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Monitor and Merrimac Buttes 061026

October 26, 2006 by Monica

Monitor and Merrimac Buttes

Trail Run on October 26, 2006
Report and photos by Monica I., Trail Leader
View trail information for Monitor and Merrimac Buttes

Monica I.
Red 2010 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Kendall C.
Blue 1988 Suzuki Samurai
Bill S.
Khaki 2004 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Dane R.
Silver 2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Michael M.
Black 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

We were trying to find the 3-D trail when we accidentally turned down the Monitor and Merrimac Trail. It ended up being a nice diversion, with lots of interesting things to see. The best part was probably the long, straight sandy area.

We knew right away that we weren't on the right trail, but we decided to see where it went anyway. There was a parking area not too far in where we stopped. There was a small area of signs pointing to dinosaur bones and other things in the area, so we took the time to check it out. It ended up being really cool and we were glad we stopped.

We kept going toward the Monitor and Merrimac Buttes, thinking we might end up next to Determination Towers. There was a network of dirt trails in the middle that could have been confusing, but we just kept heading toward the buttes.

When the trail was long and straight we picked up speed and everyone was laughing all the way to the end. There was a big puddle on the way, and our formerly clean vehicles got very muddy very suddenly. Michael picked up a lot of mud, and Kendall drew smiley faces on his headlights.

We took another spur on the way back and found ourselves at the base of a hill. The trail definitely went up the hill, but water had washed a big crack right down the middle of it. We weren't sure if we could straddle it all the way up, but we figured we'd try.

Monica tried to straddle it but found the sides to be much softer than she thought they'd be. She sunk in and couldn't get any further, and found she also couldn't get out. Michael had to tug her out with a tow strap.

We had lunch there, and it was gorgeous. We decided not to tackle the hill, so we turned around.

We found another crack on Mill Canyon Road and had just as many troubles with it. Dane gave it a good try and made it through, though. The sand was definitely making things more challenging.

We even went up to the top of a big hill and found ourselves on an overlook over Bartlett Wash. We really enjoyed the scenery, and we spent a lot of time up on the big rock, exploring. We didn't really want to leave, but eventually we headed down.

This trail ended up being a great diversion in the middle of our day.

backbone_sign
barbie
big_view
bill_in_a_crack
bill_muddy
bill_on_sand
bill_on_the_trail
butte
checking_out_the_dinosaur_area
choices
considering_the_dirt_crack
creek_crossing
curve
dane_finding_monicas_bumper
dane_in_a_crack_part_1
dane_in_a_crack_part_2
dane_muddy
dane_on_sand
dane_on_the_trail
dane_pre-attaching_kendall
dane_up_a_hill
determination_towers_part_1
determination_towers_part_2
determination_towers_part_3
determination_towers_sign
dinosaur_area_sign
dirt_crack
environment_sign
fall_colors
femur_sign
femur
foot_bones_sign
fossilized_wood_part_1
fossilized_wood_part_2
fossilized_wood_sign
hill_to_the_overlook
hubcap_spaceship
joey_touristy
kendall_across_slickrock
kendall_and_kristen
kendall_in_a_crack_part_1
kendall_in_a_crack_part_2
kendall_in_a_crack_part_3
kendall_in_a_crack_part_4
kendall_muddy
kendall_on_sand
kendall_on_the_trail
kendall_up_a_hill
leg_bones_sign
leg_bones
long_hill
lunch
mellow_trail
michael_in_a_crack
michael_in_scenery
michael_muddy_part_1
michael_muddy_part_2
michael_muddy_part_3
michael_muddy_part_4
michael_muddy_part_5
michael_muddy_part_6
michael_muddy_part_7
michael_on_sand
michael_on_the_trail
mining
monica_in_the_dirt_crack_part_1
monica_in_the_dirt_crack_part_2
monica_in_the_dirt_crack_part_3
monica_in_the_dirt_crack_part_4
monica_in_the_dirt_crack_part_5
monica_in_the_dirt_crack_part_6
monica_in_the_dirt_crack_part_7
monica_in_the_dirt_crack_part_8
monica_in_the_dirt_crack_part_9
monica_muddy
monica_on_the_trail
monica_out_of_the_dirt_crack
mountain_view
mudstones_sign
nick
old_building
overlook_part_1
overlook_part_2
overlook_part_3
overlook_part_4
overlook_part_5
overlook_part_6
overlook_part_7
overlook_part_8
overlook_part_9
packrat_nest_sign
packrat_nest
parked_at_the_dinosaur_area
ribs_and_shoulder_sign
ribs_and_shoulder
rowr
sandstone_sign
sandstone
sandy_climb
sandy_hill
sign_at_the_south_end
slickrock
swirled_sand
tail_bones_sign
tail_bones
through_the_wash
through_trees
tourists
trailhead_sign
vandalized_bones_sign
vertebrae_sign
view_from_the_dinosaur_area
view_toward_determination_towers
water_along_the_trail
water_and_sand

Reports from Other Days: 3

Use the arrows or dots to flip through the previews of the other reports for Monitor and Merrimac Buttes. Click one of them to read more and see all of the photos from that day.

May 22, 2009

Led by Monica I.
We had just finished playing on Wipe-Out Hill at the end of Sevenmile Rim, and we started off down the Monitor and Merrimac Buttes trail to connect to the Wipe-Out Hill trail. The weather had turned nice, and we were all enjoying the day. It was still pretty early when…
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