Ledge Benchmark

With rain and snow predicted for the upcoming week, we thought we'd take advantage of mild temperatures and head out for an adventure close to home.  We've been interested in recovering Suicide BM, which is west of Colorado City, AZ, but were a little concerned the road might be rougher than we wanted to take our Tacoma on.  So our alternate plan was to recover Ledge BM, which was closer to Colorado City, but used the same road . . . that way we could check out the road conditions and make Suicide BM a future hike.  Having never been in this area before, this outing provided us all that we could ask for in a short hike . . . great views and interesting rock formations and a benchmark!

This little arch caught our attention as we drove to our destination 

We parked and started heading slightly southwest toward the benchmark using the GPS coordinates . . .
Almost immediately we started traversing over some most interesting rock formations

Colorful rocks and petrified wood lay scattered everywhere

Soon we were at the rims edge and quickly located both reference markers and the remnants of a tripod . . .
But couldn't find the benchmark . . . Little did we know, Kent was standing on it! 

Using the lessons we've learned from Tom, we knew that the reference markers pointed towards the benchmark.  With Allison standing on one RM, and Kent on the other, we walked in the direction of the arrows until we intersected . . . Then Allison got out her garden gloves and started moving sand . . . Voila, the Ledge BM!

Seventy years later and the Ledge Benchmark can breathe, again!

Just a few of the neat rock formations we came across

After locating the benchmark we headed southeast, following the surveyors instructions,
 in search of the azimuth marker . . . it was supposed to be located on a piece of bedrock that had broken off from the rim . . . just like they said, there it was, and in direct site of the BM (the arrow on the horizon points to the benchmark).

Ledge azimuth mark was placed here in 1952

It's just us . . . out for a leisurely stroll!

There were several potholes, but only a few held water

Exposed twisted pinyon pine tree root . . . the tree was still alive  

More fun rocks!

A unique pothole surrounded by lichen

Looking back toward the benchmark and azimuth mark . . . and all the colorful rocks that form the rim

Kent is looking at a small mesa, that stands isolated from the main mesa

As we wound our way back to the truck,
We were surprised to come across this General Land Office Survey waymark from 1916

Standing in Arizona looking toward Colorado City, AZ and Hildale, UT

It was fun exploring the sandstone formations as we made our way back down off the rim

We certainly didn't expect to find so many unique formations

Kent looks so small . . . do you see him?

More odd shapes and caves

Honeycomb weathering or tafoni . . . very interesting!

One last view of the sandstone and tafoni . . . now it's only a short walk back down the road to our truck.
 This hike turned out to be much more than 'just' a BM hike!

What a fun afternoon!  While it was only a short walk (half-mile) from our truck to the Ledge Benchmark, we decided to further explore along the mesa rim and all it's fun sandstone formations.  By doing so, we ended up making a 3-mile circular route across the southern and eastern rims of the mesa.  We're looking forward to going back to see more of this country when we recover Suicide Benchmark!
 

Padre Canyon

We have attended many shows at Tuacahn, over the years, and had often heard people talk about a trail that skirted past the outdoor Amphitheater and continued its way on up the canyon.  Supposedly, once at the top of the divide, you could continue on by dropping down into Snow Canyon State Park.  With a gorgeous December day in front of us, we decided it was time to do a little "urban" hiking and set out to explore Padre Canyon.  

We started our hike from the Johnson Canyon parking area
(This requires a $10 fee as the parking area is inside the Snow Canyon boundaries)

The trail to Padre Canyon is easy to follow with a gradual ascent all the way to the saddle . . .
Much of the lower portion of the trail is in the Red Mountain Desert Reserve
(This section is skirting around Tuacahn Amphitheater)

Past the Amphitheater, Kent was dwarfed by the canyon walls that begin to taper in
(The divide that will lead us to Snow Canyon State Park is directly in front of us)

Believe it or not, Threadleaf Groundsel in known to bloom through early December!

We took a little break at the saddle before heading down into Padre Canyon

Passing through the divide meant leaving "civilization" behind and beginning
 the "wilderness" portion of the trail . . . for us, this is where the real fun began!

There was a lot of moss and lichen on the rocks . . . must mean we are on the north side!

Fun shapes and stripes in the sandstone

Could you ask for a more beautiful day? And no wind and very few people to boot! 

It was certainly chilly in the shade!

Towering sandstone cliffs greeted us on both sides

The colorful sandstone in Snow Canyon offers quite a contrast with the Pine Valley Mountains 

We skirted by several pools that have been filled with water from recent rains . . .
They provided nice reflections with the late afternoon sun

This arch doesn't appear to have a name . . . we must be the first to have discovered it!

