The day began with a extensive exploration of the pictographs at the Green Mask Panel. This panel is remarkable in that it features many different styles of art located in close proximity. The Green Mask itself is a little underwhelming, when you finally find it but then you wonder how someone could have gotten up there to paint it.
After the reasonably easy hiking of the previous day, things change as you get close to the junction with Bullet Canyon. Lush vegetation obscures the vague trails, and the banks of the wash get steeper and deeper. This makes the many times you have to get in and out of the wash very tiring, especially for an overweight 72 year old. I wasn't the only one either, as no one wanted to climb up to the Two Story ruin.
We camped at the mouth of Step Canyon. Unlike our two previous camps, the water situation was pretty grim and took much exploring to find a good pool. Offsetting that, was the fabulous Quail Panel. Even though we only covered 5.5 miles for the day, almost 2 miles less than the previous days, we all agreed that it was the hardest day of the trip.
Note photo takers are given in the titles under the thumbnails.
Kickass Trekkers on this trip were: Bill Mooseker, Shelby Stong, Mike Stong, Madison Stong, Fred Stong, and Cindy Stong.
The descriptions under the photo thumbnails in the album sometimes contain links to maps or additional information. These are identified by "Blue” text for links. I've also inserted links to Google Maps to show where certain photos in the album were taken or to locate features shown in the photos. Click on the link, close the sidebar, and choose satellite view. Basically, you can then zoom in and out using the mouse wheel or drag the map by clicking and holding.
For panoramic photos, I would recommend clicking on the thumbnail photo to enlarge. View at original size for most detail. The thumbnails do not do justice to petroglyphs and pictographs, so I would recommend enlarging them as well. Please take the time to view the many videos to better experience what it was like to be there.
Troop 24 Kickass Trekkers Backpacking Trip
-Cascade Bill Mooseker
Date(s): May 10. Album by Cascade Bill. 1 - 133 of 133 Total. 423 Visits.
enlarge 521KB, 1024x1022 1 pic&vids
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enlarge 124KB, 1024x768 2 2016-05-10 05-42-40 mike DSCF4392 Morning sun on Sheiks Canyon.
enlarge 158KB, 1024x768 3 2016-05-10 05-44-52 mike DSCF4393 Morning of our third day on the trail - Shelby making piles of "troop gear".
enlarge 144KB, 768x1024 4 2016-05-10 05-52-24 mike DSCF4394 Shelby & Fred - distributing the cold cereal for the morning's breakfast.
enlarge 167KB, 1024x768 5 2016-05-10 06-05-44 bill DSC01413 My Six Moon Designs Skyscape Trekker tent.
enlarge 159KB, 1024x768 6 2016-05-10 06-06-40 bill DSC01414 One of the great things about this tent is that you can enter the tent from either side.
enlarge 160.01MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 7 2016 ut may 10 gp 001.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Hiking down to the Green Mask Spring.
enlarge 174KB, 1024x768 8 2016-05-10 07-24-56 bill DSC01415 More primroses.
enlarge 164.31MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 9 2016 ut may 10 gp 002.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Madison showing Mike where the Green Mask is located.
enlarge 167.74MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 10 2016 ut may 10 gp 003.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Mike and Madison climb up to the alcove where the Green Mask pictographs are located.
enlarge 132KB, 1152x427 11 green mask alcove -bill View of the Green Mask alcove. Note the ruins on the ledge to the left. If you enlarge the photo to original size you can see several large red pictographs which you can not see when you are up close. You can also see quite clearly the soot covered wall with the mud spirals shown later. To the left of these is the "Breech Birth" panel.
enlarge 185KB, 1024x768 12 2016-05-10 07-29-24 bill DSC01416 An interesting ruin - a door to an underground room. Note notice to not enter interior areas.
enlarge 140KB, 1024x768 13 2016-05-10 07-29-50 mike DSCF4408 Madison at the down canyon end of the "Breech Birth" Panel.
