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  Site 6, The Hole-in-the-Rock Crevice
A natural crevice in the west wall of the 1300' deep Colorado River gorge which was widened by the San Juan pioneers to accommodate a wagon road down to the Colorado River. For six weeks during the harsh winter of 1879/80, the pioneers exercised ingenuity and great determination in building their road through the river gorge.		  
 
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Hole-in-the-Rock/River Gorge - winter conditions, Lamont Crabtree Photo
Hole-in-the-Rock
east facing
Hole-in-the-Rock Crevice Face, Lamont Crabtree Photo
Crevice face
down facing
Hole-in-the-Rock Crevice Face, Lamont Crabtree Photo
Crevice face
down facing
 
Still Images - click to enlarge
 

Hole-in-the-Rock crevice, Lamont Crabtree Photo
Hole-in-the-Rock Crevice

  
Hole-in-the-Rock crevice with the Kaiparowits Plateau in the background, Lamont Crabtree Photo
Hole-in-the-Rock & Kaiparowits Plateau
  
Hole-in-the-Rock crevice and river gorge prior to Lake Powell, Lynn Lyman Photo
Crevice prior to
Lake Powell
  
Hole-in-the-Rock crevice with Lake Powell, Lamont Crabtree Photo
Crevice with
Lake Powell
  
 
Hole-in-the-Rock/River gorge -- winter conditions, Lamont Crabtree Photo
Hole-in-the-Rock
winter season
 
Hole-in-the-Rock crevice face, Lamont Crabtree Photo
Crevice face
  
Hole-in-the-Rock crevice opening, Lamont Crabtree Photo
Crevice opening
ground level
 
Hole-in-the-Rock crevice opening -- winter conditions similar to conditions experienced by the pioneers as they worked on the road through the crevice. Lamont Crabtree Photo
Crevice opening
winter season
  
 
Hole-in-the-Rock crevice -- blasted out path, Lamont Crabtree Photo
First drop
looking up
 
Hole-in-the-Rock crevice -- looking down the initial descent path, Lamont Crabtree Photo
First drop
looking down
  
Hole-in-the-Rock crevice drill hole for blasting powder, Lamont Crabtree Photo
Drilled hole for
blasting powder

  
Hole-in-the-Rock crevice mid section -- Here passage was too narrow for a wagon. Rock fill (now washed away) was used to raise the bottom of the crevice by as much as eight feet. Lamont Crabtree Photo
Mid section
  
 
Hole-in-the-Rock crevice mid section pick/chisel marks. Lamont Crabtree Photo
Pick marks
 
Hole-in-the-Rock -- Uncle Ben's Dugway. Near the bottom of the crevice, the pioneers tacked their road onto the steep slope of the crevice wall. The original road was wider than is seen here as much of the built-up rock fill has eroded away. The steps in the upper portion of the image were cut by miners in 1899 and are unrelated to the pioneer roadwork. Lamont Crabtree Photo
Uncle Ben's
Dugway

  
Hole-in-the-Rock -- Uncle Bens' Dugway. These drilled/chiseled holes supported wood stakes which helped secure the rock fill for the road, which was tacked onto the crevice wall. Lamont Crabtree photo
Uncle Ben's Dugway
drill holes

  
Lower portion of the Hole-in-the-Rock crevice prior to Lake Powell. The river was crossed on a ferry constructed and operated by Charles Hall. Lamont Crabtree Photo
Lower section prior to Lake Powell

  
Image submittals are welcome! We are particularly interested in photos prior to Lake Powell. Click on "Contact Us" for details.


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..nearly scared me to death..
“It is about a mile from the top down to the river and it is almost straight down, the cliffs on each side are five hundred feet high and there is just enough room for a wagon to go down. It nearly scared me to death.”
Elizabeth Decker, February 22, 1880