Jim's Excellent Adventures

Elevation: - 6,393'
Location - West of Green River in Utah in the San Rafael Swell.

Trip Report(s)

John, Sally and I made a trip to the San Rafael Swell in Utah in the spring of 1999 (? - none of us can remember the exact year!) It was a great trip, and I had a blast. Among the things we did was climb Mexican Mountain (part of a wilderness study area). While it is only 6,393' high, it was still a workout! We car camped overnight, and then drove to where the rugged "road" ended near the mountain. From there we walked around to the north side of the mountain and crossed the San Rafael River (about thigh deep) at Mexican Bend (4,500') to begin the actual climb.

We then climbed the north slopes up a talus cone until we reached a very short stretch of actual rock climbing (5.0 at most! :-). Of course John scaled it without even blinking, then they coached me up over it and on we went, wrapping around to the east side of the mountain between the main bulk and a cool tower to the east. From there it was up through some very smooth, wonderful sandstone (but then, in Utah, what isn't?) I remember being on one slope that was about 40° and just rolled away for a long way down, and thinking "If I slipped, I wouldn't stop", but the sandstone has such excellent traction that slipping would be out of the question.

We kept kept circling around the summit while continuing our climb, scrambling higher and around to the south side. We finally broke out onto a platform between a minor summit on the south side and the main summit cone on the north. The views were amazing out over the desert. Quite different than the trees and snow of Colorado, but beautiful and breathtaking nonetheless. We rested for a while and then began the descent, with John doing his usual rocket-propelled descent, leaving Sally and me, mere mortals, to wend our way down on our own. While descending the talus cone, I got quite sick - once again, dehydration and heat getting to me (note: take more than two liters for desert excursions - even "day hikes"). After a rest (waving to John off in the distance), we continued down, finally crossing the river and getting back to their SUV (and more water!) As soon as I rehydrated I was fine and ready for more. A good day. Photos follow.

Photos

Mexican Mountain

Mexican Mountain, looking from the north. Our route will be up the obvious talus cone, with the bit of rock climbing at its top. From there we will climb around to the left (east) to the shoulder between the main mountain and the tower on the left, continuing on and around in a spiral up the mountain.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)

Looking down

Looking down the way we came over the shoulder. The tower is in the middle right. The San Rafael river is in the mid-background. See all the cool, smooth sandstone?
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)

Average Utah

Just some more "average Utah", looking northwest from the summit. Indian Bench is the flat plateau area around the base of the unnamed point in center. Stuff like this is so common in Utah that nothing in this photo is named (at least according to the map). I would name it "beautiful", but that wouldn't be original.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)

John and Jim

John and me on the summit. As usual, I am wearing "the hat".
(Photo by Sally Stoddard)

Mexican Mountain

Description

Trip Report(s)

Photos