The Intrepid Potash mine...

near Moab, Utah has always struck me as an appropriate set for the old science fiction television series The X-Files given its remote location and peculiar appearance. The salt mining operation spans about five square miles adjacent to the Colorado River where the water is utilized to solution mine the salts below ground contained in the Paradox Formation (Permian).

Image of solar evaporation ponds at Potash, Utah, taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in 2017. NOTE: North is toward bottom of image.

Image of solar evaporation ponds at Potash, Utah, taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station in 2017. NOTE: North is toward bottom of image.

My 16 mile ride today, out and back, in red, from the Intrepid Potash processing plant to the solar evaporation pond complex. The blue track is from a prior ride last week in Dead Horse Point State Park.

My 16 mile ride today, out and back, in red, from the Intrepid Potash processing plant to the solar evaporation pond complex. The blue track is from a prior ride last week in Dead Horse Point State Park.

Jug Handle Arch in the Wingate Sandstone on Potash Road, just before arriving at the mine site downstream from Moab.

Jug Handle Arch in the Wingate Sandstone on Potash Road, just before arriving at the mine site downstream from Moab.

Potash solar evaporation pond 1 A. (Click image to enlarge.)

Potash solar evaporation pond 3 B. (Click image to enlarge.)

View across crest of the Kane Creek anticline with the majestic La Sal Mountains lightly draped in early winter snow. (Click image to enlarge.)

Here’s the corporate website for Intrepid Potash if you want to learn more about their operations and products, and a brief explanation at NASA’s Earth Observatory website.

The "Great Conjunction"...

of Jupiter and Saturn will occur in about a week, during the early evening of the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, on 21 December 2020. The two gas giant planets will slide within 0.1 degrees of one another and seemingly appear as a single bright star. Learn more about the exceedingly rare upcoming event here. If you’re keen on trying to observe or photograph the event here’s a terrific article by Alan Dyer.

Cast your gaze towards the southwest shortly after sunset and you’ll spot the following:

Dead Horse Point State Park...

has a fantastic mountain bike singletrack around the edge of the plateau with commanding views of the incised canyons of the Colorado River.

The classic viewpoint in the park, standing on the Kayenta Formation atop the Wingate escarpment, gazing south across an entrenched meander on the Colorado River. (Click image to enlarge.)

My track, recorded by the GPS on my Garmin Fenix 6X Pro watch. “Laps” are two-mile marks. I parked outside the park at the point marked Lap 10 on the left and rode the loop counterclockwise.

My track, recorded by the GPS on my Garmin Fenix 6X Pro watch. “Laps” are two-mile marks. I parked outside the park at the point marked Lap 10 on the left and rode the loop counterclockwise.

Potash solar evaporation ponds in the foreground of the Kane Creek anticline.

Potash solar evaporation ponds in the foreground of the Kane Creek anticline.

Intrepid Potash processing plant on the Colorado River (left of center) on the northeastern limb of the Kane Creek anticline. The evaporation ponds are out-of-sight in this view, tucked behind the shadowed escarpment on the right.

Intrepid Potash processing plant on the Colorado River (left of center) on the northeastern limb of the Kane Creek anticline. The evaporation ponds are out-of-sight in this view, tucked behind the shadowed escarpment on the right.

An ISS transit...

down the axis of Castle Valley this early evening.

This is an approximately 120 second-long exposure, hence the elongated stars. The brightest smudge (top center) is the planet Mars.

This is an approximately 120 second-long exposure, hence the elongated stars. The brightest smudge (top center) is the planet Mars.

Willow Springs Road...

was the former entrance to Arches National Monument prior to 1958, connecting today to the modern Arches National Park road at Balanced Rock.

The back gate to Arches National Park. I had my lifetime pass with me just in case the entrance was staffed!

The back gate to Arches National Park. I had my lifetime pass with me just in case the entrance was staffed!

Some mediocre therapod tracks nicely exposed on a bedding plane in the Navajo Sandstone.

Some mediocre therapod tracks nicely exposed on a bedding plane in the Navajo Sandstone.

Balanced Rock along the main road in Arches National Park.

Balanced Rock along the main road in Arches National Park.

The view through the Eye of the Whale Arch in Herdina Park, a seldom-visited remote part of Arches National Park. (Click image to enlarge.)

The GPS track (red) for my 20 mile ride, involving 1,650 feet elevation gain, out and back. Fun! The modern paved ANP road is portrayed in yellow. (Click image to enlarge.)

Here’s a nice article that summarizes the history of Arches National Monument/Park: History to Go: Arches National Monument.

