Dutton Point Hike

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DAY 2: DUTTON POINT TO SWAMP POINT

It rained most of the night, so I'm glad I had my tent. I pack my gear, take a few more pictures from Dutton Point, and leave around 8:00.


Holy Grail Temple from Dutton Point 10-2-2011 @ 8:01	Dutton Point 10-2-2011 @ 8:01

The entire Powell Plateau is covered with Mole-Gopher holes. The dirt is soft and fresh, making the walking a little hazardous if you aren't paying attention to all the burrowing activity.


Mole-Gopher holes 10-2-2011 @ 8:33	Mole-Gopher holes 10-2-2011 @ 8:33

I never did find my sunglasses I dropped yesterday. That's why I buy the $5 ones from Walmart, so I don't worry much when I loose a pair. Pretty soon I come to the place with some serious bushwhacking. This brush is packed in here tighter than a drum. Fortunately, the going is a little easier downhill.


Dense bushwhacking 10-2-2011 @ 8:48	Dense bushwhacking 10-2-2011 @ 8:49	Dense bushwhacking 10-2-2011 @ 8:49

I find a few more blooming flowers today.


Small-flowered Milkvetch 10-2-2011 @ 9:50	Fetid Marigold 10-2-2011 @ 9:57	Fleabane Daisy 10-2-2011 @ 9:57

Intermittently, you are near the east edge of the Plateau, where the views are awesome looking across and down Canyon.


View from the Plateau 10-2-2011 @ 9:54	View from the Plateau 10-2-2011 @ 9:54

I pick up the trail again and find a lot more tree markers going this direction.


Tree marker 10-2-2011 @ 9:58	Tree marker 10-2-2011 @ 10:01	Tree marker 10-2-2011 @ 10:03

I never did find any ruins, but a picture of some of them taken by Erik Berg on a hike he did here in 2004 is shown below. With only some base stones left, it's easy to miss them in the tall grass and piles of pine cones.


	Anasazi ruins 2004

At the north edge of the Plateau, I meet a group of experienced hikers who have been up here several times. We visit a while and then take each other's picture.


Richard on the Powell Plateau 10-2-2011 @ 10:57	Peter, Steve, Ron, Henry, and Frank 10-2-2011 @ 11:00

I say goodbye to my new friends and start down. The Powell Plateau is higher than Swamp Point, so using full zoom on my camera, I have a good view looking down on all the cars parked over there.


Cars at Swamp Point 10-2-2011 @ 11:07	View toward Swamp Point 10-2-2011 @ 11:11	View toward Swamp Point 10-2-2011 @ 11:16

There are some interesting Hoodoo-like rock spires just south of Swamp Point.


Looking east from the Muav Saddle 10-2-2011 @ 11:46	Hoodoos near Swamp Point 10-2-2011 @ 11:46

I have lunch about half-way up to Swamp Point and then continue the climb to the top. The trailhead sign and my car are welcome sights.


North Bass trailhead sign 10-2-2011 @ 1:08	My car at the trailhead 10-2-2011 @ 1:09

I drive back to Highway 67 and then start the long drive to Oklahoma.

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