enlarge 149KB, 1024x768 14 2016-05-10 07-30-32 bill DSC01417 More of the Breech Birth panel.
enlarge 179KB, 768x1024 15 2016-05-10 07-30-34 madison IMG 6602 Ruins above the B.B panel.
enlarge 158KB, 1024x768 16 2016-05-10 07-30-40 bill DSC01418 Headless women?
enlarge 137KB, 1024x768 17 2016-05-10 07-30-52 bill DSC01419 Handprints and smaller figure.
enlarge 137KB, 1024x768 18 2016-05-10 07-30-54 mike DSCF4406 Upper end of the B.B. panel.
enlarge 146KB, 1024x768 19 2016-05-10 07-31-02 bill DSC01420 Pictograph supposedly representing a Breech Birth.
enlarge 156KB, 1024x768 20 2016-05-10 07-31-16 bill DSC01421 More handprints
enlarge 151KB, 1024x768 21 2016-05-10 07-31-30 cindy IMG 9211 Bill exploring the alcove.
enlarge 155KB, 1024x768 22 2016-05-10 07-31-36 bill DSC01423 Unusual ruin with mud spiral circles applied to soot blackened wall. Why was the wall blackened? I don't think it was by fire as the adjacent rock wall does not have any black.
enlarge 172KB, 1024x768 23 2016-05-10 07-37-16 cindy IMG 9213 Another view from the opposite direction
enlarge 201KB, 1024x768 24 2016-05-10 07-31-44 mike DSCF4405 View of the mud spirals
enlarge 116KB, 1024x768 25 2016-05-10 07-32-02 bill DSC01424 Looking up Sheiks Canyon from the alcove.
enlarge 156KB, 1024x768 26 2016-05-10 07-32-16 bill DSC01426 Another ruin
enlarge 125KB, 1024x768 27 2016-05-10 07-33-08 mike DSCF4403 Another view.
enlarge 135KB, 1024x768 28 2016-05-10 07-33-36 mike DSCF4395 Other end of the ruin.
enlarge 80KB, 1152x412 29 green mask alcove - Cindy High on the walls above the alcove are many very old multi-color pictographs that are much different in style than the anthropomorphic ones below them. Made up of lines and symbols, it is impossible to determine what is their meaning.
enlarge 136KB, 1024x768 30 2016-05-09 16-26-12 bill DSC01409 This photograph from the previous night shows the upper pictograph panel as well as the large rockfall below.
enlarge 111KB, 1024x768 31 2016-05-10 07-34-34 bill DSC01427 The down canyon end of the upper pictograph panel. As we were early in the day we did not have the best light to photograph these. The following panoramic photos of this panel taken by the Wilderness Vagabond are more complete than the ones we were able to get. CLICK HERE, HERE, and HERE
enlarge 132KB, 1024x768 32 2016-05-10 07-34-46 bill DSC01428 Due to the large rockfall below, it is speculated that there once was a ledge above that would make these accessible. Even so, it must have been difficult to get up there without elaborate ladders and scaffolding.
enlarge 121KB, 1024x768 33 2016-05-10 07-34-47 mike DSCF4400 Close up
enlarge 112KB, 1024x768 34 2016-05-10 07-34-48 mike DSCF4399 Note the white lines in addition to the darker ones.
enlarge 139KB, 1024x768 35 2016-05-10 07-34-56 bill DSC01429 Farther along the wall - starting to see some "fence" like symbols.
enlarge 125KB, 1024x768 36 2016-05-10 07-35-08 bill DSC01430 More "fences"
enlarge 99KB, 1024x768 37 2016-05-10 07-35-20 bill DSC01431 To the right of the previous photo.
enlarge 120KB, 1024x768 38 2016-05-10 07-35-24 bill DSC01435 Some weird shapes here.
enlarge 130KB, 1024x768 39 2016-05-10 07-35-24 bill DSC01436 The up-canyon end of the panel.
