PDA

View Full Version : San Rafael quickie


Hayes
12-04-2008, 02:40 AM
Quick overnight solo run down to the Swell on T-day weekend. Beautiful weather, ample solitude, and some fun wheeling.

Me, my brother-in-law, and a co-worker left SLC at 10:30 am. We made our way from UT10 to the Wedge, forded the San Rafael, then made our way up Coal Wash to the Devil's Racetrack.

http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/Its%20Swell%202.jpg

http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/Crossing.jpg

http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/Coal%20Wash.jpg

Whipped-up a quick campfire, drank many cheap beers, and told many stories. Believe it or not, my friend and co-worker who recently moved out here from Alabama truly saw the Milky Way for the first time in his life.
Temperatures dropped down into the 20's F, but that didn't stop us from sleeping out under the stars.

http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/Fire.jpg

http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/Its%20Swell.jpg

http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/Sunset%203.jpg

<CONTINUED>
Hayes
12-04-2008, 02:40 AM
<PART 2>

The next morning we dismantled our fire, brewed some coffee, and headed up the Devil's Racetrack for some entertaining 4x4. Neither of my passengers had been on anything like it before (3.5 rated?), and both were impressed.
Pinched the end of my tailpipe shut coming off one of the ledges. ;)

http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/Cruiser%205.jpg

http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/Cruiser%202.jpg

http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/Cruiser%204.jpg

Massively cool flexi shot:
http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/Cruiser%206.jpg

We hit I-70 before 10 am, and decided to cruise down to Black Dragon Wash. Very very cool, deep canyon. Great pictographs. No great photos.

http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/Black%20Dragon%20Wash.jpg

From there we continued up the canyon and then on to Buckhorn Wash. After a quick stop at the rock art, we zipped up the canyon to complete our loop, hit UT10, and were home in time for dinner.

http://www.mintchewsessions.com/081129%2044%20Beers/images/The%20Reef.jpg
cruiseroutfit
12-04-2008, 02:55 AM
Looks like you had a great time. DMC and I ended up in the Swell that weekend too, just dropping off a secret project though ;) Would have been fun to bump into you AGAIN in the Swell, one of these days we'll have to get down there together! :D
SOAZ
12-04-2008, 03:36 AM
Amazing pics!!
mountainpete
12-04-2008, 04:11 AM
Great trip and wonderful pics!
daverami
12-04-2008, 04:13 AM
Great pictures. I really want to go there, that whole area really. Maybe next year.
Hayes
12-04-2008, 05:04 PM
Looks like you had a great time. DMC and I ended up in the Swell that weekend too, just dropping off a secret project though ;) Would have been fun to bump into you AGAIN in the Swell, one of these days we'll have to get down there together! :D


Very mysterious.
Yeah, we need to rendezvous some time.

I had intended to drive Fix-It Pass, but we took a right turn at the bottom of the Racetrack to chase the setting sun. The next day we just continued on down the trail.

Next time.