Visit to Dark Canyon dugway

[Carls_jeep]

This afternoon we went to Dark Canyon. The dugway is very interesting and challenging. These videos don't do justice to the difficulty of the dugway but they are interesting.

The first is when we reached nearly the bottom of the canyon and came to a washout. Dave crossed it in his Samurai then I went across the washout. They are all video's so click on them.

http://s82.photobucket.com/user/yeathatshim/media/2013%20Utah/P8290025_zps08a263bd.mp4.html

The next one is me coming back across the washout.

http://s82.photobucket.com/user/yeathatshim/media/2013%20Utah/P8290027_zpsbf27470c.mp4.html

This is me coming up the dugway. The video doesn't show how rough it really is. My wife couldn't hold the camera still enough because it was so rough so I had to take the videos and drive at the same time and that was interesting. I have 16 videos of the dugway and they are all pretty good. We will be going back down when it gets a little drier. There could be more washouts ahead so we turned back. We ate supper there and headed home before it got dark on us in the dugway.

http://s82.photobucket.com/user/yeathatshim/media/2013%20Utah/P8290037_zpsf61b1993.mp4.html�

[calvinhunt]

I'll add a few pics to Carl's post of our trail ride into Dark Canyon.� Besides a nice Jeep trail it does offer a lot of beautiful views of mountain, canyon, and forest.

This was our lineup as we got into the nearby mountains.� Those 65 year old Jeeps needed a younger 35 year old Samurai to lead the way (Actually, its driver is familiar with the historic sites we were seeking on this trip).




A couple of the deer we saw along the way.




A Forest Service potty stop before we leave the beaten path.




Top of the dugway starting down.




This view of the Samurai in front shows the canyon country we are heading into.




The dugway is more than a hundred years old.� It was made to take an old cable-driven oil rig into the bottom.� Locals and others (like Carl and Mac) take advantage of it to get into such a remote and beautiful wooded area.




Carl had a smile on his face the whole time.




Mac and Robyn passing through one of the tight spots along the way.




The trail is a bit wet from rains earlier in the day.� But it surely is beautiful.




Lucille, just taking in the spendor.




In the bottom there are greater signs of water accumulation.� Here a piece of driftwood has to be removed from the trail.




Each crossing of the stream shows water has been even higher.�




And then we come to the place where we find the silt and mud has been deposited to quite some depth on each side of the stream hiding the trail.� Carl's video above showed him crossing at this point.�




First to cross was Dave in the Samurai.�










It took a different angle, then he made it.




Then from Carl's video you saw how he backed into the stream and then pulled forward to successfully cross.�






Next, the Samurai came back across.�








Carl's videos above show the action of Carl going across and coming back.

Then it was about 6 PM so we decided we'd better eat the food we'd brought so we could get back out before dark.� We were deterred by the difficult crossing from getting to our historic site destinations. Now we have a reason to return on a dryer day.





We were entertained a by a beautiful horned toad at lunch time.




Then we headed for home.






Nearly to the top.






Back to civilization.� Note: Carl is still smiling.

[Carls_jeep]

Yeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaa, going back soon.

EDIT: We went to Dark Canyon again today and this time we went about 7 miles down the canyon trail. It started raining and we turned around and headed back out. We ate lunch before we left the bottom of the canyon. Still didn't get to the drill rig site.

[calvinhunt]

[size=12]As Carl stated above, we did re-visit Dark Canyon again.� We were hopeful to get to the old oil well site.� Here are a few pics of the second try.�

A nice view of the area just before we get to the Dark Canyon trail head.




This time we invited a friend with a CJ-5 to come along.� Actually his Jeep is a Frankenjeep.� It has a frame and drive train (transmission, transfer case, rear ends, etc,) from a CJ-2A, the engine and body from a CJ-5.�




Carl Leads the way.




Easily crossing where we had so much difficulty on the first try.






Storm clouds ahead!




A view of the rocks and ledges near by.




With the rain beginning and looking worse ahead we decided to turn around.� We didn't want to be in the canyon if the runoff started another flash flood.



We'll be making another attempt, I'm sure.� Stay tuned.[/size]

[Carls_jeep]

Better believe it, Dave said he would take us to the drill rig. He said we almost made it there.

[Haines Garage]

Those photos are just Plain 'Ole AWESOME! [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Ryan_M]

Good stuff guys. Looks like yet another great trip. Thanks for posting.

[athawk11]

Those were some of the best photos yet.  Very nice. 

Tim