I headed out to the San Rafael Swell in Utah for a long weekend shortly after my birthday on the 4th of December. It’s been a while since i’ve camped on the birthday, so was nice to get out of town. Originally, I planned on laying low, and working through the rest of the year, but things at the courier job headed in a direction I didn’t like, so after finding out another job was lined up, I parted ways with the courier job ( a hard decision to make) and headed west to the Swell. Was a good recharge before starting the new job the next week.
Fun to know we’ve been exploring the area for some 15 years now.
Views from camp Saturday morning.
Always nice to see snow out in the desert.
Looking back towards camp.
A snowy camp.
The sinkhole.
Some good morning light on the cliffs above Black Dragon Canyon.
I-70 cutting through the San Rafael Reef.
Low clouds.
Cruising along the north eastern end of the San Rafael Reef.
Exploring a seldom traveled designated route, close to the reefs edge.
Morning views.
Daniel B Markofsky.
Some old uranium mines along the road.
Views of the San Rafael Reef.
More mines.
Love this 3rd gen.
Further along, heading towards Smith’s Cabin.
Daniel enjoying some Turkish Coffee.
A few buildings are still standing at Smith’s Cabin. Wayne and Betty Smith settled at this location, close to a natural spring after being married in 1933.
Exploring the coral behind the cabin.
Need to come back and hike Cottonwood Wash.
Along a seldom traveled section of road on the old railroad grade of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.
Repairing some of the washed out road. Photo credit: Daniel B Markofsky.
Of course doesn’t look as steep in the pics..
The road at times, seemed seldom traveled.
Some good views.
Another section of grade for the Denver & Rio Grande Western railroad. D&RGW moved ahead with this project in 1881, though it was never completed. A good amount of work had been completed on the grade, still visible today.
Old culvert.
We headed to the Wedge overlook on our way back to camp. On a previous visit, we spotted some newly weds getting there photos taken at the overlook. As we drove up to the parking area, I made the comment wondering if we’d see another couple getting their wedding photos taken. Sure enough, as we parked, a bride was running to the car in her wedding dress. Always good views at the Wedge overlook- Utah’s “Little Grand Canyonâ€.
San Rafael River flowing below.
Also had to make two stops in Buckhorn Wash. Fist at Matt Warner’s inscription. Matt Warner was an outlaw turned Justice of the Peace for Price, UT. He became friends with Butch Cassidy during there time in Telluride CO, participating in the Telluride bank robbery in June of 1889 with Butch Cassidy and Tom McCarty.
The second stop was at the Buckhorn Wash Rock art panel. An impressive display from the Barrier Canyon and Fremont style rock art. Unfortunately, by the time we got to the rock art panel, daylight was fading fast. Only managed to get a few from the phone. Well worth the visit.
End.