The idea of this trip was originally conceived by my friend Kim Kelsey who I had joined last May for a remote trip down the Escalante River. The idea was to paddle canoes about 3 miles up the Green River from Mineral Bottom in Canyonlands National Park to Horseshoe Canyon, a tributary canyon that comes in on river right. From there the plan was to hike 17 miles up Horseshoe Canyon to see the Native American rock art the canyon has become famous for. This was a rather ambitious plan as most people view the rock art by driving a remote backcountry route to the trailhead in the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park. From there it is a reasonable 7.5 mile round trip hike to see the rock art. This entire region is very remote and lives up to its namesake, "Robbers Roost"; a name originally given to it because famous outlaws, like Butch Cassidy, used it to hide from the law in the "maze" of canyons.
After some discussion the idea of visiting the rock art of Horseshoe Canyon by this arduous route gave way to viewing it the way normal people do and adding in a few technical canyons in the area to spice things up a bit. One of the canyons we wanted to descend was Bluejohn Canyon made famous by the Aaron Ralston epic. Other canyons we talked about doing included Not Mindbender, Larry, and Chambers Canyons.
While working out the logistics and details of putting the trip together, including Kim and his brother-in-law Earl Hall doing a river trip before this adventure, my good friend Mike Brunson worked out his schedule so he could join us. Having Mike along was a welcome addition because now not only would I get to spend almost a week with my very good friend, but there would be another experienced canyoneer on the trip as well.
As it turned out, Kim and Earl needed a little extra time to wrap up their river trip before they could meet Mike and I in Hanksville Utah. So, we decided to take the scenic route through some of the most beautiful country around including Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Capital Reef National Park. We even had time to take a quick trip through one of our favorite Zion slot canyons, Spry Canyon. The picture above is of Mike and I right before dropping into Spry.
After some discussion the idea of visiting the rock art of Horseshoe Canyon by this arduous route gave way to viewing it the way normal people do and adding in a few technical canyons in the area to spice things up a bit. One of the canyons we wanted to descend was Bluejohn Canyon made famous by the Aaron Ralston epic. Other canyons we talked about doing included Not Mindbender, Larry, and Chambers Canyons.
While working out the logistics and details of putting the trip together, including Kim and his brother-in-law Earl Hall doing a river trip before this adventure, my good friend Mike Brunson worked out his schedule so he could join us. Having Mike along was a welcome addition because now not only would I get to spend almost a week with my very good friend, but there would be another experienced canyoneer on the trip as well.
As it turned out, Kim and Earl needed a little extra time to wrap up their river trip before they could meet Mike and I in Hanksville Utah. So, we decided to take the scenic route through some of the most beautiful country around including Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Capital Reef National Park. We even had time to take a quick trip through one of our favorite Zion slot canyons, Spry Canyon. The picture above is of Mike and I right before dropping into Spry.
Mike in the spectacular scenery of Zion.
The first 165 foot sloping rappel in Spry Canyon.
Because of the late spring and heavy snow pack we wore full wetsuits. We could have got by without them but it was good insurance because there was still snow in places with a number of cold swims. As it turns out, it was during one of these "swims" that I drowned my camera. This is the last picture taken with that camera for the rest of the trip.
After leaving Zion we made our way across the striking landscape of the Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument.
One of the many narrow canyons in the Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument.
Capital Reef National Park
While in Capital Reef National Park we took a backcountry detour down the Scenic Drive and enjoyed views like this.
We arrived in Hanksville, Utah on the 7th of May where we planned on meeting Kim and Earl the following morning. Because of logistical complications they weren't able to join us so instead of wasting the day, Mike and I decided to head over to the much closer San Rafael Swell and descend a canyon there and head to Robbers Roost the following day. After hunting up some beta we decided to descend Farnsworth Canyon. This is a picture Mike took of me walking through a very nice little slot before getting to the more technical stuff.
The San Raphael Swell Landscape.
Near the upper section of Farnsworth Canyon before making our descent.
Along the way we met a wonderful family that was making their first trip through Farnsworth as well. We joined up and had a great day together sharing ropes and stories.
Myself after making a double rap through this spectacular arch.
Mike catching a picture of me heading over an edge where I wasn't sure what was below. The beta we had didn't match what we were descending, but ropes had been pulled and there was only one way out. From the perspective this picture was taken it looked like about a 400 foot drop but, thankfully, when I looked over the edge there was enough debris and rockfall that the drop was only 150 feet or so and I wouldn't have to set up a multi-stage rap. In the end we found Farnsworth to be a very enjoyable canyon.
After making our way through Farnsworth we set up camp in Goblin Valley State Park. This is a picture of the strange hoodoos that the park is named after.
Goblin Valley chess pieces.
The remote and beautiful backcountry landscape on our way to Robbers Roost area of Southern Utah.
Mike making his way to see the Native American rock art of Horseshoe Canyon.
Horseshoe Canyon.
There are four major rock art panels in Horseshoe Canyon along the enjoyable 7.5 mile round trip hike. About a mile and a half after leaving the trailhead, you come across the first of the four -- the "High Gallery".
After a short distance and on the other side of the canyon is "Horseshoe Gallery", the second Horseshoe Canyon art panel.
After leaving "Horseshoe Gallery" it is a very scenic hike up canyon to the "Alcove Gallery".
Approaching the "Alcove Gallery".
The "Alcove Gallery" panel.
The "Great Gallery" is another mile above the "Alcove Gallery" and definitely worth seeing. After seeing it I now understand why it is the standard by which all other Native American rock art is compared to.
The "Great Gallery".
One of the main figures in the "Great Gallery" is 7 feet tall.
This was one of my favorite "Great Gallery" scenes. It looks like a couple of shepard's and their dog moving the herd.
The size of the "Great Gallery" becomes apparent when compared to the man standing in front of it.
Although the pictographs of Horseshoe Canyon are the highlight, the entire hike is wonderful.
The beginning of Bluejohn Canyon and all we saw of it. When we got there the weather turned for the worse and, as it turned out, rained off and on for the next few days (not a good time to go canyoneering). This, and some pretty bad blisters on Mike's feet, meant Bluejohn and the other technical canyons we'd hoped to do would have to be put off till another time. This was a fairly disappointing turn of events, but we regrouped and decided instead to take a road trip over to Moab, Utah and visit Dead Horse State Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Arches National Park. Then we would and return home through Monument Valley with a stopover in Page Arizona to see Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon.
Mike with a toast and cigar while making dinner on the tailgate on our way to Moab.