Making a Tough Living

The San Rafael Swell in central Utah is an amazing area of geologic upheaval and erosion.

A wide variety of geological features may be seen and enjoyed here including ancient, tilted sedimentary beds, brilliant, colorful layers like the Moenkopi, slot canyons, imposing cliffs and rugged peaks. The search for uranium in the 1950’s led to the extensive exploration of the Swell. It is a desert environment as well and plays host to those plants most well-suited for such a location. Erosion of the sedimentary rocks has deposited sands all through the region and in some places those sands accumulate into substantial dunes. 

In April of 2017, we embarked upon a technical slot-canyon adventure with our friend Dan. That day would see us descend a slot canyon full of potholes known to canyoneers as “Knotted Rope.” The same day would end with a long hike back up from the bottom of the Swell along the Muddy River to an old airstrip near the “Hidden Splendor Mine,” one of the relics from the uranium rush days. As we descended the canyon and navigated the multiple potholes, most of which contained some water left from the winter months, we saw an old pipeline that was used to transport water from below to the mining operation near the upper head of the canyon. Too bad these grasses never enjoyed the benefit of that man-made assist. Nearing the end of the canyon, we found a large sand dune with them  somehow surviving in a difficult, almost waterless environment. The barrenness and starkness of the scene compelled us to ponder the difficulties they must endure to eek out an existence here. We have no idea what kind of desert grasses these are but we can tell you they were making a very tough living to survive here.