Cannonville Benchmark

After successfully recovering Stump, Tropic and Cottam benchmarks the previous day, it was time to try an add Cannonville benchmark to our list before heading home later in the day.  The big question we would face on this hike was, "Could we find a route up through the cliffs that led to the top of the mesa?"  Google Earth showed a few promising routes and we knew the surveyors had found a way, since the benchmark was placed by them after they reached it by foot.  We felt fairly confident we could find a crack, somewhere, that would gain us access to the top of the mesa.  Time to go see!

Once we were through the gate, we followed a jeep trail along Wildcat Wash

Cannonville Benchmark, our destination, is on the mesa that is visible in the center 

When the road ended we had to cross several deep washes . . .
We used them to walk to the base of the mesa before finding a way to climb out!

These were some interesting rocks . . . they looked like cheese wheels . . .
The picture doesn't do justice, but they were actually fairly large . . . slightly larger than a basketball 

The sun is rising directly over where we believe the benchmark is located . . .
We're hoping this ridge takes us to the cliff base and a way up!

We found a game trail to follow in this section . . . can you find Kent?
(Click on the picture to enlarge it)

Fossilized clam shells! 
What a neat find . . . there were "tons" of them on this section of the ridge

We often see orange Lichen (Caloplaca trachyphylla) growing on sandstone,
it always grows in the shape of a rosette

We have reached the cliff base of the mesa
This is the route we hope will get us up through a weakness in the walls

It was easy to navigate between the rocks . . . but fairly steep

Up on top!  Hey, it worked!
(We didn't get a good picture going up through the crack, but there are some later from when we came down)

Rain was not in the forecast, but the clouds were building
(Thankfully, it held off until we were driving home)

We could see remnants of an old bentonite clay mine as we looked over the southern edge . . . 
Apparently, they mined the clay, near the top, and sent it down to trucks using this wooden slide . . . 
It's hasn't been used for years, it was abandoned when the surveyors placed the benchmark in 1959

 The cliff edge was eroding away, so we kept our distance

Cannonville Benchmark should be located here, according to our GPS coordinates, but where? 

Not wanting to give up, Kent put on gloves and got down on his knees . . .
 After fifteen minutes without success, he was done looking . . .
As Toms says, "They don't pay us to do this!"
 We're betting someone in Cannonville has this medallion in their home!  

Looking south towards the western part of Henrieville
The mesa, in the center of the picture, is known locally as Sand Bench . . .
It has an American Flag on top of it . . . not quite sure how they got it up there!

Powell Point looms in the distance as we work our way back across the mesa
We were surprised to find so many deer tracks on top . . . there certainly is more than one way up!

Kent stands on the rocky outcrop where we will begin our descent

This was the only visible way up and down the mesa
But, we're sure there are others, if you took the time to search the northeast side 

Heading back down . . . this was the area where we found all the clam shells

Looking north towards the upper ends of Wildcat Wash and Powell Point, in the distance

One last look at Cannonville Benchmark
(The bentonite mine is on the right side of the mesa, but not visible from this angle)

It's the first day of Fall with a few wildflowers still in bloom

Back to where we began at MP 29 . . . Sand Bench is directly in front of us . . .
We were parked at an information sign, just outside Henrieville, along Scenic Byway 12 . . .
This highway spans 124 miles between Hwy 89 and SR 24 . . . 
It's provides a "journey through time" and it's well worth the trip!

Well, all our recoveries can't be successful!  But, man, oh man, this was a good hike with some outstanding scenery and views!  This hike was about 4.5 miles in length and a little over 1300 ft of elevation gain.  The first mile and a half is just walking the jeep trail before the strenuous hike up to the mesa rim.  Don't let the lack of a benchmark discourage you . . . this hike is worth the effort!  Time to head home and plan our next adventure!