Hellroaring Rim Trail

Rich & Marilyn Weigand, Leaders Big Saturday, 4/16

This trail tours Mineral Point, part of the mesa country between the long deep gashes of Mineral and Hellroaring Canyons. These two canyons drain into the Labyrinth Canyon section of the Green River. The headwaters of these two canyons (as well as many others in the area) are shallow, normally dry drainages that suddenly plunge over rimrock into deep canyons. This is a pleasant, scenic family trail but we can’t assure that a stock vehicle will get through without a “thunk” of metal on rock. Approximate mileages: 80 total, 37 off highway.

Scenery: There are glimpses of Hellroaring Canyon along the way, but the fi nal overlook near its confl uence with Labyrinth Canyon is exceptional, a ridge top provides a view 50 miles or more in all directions. Doug Ramsey Tuesday 4/12

Russ Walker Thursday 4/14

Road Surface: Most of this trail, like many other local trails, was scratched into the rock formation known as Kayenta Sandstone. This formation provides a variety of shale and sandstone that erodes into rocky ledges, broken rock, and sandy dirt.

Highlights: A couple of ledgy, sandy, and switch backed hills into a small canyon provide challenging descents. The climb out is interesting as well. There are some rocky ledges that could grab any low hanging parts. To be used: Tuesday 4/12 Thursday 4/14 and Big Saturday 4/16

No gear? No problem.

Our camper Jeeps are fully outfitted with everything you need for a camping trip in the Southwest.

Ask us about airport delivery, itinerary support and extra gear racks. call (435) 238-7009 or book online www.southwestjeepadventures.com

Associate Leaders:

Kevin Heckman, Robert Kraft, Doug Kvassay, John Marsh, Allan Olson.

Gate Etiquette Open or Close?

This photo of a gate with no fence is supposed to be amusing, but gate etiquette is serious business.

Livestock grazing has been our most durable industry since this region was settled. Fences are part of the business, on public as well as private land. Fences keep the cattle in where they belong and out where they don’t belong. Most of the fences you see are on public land where they defi ne grazing allotments. Ranchers may obtain permits to graze livestock for a fee, but permits limit the number of stock grazed and specifi c dates during which grazing is allowed on a particular parcel.

Gates allow other land users to pass through, but we are unlikely to know whether they should be closed or open. The usual closed condition keeps the cattle within the boundaries of the permits, and gates left open improperly may cause ranchers not only to lose stock but also to be disciplined by the management agencies for trespassing beyond their permits.

Sometimes grazing is allowed on both sides of a fence but water is available on only one side. During these times, leaving gates open can be a life-or-death matter for the livestock.

The rule of leaving gates the way you fi nd them is pretty well known. Your choice may be diffi cult, however, when it appears that the last “tourist” may not have followed the rule.

A “please close gate” sign is a pretty good clue for appropriate action, as is a carelessly dropped gate. A rancher is not likely to drop a gate in a heap, especially if the posts are in the road where they can be run over and broken. A gate that was pulled wide open and laid along the fence was surely put that way because someone really wanted it open.

Handling gates may not be our favorite pastime, but it is merely a minor annoyance (avoid major annoyances by being careful where you step!). For the rancher, it is his living, and decent folks will not make it hard for him. Not only that, he is our best ally in keeping public lands open for multiple use.