El Desierto

El Desierto

March 12, 2015 by Lindsay Anderson

“Hot and tired I stop in the shade of an overhanging ledge and take a drink from my canteen. Resting, I listen to the deep dead stillness of the canyon. No wind or breeze, no birds, no running water, no sound of any kind but the stir of my own breathing.” Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire.

Thus we arrive at Indian Creek, Utah...
Located in the San Juan County approximately 50 miles south of Moab, Indian Creek covers roughly 30,000 acres bordering the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The “Creek” as it is lovingly referred to by the nomadic populations that flock to its corridors is characterized by meandering side-canyons, elongated mesas and buttes, and narrow spires. The Creek is an extension of the Colorado Plateau which means it’s classified as a high desert, receiving seasonal precipitation that does not ever fully reach the evapotranspiration rate; meaning the desert is capable of pulling more moisture from the area than it actually receives, creating a harsh living environment for its' plants, animals and human inhabitants.

However, this landscape is far from being a barren wasteland. It houses unique habitats that allow diverse plants and animals to flourish. It also provides weather conditions that promote the preservation of artifacts and culturally significant resources. Creating an ecosystem that constantly reminds one of what the balance of fragility and strength look like.

The majority of visitors to the Canyon are drive-through in nature, making their way to the Needles District of Canyonlands. However, the area has over the years collected a variety of user groups ranging from OHV (off highway vehicle), overflow camping from the park, hunting, and rock climbing. The Creek is now widely accepted as a world renowned rock climbing area, boasting Wingate sandstone cliffs that provide the perfect opportunity for climbers to test their technical skills. Because of the advances in climbing gear, the scope of climber abilities and boldness are now wide ranging, drastically increasing the Canyon’s visitation numbers. Due to its' popularity, climbing has now become land managers’ main focus for recreational use.

In walks RMFI…
In 1989, our founder Mark Hesse catalyzed a group of friends and fellow climbers to begin building trails and restoring impacted areas in Indian Creek, all under our original name: The American Mountain Foundation. A decade later in 1997, Mark and his grassroots organization became the Rocky Mountain Field Institute. Since the early 90’s, RMFI has partnered with the Dugout Ranch, a privately owned parcel of land within the canyon, and the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) to deal with the needs of the area, thus marking the beginning of what has been a 25 year long relationship with Indian Creek. In order to meet the volunteer numbers needed to restore these disturbed areas, RMFI has collaborated with groups from Outward Bound, Prescott College, Western State College, Colorado College, and Montrose High School, completing major restoration projects and climbing access trails, all while emphasizing environmental stewardship to students and volunteers. As of 2015, RMFI, alongside over 1,600 volunteers, have given more than 24,600 hours to the Creek. 

As the popularity of Indian Creek expands so does its need for a steward whose presence can be felt more than twice a year. Thus, our partners now include The Access Fund (a national climbers’ advocacy and conservation organization), the Boulder Climbing Community’s Front Range Climbing Stewards,and The American Alpine Club, all of whom recognize the cultural and environmental significance of the area. After all, “There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.”  ~Marshall McLuhan, 1964