Mustang Pass

After eating Thanksgiving leftovers for two days, it was high time to get outside and do a hike!  So, under sunny skies, with little to no wind, we decided to explore Mustang Pass - one of the trails located near our new neighborhood.  Although we planned to do it as and "out and back", we came across an unmarked trail that allowed us to make a loop hike by incorporating the Icehouse Trail on top of Broken Mesa.  This route made for a most enjoyable afternoon hike!

The right arrow points to Mustang Pass . . . our original destination
The left arrow points to our "sneaker route" to the top of Broken Mesa . . . more on that later!

 Mustang Pass skirts along the left side of Peak 3714 . . . an old volcanic cone
(Hiking to the top of Peak 3714 is on our list for another day)

The trail (actually an old road) leads up to the pass

Kent is working his way up to the saddle
(This picture is looking back towards where we started - near the base of the prominent black ridge)

Up on top we had nice views of the Red Cliffs and a decision to make . . .
Should we continue on the Mustang Pass Trail, hike Peak 3714, or take an unmarked trail up Broken Mesa?

Looking back at Mustang Pass and the backside of Peak 3714

We figured we'd come back for Peak 3714 and the thought of hiking back the way we had already come,
paled in comparison to a loop hike that had some nice elevation gain . . .
So off we went on an unmarked trail, hoping that it would connect with the Icehouse Trail

We learned later that Mustang Pass was the sight of an old earthen dam . . .
What the purpose for it was or where they got the water to fill it was unclear to us,
 but somebody put a lot of work into it! From atop Broken Mesa, the old dam site berms were clearly visible

Desert marigold

Kent is pointing to Peak 4184 . . . a hike we did a few weeks ago

We were right . . . the unmarked trail did join up with the Icehouse Trail!
Now it was time to head to the end of Broken Mesa, and then descend, to complete our loop

Here's a good view of the cut where the Mustang Pass Trail passes through
(Earlier, we saw a small airplane fly through the Pass . . . it was below both rims!)

Coming off the mesa and heading for the trailhead that begins at the edge of the houses

Altogether, we were able to log just over four miles and about 650 ft of elevation gain.  Just about what we were hoping for on this late November Saturday.  Now, it was time to head home and set up our Christmas tree!  What an enjoyable afternoon . . . you may want to consider this hike if you have a couple of extra hours on your hand!

Veyo Volcano

We were suppose to be in Moab this weekend for a couple of days of hiking, but Kent had other plans . . . a saliva stone formed on the left side of his face.  Who knew there was such a thing?  After a very painful three days and two doctors visits, things began to improve.  By Saturday, he was ready to get out of the house and do a small hike to the Veyo Volcano summit and retrieve the benchmark that is on top.

Late fall or winter is the perfect time to hike up Veyo Volcano

A few lingering sunflowers

It was a gradual ascent over the dry grass and lava rocks

Kent is happy to be outside and feeling better . . . that saliva stone took a toll on him!

The storm clouds were hovering over the Pine Valley Mountains all day 

Veyo Volcano Benchmark 5239 ft elevation was placed here in 1954

Square Top Mountain and Jackson Peak (just to it's right) are easy to spot in the distance

Mr. and Mrs. Shadow!
(For those of you who follow Jamal Green, on Across Utah, you'll get it!)

We had great views of Snow Benchmark (the highest pointy peak) and Upper Sand Cove Reservoir

This volcanic boulder had streaks of imbedded metal or bones

We saw the Veyo Yeti sunning himself . . . a rare sight indeed!
(The white specs are snowflakes from a small cloud that was passing over us!)

Despite the cold wind, "today was a good day to have a good day!"

If you have a couple of hours, and are in the Snow Canyon area, this cinder cone makes for a nice hike that pays off with outstanding views in all directions.  It is located just north of the Dammeron Valley subdivision . . . there is an unsigned good dirt road, off to the left, just north of Dammeron Valley that makes for a good starting point.  (We actually drove down the road a couple of miles and parked at a turnout that went to an old cinder pit.)  Kent forgot his GPS, but from Google Earth, it looks like we hiked approximately 2 miles (r/t) and gained about 700 feet.

Peak 4184

Over the last seven months, Kent has been planning/dreaming of a route to the top of Peak 4938.  This white Navajo Sandstone capped peak is viewable, not only from our home, but just about any road that one might take into the Green Springs neighborhood.  Although there's a route from the top of Broken Mesa, Kent wanted to ascend this mountain, from the bottom, by following a series of smaller peaks, along a ridgeline, that leads to Peak 4938.  Could we do it?  Only one way to find out . . . so off we went!

