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Swasey Cabin

Journey map

Approximately:

• from Green River (A) to Blackdragon Wash (B): 15 miles and 0h15 on road
• from Blackdragon Wash (B) to Swasey Cabin (C): 27 miles and 1h on road/dirt road
• from Swasey Cabin (C) to Sid & Charley (D): 37 miles and 1h25 on road/dirt road
• from Sid & Charley (D) to Rochester Panel (E): 20 miles and 0h50 on road/dirt road

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J39 - Monday, June 18

Wake up at 6:30 and, as almost every morning these days, Isabelle gets better, the crisis of "hives" seems over, but now she has a nice bite on the forehead; yet another crap!

We still decided to continue our journey and catch our tour with some changes. We do some grocery shopping and then we leave Green River at 10am. Near mile marker 147, we take a track on the right to Blackdragon Wash; small hike at 11:17 am (0.78 mile with 86 °F) and we find the famous pictograph. Then we go to Spirit Arch with some small petroglyphs (2.35 miles and 90 °F). We even found a great poplar in whose shadow we have lunch and were we find a dredging shovel, probably forgotten by a previous visitor. As the ranger of Hanksville has recommended us to have one, we put it in our trunk.

Departure at 1:45 pm towards Spotted Wolf Canyon but, an hour later, U-turn because I'm afraid of not having enough fuel , the area being poorly served; back to Green River to refuel at the first gas station.
I-70, opened in the 70s, crosses the San Rafael Swell offering a magnificent view of each side (be careful, the road is a 2x2 and crossing [U-turn] is forbidden).

We take I-70 towards west to mile marker 131 and Temple Mt Rd. Initially, this is a road but quickly turns into track easy to ride. Then, right on Road Draw which brings us back to I-70 then south again to finally arrive at Lone Warrior Pictograph at 3:57 pm with 86 °F; if the track so far was feasible with a passenger car, the last section requires an SUV because it's too sandy and with deep ruts.
Nice pictograph of a warrior with his shield; there is even the possibility to spend the night next door.
Back on track and we are still towards south to join our original route to Swasey Cabin at 4:22 pm; on arriving, I burst out laughing as ridicule never killed. Until now, it was a sandy track but, as we arrive on a managed site, the last few yards are not paved, so do not overdo all the same, but stony and cylindered so that it's almost a boulevard .
We meet the cabin of the Swasey brothers then we take, on foot, Eagle Canyon for the small hike of The Icebox Foot Trail from 4:48 pm to 5:27 pm. This is a short hike as our pedometer indicates only 0.91 mile when we're back; short but pleasant hike.
Back on Swasey Cabin parking lot but it's too steep and impossible to find a place flat enough to spend the night there. I take Eagle Canyon for, at the trailhead of our hike, it seemed possible and bingo. Back to parking lot; I put our car on 4WD position as the beginning of track is very sandy and quickly rocky and we find a location near the 4WD track but we'll see and hear no vehicle. At the trailhead, there is a huge boulder with a small cave at one yard above ground, very convenient for our gas stove, because with the strong wind blowing constantly, it would otherwise be difficult to heat our soup.
The sunset allows us to see beautiful colors on the rock (golden hour).

The button Isabelle had on her forehead this morning has now grown; she's starting to play Elephant Woman.

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J40 - Tuesday, June 19

Wake up at 6:20, no clouds but still a strong wind. Isabelle's head continues to swell but it's not painful, and after much dithering, we decide to continue. Anyway, our first two sites are on the way back to civilization, beautiful wedding anniversary!
Departure at 8am with 75 °F. The track passes under I-70 through a culvert barely bigger than our car; in the tunnel, a cow and two calves are cool in the shade and we drive slowly, waiting for their output.
We arrive at Head of Sinbad, at the foot of Locomotive Point near 8:30 am, but once again, the access requires a 4WD or SUV because of sand, very deep.
We leave for Dutchmens Arch where we arrive at 8:47. Small but nice arch in the morning sun.

Back to I-70 that we leave at Eagle Canyon (Exit 116) and we take the Rd 803 to Moore. First track on the left (South Salt Wash) for some pictures of a rock formation, The Red Ledges and of Lookout Point but we quickly make a U-turn, given the track condition. At 10:25 we're back on the main road and almost immediately take a track on right. On the menu, Sid and Charley, two monoliths that stand in the middle of a desert plain, but the track (mandatory SUV) seems to us very long to get there (about 8 miles round trip), we could do without that.
Back on the road at 11:15 am and with thermometer indicating only 81 °F. Just before Moore, near Molen Reef, some petroglyphs just on the edge of the road, including a beautiful snake.

We cross Moore (ah well, it was a town ) then we take a track to the left, well signposted and feasible by any vehicle, including RV, to see the petroglyphs of Rochester Panel; start of the hike near noon. Hike with virtually no trouble and very short as our pedometer indicates 0.65 mile when we're back. It begins with a descent in Rochester Creek (there is a shortcut) and a small climb brings us to the rocky ridge overlooking Muddy Creek.
The petroglyphs, Fremont and Barrier type, almost all in one place even, if with a little search, they're everywhere.
Beautiful panel, very concentrated, rarely seen so many animals including a crocodile (wallygator ) , sexed humanoids (first time for us)…