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Show The Behind-the-Roc- Tlmes-lndependen- Thursday. May 17, 1979 t, hiking ks B1 '.! provides some surprises , delights, frustrations by Bill Davis As an appropriate method of welcoming the arrival of spring, last Saturday, May 12, Otho Murphy, Slim Mabery, Doug Be Vidal and I took a hike to the top of the s Moab Rim into and down to Pritchett Canyon and the Behind-the-Rock- Colorado River. The trip got under way with a stiff climb to the top of the rim. Loose rock-anmuddy soil added to the challenge of the climb, as Otho, 80 and Slim, 71, proved that age is not necessarily a deterrent to recent years. 'possibility Unfortunately, one one canyon additional signature had been left, where someone had partially obliterated a 700-year-ol- Indian d petroglyph with blasts from a rifle. As we proceeded down the canyon we spotted several pools of water, a sight that will become increasingly rare through the summer. Otho and Slim paused to sample the clear water and pronounced it excellent. We continued downslope into a vast series of fins which strenuous physical parallel resembled the formations activity. After an hour of Devils Garden in and a half we reached the Arches on a much larger top of the rim and were scale. with rewarded Both Doug and Otho, of who had hiked the area views spectacular Moab Valley and the before, stated that a large LaSal mountains. arch straddling a pool From the rim we was hidden among the followed a sloping canyon rounded fins. As we into Behind the Rocks, a crossed over two canyons vast and complex system to the location of the arch, of narrow canyons and Doug commented that he high sandstone fins had spent 10 days angling down to the backpacking in the area Colorado River. In the last winter, following distance we could see the many of the narrow towering rock walls of canyons between the high Canyonlands National Park and the flat crown of Poison Spider Mesa. Making good time fins. Shortly we arrived at an overlook above the arch, which was representing hunters, deer, dancers and symbols whose meaning has been obscured by the passage of the centuries. Nearby were inscriptions from a different period of history, dating from the turn of the century up to almost heart-shaped- river. time. ..Fortunately we The route to the river located a gully which proved to be interesting, angled down ' a series of as we had no way of steps and were soon knowing whether the standing on the road, canyon would end in an A short walk brought us unclimbable dropoff. At one point we were forced to the pavement and Slim to jam our way down a thumbed us a ride in the short, vertical rockfall. back of a pickup. Minutes Slim provided Otho with later we were back in g a belay from his belt, with Moab, somewhat but burned and footsore, standing by to provide assistance from already making plans for below. The descent was the next trip. sun-Dou- made without incident ..... . "'? 't 'w J7 ' .2, f',- - ' " ' s V ' t-- ' V- y-y- - , , j ' - - '? vv2 age w - 7 - ,v - m ' s ' ' sl " . Mil , ' jrf JT n ' V Z On top of a canyon wall just west of the Moab Rim we were a large number of petroglyphs and other found the remains of an Indian fort. On the wall below inscriptions dating from the turn of the century. To a relative newcomer to the Moab area, hiking our .around way long-tim- e with residents occasional cliffs and such Slim as Otho and overhanging waterfalls. and experts backcountry reached Eventually we of a point where the like Doug Sidewinder River Tours), Pritchett Canyon road greatly enhances a trip could be seen below slickrock the 70 feet below us, as into With the wealth we had come out on a country. . information provided ledge above the canyon companions, the floor with no apparent wa an provided way down. Well, shucks outstanding opportunity I other comments), (and to learn more about the always wondered what it was like to be really history of Moab and the surrounding area. rimmed up. Frustrating. (co-own- er us-abo- ut ; broad and rounded at the top, pinching off at the bottom above a well-shade- d pool. From the overlook we scrambled down a narrow corridor to the base of the arch. Otho said that he had first seen the arch about 60 years ago when he was Teachers Center subject of conference The Moab Teachers Center sponsored an awareness conference last Friday, May 11 at Star Hall. Visitors from throughout the state attended the gathering to discuss the formation and Policy Board were discus- sed by Board Chairman Deanna Olearain. Needs Assessments were discussed by Doris Wilson, a Policy Board member. A seminar of shared responsibility in teachers centers was conducted by Grand County School Superintendent Bill Meador and R. LaMar Allred, bom the Utah State Board of Education office. Later the group participated in a discussion via telephone hookup with Allen Schmieder, chief of the National Teacher Centers program. At a buffet luncheon at Mi Vida Restaurant, Richdelivered a talk entitled The Roots Are Deeper. During the afternoon a panel discussion was moderated by teacher Jane Turvey. Following a question and answer period, sessions involving teacher demonstrations and proposal writing wound up the conference. Big turnout at Hanksville lands meet A total of 114 Sout- heastern Utah residents attended a meeting with the BLM in Hanksville, May 12 to discuss proposed wilderness study sections in the Dirty Devil River area. Slim Mabery, Doug DeVidal and Otho Murphy scramble up the hillside to the top of the Moab Rim during a hike last Saturday, May 12. From the rim, the group followed a canyon into the sandstone fins of s down to the Colorado River. Behind-the-Rock- Among the petroglyphs we found were these two figures, carved into the sandstone at the base of a wall. Antrhopologists estimate the age of many of the years. Nearby petroglyphs in the Moab area at we located what appeared to be an ancient firepit. 