Hole-in-the-Rock Adventure 2010

[IntrepidXJ]

Unfortunately I took a wrong turn by staying on the main road and not following the bottom of Red Canyon and didn't quite make it to Lake Powell. By the time I realized my error, it was time to turn around and head back out, so I'll have to come back other time to finish all of Red Canyon. There are a number of side trails in the area, so I need to go back anyways

When I reached the pavement again, I headed to Blanding for some dinner. Being a Sunday in Utah, pretty much my only option was Subway. After dinner I headed south to Bluff so that I could check out The Bluff Fort Historic Site, which is dedicated to the San Juan Mission and their settlement at Bluff, Utah. I figured that stopping my this site would be the perfect end to my Hole-in-the-Rock weekend!

The Navajo Twins towering above Bluff

Sunbonnet Rock, dedicated to the pioneers of the San Juan Mission in 1958

Sunbonnet Rock and the Navajo Twins

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Here's a few photos from The Bluff Fort Historic Site

Kumen Jones Ruin

The Barton's well and cabin

Plenty of wagons around

 

[IntrepidXJ]

But I think this was the coolest wagon at the site, as it was one of the original wagons to travel through the Hole-in-the-Rock trail

After wandering around the Bluff Fort for a while, it started to get late so I needed to find a place to camp. I decided to head over to the Sand Island Recreation Area a few miles outside of Bluff for the night.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

From my campsite, I was able to walk over to the Sand Island petroglyphs and shoot a few photos.

After a good nights sleep, I headed over to the Twin Rocks Cafe for some breakfast and then up to the Bluff Cemetary, where I found the grave sites of some of the original pioneers.

Before heading home, I stopped at the Bluff Fort again. This time while they were open.

This was definitely a trip to remember!

 

[Willman]

Way cool!

Moody and i have been talking about doing this for a while.

Looks like a great trip!

Wonder how the trailer would do on this one.....Heck...if the pioneers can do it in their wagons.....The trailer should do fine....I'm always up for a good time!

:smiley_drive:

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Great stuff Randy. I can't remember if we chatted about this on EU but are we sure the cable marks are from the wagons or from the Jeepers in the 50's? I know they were winching the Jeeps back up from the river (crazy to think they got Jeeps all the way to the then river). Seems the San Juan Mission folks would have had fiber ropes rather than steel cable?

 

[RedDog]

Outstanding! :luxhello:

 

[OverlandGE]

Excellent pictures and write up. I did a similar trip last year, but I did the hole in the rock trail from Escalante. Nice scenery

 

[xjblue]

Thanks for the memories Randy, that was a good trip!

 

[ColoDisco]

Great report! Thanks for sharing! :sombrero:

 

[TinTioT]

Excellent Report, Thank you!

 

[jrueppel]

Great combo of photos and story telling - thanks for the inspiration!

 

[JCMatthews]

You are correct.

Great stuff Randy. I can't remember if we chatted about this on EU but are we sure the cable marks are from the wagons or from the Jeepers in the 50's? I know they were winching the Jeeps back up from the river (crazy to think they got Jeeps all the way to the then river). Seems the San Juan Mission folks would have had fiber ropes rather than steel cable?

I had an LDS institute teacher who did his masters thesis on The San Juan Mission. He is on of the foremost experts on Hole in the Rock. He took us on the east side of the trail twice in our Jeeps. What a class camping and off roading. He currently lives in Blanding. His name is William Le Grand Black. He goes by Le Grand. There is not much on him on the internet. In his research the grooves you are talking about were made by the winch from a WWII Dodge Power Wagon. They got it to the top of the climb, turned it around, and then used it to pull up the other vehicles.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I had an LDS institute teacher who did his masters thesis on The San Juan Mission. He is on of the foremost experts on Hole in the Rock. He took us on the east side of the trail twice in our Jeeps. What a class camping and off roading. He currently lives in Blanding. His name is William Le Grand Black. He goes by Le Grand. There is not much on him on the internet. In his research the grooves you are talking about were made by the winch from a WWII Dodge Power Wagon. They got it to the top of the climb, turned it around, and then used it to pull up the other vehicles.

I'm very familiar with his thesis, its a cherished part of my library. It must have been his thesis that tipped me curiosity on the cable grooves. Le Grand would be a most interesting character to meet. In his thesis he refers to a 50's era video of 4x4's on the HITR, I would love to get my hands on that.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Nice report!