Step Canyon 5-17-13

[gnwatts]

Part 2

See part 1 here.


View larger map.

Last weekend my friend PJ and I decided to do a quick 2 day venture, and we thought Step Canyon (the left canyon on the map at the start of the thread) would be fun. I wanted to complete the loop I had started 7 years earlier. We left after work, and I met him at Crescent Junction near Moab. We ended up car camping along the Mormon Trail road, past the head of Pine Canyon. I kind of like this car camping thing, pretty convenient! The following morning we found a great camp spot under an overhang just above where the Mormon Trail crosses Step Canyon. From our first camp spot:

Our next camp spot:

The Mormon Trail. It is hard to believe they brought wagons up here, and this was probably relatively easy:

Strolling down Step Canyon, the first pour off just ahead, 1 of 3 or 4 we encountered:

We also found a small ruin under the overhang below and to the right:

Someone drilled this post into the rock:

The ruin was mostly gone and not very interesting:

Clouds started to move in, but did not want to hurry through this place.We took our time.

It started to rain so we relaxed under some big rocks. This happened quite a bit that afternoon, lot's of little storms.

A mile or so below the last ruin we found this one. A beautiful little place. It consisted of one large room (the front wall is missing) with a detached granary?

What I loved about this ruin was this place, between the 2 buildings, a beautiful curving wall from the main structure, and the straight box opposite. The stone steps were perfect hangout height, a place to sit under the alcove sheltered from the wind, enjoying the view. Which is what we did.

Pool after pool...

We had run out of time, and had to turn around. I was disappointed that we did not reach Pine Canyon, we were close, but it was still a beautiful hike:

Back at our camp we were treated to a major little storm, lot's of wind and rain. It soon cleared though.

The next morning:

So I have almost completed the Pine/Step Canyon loop. Maybe someday.

Featured image for home page:

 

[slc_dan]

I love hanging out, and watching a storm.

good stuff.

 

[Nick]

Beautiful shots! I wish it would rain more when I'm down south. Starting to think I need to plan trips down there when I know it's going to storm. Easy to imagine what it would have been like to seek shelter in that alcove 800 years ago...

 

[ogdendude]

I think maybe the detached structure was an Anasazi version of a mother-in-law apartment.

 

[gnwatts]

Thanks slc_dan and Nick, I love the rain when I am down there.
Good call ogedendude, but a mother in law apartment might need to be further away.

 

[TannerT]

Thanks for the TR. There's something about rain storms in the desert. They feel revitalizing to me as much as they are revitalizing to the earth. Thanks. Too bad the goal remains elusive. My elusive goal is the uintah highline trail. Every year something rears its head and I either don't have enough time to complete it or something more important comes up (bestman at a wedding, a family member dies, etc). I hope you're able to complete it someday.