Yellowstone Benchmark

You have likely noticed that our posts have slowed down this year.  This isn't due to a lack of places to explore, but rather several unforeseen issues that have arisen recently.  These challenges, ranging from minor to serious nuisances, have limited our hiking distances and frequency for the foreseeable future.  We will keep you updated as we navigate the more serious of these hurdles in the coming months.

Despite these setbacks, we took advantage of a surprising cool down this past Sunday.  Temperatures, unexpectedly only climbed in to the mid-80's, so we decided to head out for a short hike to ensure we had a post for June.  We chose to search for a benchmark and azimuth several miles south of Colorado City, Arizona.

Six miles southeast of Colorado City, we took a right on Yellowstone Road (of course!) . . .
We traveled this well graded road for 11 (straight) miles . . . it ends at Yellowstone Ridge (of course!)

Now you understand why the road ends at Yellowstone Ridge!

One of the interesting things about this ridge was the variety of rocks . . .
In addition to the sandstone, the landscape was strewn with polished rocks, much like those pictured above

Kent standing on a point, checking his GPS for the location of the benchmark . . . we are close

If he would have looked up he would have seen the benchmark right in from of him

Yellowstone Benchmark (1952)
(We also located both reference marks)

Now it's off to see if we can locate the azimuth . . .
It's suppose to be .4 of a mile away at a 300° angle from the benchmark

This small rock butte seems a likely candidate . . .
The azimuth must have direct line of sight to the benchmark, and this location would fit that requirement

We climbed on top of the rock to see if it was embedded in the sandstone

Sure enough, there it was!

Azimuths are much harder to locate than benchmarks . . .
This is because benchmarks have coordinates while azimuths generally rely on descriptions

The Happy Explorers
 (Did we tell you it was very windy this day?)

This boulder had a lot of interesting features and a small window
(Notice all the little pebbles that are ingrained in the sandstone)

Kent was going to put his head up through this, but wasn't sure he could get it back out

Some more interesting patterns around the base of the butte

There's an animal of some sort in this rock . . . just not sure which one??

After spending time exploring around the azimuth, we decided to walk back to the benchmark
by following the rim of Yellowstone Ridge . . .
We are headed for that block of sandstone on the point in the middle of the picture

Here's that same block up close . . .
There was a large crack under Kent's leg that was separating it from the ledge . . .
One good push and goodbye rock!
(Not really, but it won't be long until this block is no longer a part of the ridge)

Having some fun with the rock conglomerates that were everywhere

Heading back to the highway, we came across this registry off to the side of the road . . .
Instantly, we wondered what trail was out here?
After a little research we determined it was probably a range management register used by the BLM

Right across the road from the register was another interesting rock formation . . .
Better go check it out!

Kent standing on the highpoint, with the cliffs that can be seen around Colorado City in the background

This turned out to be a fun little spur of the moment adventure.  If you're looking to do something out of the ordinary, like locating a benchmark and azimuth, you might really enjoy this outing.  We can almost guarantee there won't be anyone else out there exploring these cliffs and rocks!  Altogether we hiked about 1.5 miles (r/t) across a fairly flat mesa with little elevation gain.  Think about giving this one a try . . . it was a very good afternoon!

 

Pole Canyon

With an open day on our calendar and nothing pressing to do, we decided to head out for a hike rather than let the day slip away - especially with one more "rather" cool day before the summer heat sets in later this week.  The only question was where to go?  Everything around Zion is already packed with the summer surge of visitors.  Low and behold, Kent found a relatively unknown slot canyon, on Google Earth, that he hoped would be an escape from the crowds.  Sure enough, the trailhead was empty and we spent the entire afternoon exploring without seeing another soul.

This Evening Primrose is the first thing Allison saw as she exited the truck!

The pullout for Pole Canyon is on the Kolob Terrace Road right before the infamous hairpin turn
that leads to Wildcat Canyon Trailhead . . .
There is no trail, just some social paths that lead to Pine Springs Wash

It still felt like spring in Pine Springs Wash as White Phlox were everywhere!

We were surprised to find a small seep (possibly Pine Springs??) as we passed Jobs Head

An interesting old tree that finally succumbed to a lighting strike

We have to admit that this wash was nothing short of a boulder hop for its entirety

Kent is working his way through one of several small dry falls that we encountered . . .
Notice the pine tree growing on top of that sandstone slab . . . incredible will to survive!

Zion Beardtongue (Penstemon) is a rare wildflower endemic to Southern Utah

If it wasn't boulder hopping, it was working our way around downed trees

Finally, after two-miles, the wash turned into the Pole Canyon slot we had come to see

Honeycomb sandstone know as tafoni greeted us as we entered the narrowest points of the canyon

Not the narrowest slot we've been in . . . but still a rather unique passage to walk through

White Columbine were plentiful farther up the canyon in the shady areas

After about a half-hour of exploring we decided to turn around . . .
The narrows section continues on for at least half-mile to a mile . . .