700-90- tour of the area. A helicopter was provided by Cotter Corp. to conduct shuttle flights over the Dirty Devil and its tributary canyons. Controversy has arisen over the possible designation of the area as a wilderness. Some sections along the Dirty Devil have been earmarked by the BLM for intensive inventory. The designation is being disputed by cattlemen and miners who want the area to remain open to multiple use. One of the main objections raised at the meeting was that the proposed study area abuts Recrea- The landscape of is dominated by a vast area of parallel sandstone H16 len ' was ,A!If fins, separated by narrow canyons. The vertical walls make navigating in the area difficult. Here the hikers pause to pick out a route to a large arch hidden in the stated that closure of the Behind-the-Roc- t? area to development 0 Second quarter economy should improve the not sales down only 5 per pumps. expected. According to First is market Utahs News The Letter cent. News job Letter, Security economic activity is ex- predicts that business ac- forecast to remain strong Reflecting a sign of pected to strengthen in tivity in Utah in the in the second quarter caution, the pace of conthe second, quarter, said second quarter is expec- despite some subtle sumer spending and retail Don Cook, Assistant Vice ted to improve relative to evidence of softening in sales in Utah is expected the reduced growth rates the first three months. to improve in the second President and Manager. Edited by Dr. Kelly experienced in the first The rate of unem- quarter. Retail sales tax ployment in Utah dropcollections reflecting Matthews, vice president two months of 1979. cost The and ped to 4.4 per cent, comsales made in the fourth and economist for First Security Company, the availability of petroleum pared with a 5.7 per cent quarter of 1978 declined abruptly, and consumer quarterly News Letter products, particularly in national average. Residential building spending will be published this the summer months, is a probably week. major concern for the In- permit activity in Utah remained soft in the first By the latter part of termountain area, as well remained soft in the first quarter of 1979. Demand for commercial this year, however, the as the nation. A 15 per quarter, but should imbank credit in Utah pace of economic growth cent shortfall in gasoline prove in the second quarreal slowed in the first quarter will likely diminish, with supplies will undoubtedly ter. Residential inflation-induce- d an result in higher prices, estate sales volume but is expected to downturn in business conreduced service station remained strong in the strengthen in months ditions extending into the hours and some lines at first quarter with unit ahead. early part of 1980. The major threat to continued economic expansion is inflation, according to the News Letter. Inflation went from bad 1-70 to worse in the first quarElgin-Flo- y rose ter as producer prices 14 per cent, while prices d construction of Green River City limits. at the retail level jumped Interstate 70 in Grand County, from The contract being advertised about 12 per cent. There Elgin, east of Green River to currently calls for 2.88 million yards are no easy solutions at Floy, of roadway excavation; 610 thoualready completed available which will sand cubic yards of borrow and 1.88 near Crescent Junction, will begin noticeably slow inflation soon. million cubic yards of granular in the immediate months The Utah Department of Transborrow. It will, when completed, ahead. replace one of the most hazardous portation has advertised for bids on Monetary policy is not the project, which will cost well in stretches of primary highway in the expected to be altered excess of $10 million. The first state of Utah. significantly in the contract, which will be 14.3 miles in Following the completion early second quarter. Shortnext summer of the Elgin-Flo- y length, is to be completed in 275 term interest rates could work will begin section of working days. It is for grading and edge moderately higher, on draining, only. A later contract to immediately connecting the but significant tightening be awarded at the completion of interstate west of Green River with of credit availability is this first contract, will provide for bridges placed across the Green and tying into the Elgin-Flo- y placing an asphalt surface on the section. When that is done, project. would have an adverse long two In 70 will be fully completed the with Interstate of the on conjunction economy impact in Grand County. projects, a State Primary contract Wayne County. will be awarded to connect the Bids on the project, including Present at the meeting with Interstate present Highway were representatives of provision for six bridge structures, in Elgin, near the are to be opened on Tuesday, June Highway the Western Association Green River Missile Base. The 12. If a low bid is under or near the of Land Users, the Farm Interstate will swing southward engineering estimates for construcBureau, the Wayne Counfrom the current highway route, tion, a contractor should be on the ty Commission and the below River the before the end of June. Green job Eastern Utah Cattlemens just crossing Bids being sought on stretch Long-awaite- Fifty of the meetings participants went on a m- : and we continued, picking ard Mason, A Grand School District teacher, rugged terrain. tV? w4 indeed along the sandy wash spectacular. The opening, bottom, we crossed over which we estimated at 70 to the north side, where to 80 feet high, was the sandstone wall was topped by the ruins of an Indian fort. A short, narrow chimney provided access to the fort,, with a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. Along the wall was ample evidence of the ancient culture, in the form of petroglyphs of following We spread out and down to the began exploring the Colorado River rather ledge, seeking a way than returning to the rim. down to the road which Dough picked out a likely was so close. With the looking drainage and we clarity of hindsight, a continued down the sandy rope sure seemed like a wash bottom towards the fine idea.. .next time, next 1-- 6-- Association. |