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Upper Muddy Creek
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Routes Sorted
L to R R to L Alpha
Answer, The 
Chasing Shade 
Cold and Ugly 
Commence to Jiggling 
Elbow Grease 
Freckle Moustache 
Legacy 
Milking Chickens 
Phoenix 
Plucking Cows 
Question Is? 
Requiem  
Unknown 
Unknown Route 
Windy Cheeks  

Upper Muddy Creek 


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Page Views: 2,490. Good page? (1 like)   
Administrators: Andrew Gram, Perin Blanchard, grk10vq, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: BobGray on Jan 14, 2012

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  Print a Mini-Guide with routes

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
Thunderstorm
58° | 41°
Chance of Rain
63° | 43°
Clear
68° | 50°
Partly Cloudy
75° | 46°
Clear
73° | 45°

Routes are listed from left to right starting with...

Description 

This area is beside Reds Canyon, behind Tomsich Butte. Get off I-70 at Temple Mtn. Road. Follow like you are going to Hidden Splendor Mine, but stay right instead of turning left to Hidden Splendor, take the right towards Reds Canyon but do not go into Reds Canyon. I think it's McCay Flats. Follow the road until it ends and you'll see Hondoo Arch to your left and the routes are directly across the creek from the end of the road. You can reach this area through Reds canyon, but it is not the quicker route and an off-road capable vehicle is needed. This area is littered with abandoned Uranium Mines. This area is very close to Tomsich Butte being just behind it. Once you reach the end of the road behind Tomsich Butte you'll reach creek side camping with Cottonwoods all around, this area is just across the muddy creek. Most of the climbs are located just across the creek and a short hike up the boulder field. This is as remote a destination as I've found in the Swell. If there's been recent rainfall a four wheel drive will be necessary to reach this area as there are many wash crossings. EXPECT SOFT ROCK, wear a helmet. Much more route potential!


Getting There 

Most routes require a stream crossing as they are just across the Muddy Creek


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Upper Muddy Creek:
Unknown Route   5.8     Trad, 55 feet   
The Answer   5.9+     Sport, 50 feet   
Legacy   5.10a     Trad, 1 pitch, 60 feet   
Phoenix   5.10b R     Trad, Sport, 1 pitch, 110 feet   
Milking Chickens   5.10c     Trad, 60 feet   
Requiem    5.10d R     Trad, 1 pitch, 110 feet   
Freckle Moustache   5.10d     Sport, 1 pitch, 115 feet   
Plucking Cows   5.11a     Sport, 60 feet   
Chasing Shade   5.11a     Trad, 1 pitch, 50 feet   
Browse More Classics in Upper Muddy Creek

Featured Route For Upper Muddy Creek
The route is the left most crack in this picture, you can see the pod type portion of the crack that requires the #6

Legacy 5.10a  UT : San Rafael Swell : ... : Upper Muddy Creek
This route is dedicated to my Subaru Legacy which died on one of our many trips to this area. The route is the easiest large off-with I've done. I've never found an easy crack that takes a #6, but this one is. Aid first ascent from the ground up, then pulled the rope and lead it. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in UT


Photos of Upper Muddy Creek Slideshow Add Photo
Miners ingrown toenail as seen from the top of Elbow Grease

Miners ingrown toenail as seen from the top of Elb...

Echo Crack is just around the right corner of this photo

Echo Crack is just around the right corner of this...

route potential?

route potential?

Creek Side Crag

Creek Side Crag

Doug Maddux entering the cave

Doug Maddux entering the cave

Phoenix and Requiem

Phoenix and Requiem

Creek Side Crag

Creek Side Crag

Tomsich Butte as seen from echo crack

Tomsich Butte as seen from echo crack

Elbow Grease is the crack system behind the leaning detached tower in the lower left of this picture

Elbow Grease is the crack system behind the leanin...

Bouldering Anyone?

Bouldering Anyone?

Creek Side Crag

Creek Side Crag


Comments on Upper Muddy Creek Add Comment
Show which comments
By mike ockenballs
Jan 23, 2012

while i really appreciate your boldness and determination in exploring this area, i personally find it distasteful to publish this area. to each his own, and congrats on your hard work. happy climbing and enjoy the hordes to follow.

By Boissal
From: Small Lake, UT
Jan 24, 2012

And hopefully said hordes won't include your bitter ass...

By dbrown
Jan 24, 2012

Mike,
You sign up to Mountainproject just to post this distasteful comment. Lame.

Bob,
Ignore his comment. I enjoyed the fact that you posted your climbs! They look super fun!

By user id
Jan 24, 2012

The only sad thing here is that someone thinks that Mike is his real name.

By USBRIT
Jan 26, 2012

I don't think Bob or Mike whats his name should worry about the hordes coming to this area . We have been climbing on the Swell's Eastern Reef for about eight years right next to I.70 . There is now over 190 climbs of all grades and its still VERY rare to see ANY other climbers.Thankfully these days most "climbers" are clustered on the well know sport areas making as much noise as possible.Finding new climbs and climbing them on sight in remote areas is great fun and I think the purest form of rock climbing.We do record them ,but as for myself could care less if they ever recieve a second ascent...which as for the Reef most have not.Could be years before Muddy Creek has any second ascents..in the mean time have fun and enjoy a bit of tranquilty.

By BobGray
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Jan 26, 2012

:)

By John Ross
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Jan 28, 2012

+1 Props to those who share their climbs and photos of this fascinating area.