Starting out in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve on the Icehouse Trail . . .
 It's so nice to have access to this trail just up the road from our home!
(Our goal is the white bump just to the right of the white cliffs on the left side of this picture)

Now we're on the Mill Creek Trail and our destination comes into view . . . it's the red arrow, Peak 4938
The white arrow is Peak 4184 . . . more on that later!
(Looks can be deceiving . . . while the two peaks appear next to each other,
 they are separated by 1½ miles and nearly 800 ft of elevation)

Now we are leaving the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and moving into the Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness

It's cross-country the rest of the way . . .  no more trails or roads to follow . . . just a ridgeline to navigate
First up is Peak 4183 (directly in front of Kent) . . . again distance is deceiving . . . this peak is a mile away

The ridge is quite rocky, but not difficult . . . it just takes some time to pick a path around obstacles
(Actually, this section made for an enjoyable stroll while we gently gained elevation)

Here's an example of the colorful sandstone that made up many of the rocks on the ridge

At the base of Peak 4184, we were greeted with one of the two cruxes of this hike . . .
 a 500 ft vertical sand dune, it made for a good workout!

Kent jumped when he saw this gopher snake sunbathing in the sand!
(Again, looks are deceiving . . . he was at least five feet or more long)

Since he wasn't a "rattler",  Allison snuck in for a close up of this mostly lethargic snake
(She's getting quite brave . . . Kent kept his distance and looked for a path
 that headed in the opposite direction!) 

On the top of Peak 4183 we found a handmade bow . . . the string was made out of paracord
I guess we aren't the first ones to try this route . . . nuts!

       From Peak 4184 we can see Peak 4938
 (It's the white dome peeking out from behind the red knob in the center of the picture)
With still needing to hike another 1½ miles and facing another 800 ft vertical crux, we decided this was going to be our turn around spot, to continue on would turn our 7.5 mile hike into 10 miles and to be quite honest . . .
that would be "taxing" our limits!                 

Looking off, to the east, at another interesting ridgeline . . . Washington Hollow separates us from them

Heading back down Snake Sand Dune!

Colorful swirled sandstone

Down off the ridge and back on the Mill Creek Trail, we kept seeing quail tracks . . .
Then we saw 2 run across the road . . . all of a sudden 50-60 quail flew from a damp/reedy area in Mill Creek

One last view of the ridgeline we walked and Peak 4184

The Middleton Powerline Trail . . . almost home

Here's a Google Earth view of our route . . . from this angle you can see how far we still had to go
(Click on the picture for an enlarged view)

Okay, so we didn't make it to Peak 4938 . . . but that hasn't stopped Kent from figuring a way to make this ridgeline walk a reality!  He's already begun a plan, where someone will drop us off at the top of the upper Icehouse Trail on Broken Mesa. Then we'll come in from the top and make our way over to Peak 4938 and work our way down the ridgeline to our home.  For this hike we traveled 7.5 miles and gained 1500 ft of elevation . . . most of which came in the last 1½ miles.  Stay tuned . . . we're going to make it!

Squaw Trail

It's been almost a year since we've done any hiking in the Kanab area.  With the temperatures finally cooling down, and a gorgeous day forecasted, it was time to head east to one of our favorite areas to explore.  Instead of doing a more remote hike, we decided to try out one of the local trails that switchbacks it's way to the top of the red cliffs, surrounding the town.  We were pleasantly surprised with a nice trail, little foot traffic, and some really nice views.

Driving through Kanab, on our way to the trailhead, we passed by these pumpkins . . . 
 We'll return after the hike to enjoy the creativity of the local residents
(Honey's Market gave each elementary student one to carve - a very nice gesture, on their part!)  

The hike begins right in town, just north of the city baseball fields

It might not look like much of a trail, but it was very easy to follow as it zigged and zagged around boulders

Wind and water are constantly changing the shape and appearance of the sandstone  

The trail had several switchbacks . . . making the ascent relatively easy

This sandstone boulder had some interesting sediment layers

Doesn't this hunk of rock look a lot like a chicken?
Whoever added the eyes helped bring the "sculpture" into focus!

We are heading up toward the white rock at the top of this picture

We were surprised to see this window, across the canyon . . .
It was located right behind the white rock from the previous picture!

At the top of Squaw Trail we found a bench with pottery shards . . .
 And great views of the Grand Staircase

The White Cliffs
At the very far left, of the White Cliffs, is Diana's Throne . . . we tried to get it's benchmark in 2020
(Click on the picture for an enlarged view)

Although the Trail ends at the bench, we decided to continue on and look for the white window . . . we found it!

Looking through the window, we could view portions of the trail we had just come up 

 Pine Nuts are edible seeds of Pinyon pines . . . the harvest season is September & October

Heading back down . . . 
Kent is on the trail that skirts by this unique ledge overlooking Kanab

The trail follows along the base of many different cliff bands as it works it's way back down 

The lines and colors, in this sandstone, are so perfect

A few more switchbacks and we'll be back to the trailhead

Ripple marks caused by wind or water

With a population of about 5,500, Kanab sure knows how to host a Spooktacular Extravaganza 

As always, Kanab didn't disappoint!  The Squaw Trail is about 3 miles (r/t), but with our route, that took us out to the "White Window", it became closer to 3.75 miles . . . but was totally worth it to add the extra mileage!  We  gained about 800 ft of elevation and spent a little over two hours enjoying the trail.  Afterwards, we enjoyed the afternoon wandering around Kanab and having a good meal at Houston's!