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The Abajo Mountains

Southern Utah Wanderings | Fall Colors 2017
Monday, October 2, 2017

South Peak Alpenglow
Early morning alpenglow on South Peak (11,122) in the Abajo Mountains from our campsite.

After spending the weekend in the northern section of Bears Ears National Monument and Canyonlands National Park, we moved a little further south into the Abajo Mountains (Blue Mountains) so we could get a little peak-bagging in on our trip. Since I’ve hiked the highest peaks in the La Sal Mountains and Henry Mountains, I thought it would be nice to complete the trifecta by reaching the summit of Abajo Peak (11,360), the highest point in the Abajo Mountains. This one is a little easier than the others though, since there is a good road all the way up to the top because of all the towers and antennas up there. Shortly after sunrise we broke down our camp located at the base of the Abajo Mountains and drove up the road to the summit. There were some nice views along the way.

Looking east toward Colorado with sunbeams and the San Juan Mountains on the horizon.

Horizon Beams

Scattered low clouds below and Lone Cone in the distance.

Lone Cone

One of the markers on the summit of Abajo Peak (11,360) from 1936. It was pretty cold and windy up here this morning since a cold front was moving through the area.

Abajo Peak Benchmark 1936

Sleeping Ute Mountain sandwiched between the horizon below and a cloud bank above.

Sleeping Ute

Looking down on a colorful scene below Abajo Peak.

Below Abajo Peak

We didn’t stick around on the summit for too long because of the cold and wind, but also because of all the antennas and microwave dishes up there with all their radio waves. We drove down the road a little way and then took a short spur road where we could hike the trail up to Coolie Pass and then follow the ridge to the summit of Jackson Ridge (11,164), which is the second highest point in the Abajo Mountains.

Following the trail to Coolie Pass with the summit of Jackson Ridge on the left.

Coolie Pass Trail

As we followed the ridge to the summit some dark clouds moved in above us and there were a few flurries of snow.

Jackson Ridge

When we reached the summit we were able to see these low clouds filling up the upper Indian Creek valley to the northwest.

Low Clouds

View from the summit of Jackson Ridge looking toward the Bears Ears in the distance.

Jackson Ridge Summit

Jared hiking back down the ridge with the summit of Abajo Peak in the clouds ahead of us.

Hiking Back Down

There were some nice fall colors below us along Johnson Creek.

Colors Below

A view of West Mountain when the sun started to come back out a little.

West Mountain

Fall Colors & Bears Ears

Fall Colors & Bears Ears

There were a beautiful array of fall colors that made us stop a few times for photos during our drive back down to Monticello.

Rainbow

The Colors of The Abajos

The Colors of The Abajos

Road of Color

Madness

Leaves On The Ground

Colorful Trees

Curved

Changing Colors

When we got back down to town we were surprised to find out it really wasn’t much warmer down there than it had been up in the mountains. We wanted to warm up a little bit after the cold morning so we decided to head down into Montezuma Canyon for the rest of the day to visit a few rock art sites and ruins.

Montezuma Country

Montezuma Country

Three Kiva Pueblo

Three Kiva Pueblo

An old painted sign along the road in Montezuma Canyon that I’m surprised I had not noticed before while searching for rock art in the area.

Utomic

White pictographs that are part of a much larger panel.

White Pictographs

Red, white and green pictographs.

Red & Green

Spirit Bird Shelter

Spirit Bird Shelter

After returning to town from Montezuma Canyon, Jared had to leave and head back up to Provo for a funeral but he would be joining me again on Wednesday. We would be spending the next few days exploring new areas of Cedar Mesa.

>> The Abajo Mountains Photo Gallery

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