DSC0242_12.jpg

Grey in Grey - rocks and sky

_DSC0248_12.jpg

Mussentuchit sand dune

_DSC0250_12.jpg

East Cedar Mountain

_DSC0251_12.jpg

More sills and a volcanic neck at West Cedar Mountain

DSC00079_12.jpg

Debris from the sill

_DSC0254_12.jpg

East Cedar Mountain again

DSC00062_12.jpg

On a view point high above Chimney Canyon

Coordinates: 12S 0496420 4275710

DSC00058_12.jpg

Chimney Canyon

DSC00059_12.jpg

Our maps read "Johns Hole"

The trail runs along the rim in a northeastern direction. The maps don't show it anymore but it is still not too difficult to follow. We haven't explored it the whole lenght. (I guess it ends above the headwater of Ireland Mesa Canyon.)

After a little bit more than a mile we decided to stop, take some more pictures and later return to I 70 and Moab. It is 6:30 pm.

DSC00063_12.jpg

Tomsich Butte and Hondu (Hondoo?) Country

DSC00074_12.jpg

Using a "long" lens shows the top of Hondu Arch

DSC00068_12.jpg

Suddenly some sunshine in the evening

DSC00066_12.jpg

Looking back to Chimney Canyon

On the right the rim the trail follows to the northeast.

_DSC0261_12.jpg

Muddy Creek Canyon, Factory Butte and the Hernry Mountains in an distance

DSC00069_12.jpg

Muddy Creek Gorge through the Reef

The dumps from the infamous Delta (Hidden Splendor) Mine can be seen. Years ago we travelled the gorge several times by car (SUV).

DSC00070_12.jpg

Zoomed in: Black Beauty Factory Butte

DSC00072_12.jpg

Red Dot below the rim

Flowers we found:

_DSC0258_12.jpg

???

_DSC0260_12.jpg

Newberry's Twinpod

_DSC0271_12.jpg

Phlox?

_DSC0272_12.jpg

Showy Stoneseed(?)

DSC00078_12.jpg

A last view in evening light over Chimney Canyon

We returned to the Interstate via Salt Creek Road entering the freeway at exit 108.

Featured image for home page:
slide.jpg
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
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
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
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
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
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 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
K This weekend: San Rafael Swell or Moab? Trip Planning 4
steve San Rafael Swell Quickie Off Road 8
PureLightImages Daughter's First Campout - San Rafael Swell Hiking & Camping 5
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
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
Nick Chimney Canyon, San Rafael Swell Trip Planning 20
Tyler San Rafael Swell: Ding Canyon, upper Eardley Canyon, Arch Canyon Hiking & Camping 0
Tyler San Rafael Swell - Crack Canyon, Skylight Arch, Hiking & Camping 6
Tyler San Rafael Swell March 2009 Hiking & Camping 2
Tyler San Rafael Swell 3 days early March 2010 Hiking & Camping 2
M Lost a drone in the San Rafael River area/below the wedge. No time to hike in to retrieve. General Discussion 0
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
Jackson Return to the San Rafael River Gorge Backpacking 17
George_Washington_Hayduke Packrafting and Bikepacking from the San Rafael River to Muddy Creek On The Water 0
Jackson San Rafael River Backpacking 7
Udink San Rafael Fall 2015 Hiking & Camping 4
P Noob looking for solitary beauty in canyon lands, san rafael, escalante Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
kansas San Rafael Reef Trip Planning 2
steve San Rafael River Float On The Water 5

Similar threads

Back
Top