It's Thursday afternoon as I make my way along UT-20, the now familiar highway has lots of traffic, but the configuration of vehicles has changed. During the summer months, campers, trailers, and motorhomes made up most vehicles; now, I only occasionally see a trailer or camper.
Turning onto UT-89, the RV park near the intersection is all but vacant. Like someone flipped a switch, the same is true for all the parks in Panguitch. Red Canyon Campground is closed for the winter, and prominent vacancies exist at the Cannonville KOA. I've not stayed at the Cannonville KOA, but they sure gouged me on a sewer dump a few weeks ago, charging $20.00 when other places charge anywhere from $6 - 10 dollars.
Campsite near Cottonwood Wash Road
There is a smoky haze lingering in the air, making the surrounding mountains look faded. I pass the Kodachrome Basin State Park turn-off onto Cottonwood wash dirt road. My favorite campsite is available, but the wind blows sand across the wide-open area next to the trees as I maneuver the trailer into its parking spot.
Kelsey, Michael R. *Hiking and Exploring the Paria River*. 6th ed., Kelsey Publishing, 2017.
Camp setup doesn't take long, and I decide to go for a short ATV ride. I've mentioned Kelsey's Hiking and Canyoneering books before, both the good and the bad. The good is they contain a wealth of information. The bad is the hand-drawn maps and lack of GPS coordinates. The hand-drawn maps are amazingly accurate, and I can [generally] find the matching topographical locations.
The "Area Road Maps," which are always of interest to me, are at the beginning of each book's significant section. Using "Map 17, Area Road Map: Rock Springs Bench Trailheads," I decided to go for a ride. I've been southeast to Sam Pollock's cabin, and on to Death Valley Draw. Earlier this year, I made an ATV excursion south to the Johnson Hole Saddle and reached the summit of UNP 6526. Today, I decided to follow the short connecting path between the two roads and form a loop.
ATV trail view north, Kodachrome Basin, Powell Point in the distance
I plan on hiking Rock Springs Creek tomorrow, so I stop at the trailhead - a term I use loosely - to check on conditions. Near the junction where the road and creek meet is a notation in Kesley's book "Rock Springs Sheep Searing Corral Site." Surprisingly a small trail exists along the creek bed, and I wander down 50 feet or so, glancing at the northern rock face hoping to see the "Sheepmen's Signatures," which Kesley also mentions in his book.
Sheepmen’s signatures and brand, 1888.
Sure enough, I spot some signatures high on the stone wall. Crossing the creek, I find a whole area covered in old scratched out names, brands, and dates. I find some of the dates hard to believe, like 1888 and 1892, but perhaps the difference between graffiti and historically exciting information is a few more decades between the two.
Sheepmen’s signatures and brand, 1892
Rock Springs Bench CalTopo map of area can be found here.