The grizzly bear known as Old Ephraim is legendary in the Cache Valley The bear had a toe deformity and left distinctive tracks During the early 1900’s, sheepherders were frustrated at the number of sheep killed by bears each year in the mountains Frank Clark, a part owner of the Ward Clark Sheep Company, set out to kill the largest most well-known of the bears, Old Ephraim For almost 10 years Clark made attempts to kill Old Ephraim The bear evaded all traps and continued killing sheep Finally, in 1923, Clark caugh...

Just north of I-15, Arrow Canyon is a gem! I had wanted to visit the canyon for many years after hearing about the climbing in the canyon When we finally visited, it wasn't to climb, but to hike, and what a neat hike! Starting in a fairly open wash, the hike soon enters a deep, sheer walled limestone canyon The canyon is dramatic and beautiful, with many rock art panels along the way The hike ends at the bottom of an old dam, just before the canyon opens An excellent outing that seems to see a fair share of both hi...

Mount Irish is one of the rock art areas that Lincoln County and the BLM both publish information on Tucked up near the 8,743 ft high Mt Irish, the site is among boulder outcroppings and washes It is a large site If you are interested in rock art, it is easy to spend a day or even more wandering around looking for rock art in the boulders On my visit, I felt like I had just scratched the surface, yet still saw many fantastic glyphs and panels Pay attention to the road directions For a BLM promoted site, the route t...

The Grand Gulch area, located within the Bears Ears region of Utah, holds one of the richest concentrations of ancestral sites in the American Southwest Towering canyon walls and alcoves have thousands of years of human history preserved in cliff dwellings, rock art, and pottery shards This is a place I had wanted to visit for years When I finally visited, I found it to be one of the most incredible places I've visited on the Colorado Plateau The hike described here is a brief introduction to Grand Gulch: hiking do...

Have a couple of hours to kill in North Wash Done all the classics Looking for a casual evening route Want something new Death is for you! A short approach, leads to a short entrada slot canyon, with a 10 m rappel Although not a destination, it is a fun little canyon The short approach and ease make this one that I have done a number of times as an "on-the-way-home" type adventure It is also one of my "intro-to-canyoneering" type outings, and I know several of my friends have done the same

Mossy Cave and the waterfall near the cave makes an excellent roadside attraction on the east side of Bryce Canyon National Park It is popular A short hike leads to a photographer's paradise The ease and length of this outing make it a good family friendly stop to stretch legs while passing near Bryce History from the NPS Sign: "Bringing Water to the Desert By 1874 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had begun to settle in the Paria Valley east of Bryce Canyon Arid conditions gave rise to a p...

The South fork of Ticaboo Canyon is a beautiful haven with an interesting history The hike described descends an old cattle trail, still in use as of 2010, that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps CCC The CCC was a government sponsored program in the 1930's as part of the New Deal to provide jobs and vocational training: "The propose for me to create a civilian conservation corps to be used in simple work, not interfering with normal employment, and confining itself to forestry, the prevention of soil eros...

If there is a better stretch of class I river in northern Nevada, I have yet to find it! The Salmon Falls Creek offers beginners, families, and those that like calm rivers an amazing float through a surprisingly deep cliff lined canyon It is easy enough for beginners, yet meanders back and forth enough to keep the paddler engaged and interested If your new to canoeing, this is a trip that is guaranteed to improve your turning skills and ability to read currents The meanders can be a little frustrating until you get...

Monoxide, or Dragon as we called it when we did it Thanksgiving 2003, reminds me that a 2-star canyon can still leave a lasting impression A couple of new friends of mine at the time Kent Beverly and Penny Martens invited me to join up with them for Thanksgiving weekend in Hanksville to do canyons This canyon was the first project of the weekend We spent a very cold, blustery day in both forks of the canyon, rim walking each side before finally dropping in When I re-visited the canyon recently, I was surprised at h...

Happy Canyon has thwarted more of my canyoneering buddies' efforts to visit it than probably any other canyon There are two common options to visit The first, via Burr Point, is long and always underestimated Many groups try that route, but have to turn back before Happy or return in the dark Reaching the trailhead for Burr Point is easy and is generally accessible to all vehicles This route, via Poison Spring, is the preferred route and makes a very casual day hike What is the catch The road requires a high cleara...