| Bull Mountain (UT) Mountain/Rock |
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| Page Type: Mountain/Rock Location: Utah, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 38.14026°N / 110.73215°W Elevation: 9187 ft / 2800 m | Page By: d_shorb Created/Edited: Jun 23, 2009 / Dec 10, 2009 Object ID: 523835 Hits: 606 Loading... Page Score: 90.35% - 33 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview  The North Rib is the ridge just right of the huge NE Buttress skyline.
One of (at least) two Bull Mountains in Utah. Of Course Dean has a page on the other, higher, Bull Mtn. (UT)
This Bull Mountain (9187ft.) is found in south central Utah on the northeast edge of the Henry Mountains. It has two high points, the south one being higher. It has amazing views of both the desert to the north and east, as well as into the range itself. It is quickly accessed from Hanksville to the north, or from Bull Creek Pass to the southwest. Although it is not as high as its neighbors, its northern side rises 2200 feet from the outwash plain.It is well below the altitudes required for fir and aspen, and thus holds onto a more desert ecosystem containing pinon, juniper, mountain mahogany, sage, and the like. Although not as sizable in height or bulk as its other (laccolith) companions, Bull Mountain has some of the largest cliff faces found in the entire range. It is made mostly of a low quality diorite, like most of the range (with The Horn--just north of Pennell-- as the exception). Some of its rock is clean, solid, and high quality (like the crux pitches on the North Rib), although most explorers will find their routes to be degraded by scree, talus, and highly broken formations of questionable character.
Its routes can supplement a Mount Ellen trip, or can serve as a quick mountain hit while in the Robber's Roost or Capital Reef area.
Here are other Henry Mountains peaks on SP:
Mt. Ellen
Mt. Pennell
Mt. Hillers
Mt. Holmes
Mt. Ellsworth
Like much of he northeast part of the Henry’s, it had a fire (which I will try to research) that created many skeletons of trees on its west side and summit.
Summit View West to Mt. Ellen |
Getting There  At left in this photo, its on the NE side of he Henry Mountains
Best to Bull Mountain is to come in from Hanksville.
You can follow great directions and photos in Moogie's Trip Report.
Or, start by turning south on 100 East in Hanksville. It’s where the post office is. (Start a trip meter here for the 24-27 mile trip, depending on where you stop/camp). This road quickly becomes the dirt road that heads up into the Henry’s alongside Bull Mountain. It weaves through some cool cliff layers, sandy areas, and then up into the rocky alluvial areas of cattle-pecked cobbles. Depending on where you look, it is referred to as Bull Mountain Road in the Delorme Gazetteer, and Sawmill Basin Rd. on some USGS maps. It is easy to follow, and is clearly the main road along its entire length. There are BLM/Forest Service signs at all of the key junctions: 13 miles to a road coming in from the east with a sign of mileages heading up into the Henrys. If taking this way you’ll be at the mountain’s base in about 25 miles or so. There is plenty of private land along the way, and grazing cattle break the bleakness occasionally. Don’t do this trip with someone you hate, cause it’s a long drive with not much to look at. There are a few areas in the road that may need a watchful eye after a storm.
Use the Summitpost.org mapping system to see where the mountain, asnd Hanksville is, and have a good road map. Most Gazetteers have this and other important roads noted.
Routes
(if you have any info on routes, please add a route page)
There are no trails up this mountain. Be prepared for scree, talus, and such on all aspects, not to mention some mean thorny plants. The recommended route for hikers would be the south ridge, accessed from steep scree subridges that ascend from the road on the southwest side.
Scramblers and climbers will find the north and east sides more interesting, with several gullies, ribs, and other goodies to head up. All Class 2-5 routes will have loose rock, and ball-baring covered slabs.
South Ridge: Class 1, ascend scree slopes (east) up to the ridge and head north to a saddle, from saddle ascend steepening scree slopes up to the base of a rock buttress, head left (west) around its base until its possible to head up and onward to the upper saddle. From the upper saddle head north it a gulley-like feature to the summit.
The first saddle on the south ridge. |
North Rib: Class 5, 2200', head up scree and talus slopes and through several outcroppings, continue up as the left (east) side of the ridge drops off steeply, surmount the first crux through some steep class 4, into an open book corner, and up onto an exposed ledge. Head up and over this formation and back down then up more talus and scree to the main class 5 feature high on the route. The rock becomes more solid and steep here. Climb up through broken corners and features until you reach a sheer cliff with two cracks. Several options appear all of which are true 5th class climbing (I won't guess the rating), with jams, faces moves, and exposure. After 150 feet or so, the rock becomes more featured and broken, with class 3-4, and scambling. (alternatively, one can quickly skirt this feature onto class 4 routes to the east and west, perhaps having to downclimb first) The climb finishes with a long hike up the upper Rib and up the treed slopes to the northern highpoint. Descend the south ridge to the road.
The North Rib (5th class) is the central feature in this photo, just right of the central shadowed gulley. The NE Buttress is the enormous cliff to the left. Think Choss. |
Red TapeNo backcountry permits are required for day use or staying overnight on the mountain.
This is located in a Wilderness Study Area. There are camping and motorized vehicle regulations. Stay on designated dirt roads.
CampingLonesome Beaver (yes that's the real name) is the Forest Service Campground nearby (up canyon). It has pit toilets, a group camping area and horse/stock area. Its pay station is the "Iron Ranger" type. And it has fee info and regulations.
Alternatively there is camping just east of the first "motorized vehicle regulation" sign. This should be found at about mile 25.5 in an open field with the first forest just ahead. Head east and follow rugged two-track about a mile or so, until you see a patch of large boulders to the right (south) on a knoll in some trees. A small two track will take you to this area.
There is also an area right next to the main road, immediately west of the west slopes of the mountain. This may be an illegal camp however.
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