enlarge 116KB, 1024x768 40 2016-05-10 07-35-30 cindy IMG 9222 Another view of the panel.
enlarge 113KB, 1024x768 41 2016-05-10 07-35-32 cindy IMG 9223 You can see that the art was applied before the rockfall as several of the "tails" extend to the break in the wall.
enlarge 199KB, 768x1024 42 2016-05-10 07-36-30 madison IMG 6566 The Green Mask is hard to see. Can you find it in this photo - it is very high on the wall.
enlarge 179KB, 768x1024 43 2016-05-10 07-36-42 madison IMG 6568 Zooming in a little.
enlarge 124KB, 1024x768 44 2016-05-10 07-36-54 bill DSC01434 The Green Mask - Thought to be a representation of a mask made from a face and scalp as described HERE.
enlarge 167KB, 1024x768 45 2016-05-09 16-26-12 bill DSC01409 1 Located on the rock wall below the upper pictograph panel are more recent pictographs. This photo shows the location of several faded white pictographs that are known as the "White Turkey" panel. If you enlarge this photo you will be able to make out these faint pictographs.
enlarge 217KB, 768x1024 46 2016-05-10 07-38-22 madison IMG 6577 These are the "Figures" shown on the overall alcove view. Obviously, the figure on the left is male.
enlarge 214KB, 768x1024 47 2016-05-10 07-38-26 madison IMG 6578 The "Figures" of the previous photo and the "Turkey" called out previously. There is also another figure to the right of the turkey, also with a prominent headdress. I wonder what the large number of short vertical lines stand for.
enlarge 281KB, 768x1024 48 2016-05-10 07-38-26 madison IMG 6578 1 Contrast added to the previous photo.
enlarge 250KB, 768x1024 49 2016-05-10 07-38-38 madison IMG 6579 Panel continues to the right with two more faint figures and a red wavy line.
enlarge 227KB, 768x1024 50 2016-05-10 07-37-22 madison IMG 6576 To the right of the red wavy line is another white turkey, a faint white handprint, and red accents that appear to have been made with three finger tips. (Enlarge for better view).
enlarge 193KB, 768x1024 51 2016-05-10 07-37-08 madison IMG 6572 This is just to the right of the previous photo, showing a large "Corn" symbol. Also a number of red accents are present, one of which may be a handprint.
enlarge 127KB, 1024x768 52 2016-05-10 07-38-02 cindy IMG 9216 Mike & Madison climbing over the rocks to get photos of the pictographs.
enlarge 134KB, 768x1024 53 2016-05-10 07-38-54 madison IMG 6580 Madison
enlarge 205KB, 768x1024 54 2016-05-10 07-39-42 madison IMG 6583
enlarge 150KB, 768x1024 55 2016-05-10 07-39-56 madison IMG 6584 Fred
enlarge 198KB, 768x1024 56 2016-05-10 07-40-36 madison IMG 6586 Madison pointing to a pair of faint stylized figures similar to those of the White Turkey panel.
enlarge 251KB, 768x1024 57 2016-05-10 07-40-40 madison IMG 6585 Close up of previous figure.
enlarge 313KB, 768x1024 58 2016-05-10 07-40-40 madison IMG 6585 1 Contrast added to figure from the previous photo.
enlarge 165KB, 768x1024 59 2016-05-10 07-40-46 madison IMG 6587 More figures to the right of the previous photo.
enlarge 210KB, 768x1024 60 2016-05-10 07-40-58 cindy IMG 9218 Close up of the figures.
enlarge 162KB, 1024x768 61 2016-05-10 07-41-46 mike DSCF4396 Pair of Handprints
enlarge 156KB, 1024x768 62 2016-05-10 07-37-50 cindy IMG 9215 Close up of handprints
enlarge 264KB, 1024x768 63 2016-05-10 07-42-38 cindy IMG 9226 Bill, Shelby, and Fred at base of alcove.
