The author is leaning on his white CJ-3A. I do not know the author’s name (but would like to know).

I stumbled across this neat forum article about a group of friends who decided to check out Hole-in-the-Rock, Utah, in 1955 after reading a National Geographic article (probably this one). So, in a fleet of three vehicles (looks like a 1949 CJ-3A, a CJ-3B, and a MB/GPW), they set off from Los Alamos, NM and drove to Escalante, Utah, before venturing into the Hole-in-the-rock area. Most of the photos that were taken are in areas now under the water of Lake Powell.

According to the article’s author, “My jeep was a 1949 CJ3 and it was a wreck when I got it. I think it had never been lubricated. I had to replace all the universal joints and overhaul the engine. The cab was aluminum and I bought it at Sears. The red jeep was an old military model. My friend had bought it and built a wooden cab for it himself.”

I wanted to contact the author of this story, but I can’t figure out how to register (says registration is closed) to the popphoto.com forum. Furthermore, I can’t figure out to contact an administrator. I’d like to contact the guy (he was 94 as of 2007 — likely passed away by now), because he doesn’t know what to do with the photos he’s taken.

The author’s notes in a separate post, “I wish I knew some historical society or such that would be interested in the slides I have. None of my relatives and friends are interested in these things. I suppose eventually they will be put in a big cardboard box and auctioned off for a high bid of $1.”

Since that was his wish, I’m going to preserve his story in total here, so I’ve post it below. You can see the original post here: http://forums.popphoto.com/showthread.php?151510-Kaiparowits-Plateau-A-journey-from-the-archives-to-Hole-in-the-Rock-Crossing-1955 along with the follow up comments.

========================

Kaiparowits Plateau: A journey from the archives to Hole -in-the-Rock Crossing 1955

This trip was inspired from a National Geographic article in the 1950s. This magazine had several articles on little known areas of the southwest. Most were in very isolated areas with few, if any roads and trails.

A party of three Jeeps set out from Los Alamos NM to Escalante Utah. We arrived in Escalante about noon time, and then proceeded to find our way to the Hole in the Rock crossing. So named because early Mormon Pioneers lowered wagons and horses to the Colorado River, and then rafted across the river at this point.

Leaving Escalante we headed off in a South-easterly direction. The maps we had showed the distance to be approximately 50 miles.

We passed some remarkable formations, This was known as Dance Hall Rock. Locals had dances here periodically.

The Dance Hall Rock in Utah, 1955

After awhile we came to the dreaded fork in the road. As we debated which fork to take, a man appeared on horseback. He asked if we knew where we were going, we said we knew where we wanted to go, but not how to get there. He gave us directions, and on we went. He neglected to tell us what obstacles we would find. After several miles, we came to an enormous outcrop of slick rock, and the tracks we were following ended there. It was obvious that we had to cross the rock, We did that rather easily.

Then followed two mile stretch of deep sand. We reached Hole in the Rock in late afternoon.

I was never fond of sleeping out under the stars, so before we started the trip, I removed the front passenger seat of the Jeep, then I had enough room for an air mattress and sleeping bag. Dark began to form back to the northwest, and before we could get settled in and cook supper we had a terrible wind and sand storm which continued all night. We had to snack on dry food like crackers and cookies. My friends were sleeping out on the ground. I was in the Jeep, but it was no where wind and sand proof, and everything and everyone was covered with fine sand. The next morning dawned bright and fair, so we prepared to decend to the river. [Editor’s Note: Compare the photo below with a modern one that shows Lake Powell.]

When we reached the river, there was a troop of Boy Scouts going down river by boat.

They were preparing to cast off, so we didn’t visit with them. This is the view upstream:

View downstream:

Plaque commemorating the Pioneer’s descent:

View from river to the top of the plateau:

Return trip to Escalante; Retracing the sandy stretch. The author is leaning on the white Jeep.

We returned to Escalante, and drove to Hite to cross the Colorado river at the Chaffin Ferry

We camped that evening at Hite, and then the next day we drove to Shiprock, spent the night in a Motel, and on home the following day.