Date: November 19, 2018
Location: Buckhorn Wash, San Rafael Swell, Utah
Distance: 3 miles
Weather: Low to mid 30s
There is an unnamed canyon somewhere in Buckhorn Wash that I first explored over 25 years ago. We called it Impossible Canyon because despite numerous attempts, we consistently encountered an area we couldn't get through. At first glance, you wouldn't notice this canyon and even if you did, you wouldn't think it led anywhere noteworthy.
They canyon starts about a quarter mile wide and has a faint trail that leads into it. As you hike up the canyon it begins to narrow.
Unfortunately, a car door from what appears to be the 1950s makes a brief appearance part way up the canyon.
The canyon narrows and snakes around while simultaneously filling with large boulders and brush.
After a few (micro)adventurous spots, we arrived at an ice covered bowl (not thick enough to walk on) with intriguing bends just beyond.
While going further was certainly possible, it would have involved getting wet in the 30-degree weather...something my wife and sister-in-law would certainly not sanction. So, we headed back down with plans to drive around to the top of the canyon to see if we could access the unexplored areas from above.
We added a quick stop at an abandoned mine...
A bit of a drive and some more hiking brought us to the top of the canyon. Some of the group walked along the top edge while I tried working through the narrows until another thin ice section brought the adventure to a halt. Impossible Canyon still lives up to its name. I'm actually glad the unexplored portion (at least for me) remains and look forward to the next adventure there!