I now carry...

the Garmin inReach Mini emergency transmitter that utilizes the Iridium satellite network on my solo adventures. It’s truly small and compact and lightweight, but you also need an active subscription plan for tracking, messaging and interactive SOS.

As you can see, the device is truly tiny. There’s no excuse not to carry one if you frequently wander off the beaten track. I’ll even carry this on my various expeditions around the world, as it has global coverage, pole to pole.

As you can see, the device is truly tiny. There’s no excuse not to carry one if you frequently wander off the beaten track. I’ll even carry this on my various expeditions around the world, as it has global coverage, pole to pole.

Beaver Moon penumbral eclipse...

over Castle Valley, Utah, the morning of 30 November 2020. Yes, it’s underwhelming, even though this image was captured at the peak of the eclipse at 2:42 am MST. Notice that the upper right quadrant is noticeably darker than the rest of the orb.

Handheld shot with a Canon EOS 5Div with 500 mm prime lens, ISO 100, f/11, 0.5 sec exposure.

Handheld shot with a Canon EOS 5Div with 500 mm prime lens, ISO 100, f/11, 0.5 sec exposure.

Dewey Bridge, Utah...

has an interesting history, nicely summarized in this illustrated article in the The Canyon Country Zephyr in 2018: A History of Dewey, Utah by Herm Hoops.

All that remains of historic Dewey Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Utah when constructed in 1916. Sadly, this wooden structure was completely destroyed in a fire in 2008 by an unwatched 7-year old miscreant playing with matches.

All that remains of historic Dewey Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Utah when constructed in 1916. Sadly, this wooden structure was completely destroyed in a fire in 2008 by an unwatched 7-year old miscreant playing with matches.

My last image of historic Dewey Bridge, with my late wife Donna, in June 2007.

My last image of historic Dewey Bridge, with my late wife Donna, in June 2007.

Of course I do! I’m a professional!

Of course I do! I’m a professional!

Vandalized petroglyphs on a desert varnished sandstone slab along Utah 128 about two miles north of Dewey Bridge.

Vandalized petroglyphs on a desert varnished sandstone slab along Utah 128 about two miles north of Dewey Bridge.

Relict gas station on north side of historic Dewey Bridge. The weathered mural was painted in 1980.

Relict gas station on north side of historic Dewey Bridge. The weathered mural was painted in 1980.

Here’s an attempt at carving a home in the Slickrock Member of the Entrada Formation, suitable for a geologist!

Here’s an attempt at carving a home in the Slickrock Member of the Entrada Formation, suitable for a geologist!

Interior of main room, with a wonderful view of the Colorado River. Note rock bolts in the ceiling typically used in mining.

Interior of main room, with a wonderful view of the Colorado River. Note rock bolts in the ceiling typically used in mining.

GPS track of my explorations for the day, totaling 17 miles with 1,600 feet vertical gain.

GPS track of my explorations for the day, totaling 17 miles with 1,600 feet vertical gain.

A mysterious metal obelisk...

has just recently been discovered in the sandstone wilderness of southeastern Utah, and with a little bit of sleuthing with Google Earth, I’ve pinpointed the location! Here’s the link to a news article with pictures of the interesting art installation that apparently has been there since 2016.

Screenshot of Google Earth showing the location of the obelisk. (Click image to enlarge.)

Looks like I’ve got a project ahead in the next few weeks as I chase down this alien monolith. Stay tuned for pictures! Hint: It’s not too far off the Lockhart Basin road south of Moab, Utah.

UPDATE: Here are the Double Top Secret coordinates: 38°20'35.1"N 109°39'58.2"W.

UPDATED UPDATE: Apparently the unique installation has been removed in the dark of the nearly full moon according to news reports as of 29 November 2020. Well, kudos to the inspired creator, and to those that removed it, you spoiled some adventurous fun during an otherwise incredibly dreary year.

The last month in residence...

in Castle Valley, Utah has seen me on my bike each and every day except for two, for a total of 451 miles, now 11 weeks since my full hip replacement surgery!

Google Earth image of larger Moab, Utah area, showing GPS tracks of the various trails I have ridden in the last month. (Click image to enlarge.)

Sevenmile Rim Road...

north of Moab, Utah, provides adventurous access to some interesting landforms developed at the Navajo Sandstone and Entrada Formation contact.

Determination Towers consists of the lower Dewey Bridge Member and the upper Slickrock Member of the Entrada Formation. Bike is standing on the upper surface of the Navajo Sandstone (Jurassic).

