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Dave Beedon | profile | all galleries >> Places >> Utah >> San Rafael Reef tree view | thumbnails | slideshow | map

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San Rafael Reef

San Rafael Reef is the edge remnant of a huge upwelling of the earth called San Rafael Swell.
It forms a long, tilted wall of rock slabs along the eastern and southeastern portions of the
swell. The reef is most easily seen when driving west on Interstate 70 from Green River, Utah:
the highway cuts right through the reef. The first time I saw the reef, it called to me as
many landscapes do, so from that point on I planned an exploration on foot. Most photos are from my first excursion into this fantastic topography. Photos are posted roughly in chronological order.

My exploration took place at the center of this WikiMapia aerial view, which includes the city of Green River at far right.
.
Starting point just north of Interstate 70
Starting point just north of Interstate 70		 My route went from the white dot (at right) to the black dot (at left)
My route went from the white dot (at right) to the black dot (at left)		 The preparations are never-ending
The preparations are never-ending		 Looking back at where I came from near start of hike
Looking back at where I came from near start of hike		 Crossroads
Crossroads
Exotic Utah wildlife
Exotic Utah wildlife		 Interstate 70, with Shadscale Mesa behind it
Interstate 70, with Shadscale Mesa behind it		 Surface of thin rock plates
Surface of thin rock plates		 Low slope (previous photo shows close-up of the ground)
Low slope (previous photo shows close-up of the ground)		 Ripples: bamboo is about four feet (1.2m) long
Ripples: bamboo is about four feet (1.2m) long
Weird message above Interstate 70
Weird message above Interstate 70		 San Rafael Reef, looking south toward Interstate-70
San Rafael Reef, looking south toward Interstate-70		 Lower reef topography north of the Interstate
Lower reef topography north of the Interstate		 Dabbling in Oneness
Dabbling in Oneness		 A few minutes ago I was over there on the high point
A few minutes ago I was over there on the high point
An island of cryptobiotic soil in a sea of sandstone
An island of cryptobiotic soil in a sea of sandstone		 The route ahead: rock, rock, and more rock
The route ahead: rock, rock, and more rock		 Shadowy cliff is about 50 feet (15m) tall
Shadowy cliff is about 50 feet (15m) tall		 That barely-controlled smirk is a sign of sandstone intoxication
That barely-controlled smirk is a sign of sandstone intoxication		 Not quite a rainbow, but nice-looking anyway
Not quite a rainbow, but nice-looking anyway
Flakes
Flakes		 Humongous slabs
Humongous slabs		 Paintbrush in a crack
Paintbrush in a crack		 Looking southeast at Interstate 70 and the La Sal Mountains (about 50 miles away)
Looking southeast at Interstate 70 and the La Sal Mountains (about 50 miles away)		 Four-image panorama (my route followed the base of the shadowy cliff to the skyline)
Four-image panorama (my route followed the base of the shadowy cliff to the skyline)
Tracks of a ??? (bamboo stick is about one inch [2.5cm] wide)
Tracks of a ??? (bamboo stick is about one inch [2.5cm] wide)		 I descended the gentle rock gradient at right and walked to this spot
I descended the gentle rock gradient at right and walked to this spot		 Smoke plume
Smoke plume		 I followed this rampart to its upper end
I followed this rampart to its upper end		 This cairn shows that others have preceded me
This cairn shows that others have preceded me
2007-03-17: First break: bare feet on rock
2007-03-17: First break: bare feet on rock		 Resting in the reef
Resting in the reef		 Mountain mahogany above and Mormon tea below
Mountain mahogany above and Mormon tea below		 Holes in the rock
Holes in the rock		 Looking back at terrain I have hiked through
Looking back at terrain I have hiked through
Survey post installed near a precipice
Survey post installed near a precipice		 Survey post marker, installed in 1912, showing its position in the township-and-range system
Survey post marker, installed in 1912, showing its position in the township-and-range system		 Albert Pryne cut into the steel survey marker post
"Albert Pryne" cut into the steel survey marker post		 Survey post installed near a precipice (just behind the rocks); height of bamboo is 6 feet (1.8m)
Survey post installed near a precipice (just behind the rocks); height of bamboo is 6 feet (1.8m)		 View of Book Cliffs from the survey marker
View of Book Cliffs from the survey marker
Terrain below and above