enlarge 100.10MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 65 2016 ut may 10 gp 004.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Saying goodbye to the Green Mask Alcove.
enlarge 81.50MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 66 2016 ut may 10 whm 001a.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Slickrock in main canyon below Sheiks canyon before the next bend.
enlarge 183KB, 1152x647 67 2016-05-10 08-01-12 bill DSC01437 Heading down the slickrock. In 2002 there was a big pool here in which Danny enjoyed a dip - CLICK HERE.
enlarge 217KB, 1024x768 68 2016-05-10 08-05-20 bill DSC01438 A cluster of sweet pea flowers along the way.
enlarge 175KB, 1024x768 69 2016-05-10 08-08-06 cindy IMG 9229 Hoodoos around the first big bend.
enlarge 110KB, 1024x768 70 2016-05-10 08-35-46 cindy IMG 9230 Ruins on a high ledge - This is the Wall Ruin. This is the high ruins, there is a much bigger complex below this. We climbed up here in 2002. See HERE, HERE, and HERE.
enlarge 234KB, 768x1024 71 2016-05-10 09-39-20 cindy IMG 9232 From just above Bullet Canyon, begins the Death March. I don't know how many times we had to climb down and then climb up out of the wash as shown here.
enlarge 303KB, 768x1024 72 2016-05-10 09-40-50 cindy IMG 9233 Through the "jungle"
enlarge 341KB, 768x1024 73 2016-05-10 09-41-38 cindy IMG 9234 Sometimes there is no trail and you have to improvise, as Fred is doing here climbing under some tamarisks.
enlarge 246.36MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 74 2016 ut may 10 gp 005a.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Video shows typical hiking through this stretch of the gulch.
enlarge 279.98MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 75 2016 ut may 10 gp 006a.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Shelby Bushwhacking a way thru the brush to build a bridge! (not easy hiking!)
enlarge 204KB, 1024x768 76 2016-05-10 09-56-54 cindy IMG 9235 Below Bullet Canyon, the main gulch has quite a few sharp twists and turns.
enlarge 329KB, 1024x768 77 2016-05-10 10-04-06 cindy IMG 9236 Fred humping over one of the bends in the canyon.
enlarge 189KB, 1024x768 78 2016-05-10 10-04-08 cindy IMG 9237 This hoodoo at the inner side of one of the many bends in the canyon.
enlarge 269KB, 768x1024 79 2016-05-10 10-05-56 cindy IMG 9238 Continuing high over the inside of the bend we get a respite from the jungle and rough going in the wash.
enlarge 274KB, 768x1024 80 2016-05-10 10-07-18 cindy IMG 9239 Heading down off the bench - I remember this spot from our 2000 trip which is located HERE.
enlarge 192KB, 768x1024 81 2016-05-10 10-23-06 cindy IMG 9240 An old cottonwood snag.
enlarge 229KB, 1024x768 82 2016-05-10 10-31-42 cindy IMG 9241 Following the twists and turns of the canyon.
enlarge 302KB, 768x1024 83 2016-05-10 10-32-44 cindy IMG 9242 More globemallow to brighten the way.
enlarge 198KB, 1024x768 84 2016-05-10 11-17-28 bill DSC01439 The trail takes us up and over this distinctive bench. If you enlarge the photo you can see a ruin in the alcove ahead. When we crossed this bench in 2000, we met a native American woman dressed in traditional garb who was making the trek. The bench is located HERE.
enlarge 272KB, 1024x768 85 2016-05-10 10-55-12 cindy IMG 9243 View of the gully seen in the previous photo. Because of the erosion, there were a few sketchy parts of the trail thru here. Based on the time stamps, it looks like I was about 20 minutes behind the main group at this time.
