Monday, April 21/2014

It looks like it is going to be a sunny day today and  that is a good thing as I think we are headed out on the quads today.   More adventure and exploring to be done!!

Wide sandy trails

We started on the wide sandy trails of the bench lands and headed for Swasey's Cabin Trail.  Even with the map, it was a bit of a challenge to find the right trail.

An old line shack

We came across an old line shack and wondered if this could be the infamous Swasey's Cabin where Butch Cassidy apparently hung out for a while but it seemed way too modern for that so we continued on down the dusty trail (and it really was dusty!!).

Corrals at the water pump station

We eventually came across an old water pump station in our travels and found that the water here had been declared "bad" so this area too was abandoned.

No number on this trail….where the hell are we???

Several of the trails were unmarked so it was rather difficult to find out exactly where we were on the map.  Yes,  we knew we were on a trail……but….which one!!!!  

More incredible scenery

More evidence of wind erosion

We travelled today through some incredible scenery and varied terrain.  Sand, rock, shelf trails and along canyon bottoms.  It was something to see for sure.

shelf trail

some of today's trail was rock

Entering Eagle Canyon

We entered Eagle Canyon on the way to Swasey's Cabin.  Yes, we eventually found a trail marker and were able to figure out where we were on the map.   We made a rather circuitous trip to the cabin but we did eventually find it!!

swirls of rock

All these juniper need is a bit of sand and a crack in the rock

In the canyon

One particular pinnacle.   Standing all
by itself

Swasey's Cabin

Marie and Kay standing by the front door

Sawsey's Cabin, built in 1901 by Joseph Swasey.  It was built from Douglas Fir hauled from nearby Eagle Canyon.  The family grazed livestock in the surrounding area and the cabin was used by the family and other cowboys…one oft hem supposedly was Butch Cassidy!!

John resting after his 200 foot hike to the Lone Warrior Pictograph!!

The Lone Warrior  (looks like Batman)

Awesome skyline

More awesomeness with the juniper in the foreground
and the mountains in the back

Dutchmen's Arch

Kay, sitting on the rocks at the arch.  Putting
sweater on for the ride home.

Kay and I walked up to the arch and took this pic of John
and the quads

Looking through the arch

Our final trail before getting back to camp

Our day's journey concluded with us taking Kay over to see Dutchman's Arch.  It was a nice way to end our day.  We made it back to camp in good time and spent the rest of the evening sitting around the campfire and exchanging stories of today's adventures.  

Tonight's fire…..somewhere in there it looks like we
are burning a loon's head!!