One last look at the leaning fir that guards the entrance to Pole Canyon

Hooker's Onion is a wildflower with an edible bulb
It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies . . . deer won't come near it

Getting close to our entry/exit point of the wash . . . Jobs Head, once again, in the background

Allison couldn't resist a picture of this weathered knotty piece of wood

Out of the wash and working our way back to the pullout . . .
That's Pine Valley Peak, near Wildcat Canyon Trailhead . . . we would love to climb it but we don't think it's possible without ropes!

While Kent found the constant boulder‑hopping and log jams frustrating, Allison enjoyed the slower pace, which gave her time to observe—and photograph—the many varieties of flowers lining the wash. We ended up hiking 5.2 miles (r/t) with about 600 feet of elevation gain, taking roughly four hours to complete the route. After returning home, we mapped the rest of the slot on Google Earth and realized we could have continued another mile upstream before being forced to turn around. It’s easy to see why this slot receives so few visitors, yet it would be a stunning hike in the fall when the mountain maples turn red. For more information on Pole Canyon, you can click here for a helpful description, though we do question the distances they recorded…

 

Wilson Benchmark

Several years ago, Tom took us up Wilson Peak near Bryce Canyon in his Can-Am.  Surveying the surrounding landscape from the top, one particular red-walled sandstone butte immediately caught our eye.  When we got home, Kent began to study Google Earth to see if there might be a route we could use to summit this formation.  He was surprised to discover not only a possible route, but a 1929 benchmark waiting on the summit.  That was more than enough to get him motivated.  Today it's time to find out for ourselves:  Can we actually make it to the top?

Wilson Benchmark
Wilson Peak is to the left . . . Why wouldn't you put Wilson Benchmark on Wilson Peak??

We parked our truck shortly after entering Hillsdale Canyon, which is on the southside of the butte . . .
Our plan is to walk eastward, past the butte, and ascend from the backside
(Wilson Benchmark is the butte to the left of the Ponderosa Pine)

Almost immediately we were greeted with this nice window formation . . .
We might have to go back and spend some time exploring the smaller buttes that guard the fortress

Western Wallflower

It was interesting to find conglomerate rocks mixed in among the red sandstone

After about 1.5 miles we turned north and followed a wash . . .
This picture makes the wash look like it was filled with annoying obstacles . . .
It was, but nothing too bad . . . this picture was more the exception . . . Allison says otherwise!

After about a mile, we climbed out of the wash and headed for a ridge we hoped would take us to the top

On the ridge . . . the plan is working well!
We were surprised at how far away the peak looked . . . we still have a mile to go
(That "little" peak behind the two dead trees is the crux of the hike . . . very, very steep and poor footing)

Nearing the top of the little peak . . .
Kent is hoping that we don't have to descend to a saddle before heading back up for the final push

Good news . . . we were able to walk a ridge directly over to Wilson Benchmark!

More conglomerate rock . . . sure seems out-of-place, especially up here

We must be getting higher . . . Bristlecone pines are starting to appear

Finally, at the top!
Notice the reference marker pointing to the benchmark that Kent is standing by

Wilson Benchmark (1929) . . . Elevation 8,650 ft
(In 1971 the USGS made this observation, "Reached by helicopter.  Good landing at station". . . are they talking about the same peak??  No way I would have wanted to be in that helicopter!)

Looking back towards what remains of the tripod that once stood over the benchmark

Looking southwest to where we parked our truck . . .
That's Hillsdale Ranch near the small pond that is also visible

The obligatory selfie from the two benchmark baggers!

Heading back down . . .
That's Wilson Peak directly behind Kent and in the distance you can see Powell Point

We decided to try a different route on our way back . . .
The arrow points to the ridge we decided to walk down and the wash we walked up is on the other side . . .
The arrow is also pointing to an interesting find that we made and is pictured two frames below

Stemless Townsend Daisy

Here's what the arrow was pointing to . . .
It's a survey marker and the tree behind it had a blaze cut into it

1925
Makes you wonder how many people, over the hundred years, have actually seen this marker?

After working around some cliffs on the ridge, we decide to drop down to this drainage . . .
The road we'll walk back to our truck is just a couple of hundred yards down the wash

Almost back . . .
A final look at the window we saw earlier, only this time from the other side

It was fun to see these pronghorn just lazing around

A good sight to see!

Here's a Google Earth shot of our route
(Click on the picture for an enlarged view)

This hike was much harder than expected!  All total we ended up hiking just about 6 miles with 1500 ft of total ascent.  Due to the 2025 France Canyon fire, many of the washes had eroded out portions of the road that heads deeper into Hillsdale Canyon.  We suspect that the road will be passable later this year and this will cut off nearly 3 miles from the total distance.  If you're interested in our GPS tracks, just email us and we'll send you our route.  Click here for a link to Tom's peakbagger.com post for a topo map of the area.  All-in-all it was a good day and a sense of accomplishment to "bag" another benchmark!