Determination Towers consists of the lower Dewey Bridge Member and the upper Slickrock Member of the Entrada Formation. Bike is standing on the upper surface of the Navajo Sandstone (Jurassic).

Merrimac and Monitor Buttes (left and right, respectively), named after the famed ironclad battleships of the Civil War, facing off as if in the Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862. (Click image to enlarge.)

Here’s the GPS track recorded on my Garmin Fenix 6X Pro watch. (Lap flags are two-mile markers.) I parked at the Mill Canyon dinosaur track site for a total riding distance of 18 miles with 1,700 feet elevation gain/loss.

Here’s the GPS track recorded on my Garmin Fenix 6X Pro watch. (Lap flags are two-mile markers.) I parked at the Mill Canyon dinosaur track site for a total riding distance of 18 miles with 1,700 feet elevation gain/loss.

Round Mountain seemingly emerging...

from the floor of Castle Valley, but rather, it’s the valley that’s subsiding around the 700 foot high (210 m) igneous trachyte porphyry stock of Oligocene age.

From left to right, the high La Sal Mountains, Round Mountain, and Porcupine Rim. (Click image to enlarge.)

Learn more about the development of collapsed salt-cored anticlines in the Paradox Basin: Moab salt-intruded anticline, east-central Utah (small PDF download).

Mule deer on the game trail...

behind my place, caught by a trail cam.

Every evening, close to dusk, about a dozen Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) wander across the north side of my property.

Every evening, close to dusk, about a dozen Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) wander across the north side of my property.

This one seems particularly curious about the trail camera.

This one seems particularly curious about the trail camera.

Gemini Bridges Road...

north of Moab, Utah was the objective of exploration today.

View south, towards the LaSal Mountains, with Highway 191 nearly following the Moab fault. The strata on the east (left side) of the fault have been dropped between 2,600 and 3,150 feet (800 to 960 meters) relative to the west (right) side.

View south, towards the LaSal Mountains, with Highway 191 nearly following the Moab fault. The strata on the east (left side) of the fault have been dropped between 2,600 and 3,150 feet (800 to 960 meters) relative to the west (right) side.

The so-called Gooney Bird Rock, an eroded outcrop of Wingate Sandstone (Jurassic).

The so-called Gooney Bird Rock, an eroded outcrop of Wingate Sandstone (Jurassic).

This isolated monolith in the Wingate Sandstone is dubbed “The Bride.”

This isolated monolith in the Wingate Sandstone is dubbed “The Bride.”

Gemini Bridges, side view. The lighter-colored capping sandstone belongs to the Kayenta Formation (Jurassic) with the underlying Wingate Sandstone in which the arches are formed.

Gemini Bridges, side view. The lighter-colored capping sandstone belongs to the Kayenta Formation (Jurassic) with the underlying Wingate Sandstone in which the arches are formed.

View into Bull Canyon showing the densely and parallel-jointed Wingate Sandstone in the distance.

View into Bull Canyon showing the densely and parallel-jointed Wingate Sandstone in the distance.

Gemini Bridges. (Click image to enlarge.) Although these are named “bridges” they are technically natural arches as they do not span a valley of erosion.

Entirely Entrada...

along my bike ride yesterday on the well-named Entrada Bluffs road east of Dewey Bridge, Utah.

Here’s the GPS track, 17 miles with 2,100 feet of elevation gain, starting at Dewey Bridge on the Colorado River, down to the Dolores River, then to the intersection with Top of the World trail, and return.

Here’s the GPS track, 17 miles with 2,100 feet of elevation gain, starting at Dewey Bridge on the Colorado River, down to the Dolores River, then to the intersection with Top of the World trail, and return.

Close-up view of the track which is largely following the Navajo - Entrada contact much of the way.

Close-up view of the track which is largely following the Navajo - Entrada contact much of the way.

The Slickrock Member of the Entrada Formation (Jurassic), consisting of thick crossbed sets reflecting a nearshore dune environment of deposition.

The Slickrock Member of the Entrada Formation (Jurassic), consisting of thick crossbed sets reflecting a nearshore dune environment of deposition.

The crumpled and contorted red beds at the base of this outcrop belong to the Dewey Bridge Member (Jurassic). In the distance are the Book Cliffs with Cretaceous-age sandstones.

The crumpled and contorted red beds at the base of this outcrop belong to the Dewey Bridge Member (Jurassic). In the distance are the Book Cliffs with Cretaceous-age sandstones.

The Dolores River at Roberts Bottom.

The Dolores River at Roberts Bottom.