The Needles and Wall Street

Summer temperatures have arrived in southern Utah! Lime green leaves and fields of green grass are popping everywhere, bringing life to the valleys, much to the satisfaction of the mule deer (and Yukoners) in Castle Valley. Last weekend we ventured into the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park. We hiked the Chesler loop which circumnavigates Chesler Park, a large meadow of grassy dunes surrounded by multicoloured sandstone rampart spires. A magical place that left us regretful we didn't bring along our camping gear so we could indulge further. This week was capped off with an afternoon of guided climbing on Wall Street, a section of Navajo sandstone that meets one of the local roads along the Colorado River. Our time in Castle Valley has gone by quickly and now its time to move on. We have enjoyed everyday in this valley and highly recommend it as a base for exploring Utah's canyon country. Tomorrow we move on and trade our comfy rental home for a tent and campfires under the sanctuary of the stars. Can't wait!!

Spring storm hits Castle Valley

Castle Valley after the storm

New leaves

Enroute to Chesler Park loop in the Needles

Leyla getting a glimpse of Chesler Park

Team Salomon in the Needles



Hot, dry and thirsty



Sullivan navigates the joint



Inside the joint



Refreshing temperatures in the rocks

Sofia making strides through Chesler Park

wonderland

Sofia gets serious at Wall Street

Sullivan climbs a crack on school house rock while our trusty guide Justin lends a hand

Jeff on school house rock



Sofia at Wall Street



Wall Street executive

Sonnet bouldering above the house

Bouldering on Shafer Lane

Delicate dance inside the Yucca

handsome dude



See ya...



Ancient trails in canyon country

It seems everywhere we go in Utah's southeast canyon country that there is evidence of ancient people. Scattered flakes of obsidian, chert, agate and quartz mark former camp sites or moments in time where people sat down to take care of business. These welcoming spots beckon people today just as they did 3000 years ago. The trails used through generations of nomadic living interconnect watering holes, food resources, shelter and creative rock panels that served an unknown purpose. Some of our best adventures have not been in the national parks but off the beaten track, down the many back roads in this rugged country. That being said, Arches and Canyonlands national parks are breathtaking.

Newspaper Rock - 3000 years of reporting

Sego canyon Ute cultural group - few hundred years old

Archaic Barrier Canyon cultural group - Sego Canyon: 3000-4000 years old
Alien connections?



Fisher Towers



Approaching Fisher Towers

Ancient trails

Ghost town of Sego

Sonnet explores the Sego coal seam

All about arches around Moab

Pine tree arch

Partition frame

Fractured 

conquering double O arch

Navajo Arch - our fave



Negro Bill Canyon oasis



seen better days

canyoneers

Twisted

Navajo Arch

crazy people in a crazy landscape

Landscape arch

portal to?

La Sal Prospecting

Sofia and I spent the afternoon exploring the upper reaches of Castle Valley. A network of roads rise up onto the flanks of the La Sal Mountains and provide access to different formations of rocks (and lets not forget the gravel!). We went in search of dinosaur bones and Sofia came back with some great photos of dino footprints instead. We also couldn't resist the temptation to pan for gold in some of the younger sediments that have been shed into upper Castle Valley. By the look of things we were not the first to see the potential!

Near perfect print from the Morrison Formation

another one!

140 million year old foot steps

Sonnet finds the foot print refreshing

Always on the lookout for a quality quartz sand deposit

spring

Old timers adit

Gravel on bedrock...irresistable