Pole Canyon

With an open day on our calendar and nothing pressing to do, we decided to head out for a hike rather than let the day slip away - especially with one more "rather" cool day before the summer heat sets in later this week.  The only question was where to go?  Everything around Zion is already packed with the summer surge of visitors.  Low and behold, Kent found a relatively unknown slot canyon, on Google Earth, that he hoped would be an escape from the crowds.  Sure enough, the trailhead was empty and we spent the entire afternoon exploring without seeing another soul.

This Evening Primrose is the first thing Allison saw as she exited the truck!

The pullout for Pole Canyon is on the Kolob Terrace Road right before the infamous hairpin turn
that leads to Wildcat Canyon Trailhead . . .
There is no trail, just some social paths that lead to Pine Springs Wash

It still felt like spring in Pine Springs Wash as White Phlox were everywhere!

We were surprised to find a small seep (possibly Pine Springs??) as we passed Jobs Head

An interesting old tree that finally succumbed to a lighting strike

We have to admit that this wash was nothing short of a boulder hop for its entirety

Kent is working his way through one of several small dry falls that we encountered . . .
Notice the pine tree growing on top of that sandstone slab . . . incredible will to survive!

Zion Beardtongue (Penstemon) is a rare wildflower endemic to Southern Utah

If it wasn't boulder hopping, it was working our way around downed trees

Finally, after two-miles, the wash turned into the Pole Canyon slot we had come to see

Honeycomb sandstone know as tafoni greeted us as we entered the narrowest points of the canyon

Not the narrowest slot we've been in . . . but still a rather unique passage to walk through

White Columbine were plentiful farther up the canyon in the shady areas

After about a half-hour of exploring we decided to turn around . . .
The narrows section continues on for at least half-mile to a mile . . .

One last look at the leaning fir that guards the entrance to Pole Canyon

Hooker's Onion is a wildflower with an edible bulb
It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies . . . deer won't come near it

Getting close to our entry/exit point of the wash . . . Jobs Head, once again, in the background

Allison couldn't resist a picture of this weathered knotty piece of wood

Out of the wash and working our way back to the pullout . . .
That's Pine Valley Peak, near Wildcat Canyon Trailhead . . . we would love to climb it but we don't think it's possible without ropes!

While Kent found the constant boulder‑hopping and log jams frustrating, Allison enjoyed the slower pace, which gave her time to observe—and photograph—the many varieties of flowers lining the wash. We ended up hiking 5.2 miles (r/t) with about 600 feet of elevation gain, taking roughly four hours to complete the route. After returning home, we mapped the rest of the slot on Google Earth and realized we could have continued another mile upstream before being forced to turn around. It’s easy to see why this slot receives so few visitors, yet it would be a stunning hike in the fall when the mountain maples turn red. For more information on Pole Canyon, you can click here for a helpful description, though we do question the distances they recorded…

 

Wilson Benchmark

Several years ago, Tom took us up Wilson Peak near Bryce Canyon in his Can-Am.  Surveying the surrounding landscape from the top, one particular red-walled sandstone butte immediately caught our eye.  When we got home, Kent began to study Google Earth to see if there might be a route we could use to summit this formation.  He was surprised to discover not only a possible route, but a 1929 benchmark waiting on the summit.  That was more than enough to get him motivated.  Today it's time to find out for ourselves:  Can we actually make it to the top?

Wilson Benchmark
Wilson Peak is to the left . . . Why wouldn't you put Wilson Benchmark on Wilson Peak??

We parked our truck shortly after entering Hillsdale Canyon, which is on the southside of the butte . . .
Our plan is to walk eastward, past the butte, and ascend from the backside
(Wilson Benchmark is the butte to the left of the Ponderosa Pine)

Almost immediately we were greeted with this nice window formation . . .
We might have to go back and spend some time exploring the smaller buttes that guard the fortress

Western Wallflower

It was interesting to find conglomerate rocks mixed in among the red sandstone

After about 1.5 miles we turned north and followed a wash . . .
This picture makes the wash look like it was filled with annoying obstacles . . .
It was, but nothing too bad . . . this picture was more the exception . . . Allison says otherwise!

After about a mile, we climbed out of the wash and headed for a ridge we hoped would take us to the top

On the ridge . . . the plan is working well!
We were surprised at how far away the peak looked . . . we still have a mile to go
(That "little" peak behind the two dead trees is the crux of the hike . . . very, very steep and poor footing)

Nearing the top of the little peak . . .
Kent is hoping that we don't have to descend to a saddle before heading back up for the final push

Good news . . . we were able to walk a ridge directly over to Wilson Benchmark!

