Scouting the Book's

[desperatehills]

I will be in the Book Cliffs this Saturday-Wenesday. I have been looking at my maps and want to spend one day in the wilderness even though most people don't think I need to go in there. I likely will hunt outside the wilderness but the thought of finding a big buck in there is appealing. I want to enter at ten-mile knoll and hike south down diamond ridge 3 or 4 miles. I will take the small ridges off the main trail and glass the canyons. Using the elevation tool on my mapping software it looks like I will lose less than a thousand feet in elevation with my plan. During the hunt I would drop lower in the canyon to chase a buck but scouting I plan on staying near the ridge. Am I wasting my time? More important, is ther any water up high on that ridge or will I need to pack all my water or drop down? I thought I saw springs on my mapping software but looking tonight I didn't find them. It must have been somewhere else I saw them. I am taking bivy gear with me but if there is no water I may just hike in for the day. Any suggestions?

 

[Elkhunter96]

I have not dropped in before, so I do not have the exact answers. However, most of the water away from the "Cow Ponds" by the roads will be in the bottom of the canyons or close to the bottom of the side canyons. You may have to drop down to the bottom of Willow to get water and then hike out. Good luck, hopefully someone with more knowledge of the roadless can give more specific answers

 

[Gator]

Pretty sure there isn't any water on the top of the ridge, You will have to drop down in the bottom to find water.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

 

[lucaar]

There is usually water half way down Taylor canyon off Diamond Ridge.

 

[bonepiler]

You will have to drop down in a canyon to find water. Good luck.

 

[TSX]

Got on here to late to help you before leaaving. But, when you get back and need to know where water is I can help. Been off Dimond Ridge a lot.