Utah Places: Swasey's Leap

Why would you wanna go here? Outta the way spot. Lotsa canyons like it around the Swell. But his particular place has a romantic story that cannot be resisted.

Once I heard the story, I just had to see the spot myself. It was too good to be true.

The Swasey Brothers settled on the Swell country in the 1870's, when is was a country of horse thieves, rustlers, outlaws, and bad men in general. They were a rough bunch in a rough largely unsettled unexplored country, known only by roving Indian bands, a few solitary trappers, and the ranchers who managed to brave the harsh weather and unfriendly environment to get lucky with a few bony rangy tough cows.

The Swasey Brothers lived as tough as their livestock. Sid once made a bet with his brother for a herd of livestock that he could jump his horse across the San Rafael River -- a modest jump of some less than than 20 feet or so. But it was spanning a horrendous chasm above the river at a dizzying height. Any slip or miscalculation would certainly plunge horse and rider to sure death in the canyon below.

Sid closed the bet, and rallied his horse for the jump, with no thought of the fearful consequence for a near-miss. They plunged forward and leaped, and sailed across the canyon.

Dust showered down the sides as they crossed through space, but the horses feet planted firmly on the other side. He made it! History doesn't say whether it was by an inch or a foot, but his brother gladly paid up on the bet.

Swasey's Leap is on the other side of the Lower Black Box. Look for trail maps if you want to visit there. It is a long 4wd trek, and the trail is obscure, best use GPS and topo to be sure. Don't try to down-climb without rappelling gear and experience. This is serious rock!

(I did some solo unroped climbing here and other places. Very stupid, not recommended, unless you are seeking suicide-class thrills.)

Death in the Desert

Gasping his last agonizing desperate breath,
He faltered and fell headlong in the burning sand,
Powerless arms outstretched
to reach the impossible goal.
Defeat his dying thought, as the last echo of life
faded from his mind.

A bright new awareness gradually flooded in,
Filling his whole being with pure white light.
Stumbling to his feet, finding himself encircled
By those he strove ceaselessly to serve in mortality,
Now joined forever by unbreakable bonds
Of eternal love and joy.

I'm never absolutely sure I can tell the difference between imaginative impressions and real people.

I spent some time during March and April wandering around the hot sands of the San Rafael desert in central Utah. Probably hallucinating some of the time. One of my recurring visions there was of a ghostly train of pioneers coming upon the San Rafael River after crossing 200 miles of waterless, trackless wasteland from Grand Junction. They came to the edge of the river canyon and gazed forlornly down at the sparkling blue trace of water meandering at the bottom, a thousand feet down sheer sandstone, with no safe way to descend. No water for the faltering stock, or for the crying children. Nothing to wet your mouth after enduring days of aching thirst.

Collapse and death in the burning sand must have been a very real threat.