News
ENLARGE
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — West of Pollock Bench, two forks of Pollock Canyon emerge from the Colorado Plateau. As either a day hike, or as an overnight backpack, these can provide solitude and magnificent scenery.
Between the rains of late May, I descended off Pollock Bench, and followed the trail as if traveling to Rattlesnake Arches. Three miles in from the trailhead off King's View road, one can walk the visible path up canyon. Two distinct branches appear in about a quarter of a mile.
Collard lizards and their assorted cousins were my only companions along the way. The small stream in Pollock Canyon carried a flow with color reminiscent of weak chocolate milk. Several primitive camp sites line the way up canyon. Prior to reaching the confluence of the east and west canyons, I set up my tent and settled in for the afternoon. In the morning, I planned to explore both branches, and learn something about this area where I had never been.
As evening approached, the calls of the ravens echoed off desert-varnished canyon walls, as they surveyed their territory from above. Soon, their voices were replaced by those of hypnotic mourning doves, who resided nearby.
As dark settled in, the amphibians took over and prevented any silent suffering. Later, the night sky came alive with stars beyond one's imagination. The Big Dipper provided a back drop to an out-of-orbit star that streaked on toward oblivion.
By morning, my original water supply was depleted. It was time to transform the murky stream flow into something more palatable and hopefully biologically safe. Using one water container as an overnight settling basin, I used a pump filter to transfer water to a second container.
Watered secured, I followed the creek bottom up the west fork. Thirty minutes of easy walking brought me to a sizable pool that captured the stream as it poured off the rock from above. The gently sloping walls of the stream bed transformed into a rugged and craggy gorge. A steep hike up through rocks and juniper offered a distant vantage to observe the wildness of the canyon's upper reaches.
In the East fork, I was treated to a canyon that was narrow and scenic, with Indian paintbrush, claret cup cactus, and Mormon tea. Pools of water were easily skirted with the assistance of my hiking stick. Desert aromas filled the air. Doves took to flight, heading further up canyon.
With backpack loaded, I headed back along the Pollock Trail, monitored by raven who swooped with the currents of the winds. Since my trip was within a day of rains, one must prepare with adequate water in case the earth takes the stream as warmer days appear. Use common sense on this trip, as though close to civilization, human traffic is likely to be sparse. There are places after descending Pollock Bench where drops can be precarious and caution is warranted. A bonus of this trip was the minimal gasoline required to reach the trail head.
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Grand Junction resident Nathan Moreng has hiked and backpacked western Colorado and southeast Utah since 1989. His email is nmoreng@bresnan.net.
Between the rains of late May, I descended off Pollock Bench, and followed the trail as if traveling to Rattlesnake Arches. Three miles in from the trailhead off King's View road, one can walk the visible path up canyon. Two distinct branches appear in about a quarter of a mile.
Collard lizards and their assorted cousins were my only companions along the way. The small stream in Pollock Canyon carried a flow with color reminiscent of weak chocolate milk. Several primitive camp sites line the way up canyon. Prior to reaching the confluence of the east and west canyons, I set up my tent and settled in for the afternoon. In the morning, I planned to explore both branches, and learn something about this area where I had never been.
As evening approached, the calls of the ravens echoed off desert-varnished canyon walls, as they surveyed their territory from above. Soon, their voices were replaced by those of hypnotic mourning doves, who resided nearby.
As dark settled in, the amphibians took over and prevented any silent suffering. Later, the night sky came alive with stars beyond one's imagination. The Big Dipper provided a back drop to an out-of-orbit star that streaked on toward oblivion.
By morning, my original water supply was depleted. It was time to transform the murky stream flow into something more palatable and hopefully biologically safe. Using one water container as an overnight settling basin, I used a pump filter to transfer water to a second container.
Watered secured, I followed the creek bottom up the west fork. Thirty minutes of easy walking brought me to a sizable pool that captured the stream as it poured off the rock from above. The gently sloping walls of the stream bed transformed into a rugged and craggy gorge. A steep hike up through rocks and juniper offered a distant vantage to observe the wildness of the canyon's upper reaches.
In the East fork, I was treated to a canyon that was narrow and scenic, with Indian paintbrush, claret cup cactus, and Mormon tea. Pools of water were easily skirted with the assistance of my hiking stick. Desert aromas filled the air. Doves took to flight, heading further up canyon.
With backpack loaded, I headed back along the Pollock Trail, monitored by raven who swooped with the currents of the winds. Since my trip was within a day of rains, one must prepare with adequate water in case the earth takes the stream as warmer days appear. Use common sense on this trip, as though close to civilization, human traffic is likely to be sparse. There are places after descending Pollock Bench where drops can be precarious and caution is warranted. A bonus of this trip was the minimal gasoline required to reach the trail head.
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Grand Junction resident Nathan Moreng has hiked and backpacked western Colorado and southeast Utah since 1989. His email is nmoreng@bresnan.net.
TO GET THERE
Pollock Bench is nestled south of Fruita in the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Area. To reach the trailhead from Grand Junction, get on I-70 going west and take the Fruita exit. Take a left and go for a little over a mile to Kingsview Estates. Turn right on Kingsview Road, drive through the subdivision until you hit a gravel road. Continue for about 3.5 miles to the Pollock Bench parking lot trailhead.
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