Amasa Back

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You ride across Kane Creek at the beginning of this trail. It's usually shallow and easily managed, but can swell to become impassible during thunderstorms.

From the trailhead signed Amasa Back and Cliffhanger, head immediately down the technical "Staircase". At the bottom, there is a short singletrack diversion from the jeep road that has a tricky little drop. Rejoin the road, cross Kane Creek and climb to the Jackson Hole rim, about 2-miles in.

This trail segment is a steady climb over slickrock, stair-step ledges and some sand. There are a number of large rocks to maneuver over and you'll have more fun on these if you are fitter. So, train before you get to Moab, and do Amasa Back before you are worn out at the end of your week.

Watch for the Captain Ahab Trail signs as you climb up. If you decide you want a short day, you can take the second sign to cut over and descend Lower Ahab.

When you reach the Jackson Hole rim, Upper Captain Ahab Trail splits off to follow the rim up and left. You'll follow the rim down and right. The scenery is mind boggling as you run along the edge with a 400-ft drop just feet away. The road here has some tough sections, but there's only one really challenging feature at the narrowest, most restricted point: a 3-foot jump into a loose, bouldery runout. Most people will tip-toe this section...

After roughly half a mile on the rim, you'll run over a water pipe to reach the Amasa Back neck. You have three choices here: 1) continue straight, climbing up and out the Amasa Back; 2) go right to cross the neck and descend Jackson's Trail to the mouth of Kane Creek; 3) go left to descend Jacob's (Jackson's) Ladder to Jackson Hole (not recommended in this direction!). Let's go straight.

The road rises steadily and there are some difficult sections. About 3/4-mile past the water pipe, you'll reach a singletrack going right. This fun trail takes you along the Billboard out to Pothole Arch, or some great freeform slickrock running, or to Rockstacker. Most runners will probably prefer this option.

Continuing straight on the jeep road will have you at the rim again in about a mile. This is the end of the line. Return the way you came and choose your preferred way out: Rockstacker, Jackson's Trail, Upper or Lower Captain Ahab, or back down Amasa Back/Cliffhanger the way you came. Except for Jacob's (Jackson's) Ladder, all options are fun!

Jackson Hole, on the south end of the Amasa Back, is an abandoned river meander.

The ponds on the other side of the Colorado River are potash evaporation ponds. This operation started as a hard rock mine before an accident in 1963 killed 18 miners. Now, river water is injected into the Paradox formation, and the resulting salt solution returned to the surface for reclamation. Blue dye is added to increase evaporation rates.

Potash is any of several salts that contains water-soluble potassium. It's largely used in fertilizer, but is also an important industrial chemical used for such diverse applications as aluminum recycling, electroplating, medicine, and soap, beer, pharmaceutical and rubber production.