After yesterday's full day of hiking in Rock Spring Creek, I sleep in, no rush to go anywhere today, as this day is the final day of the hiking and camping season. A massive cold front will hit the area Sunday, plunging the temperature gauge to the low 20's. I plan on a long ATV ride to Jodey Point this morning, taking a short hike to the top of the unranked peak, then continuing to the end of the peninsula. Hopeful that I can fly my drone over Hackberry Canyon, I'll carry it along for some fun. But first pancakes!
My favorite camping breakfast
It's after 10 am before I start the ATV and move on down the road. This section of the roadway, known as Watson Ridge, is a well-maintained dirt road. Easily passable with 2-wheel drive or pulling a trailer. However, a gully is present before reaching Ott's Corral area, and it's doubtful that an extended trailer could make the steep embankment on both sides without getting hung up.
Ott's Corral is the central hub for the OHV paths that spider out from here; to the right is Rock Springs Creek and Johnson Hole Saddle. I turn left (or straight in front of the Corral) and follow the path up Rough Canyon. The road follows the streambed climbing up and over the various ridges. Rough Canyon is graded on occasion, but watch for large drop-offs and washed out areas after heavy rainfall. A junction occurs at 3.3 miles (Kelsey 2017), and both directions require a 4-wheel drive and high clearance to navigate.
Continue straight and navigate the upcoming rock abutments as best you can. My ATV was able to move around most of the significant obstacles without much effort. Next is deep sand and Sam Pollock's Cabin. An old trailer sits beside the cabin, and it makes me wonder how they achieved getting the trailer up the hill.
The next intersection leads to the Death Valley Draw and Hackberry Canyon upper trailheads. I continue straight and follow the road through the trees and onto the high plateau. The road turns north once again and follows a high ridgeline before dropping down onto a lower section of flat land, sagebrush, and Jodey Point.
Jodey Point. Background left is Powell Point. Background right is Canaan Peak
Jodey Point is a minor bump on the plateau compared to the towering cliffs surrounding Rock Springs Bench. I maneuver my ATV under some Juniper Trees and text Linda that I am beginning my summit attempt. Fifteen minutes later, I send her the "I reached the summit" text message. Jodey Point sits abruptly on the cliff's side edge overlooking Hackberry Creek. The drop off is stunning when compared to the leisurely rise along the plateau. I take a few pictures, log my ascent, and arrive back at the ATV within 30 minutes.
Jodey Point north ridge view into Hackberry Creek
I continue my ATV ride to the looped turn around further south. A somewhat anti-climactic end to the journey as I look across the considerable distance before reaching the plateau's end. Another trail continues south, but it hasn't been used in some time, and I know that the Paria-Hackberry Wilderness Study Area boundary is close, so I assume the trail is closed to motorized traffic.
Eyelet loop view south, Cottonwood Peak in distance (picture left)
The wind is blowing, so I don't even have the chance to fly my drone as I head back towards camp. Still, what a beautiful day, and I have some work to do yet to get the trailer ready for winter.
Rock Springs Bench CalTopo map can be found here.