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 Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2007 : 7:35 PM
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Wow! It's sure been hot! 113 the other day and 110 today. I talked a couple of co-workers into hiking Ashdown Gorge Bottom for a chance to cool off. We started at 8 a.m. and headed upstream for 2 1/5 miles to some amazing waterfalls through some much needed, cool, canyon country.
   
The beauty of this hike is that there are no permits needed. You can camp almost anywhere. And, a plus for my two friends from work, you can bring your doggies! Also, we saw no other people for the whole 5 hour hike until we got back to our vehicle; A grandfather was taking his kids for a short stroll up the creek. Zion last weekend had hundreds of folks in the river trying to find a way to keep cool.
That's why this place is one of my favorites. It is so pretty and gets very little notice or attention as thousands of vehicles buzz past on their way up the mountain to the top at 11,000 ft to cool off in the national forest.
We were at over 6,000 ft ele and had very little elevation gain as we hiked up the creek to Tom's Head; past Flanigan Arch.
Here's Tom's head. A nice open area to camp.
From the beginning of the trail which I will put into the WIKI,
you walk up the shallow, rippling, creek through a somewhat rugged boulder field from landslides in years past. No quicksand is present in this hike. However, beyond Tom's head, quicksand does exist and that is why many people shy away from this hike. Also, there is a narrows section that could be deadly in a flash flood.
The hikers: Me and Steve:
Brent:
And, the doggies:
Harley, Zoe, and Koda! 
I got a few scrapes as I tumbled off of this little ledge playing on my knees with Zoe. I'm used to playing with our two weener dawgs.
She overpowered me and I tumbled off of this and scraped up my forearm and slammed my arse onto the gravel. That'll learn me.
After that, we all had a laugh and shared some jerky in a much needed break. aaahhh.
This place is like an interlocking puzzle. Narrow slits of sky appear overhead for much of the hike even though this was a perfectly clear day, we were in and out of darkness and light as the canyon walls sort of interlocked with each bend of the little stream.
  
Once at Tom's head, there is a side creek coming in from the left.
Rattlesnake creek. Scary name...no snakes. 
But, this leads to two bodacious waterfalls with the stream just filled with sparkling rocks! A far cry from the bone dry hiking I am used to. I was going to go to Broken Bow Arch in So. Utah this weekend, instead. But, too dry and too hot. This is much nicer and less danger of heat stroke/exhaustion.
Here is some more pretty scenery under the lip in Dixie National Forest, Ashdown Gorge, Cedar Mtn Utah. Hope you enjoyed the trip.
It will be on the Wiki soon as a fantastic alternate for someone who is in the area. Note:
There is an 11 mile top to bottom hike/backpack that originates at Brian Head Ski Resort and hikes down from 10,400 ft to about 6400 ft skirting the Cedar Breaks Amphitheater. The 2.5 mile stretch I did today, 5 miles up and back is the final leg of this backpack from top to bottom. The views into the amphitheater are well worth the long descent. I've never done the backpack. I've done it in pieces.
so I can be home at night with family. Cheers!
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Telkwa
1176 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2007 : 8:37 PM
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Looks like a wonderful place to get cool |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2007 : 8:41 PM
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It's hard to believe that this place gets overlooked by the tourists. Wonderful pictures RM, and great report as usual.
Happy trails,
Lynn |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2007 : 9:29 PM
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Thanks!
Right now, at 10:00 pm it's still 102 degrees outside. What a treat to have the higher elevation 50 miles from home.
Ashdown gorge gets a bad rap from great fear of flash floods and quicksand. In springtime, the snow melt can cause the little stream we were in today to become a raging torrent that has, in the past, taken part of the paved highway out on a bend about two miles below the gorge. But, with a well planned trip in the right time of year, there is no quicksand, no floods. just....ahhhhh
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Beaverton, ON
Canada
1295 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 01:42 AM
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Cool looking spot there Jerry!
Even nicer when it's not much farther than work!
Flowing water is such a rare /scarce commodity there, especially this time of year. I've been keeping an eye on the temps there and with the temps hovering around the 115* mark this past week, I'm not going to complain with the 100* temps here in the Okanagan!
Good to see you managed to talk a couple of co-workers to get out with you.
I bet you're thankful of Nick's Fathers day gift!!
Keep cool.
Dusty |
Edited by - Dusty Boots on 07/07/2007 01:43 AM |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2007 : 5:15 PM
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Hi, Dusty!
You're right! Seeing any kind of cool water flow or waterfalls is such a rare treat. In fact, when in rains, people at my work run outside in it and rush to the windows like school kids at the sign of the
"first snow" of the year. Too funny. Lately, the TR's from up there are absolutely fantastic! With the melting snow and the hikers trying to hang on to the areas with some snow is so cool. The water flow in so many of the BC tr's is real eye candy for this dry climate hiker.
Right now, 110 degrees and 8 percent humdidity...
Next Friday, I am taking some pro photographers to a secret location (woo-woo) they want to film coming up from Yuma. I hope they remember me if one of their photos becomes famous or something...he he. They have some hiking disability for me to help them with so it could be a challenge for me...I'm looking forward to it. Really nice people!! Sorta got roped into it, though...me and my big mouth sort of thing.
Then, it's off to Mt. Wheeler in the Great Basin yes!
I can't wait to get up there again. Before, it was on a drive through with wife's relations. We just got out and looked and drove around.
No hikes! boo! This time, I'm going solo and am really excited about the whole day trip that will start at 3 am in a couple of Fridays.
Hope you're doing well in that hot summer heat working outdoors.
Cheers! |
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Chilliwack, BC
561 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2007 : 11:42 AM
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| Your TR's never fail to blow me away, the pics are out of this world, hope you never stop posting |
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Simpson quoting tree hunter and canyon rapping rockhound who longs for the return of his trapped Toyota
Salt Lake City, UT
USA
2268 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2007 : 07:57 AM
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Ashdown Gorge! Still on my to-do list-very tantalizing photos.
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Cooling off in Utah