enlarge 269KB, 1024x768 86 2016-05-10 11-13-22 cindy IMG 9244 Shelby - around the bend is the mouth of Green House Canyon
enlarge 243KB, 1024x768 87 2016-05-10 11-41-40 cindy IMG 9245 Taking our lunch break at the mouth of Green Mask Canyon.
enlarge 268KB, 1024x768 88 2016-05-10 12-19-50 cindy IMG 9246 Fred and Shelby at our lunch break - one of the reasons that I was so behind was that I was overtaken by a group of (I'm assuming based on their demeanor) four older professors (about my age or a little youner) from back east. Unfortunately, they got off the trail and headed up a drainage gully and I followed along. When it became apparent that it wasn't the correct way (it kept climbing), I turned around but they persisted.
enlarge 284KB, 768x1024 89 2016-05-10 12-25-42 cindy IMG 9247 Getting ready to move our from our break. By the way the "professors" arrived during our break. They were taking it easy and were stopping here to camp (having come from the mouth of Bullet). Maybe they were the smart ones. In 2000 we did a day trip up the canyon to see the Green House.
enlarge 268KB, 1024x768 91 2016-05-10 12-30-02 cindy IMG 9249 Fred gets a push from Shelby to get up and over - these crossings were very difficult for me as I usually didn't have anyone to give me a push!
enlarge 141KB, 1024x768 92 2016-05-10 12-43-12 cindy IMG 9250 A prominent landmark between Green House Canyon and Step Canyon is the Totem Pole seen here.
enlarge 70KB, 1024x768 93 2016-05-10 12-43-16 cindy IMG 9251 The Totem Pole - located HERE.
enlarge 190KB, 1024x768 94 2016-05-10 13-39-02 cindy IMG 9252 Two Story Ruin - everyone was so worn out that no one climbed up to see it. I was way behind again - I had developed a huge blister. Since this was my fourth trip through this stretch, I didn't feel too bad about not climbing up to the ruin.
enlarge 139KB, 1152x647 95 2016-05-10 13-40-40 cindy IMG 9257 Another view - this is a fantastic ruin with great pictographs.
enlarge 215KB, 1024x768 96 2016-05-10 13-54-16 cindy IMG 9253 Cindy got this photo near the mouth of Step Canyon (this view is looking at the east side of Step. Two Story Ruin is a short ways up the canyon to the right. If you enlarge this photo to original size, you can see some granaries along the ledge. There is also a very interesting ruin with two poles at the upper ledge below the rim.
enlarge 177KB, 1024x768 97 2016-05-10 13-56-38 mike DSCF4412 View of the granaries and the upper ruin.
enlarge 190KB, 1024x768 98 2016-05-10 13-56-40 cindy IMG 9263 View of the upper ruin - this ruin is opposite the Quail Panel and I wonder if it was used for ceremonial purposes as it appears to be fairly inaccessible.
enlarge 235KB, 1024x768 99 2016-05-10 13-56-46 mike DSCF4414 Cindy - waiting for Bill to show up. Shelby went back to find me.
enlarge 222KB, 1024x768 100 2016-05-10 13-56-52 mike DSCF4415 Madison and Mike's pack.
enlarge 187KB, 768x1024 101 2016-05-10 14-01-04 mike DSCF4419 Time for a nap.
enlarge 146.37MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 102 2016 ut may 10 gp 007a.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Stopping for a moment at Two Story Ruin and then on to our camp in the cottonwoods at Step Canyon.
enlarge 269KB, 768x1024 103 2016-05-10 14-17-34 cindy IMG 9258 Fred - it's been a loooong day!
enlarge 278KB, 1024x768 104 2016-05-10 14-20-20 cindy IMG 9259 Bill (collapsed) - I don't think I moved for an hour or so.
enlarge 250KB, 1024x768 105 2016-05-10 14-57-24 cindy IMG 9264 In camp at Step Canyon.
enlarge 254KB, 768x1024 106 2016-05-10 15-00-58 cindy IMG 9265 Sometimes a picture says a thousand words!
