Month: September 2022

Upper Calf Creek Falls, Escalante National Monument, Utah

As a side trip from Capitol Reef National Park, we decided to hike to Upper Calf Creek Falls in the Escalante National Monument.  The trailhead to this waterfall is just off of Utah Route 12 near Boulder.  We traveled this route numerous times going to and from Torrey and the southern portion of Capitol Reef National Park.

The trail to the falls is only about a mile one way, but it is very steep over slick rock for the first portion, before becoming moderately level, then moderately steep just before the base of the falls.  It is so steep that not only is coming back up the trail strenuous, but going down the trail takes some effort to avoid slipping and falling.  There were a few places on the trail that required big steps down and up.

The information we found for the trail says the grade is 14% at the top and my son’s trail app showed as much as 20+% grade over some portions.  Anyone reasonable fit can do this trail, but care is advised.

We had planned to make the round trip to the falls in about an hour.  When we signed the trailhead register, we noted that the two previous hikers had taken hours on the trail, which gave us pause to consider whether much of that time was due to the strenuous nature of the trail.

Anyway, we proceeded cautiously down the trail.  I knew the trip out would require me to stop to take periodic breathers, but I had no doubt that I could safely navigate down and back.

Due to the steepness and strenuous nature of the trail, I elected not to carry the weight of my heavy DSLR and lens.  So the few photos in this post are via my iPhone.

Upper Calf Creek Falls and Pool, iPhone Photo
Upper Calf Creek Falls, iPhone Photo
Upper Calf Creek Falls, iPhone Pano

We took time at the base of the falls for photography, snacking and hydrating, before heading back to the trailhead.  Our round trip time was 90 minutes, 1.5 times as long as we had anticipated.  The additional 30 minutes was mostly due to the strenuous nature of the trail both going down and coming out.

We had done the trail to the Lower Calf Creek falls years ago.  That trail is three times as long, but mostly on flat, sandy ground along the creek bed.

Until next time,

Ken

 

 

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, March 2022, Part 25 – Bentonite Hills

Continued from Part 24:

After sundown, I continued to shoot in the dimmer light, going back to some of the earlier locations to capture the scenes in muted light.

Bentonite Hills 9
Bentonite Hills 10
Bentonite Hills 11
Bentonite Hills 12
Bentonite Hills 13
Bentonite Hills 14
Face Off

Staring at this old tree I see what appears to be a fierce guardian of the hills, rising up from the desert sand, spreading its tentacles and roaring from its upper, dark center.  (Viewing on a large screen can help viewers see what I see, or else maybe I’m off my tree).

Contortionist
Twisted
Bentonite Hills 15
Rest Time

This concludes the Capitol reef portion of this trip.  I’ve just got a few other miscellaneous items and experiences from this trip to share.

Ken

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, March 2022, Part 24 – Bentonite Hills

Bentonite Hills 1, Desert, Bentonite Hills and Old Tree

On the final day of our time in Capitol Reef National Park, we photographed around some of the many bentonite hills in the northern portion of the park and/or along the roadway into Cathedral Valley.  The area where we photographed may actually be outside the park boundary on BLM or private land.  We had driven past these hills numerous times during out trips into and out of Cathedral Valley.

Bentonite Hills 2, Desert, Bentonite Hills and Old Tree

There were a number of old, gnarly trees in this area, so I used those and other desert vegetation as foreground for photographs of the colorful hills.

Bentonite Hills 3, Desert, Bentonite Hills and Old Tree
Bentonite Hills 4, Desert and Bentonite Hills
Scrubby Desert Vegetation, Rocks and Bentonite Hills
Hard Rock Desert and Bentonite Hills, Early Golden Hour
Bentonite Hills 5, Bentonite Hills Golden Hour
Bentonite Hills 6, Bentonite Hills Golden Hour
Bentonite Hills 7, Bentonite Hills Golden Hour
Bentonite Hills 8, Bentonite Hills Golden Hour

To be continued,

Ken

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, March 2022, Part 23 – Abandoned Drilling Rig and Scouting Photography

Abandoned Rig, iPhone Photo

Heading northwards along a dirt road in the northern portion of Capitol Reef National Park (actually, this is probably outside the park boundary, maybe on private land or BLM public land), is this abandoned drilling rig.  I think it was a water well rig.  It reminds me of the old cable tool rigs used in the very early days of oil well drilling, with its wooden mast and wooden flywheel.

Desert Grafiti, iPhone Photo

The old truck body has been used as an artist canvas and for target shooting by someone or someones.

Abandoned Rig, iPhone Photo
Abandoned Rig, iPhone Photo

There was a watering facility near this old rig for a local cattle herd.  Some of the cattle watched me as I watched them to be sure none of them took exception to my presence.

One never knows what one might find in the great open spaces of the western U.S.

Desert Overlook, Capitol Reef National Park, iPhone Photo
Desert Overlook, Capitol Reef National Park, iPhone Photo
Painted Hills, Capitol Reef National Park, iPhone Photo

Thanks for following,

Ken