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Dave Beedon | profile | all galleries >> Places >> Utah >> Moab (environs) >> Jackson Butte >> Jackson Butte via Jackson's Trail tree view | thumbnails | slideshow | map

Jackson Butte via Amasa Back Trail | The Vine That Ruined My Day | Jackson Butte via Jackson's Trail

Jackson Butte via Jackson's Trail

(See the parent gallery for background information on Jackson Butte.)

This isolated butte called to me constantly since my first visit in October 2006
(previous gallery). The only way to silence the calls is to answer, so I returned in
2007 with the goal of getting deeper into the butte than I did on the previous trip.

This time I got deeper into the butte than before and explored two alcoves that suggested
the possibility of a scrambling routes to the top. Both routes turned out to be technical
climbs. However, there is one more alcove inside the butte that remains to be examined.

My route started at Kane Creek Trailhead, crossed the creek, and followed Jackson's
Trail along the Colorado River to the Amasa Back plateau, where it intersected the
Amasa Back Trail. From I descended Jackson's Ladder (a steep hiking trail) into
Jackson Hole, location of the butte. Photos are posted in chronological order.

Photos were taken in March 2007. I AM STILL POSTING PHOTOS TO THIS GALLERY.
.
Self-portrait at the Kane Creek Trailhead (start of Jackson's Trail)
Self-portrait at the Kane Creek Trailhead (start of Jackson's Trail)		 Stepping stones facilitate a fording of Kane Creek
Stepping stones facilitate a fording of Kane Creek		 Trail has been damaged by slumping on the right
Trail has been damaged by slumping on the right		 Trail follows the shelf next to the creek; horizontal white line appears in next photo close up
Trail follows the shelf next to the creek; horizontal white line appears in next photo close up		 Natural gas pipeline suspended above Kane Creek
Natural gas pipeline suspended above Kane Creek
Tamarisk jungle starts to open up
Tamarisk jungle starts to open up		 Buttress visible when exiting the tamarisk jungle
Buttress visible when exiting the tamarisk jungle		 This is one way to install a pipeline in the desert (bamboo stick is 6 feet [1.8m] long)
This is one way to install a pipeline in the desert (bamboo stick is 6 feet [1.8m] long)		 The long cliff is called Wall Street and is popular with rock climbers
The long cliff is called Wall Street and is popular with rock climbers		 Location of panorama shot (previous photo shows the context)
Location of panorama shot (previous photo shows the context)
Not a single straight line to be found...
Not a single straight line to be found...		 The pipeline follows the trail for a while; trail goes into sunlit area at rear
The pipeline follows the trail for a while; trail goes into sunlit area at rear		 Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata); the purple bulbs might not be part of the plant
Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata); the purple bulbs might not be part of the plant		 Route of Jackson's Trail on its way to meet the Amasa Back Trail; Jackson Butte is behind the ridge at left
Route of Jackson's Trail on its way to meet the Amasa Back Trail; Jackson Butte is behind the ridge at left		 Colorado River and (on far side) the trailhead for the Poison Spider Mesa Trail
Colorado River and (on far side) the trailhead for the Poison Spider Mesa Trail
Colorado River and Potash Road
Colorado River and Potash Road		 It's a Roy Rogers/Dale Evans CD featuring Happy Trails to You
It's a Roy Rogers/Dale Evans CD featuring "Happy Trails to You"		 Panorama of Poison Spider Mesa from the south
Panorama of Poison Spider Mesa from the south		 View back to the starting point (Kane Creek Trailhead)
View back to the starting point (Kane Creek Trailhead)		 Trail identified at junction with Amasa Back Trail
Trail identified at junction with Amasa Back Trail
Looking down through Jackson Hole at the potash mine in the distance
Looking down through Jackson Hole at the potash mine in the distance		 First view of crumbling Jackson Butte
First view of crumbling Jackson Butte		 Dirt road in Jackson Hole leads at upper right to Jackson Butte
Dirt road in Jackson Hole leads at upper right to Jackson Butte		 Close-up of road in Jackson Hole (note the white dot in road)