Terrain "below and above"		 These prows are hiking dead-ends, making route-finding a challenge
These prows are hiking dead-ends, making route-finding a challenge		 Disorganized rocks---what an annoyance (they should be sorted and aligned)
Disorganized rocks---what an annoyance (they should be sorted and aligned)		 The reef is not made entirely of rock
The reef is not made entirely of rock		 My route (upper right) followed the the light shelf behind the green bush all the way to the skyline
My route (upper right) followed the the light shelf behind the green bush all the way to the skyline
Rock bridge supporting a bamboo hiking stick (stick is 6 feet [1.8m] long)
Rock bridge supporting a bamboo hiking stick (stick is 6 feet [1.8m] long)		 100-degree panorama made from eight images
100-degree panorama made from eight images		 Odd arrangement of stones, the largest of which (bottom left) is about 3 inches (7.5cm) tall
Odd arrangement of stones, the largest of which (bottom left) is about 3 inches (7.5cm) tall		 Another view of the rock bridge
Another view of the rock bridge		 Panorama
Panorama
Where I'm going
Where I'm going		 Petrified ripples; bamboo is one inch (2.5cm) thick
Petrified ripples; bamboo is one inch (2.5cm) thick		 Hanging rock
Hanging rock		 I have just come up the bench at far left, going above the tilted boulder
I have just come up the bench at far left, going above the tilted boulder		 End of hike is in view (white dot on rock below white dot in sky)
End of hike is in view (white dot on rock below white dot in sky)
Down this finger to base of hump, then around the right side on shelf
Down this "finger" to base of hump, then around the right side on shelf		 Sandstone cross-bedding; bamboo is one inch (2.5cm) thick
Sandstone cross-bedding; bamboo is one inch (2.5cm) thick		 Getting closer to the hump
Getting closer to the hump		 Reef prow (posted out of sequence--should be higher in gallery)
Reef prow (posted out of sequence--should be higher in gallery)		 Over the slab, between the rocks, and up a shelf going around the hump
Over the slab, between the rocks, and up a shelf going around the hump
My turn-around point (a dead end)---looking at the top rim of the reef
My turn-around point (a dead end)---looking at the top rim of the reef		 My turn-around point (a dead end)---looking at the route I took to get here
My turn-around point (a dead end)---looking at the route I took to get here		 Steps to success (route to the rim)
Steps to success (route to the rim)		 Making notes about the hike
Making notes about the hike		 Odd geology
Odd geology
Talking to my wife via cell phone before heading down (thank you, Verizon)
Talking to my wife via cell phone before heading down (thank you, Verizon)		 More odd geology: white rock is about four feet (1.2m) tall
More odd geology: white "rock" is about four feet (1.2m) tall		 Layers, close and distant
Layers, close and distant		 Layers, rounded
Layers, rounded		 Heading down to the prow
Heading down to the prow
Near base of the prow
Near base of the prow		 Valley which I descended
Valley which I descended		 Varnish (bamboo stick is six feet [1.8m] long)
Varnish (bamboo stick is six feet [1.8m] long)		 Route: straight down to the shadows, then left to lower white dot, then up to other white dot
Route: straight down to the shadows, then left to lower white dot, then up to other white dot		 Bumps: middle bump is four inches (10cm) tall
Bumps: middle bump is four inches (10cm) tall
Landscape of sandstone and bushes
Landscape of sandstone and bushes		 Ascending this slope was a pleasant zigzag
Ascending this slope was a pleasant zigzag		 I descended from the upper right portion of this scene
I descended from the upper right portion of this scene		 Disturbance
Disturbance		 Descend into the canyon to level ground
Descend into the canyon to level ground
In the stream canyon
In the stream canyon		 Cattle
Cattle		 End of first hike in the reef
End of first hike in the reef		 0831...View westward from the rim of San Rafael Reef
0831...View westward from the rim of San Rafael Reef		 San Rafael Reef, just north of Black Dragon Canyon
San Rafael Reef, just north of Black Dragon Canyon

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Lee G21-Dec-2007 17:31
Thanks for the tour. Always a treat.
Hans Chr. Sørensen03-Aug-2007 09:16
Very nice gallery!
Dave Beedon12-Jul-2007 00:06
Will do: I still have about eight hike galleries to create from my last two trips to Moab. This gallery is less than 1/2 finished with 17 images.
exzim11-Jul-2007 22:42
Love these Utah 'walks' of yours Dave, please post many more
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