The 3D Trail and Others

By Jerry Smith

March 26^th, 2017

Per the pre-arranged directions, we (Happy Trails – my ’06 Jeep Rubicon and I) pulled off the I-70 exit at Loma to meet with Tom and Connie for our trip down to the Highway 191/313 intersection north of Moab.   We were to meet with the happy campers who had been running Moab area trails for the last two days. 

With so many area trails, confusion is easy to come by

On the CB radio, we decided to make a quick fuel stop at Thompson Springs.  The drive to the springs had only one lonely antelope to show for the 65-mile journey.  Except for the BookCliffs and the La Sal mountains, the scenery along this stretch of road is non-existent.  Only a low-growing grass and some other short plants adorn this entire region.  If it weren’t for the “Eagles on Road” signs to pique your interest, boredom WILL overtake you.

Pulling into the parking lot at the meeting place, we assembled in the midst of eight rigs eagerly waiting for a day on the trail to begin.  Trail leader Cody conducted a short driver meeting and then we were off. 

Just a short way north, we left Highway 191 for the Cotter Mine Road that took us away from the civilized world of pavement.  A slow, rough trek through the low country passed a few remote campsites with hoards of people and vehicles.  As destinations go, Moab draws backcountry recreationists like flies to a dumpster.

Along the way to Hidden Canyon

Soon we joined up with the Mill Creek Road and then the 3D trail.  This area is a spider web of trails and one can become confused or disoriented easily.  This was my first trip into the area in a long time.  Following along gives one time to get more involved in gawking and not paying attention to a map, so soon I was just about exactly lost.

Years of wandering the vast west alone have given me a sense of direction and another sense of awareness of country that I find most people lacking.  Exploring side trails is like a bad habit.  When I’m with a group like this, my “style” is severely cramped.  Every intersection is another torture test.  Unknown side roads and tracks are like charged electromagnets and my front bumper is the only metal around.

Just a few weeks ago, this syndrome graced me with a new nickname when I strayed from the group as they were stopping for lunch.  The side trip I thought would take only 10-minutes took well over an hour.  My missing presence disturbed two searchers into looking for this wandering goofball.  The initial results left us too far behind the big group to catch up, and later I received several generous semi-angry, one-sided “conversations” convincing me “I did a bad thing!”

A long time ago, I was blessed with the handle; “Intrepid Explorer.”  A slight demotion to being called “Side Track” has been the latest result. Life is not always at the top of the roller coaster.

After a while, we crossed Tusher Wash on the 3D trail and headed for the Tusher Tunnel.

Exiting the back of Tusher Tunnel

To me, Tusher “Tunnel” is somewhat a misnomer.  The “tunnel” appears to have been started when a ridge of solid rock split from side to side.  Over a few weeks or so, geologically speaking, weather and erosion have widened the crack to a few inches allowing water and the wind to filter down and pool at the bottom in a caldron of acidic stew that slowly carved out a serious tunnel through the bottom of the ridge. 

The adit to Tusher Tunnel.

The crack above allows just enough light into the tunnel to make walking through without a flashlight possible, but the slanted walls can be hard on the head if you don’t walk down the middle.  The view out the back side is one worth the walk.  Climbing to the entrance is becoming difficult as tall ledges erode to new heights.

Returning to the 3D trail, we traversed part of the Bartlett Wash and into Hidden Canyon.  The canyon is a fairly narrow wash with nearly vertical sides.  The upper wash emerges into a dead end, deep double box canyon that is a bit above awesome as scenery goes.

Hidden Canyon from above

The canyon splits into two box canyons with high sandstone cliffs that beg you to explore them as they go around the corner of the tall peninsula separating them.

A sentinel at the entrance to Tusher Tunnel

Returning down the trail, we split off again following the 3D across “Mashed Potatoes”.  This is an odd slickrock obstacle that takes you across a white-capped formation of a roughly eroded version of a large bowl of mashed potatoes.  Here, headshake is tiring and there are some ledges and potholes to negotiate.  It is a typical Moab environment; only the color has morphed to a creamy white.

On Mashed Potatoes

At the top of Mashed Potatoes, we stopped for a friendly lunch.  The cool day felt good in the direct sunlight.  If you elected to sit in the shade of your vehicle, the cool chased you back into the sunlight.

On Mashed Potatoes

Arch or Window?

After lunch, we continued up the trail toward the Dubinky Well road.  Somewhere along the way, another one of those dilemmas arose.  Trail leader Cody had to return to the camp before heading home, so the majority followed along.  Three of us caught the “exploration bug” and turned left to the Bartlett Overlook.

The short trip out to the end of the Bartlett Overlook mesa was a scenic jaunt.  Views of much of the terrain we had been traveling the whole day gave a feeling of the expanse of this country.  The deep, dark squiggle of Hidden Canyon stood out in the distance.  We watched some UTVs driving the bottom of Bartlett Wash while they enjoyed their day in the Great American BackCountry.  Views like this just make you feel good.

Some of the Bartlett Wash

Back at the main trail, we continued on to the Dubinky Well road and back to Highway 313 to air up.  It was decided that we would follow the “scenic route” along the Colorado River home.  This stretch of road makes a nice ending to a day on the trails of Moab.  Driving through the deep river canyon is so serene you hope it won’t end.

Another beautiful day in the eastern Utah countryside had chiseled off more of the winter’s cabin fever crust.  There is nothing that compares to a long day on the trail.  And having come to the “fork in the road, we took it!!”  THAT is what life is all about! 

Mashed Potatoes is a large area

The snow-capped La Sal Mountains

The trail to Tusher Tunnel