The ripples, in the wet sand, show how much water has been making its way through this canyon

We are looking back towards where we exited Padre Canyon . . . We are now on the Red Sands Trail
It's doubtful the sun ever makes it into this section during the winter months

The frost was thick in many places . . . our thermometer showed 42° 

Red Sands Trail was aptly named as there was a quite a bit to walk through on this portion of the trail . . .
 Luckily for us, it was fairly compacted due to the moisture that was still being held in it 

It felt good to be back in the sunshine!

When Kent saw this falling rock . . . he couldn't resist!

After exiting the Red Sands Trail, we turned south on West Canyon Road for an easy 3 mile walk back to our car
Don't worry, Kent only has two speeds and neither are over 10 mph!
(This waterline road is only open to bicycle traffic . . . it made for a pleasant walk)

Although this hike could be completed as and "out and back," we decided to make it a seven-mile loop - it was a good choice!  Other options would be to begin from the Tuacahn parking lot (this will save you $10) and just do a three-mile out and back hike to the Red Sands Trail.  This would certainly give you a good workout as you would have to ascend/descend the saddle twice and would cover the best parts of Padre Canyon.  For more information click here for the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve description of this hike and click here for a map of Snow Canyon State Park.

 

Castle Rock

Kent has had Castle Rock on his "to do" list ever since he first saw it from the top of Yellow Rock nearly two years ago.  He spent a fair amount of time trying to research routes for this interesting looking rock, but found there was little information (until recently - see below) and only a few accounts from people who had actually scaled its heights.  However, all those who made it to the top said it was possible to complete without the use of ropes.  Well, today was the day we were about to find out for ourselves if this hike was possible for a couple of 60+ "senior citizens."  We're happy to report that our amazing outing was successful!

The view of Castle Rock, from atop Yellow Rock, that got Kent intrigued with this hike
(Yes, this is the side you will ascend the sandstone ramp from!)

We parked along the Cottonwood Wash Road and headed for this canyon . . .
In front of us (in the shadows) is the ridge you must scramble up and then descend in order to bypass a dry fall in the main canyon . . . this proved to be the most difficult part of the hike!

It's a cold morning . . . Cottonwood Creek was flowing beneath a layer of ice

It was steep & slick from the get-go
(Don't miss the lone cairn indicating where you should ascend out of the main canyon) 

Within minutes, Lola decided that this was not the hike for her and she headed down
(Both dogs were nervous on the slickrock because they couldn't find traction with their nails)
Kent gave Tom a walkie-talkie so we could keep in touch while we went our separate ways  

Up on the ridge we had a good view of what was to come . . . it was rather intimidating!
(Yes, there were serious doubts that this was possible!)

As we descended the ridge, and made our way to the canyon floor,
we could see a window high up on the rocks above us

Here we are coming out of the canyon wash and beginning the sandstone ramp to the top . . . 
Maybe, just maybe, this is going to be possible!

We didn't expect to see so much color!
(This shot gives you a good idea of the steepness of the hike . . . nothing much worse than this)

Interesting fins and moss!

Another angle of the steepness . . .
This section, of beautiful swirls, can be navigated around by going slightly north

Heading for the castle rocks of Castle Rock

To our east, we could see Mollies Nipples which we hiked in 2020 . . .
This is another great hike in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM)

We were surprised, as we neared the top, to come upon this cirque/bowl with so much vegetation

Wind & water continue to change the sandstone

So many different shapes, layers and delicate fins

Once on top, you could easily spend half a day exploring all the formations

It's a perfect day to be hiking Castle Rock!
(Does this guy look satisfied, or what?!)

Looking south toward Yellow Rock

Kent decided that Allison should have her picture in this post, too!  

It's hard to leave this incredible area, but it's time for us to start back down 

A sample of the many striations in the sandstone

Coming down was surprisingly easy . . . it didn't take too long to descend

Some sections were steeper than others and at times we had to scoot our way down . . .
 Thankfully, we didn't wear any holes in our pants!  

On our final descent of the sandstone ramp that will take us to the canyon floor 

Back in the wash
(Watching for the cairn that will signal us to begin the climb out and back up the ridge)

One last look as we make our final push to the ridgetop . . .
The most difficult part of this hike is the beginning and the end . . .
Don't let it deter you, Castle Rock is totally worth the effort!

This was one of those hikes, that once it was completed, and we reflected back on it, we wished we had been able to share with our friend Tom - it just felt incomplete without him being there.  He's done so much to help us accomplish our goals, by repeating hikes he has already done, that we would like to formally extend an invitation to redo this hike with him!

If you're interested in doing Castle Rock for yourself, click here for Peakbagger Alex Obbard's entry - it is spot on!  His post (from 2021) includes downloadable GPS tracks (which we used) and a topo map for this 4-mile (r/t) hike.  For more information, you might be interested in Michael Kelsey's book "Hiking and Exploring the Paria River."