More conglomerate rock . . . sure seems out-of-place, especially up here

We must be getting higher . . . Bristlecone pines are starting to appear

Finally, at the top!
Notice the reference marker pointing to the benchmark that Kent is standing by

Wilson Benchmark (1929) . . . Elevation 8,650 ft
(In 1971 the USGS made this observation, "Reached by helicopter.  Good landing at station". . . are they talking about the same peak??  No way I would have wanted to be in that helicopter!)

Looking back towards what remains of the tripod that once stood over the benchmark

Looking southwest to where we parked our truck . . .
That's Hillsdale Ranch near the small pond that is also visible

The obligatory selfie from the two benchmark baggers!

Heading back down . . .
That's Wilson Peak directly behind Kent and in the distance you can see Powell Point

We decided to try a different route on our way back . . .
The arrow points to the ridge we decided to walk down and the wash we walked up is on the other side . . .
The arrow is also pointing to an interesting find that we made and is pictured two frames below

Stemless Townsend Daisy

Here's what the arrow was pointing to . . .
It's a survey marker and the tree behind it had a blaze cut into it

1925
Makes you wonder how many people, over the hundred years, have actually seen this marker?

After working around some cliffs on the ridge, we decide to drop down to this drainage . . .
The road we'll walk back to our truck is just a couple of hundred yards down the wash

Almost back . . .
A final look at the window we saw earlier, only this time from the other side

It was fun to see these pronghorn just lazing around

A good sight to see!

Here's a Google Earth shot of our route
(Click on the picture for an enlarged view)

This hike was much harder than expected!  All total we ended up hiking just about 6 miles with 1500 ft of total ascent.  Due to the 2025 France Canyon fire, many of the washes had eroded out portions of the road that heads deeper into Hillsdale Canyon.  We suspect that the road will be passable later this year and this will cut off nearly 3 miles from the total distance.  If you're interested in our GPS tracks, just email us and we'll send you our route.  Click here for a link to Tom's peakbagger.com post for a topo map of the area.  All-in-all it was a good day and a sense of accomplishment to "bag" another benchmark!

Grand Wash

A few days earlier, when we were at Cassidy Arch, Allison asked if we could fit the Grand Wash hike into our plans.  We mulled it over for a while and decided we could probably do this short hike before we headed home Sunday morning.  Then Kent had a "brilliant" idea (scary thought!):  If he dropped Allison at the main trailhead and drove around to meet her at the Highway 24 side, she could enjoy a through-hike without retracing her steps.  Turned out that it worked like a charm!

As we noted in our Cassidy Arch post, both trails use the same trailhead for their starting points

Amazing what the effects freeze-thaw cycles can have on what once was a small crack . . .
When water freezes, it expands by roughly 9%, acting like a wedge that pries the rock apart and widens the crack.

An interesting stained wall . . . this is often called desert varnish
The varnish is a thin "patina" composed mainly of manganese and iron oxide (rust) mixed with clay particles . . .
It was a favorite of the "Ancient Ones" to carve their petroglyphs into

The spots on this slab of sandstone caught Allison's attention . . .
After she took the picture she discovered it looked just like a rabbit!

About mid-way through the wash the walls began to narrow

At it's narrowest point the walls are about fifteen feet apart . . .
Up until 1962, when Highway 24 was paved, people used to drive their cars through this wash!

The narrow portion only lasts for about a quarter of a mile

While the Wash never becomes a "slot canyon" it comes fairly close

Do you suppose Butch Cassidy might have used this as a hideout?

Hey, who's this?
Kent decided to walk up the Wash from Highway 24 and see how far he could go before meeting Allison

There were a few little caves to explore along the way

It was interesting to see all the "Swiss cheese" holes on this cliff filled with rocks . . .
At first glance it looked as if they may have been placed there by flash floods . . .
But on closer examination, it was obvious people had tossed stones from the wash bed into them!

Heading back . . . the Highway is just around the corner

One last stop for a fun family photo-op

Grand Wash passes under Highway 24 and empties into the Fremont River . . . where the trail ends

 

Allison loved this quick, easy walk - it was the perfect way to stretch her legs before the three-hour drive home.  The trail offered flexibility:  It can be hiked as a 2.2-mile one-way trek with a car shuttle, or as a 4.4-mile out-and-back route.  If you're short on time or just passing through Capitol Reef, it's worth stopping at the Highway 24 trailhead for a short hike before continuing on your journey!