Moab, Utah: Mineral and Hypatia Canyons, Jeep Arch (March 2003)

In late March, 2003, Phil Hage, Joan Hutchinson, and I did several hikes in the Moab area. One was a guided trip through canyons near Pritchett Road; these involved some rappels and deep water.

After lots of hiking with no sign of water, a couple deep pools cooled us right down.
The Rappel at the End of the Hypatia Canyon Loop
This is an erosional feature sometimes called a boxworks. This was the most intricate one I had ever seen (south fork of Mineral Canyon, near Moab). Some web research shows that this is also called: honeycomb erosion, alveolar weathering, tafoni, or gnammas. Some interesting info is at http://www.tec.army.mil/research/products/desert_guide/lsmsheet/lstafon.htm; it is apparently not entirely understood how these form. A web search on “tafoni” will yield lots of examples of this sort of structure around the world.
Jeep Arch, also known as Gold Bar Arch, is a spectacular hole in the wall that can be viewed via a nice loop hike. Start up Culvert Canyon (on the Potash Road) and follow it all the way to the arch. One somewhat large detour to the east is needed about 2/3 of the way up. Then go through the arch and come down the tributary of Gold Bar Canyon. Just near the road one comes to a gigantic impassable pouroff, but you can climb the hill to your left to get back to the culvert and the road.