Bob Palin Posted October 5, 2006 Share Posted October 5, 2006 The Torrey weekend of 23/24 September 2006 had started cold and snowy but by the Monday the few folks left in Torrey after the gathering were enjoying more normal sunny weather. Jamie, Leslie, Whip, Louise and I decided to take the Tundra up into the high country south of Torrey round the west side of Boulder Mountain. I didn't think we would be able to get all the way up onto Boulder Top but we did and were treated to some fantastic sights. The pictures are a mix of Whip's and mine. Halfway up Boulder Mountain we ran into the snow, the road to Miller lake looked a bit muddy but the road up to the Top looked good. The highest point is up on the hill, I can't actually see this point from my house but it is on the northern edge of Boulder Top near the cliffs. Raft Lake (11,061ft) - To my surprise we were able to traverse the top and follow a side road down to Raft Lake. We did have to splash through some quite deep puddles of ice and snow but everybody enjoyed it. I don't know why all those other people are wearing so many clothes, it was over 40F, just. Jamie seems to think he can walk on water... whereas we all know that only the goddess Les-Is-More can do that OK then - start over there! The surface of the lake was frozen with about 1/4" thick ice, at the edge the sheet had been pushed up on shore. The sheet of ice was full of air bubbles which formed lovely patterns in the sun. Some of the pieces slipped back out onto the frozen lake surface. For the most part while we were at the lake the air was completely still but a gentle breeze blew for a few minutes and pushed the surface sheet of ice up onto the shore in a gentle sliding motion. Where the rocks were right pieces broke and stood up, this piece is only about 12" tall. When the breeze dropped the whole sheet slid gently back into the water with a haunting, quiet, groaning sound, we were all captivated by this performance. Being "guys" we couldn't leave without hurling a few rocks around, I took several series of quick exposures capturing the rocks falling into the water and have created a side branch of this tale for them. There are three animated GIFs of rocks falling with links to the pictures that made them up, the GIFS are between 1 and 2MB each so may take a while to download on a slow connection. Falling Rock Tests (2019 TBD) Tundra on Tundra - I hadn't expected us to spend very long at the lake so left the engine running and the door open, in fact we were there for some time being entertained by the ice and rocks, the Tundra looked lonely. Soon the lake will be frozen solid and covered with several feet of snow, it won't be accessible again until next June. 50,000 acres above 11,000 feet, we started at the lower right corner on trail 178 and went across horizontally to Raft Lake. Government Point is visible from my house (I think, I haven't tried to pick it out) Soon we were below the snow line again and into the trees. We came across several small groups of Pronghorn Antelope (which are not really antelope at all). Pronghorns generally like open range and are easily spooked but these seemed to not be too worried about us, rather foolish as hunting season is about to begin. She's seen us They casually wandered a bit further up the hill. Looking back to Boulder Top, the aspen in this area seemed to be a ways behind a lot of the others in changing colour. The road we took flanked the western side of the Top. For the most part it was in good shape Snow Remnants This whole area had obviously had some snow over the weekend but it was mostly gone now. Pronghorn Up Close - These were right next to the road but ran off fairly quickly when we arrived. After a few miles the road ran into the trees and began to climb slightly, under the trees it was very wet and we had several moments of excitement as the tyres mudded up and the truck went whichever way it felt like. It wasn't possible to stop and take pictures while on this stuff or we might never have got started again so Whip tried some pictures out the back window. Hell's Backbone Bridge - Eventually we got off the mud and found the excellent graveled Posey Road which took us into Escalante for a very late lunch. After lunch we headed off for Hell's Backbone Road which runs along a narrow spine through aspen and pine forests. At this point the spine is only a knife edge and a bridge has been built. Jamie, against Leslie's wishes, had to go exploring, he is standing next to a 1200ft drop. Whip is more cautious Louise The Climber Looking down into the chasm on one side of the knife edge. Wild Turkey - Turkey are also usually quite reclusive creatures and also hunted, the wild version is quite a bit bigger than the domesticated turkey. And finally we came across an Elk, which is actually a Red Deer. It was getting dark and Whip had to take the pictures in a hurry from the truck as Elk are quite jumpy. (What is called an Elk in Europe is called a Moose in North America) We had a good day's wildlife viewing, a number of kinds of birds, white tail deer, pronghorn antelope, a marmot, turkeys, elk, the usual chipmunks and squirrels and I'm sure I'm forgetting something interesting... The Route - Starting at the top we took the eastern side of the top loop to raft lake then down to Escalante on the western side. From Escalante we took UT12 up to the Hell's Backbone road and the western side of the upper loop. Link to comment
philbytx Posted October 5, 2006 Share Posted October 5, 2006 What's that strange white stuff ??? Link to comment
SkidMark Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 (edited) Bob, Whip Very impressive... those images are very good, great eye one the ice shots. It appears to be a Killer trip for the Killer !! Edited October 6, 2006 by SkidMark Link to comment
Les is more Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 Thanks for the "slide for life" through the back country. It was a blast! The chance to get out and see the "Other Torrey" is just wonderful! Thanks, Bob!! Link to comment
norah Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 Those are definitely WOW pictures. Looks like you all had an awesome time. Link to comment
grizzly660fan Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 hey Bob, most of the north american indians in the utah area at the time of early settling by caucasions called elk "wapiti" until the europeans came over and started to call it elk. ha ha ha I have seen them referred to "red deer" in europe however. so I guess they have several names. I must say I really enjoy eating them. I am hoping my brother in law gets another this year on his hunt. just had to tease you a little. Garry Link to comment
KMG_365 Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 As much of a peacenik as I am, I view hunting for food in a different category altogether. Besides, if it'll take a few more of those buggers off the road--I'm all for it!! Call 'em what you will, just don't call 'em out in front of me when I'm coming around a perfect Utah sweeper at 100 mph!! Link to comment
ludacris Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 I was at Hells Backbone around the same time you were. Would you belive you can actually ride a motorcycle there? Link to comment
pdegnan Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 Damn, Bob, would you stop posting this stuff?! Bad enough we couldn't be there, worse we are still bikeless - BUT - made the decision today selling this spring was a big mistake (uh, I guess you all knew that...). So, house is nearly sold. and when it is, we will be back in the saddle - not two up, but each on our own ride. So, we have to make allowances for the health issues, but so what, most of us at our age (at least you and me, Mr Palin) do anyway. Can't wait. Thanks for the ride tale and the pics - just confirms what a colassal goof I made.......... Link to comment
Bob Palin Posted February 28, 2019 Author Share Posted February 28, 2019 @Whip - done! What an epic day. 1 Link to comment
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