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the Degree Confluence Project
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United States : Utah

4.0 miles (6.5 km) SW of Kaysville, Davis, UT, USA
Approx. altitude: 1282 m (4205 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap topo aerial ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 41°S 68°E

Accuracy: 1.9 km (1.2 mi)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: Locating the farm at the end of the road #3: Grazing cattle #4: OziExplorer map with track log #5: GPS showing I'm still 1.19 miles away #6: Standing in the mud to take photos

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  41°N 112°W (visit #2) (incomplete) 

#1: 360 degree panorama

(visited by Terje Mathisen)

21-Mar-2001 -- Yesterday (21-Mar-2001) I had a few hours off, and decided to make an attempt on this confluence which have only had unsuccesful visits so far.

I had studied the TopoZone maps very carefully, and decided that it looked like it would be possible to drive within about 3.5km of the point, before crossing some marshland to get onto the mud flats lining Salt Lake.

I started from Salt Lake City around 09:30, and drove north on I15 to the Farmington exit, then after some extra driving around caused by road works which had closed the bridge I had intended to use, I got over on Sunset Lane, and started to follow the map.

I had previously determined that it should be possible to get within less than 3.5 km from the confluence, and so I did. However, it turns out that all the land bordering the lake here is used for cattle, and posted with No Trespassing signs.

I met a young man at the end of my chosen road, and he told me to ask the owner of the area, an older gentleman who stated very succinctly 'You can walk wherever you like, I don't care'.

With permission obtained I changed into more suitable gear, i.e. running gear and a very old pair of sneakers, while pondering the warnings I got about sinkholes and quicksand in the area. According to the maps, the area I had to cross would start with the cattle grazing fields, go over some marshland, before ending up in the Salt Lake mudflats.

The first part was OK, I just made a big detour around the cattle, so I wouldn't disturb them, or make them too interested in me. (I didn't know if there would be any angry bulls among them!)

The marshland is totally covered with very tall swampgrass, giving very little visibility, but my trusty GPS plus the direction of my own shadow made it easy to keep walking in the right direction.

This area might be a bird sanctuary, since there was a great deal of nesting birds here, including a pair of very nice-looking cranes who walked on the ground to lead me away from their nest. I naturally made a detour around the area, to avoid disturbing them more than I had to.

During all of this, I kept sinking into the salty mud at least up to my ankles, so the going was quite tough!

About halfway to the confluence, at a distance of 1.19 miles, I made it out of the grassy area and started on the mudflats proper, when I realized that this was as far as it would be possible to walk: In front of me was a few muddy flats, the rest was just open water!

It might be possible to make it all the way out to the confluence spot on foot, if you do it at the end of the summer dry season, while wearing waders and using a group of people for security.

The only alternative solution would be to use a swamp boat, but due to all the birds, this might be illegal to do in this area.

The view will be exactly the same anyway! :-)

When I got back to the farm and my car, the farmer asked me how it had been, and was kind enough to offer me a few of his very nice apples!

-- Terje


 All pictures
#1: 360 degree panorama
#2: Locating the farm at the end of the road
#3: Grazing cattle
#4: OziExplorer map with track log
#5: GPS showing I'm still 1.19 miles away
#6: Standing in the mud to take photos
ALL: All pictures on one page
  Notes
On the salt marshes of the Great Salt Lake's Farmington Bay. The terrain may be temporarily flooded.

On my map, the roads to the west of Kaysville are a little confusing. The basic landmark destination is the intersection of E 750 St S and Holmes Creek. The confluence is 1.78 miles (9384 feet) southwest (approximately) of this point. The actual heading is 227 degrees (true bearing).

Going south on SR 243/South Main St. in the center of Kaysville, bear right onto S 50 W (one block south of Center Street). Go 1.42 miles south until you come to Burton Lane (with I-15 directly to your right). Turn right onto S Burton Lane. Cross over or under I-15 and then a set of railroad tracks. Go 0.22 miles and cross another set of railroad tracks. Go 0.4 miles to the intersection with Sunset Drive. Turn left and go 0.3 miles; bear right onto an unnamed road! Go 1.14 miles on this road and intersect with E 750 St. S. Last road. Turn right and go 2.15 miles to Holmes Creek, your landmark destination as mentioned above.