Close-up of road in Jackson Hole (note the white dot in road)		 Trail (Jackson's Ladder) and pipeline descend to Jackson Hole
Trail (Jackson's Ladder) and pipeline descend to Jackson Hole
Wall of Jackson Hole, the rincon surrounding Jackson Butte
Wall of Jackson Hole, the rincon surrounding Jackson Butte		 Jackson's Ladder, the steep trail descending into Jackson Hole
Jackson's Ladder, the steep trail descending into Jackson Hole		 Admiring the canyon wall
Admiring the canyon wall		 Taking a break from the hard job of PBase exploration
Taking a break from the hard job of PBase exploration		 Follow the red dirt road to Jackson Butte (upper right)
Follow the red dirt road to Jackson Butte (upper right)
The route into the innards of Jackson Butte
The route into the innards of Jackson Butte		 Once on the slope, the view looks like this
Once on the slope, the view looks like this		 Looking back down into Jackson Hole
Looking back down into Jackson Hole		 The route up goes to the left of the two short towers just left of center
The route up goes to the left of the two short towers just left of center		 Bold towers: my route goes around the left side of the left tower
Bold towers: my route goes around the left side of the left tower
Ugly but beautiful
Ugly but beautiful		 Manly tower
Manly tower		 Hammer head
Hammer head		 Corridor of opportunity
Corridor of opportunity		 I felt like a slice of meat in a sandstone sandwich, and I relished it
I felt like a slice of meat in a sandstone sandwich, and I relished it
2007-03-20: Now I'm beyond the vine that ruined my day
2007-03-20: Now I'm beyond the "vine that ruined my day"		 Sandwich corridor through which I just came
Sandwich corridor through which I just came		 The sandwich corridor is just out of view to the right
The sandwich corridor is just out of view to the right		 The terrain ahead looks inviting; how far will I be able to go?
The terrain ahead looks inviting; how far will I be able to go?		 Amphitheater opens up a bit as I proceed
Amphitheater opens up a bit as I proceed
Another obstacle? (a pour-off)
Another obstacle? (a pour-off)		 Working on a solution to the problem of an obstacle
Working on a solution to the problem of an obstacle		 Loop of nylon webbing acting as a step
Loop of nylon webbing acting as a step		 The route goes up to the right, then cuts left just below the squarish shadow
The route goes up to the right, then cuts left just below the "squarish" shadow		 No way to get up this second pour-off (had to go around)
No way to get up this second pour-off (had to go around)
Where I have come from, taken from above the second pour-off
Where I have come from, taken from above the second pour-off		 Interesting area, but exploring it will have to wait for another visit
Interesting area, but exploring it will have to wait for another visit		 Where I have come from (again)
Where I have come from (again)		 Boulder and delights beyond
Boulder and delights beyond		 Looking back at Jackson Hole from inside the butte's amphitheater
Looking back at Jackson Hole from inside the butte's amphitheater
From the boulder of the previous picture, this is the view up into the amphitheater
From the boulder of the previous picture, this is the view up into the amphitheater		 Lip of the amphitheater's south wall
Lip of the amphitheater's south wall		 The top of this slope might be as far as I can go---is there a scrambling route to the top?
The top of this slope might be as far as I can go---is there a scrambling route to the top?		 Just around the corner is my route--or not
Just around the corner is my route--or not		 Bummer: the route to the top is a climb up a crack
Bummer: the route to the top is a climb up a crack
Close to the high point of the first area of exploration
Close to the high point of the first area of exploration		 Resting at the high point of this part of the exploration
Resting at the high point of this part of the exploration		 Second goal of the trip: area to left of the white dot
Second goal of the trip: area to left of the white dot		 Straight ahead: mysterious alcove
Straight ahead: mysterious alcove		 Above the dirt slope, the view was not encouraging
Above the dirt slope, the view was not encouraging
Not exactly a cakewalk
Not exactly a cakewalk		 The alcove at last!
The alcove at last!

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