Three-4-Thursday

Mule Ear

Our first night on the San Juan River was spent at Chinle Camp, which is located just upstream from Chinle Creek.  Mule Ear, a fin of Navajo Sandstone, juts up prominently from the surrounding landscape on the other side of the creek from the camp.  Its elevation of 5,069' is more than 800 feet above that of the river.  The photo above was taken as we started the hike from our campsite towards Chinle Wash the morning of our second day on the river.  Just to the right of Mule Ear, and partially hidden by the smaller outcropping in the foreground, is Mule Ear diatreme, the remains of an ancient volcanic vent.

This photo was taken later in the day, as I was descending from the bluff on the east side of Chinle Wash.  The creek is seen in the foreground as it winds its way to its confluence with the San Juan River, on the right in the background.  The diatreme is the large mound of rubble just to the right of Mule Ear.

 

On our third day, we awoke early and broke camp.  Our plan (I thought) was to paddle the short distance downstream to the other side of Chinle Creek and then hike the trail leading from the river to the diatreme.  Let's just say that things didn't work out that way.  I did end up a short distance along what may have been the trail and then returned to the river after taking this photo.  Perhaps it is of Mule Ear with the flank of the diatreme to the right.  Or perhaps not.

Note:  Click on any photo to enlarge.