Skull Valley Part 2: Iosepa and Timpie Springs

 

After enjoying Horseshoe Springs we continued South to see what else Skull Valley had to offer us.

The next adventure I had planned on included a ghost town, er, well the cemetery of a ghost town Iosepa. Original findings determined it was a group of Pacific Islanders that settled it, so I guessed (correctly go me) that it was actually pronounced yo-sep-ah (or yo-see-pah)  both are accurate. There are also apparently some petroglyphs around here.

Another spring. I believe this is Kanaka Lake.

The turn out for this is about 15 miles from i-80 (I 80 exit 77 SR 196. In case you didn’t continue from my last post) and is a fairly well maintained gravel road, up hill. As you can see it doesn’t seem too bad, so my little Ford made it up without incident.

Rather new looking sign for a ghost town, what gives?

And a pavilion with basketball nets? Anyway, here is a good info sign.

The cemetery.

Utah Historical site. Yay for preserving history! We also discovered from one of the many signs that it is the site of a yearly Memorial Day celebration for islanders. I guess that explains all of the modern additions.

A little history and insight into this ghost town. Mormons converted Pacific Islanders and Hawaiians and in 1889 they eventually emigrated to North Salt Lake. Even though they were now Mormons, the white majority Mormons shunned them and would not allow them into restaurants or hotels. (You would think a group of people who just some 40 years ago were chased out of their land for being different would be more accepting, but you know, times were different I guess.) So Church leaders tried to find a place for this group of Polynesian converts to settle in. They chose the desolate and remote Skull Valley and in 1889 Iosepa (Hawaiian form of Joseph (in honor of Joseph Smith (the famous, and also a nephew with the same name)) was formed. The Hawaiians were joined with other Pacific Islanders. With many hardships they somehow thrived for 36 years eventually growing from 80 residents to 228. From what I read they had built a really beautiful town, lined with trees and flowers. Of which, not much exists anymore. In 1915 The church announced they would build a temple in Hawaii, and most of the town emigrated back. By 1917 It was a ghost town.

Today, all that exists are the grave markers of those who did not survive the harsh conditions, and about a mile south some foundations and fire hydrants.

Quite a few old, old graves.

And one recent one. Must be a descendant.

Some more pacific islander imagery.

We decided to hike up the hills above the cemetery.

Where I really started feeling the complete isolation we were in. It’s weird not being anywhere near another human being. Your mind starts giving you auditory hallucinations to fill in the normal cacophony we ignore living in a city.

Some more PI imagery.

The mountains above. We climbed up to get a good hike in, but we also hiked up because I was hunting for some petroglyhps  I had read were nearby. We never found them. There is no trail to them. They are a very well kept secret. I am simultaneously upset and glad by this fact. Upset I was unable to find them, glad I couldn’t find them armed with the knowledge they exist. They are probably the most unique petroglyphs in Utah, or even the country, created by residents of this PI town. They show sea life, instead of prairie life.  Yes, I would have LOVED to see them, but if they are easily found, they are easily destroyed. Humans don’t seem to respect history. So again, sad I didn’t get to see them, but glad they will be preserved for a little while longer as they are impossible to locate.

Some pretty Indian Paint Brush.

GIANT beetle! This thing was freaking huge!

Coming back down we saw more metal cut-outs of PI imagery. Pineapple, bunny, and a butterfly.

I don’t know what this is but it was big, bumbly and terrifying. Probably something similar to a june bug. There were quite a few of them buzzing around us.

 

Old stoves.

Fun cinder block art. I can totally see what they were going for here.

And back down the road, with of view of Kanaka Lake.

We drove south a little further before deciding there was not much else to see before hitting Dugway.

Some Antelope I think.(DBP)

Lone Rock. (DBP)

The last location I planned on exploring was Timpie Springs Waterfowl Management Area. As I am typing this up I am regretting this last location choice. I have quite a few bug bites currently driving me bonkers. Some may have come from Horseshoes Springs, but I guarantee the majority came from here.

To get here, if I haven't completely discouraged you from doing so yet, follow SR 196 back under i-80 and instead of getting back on the freeway, follow the road as it curves west. There is a un-helpful sign that tells you where it is. Turn right at the salt factory. Ignore the scary signs warning of being subject to having your car searched and do not turn around like we did. However, do not go into the gated area, instead turn right just before the gate and follow the not so well maintained gravel road around it perimeter.

Aforementioned salt mine/farm.

Lone Rock can be seen from the freeway or here.

Driving in we scared off all of the wildlife.

Not much to this place. Some channels and fields.

For a second, as I was going through my images, I thought this was Stansbury Island, but it is actually the Stansbury Mountains we just came out of.

This would be Stansbury Island.

Okay, not much to see here, and the bugs are driving us bonkers. I am done. Note: I was not wearing any bug repellant, but if memory serves me, the particular bugs that hang around the Great Salt Lake, it doesn’t faze them anyway. They are voracious!

Pretty shot of the meadow.

Closer shot of the salt mine. Which I noticed has a Morton symbol on. Didn’t realize that was so local. And now for the long drive home.

Another shot of the Stansbury Mountains. (DBP)

Submerged fence. (DBP)

All in all it was a fun adventure, and I am glad we went out and explored the area, but ultimately, it was quite a drive for not a whole lot to see. I think in order to make this trip worthwhile, you might consider camping and exploring the Cedar Mountains, (which I have yet to explore, but I do know they have wild mustangs) and the Salt Flats as well. Just my two cents.

Iosepa: Really cool, unique ghost town. Not really another soul around fro miles! 7 squirrels.

Timpie Springs: A pain in the ass to find, terrible neglected dirt roads full of potholes, and really not a whole lot to see. Not to mention the awful, awful bugs. 1 squirrel. I believe this is a first. Yes it is, it would appear the lowest ranking I have given before now is a 5 as I don’t have an image for this. Well, now we do.