enlarge 267KB, 1024x768 107 2016-05-10 18-12-50 cindy IMG 9271 Cottonwood pollen covers the ground at our camp.
enlarge 318.52MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 108 2016 ut may 10 gp 008.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. The hunt for water at Step Canyon - Part 1 Our most difficult night as far as water was concerned.
enlarge 398.15MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 109 2016 ut may 10 gp 009a.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. The hunt for water continues - Part 2
enlarge 102KB, 1152x463 110 2016-05-10 18-13-14 madison IMG 6628 Panoramic view looking down towards the mouth of Step Canyon from the ledge containing the Quail Panel.
enlarge 286.59MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 111 2016 ut may 10 gp 010b.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Exploring the ledge on which the Quail Panel is located.
enlarge 328.03MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 112 2016 ut may 10 gp 010c.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Finding the pictographs along the Quail Panel.
enlarge 175KB, 768x1024 113 2016-05-10 18-13-26 madison IMG 6622 The Quail Panel, including the "Running Man". This is one of the more colorful panels to be found - red, green, and yellow pigments.
enlarge 151KB, 768x1024 114 2016-05-10 18-13-32 madison IMG 6618 Madison comparing her hand size with these old handprints.
enlarge 121KB, 1024x768 115 2016-05-10 18-14-02 mike DSCF4434 Close up of the Running Man. Note the figures with birds on their heads.
enlarge 111KB, 1024x768 116 2016-05-10 18-14-04 mike DSCF4442 Figures to the left of the "Quail"
enlarge 112KB, 1024x768 117 2016-05-10 18-14-06 mike DSCF4438 Another view.
enlarge 92KB, 1024x768 118 2016-05-10 18-14-08 mike DSCF4437 Showing the antelope.
enlarge 105KB, 1024x768 119 2016-05-10 18-14-16 mike DSCF4436 Close up of the antelope and the quail.
enlarge 153KB, 768x1024 120 2016-05-10 18-14-22 madison IMG 6625 More figures and handprints
enlarge 90KB, 1024x768 121 2016-05-10 18-19-30 mike DSCF4432 Close up of the figures in the previous photo. Note the faint white handprint and the belt on the figure to the right.
enlarge 79KB, 1024x768 122 2016-05-10 18-19-32 mike DSCF4422 Another figure with a fancy headdress
enlarge 137KB, 1024x768 123 2016-05-10 18-21-06 mike DSCF4429 Close up of the figure in the previous photo
enlarge 203KB, 768x1024 124 2016-05-10 18-21-40 madison IMG 6627 My favorite pictograph is this mask - kind of all by itself near the end of the panel.
enlarge 156KB, 1024x768 125 2016-05-10 18-22-46 mike DSCF4428 A fearsome visage
enlarge 150KB, 1024x768 126 2016-05-10 18-22-47 mike DSCF4427 I wonder if this represents a mask similar to the Green Mask or if it signifies some deity.
enlarge 100KB, 1024x768 127 2016-05-10 18-24-38 mike DSCF4439 More figures and a corn symbol.
enlarge 82KB, 1024x768 128 2016-05-10 18-25-54 mike DSCF4445 Another figure
enlarge 268.57MB, 1152x648 Download MPEG4 129 2016 ut may 10 gp 010d1.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Continuing up the ledge in Step Canyon.
enlarge 128KB, 1024x768 130 2016-05-10 18-26-00 mike DSCF4446 Heading back to camp
enlarge 111KB, 1024x768 131 2016-05-10 18-26-08 mike DSCF4447 The light is fading.
enlarge 147KB, 1024x768 132 2016-05-10 18-27-10 mike DSCF4448 Looking back along the ledge
enlarge 593KB, 1152x576 133 next 2.png CLICK HERE for Previous Album (Day 2) CLICK HERE for Next Album (Day 4) CLICK HERE Back to Grand Gulch 2016 Folder
