The Lost Tank of Neverland v Twin Tanks Peak - 10/12/23

The Lost Tank of Neverland (Gray Cap Beyond)

Top of Gateway Canyon

Gateway Saddle

Waking up on Kraft Saddle

Back in 2015, Ed F. led one of our hikes up to Twin Tanks Peak. This diminutive sandstone peak is situated between Gray Cap and Upper Gateway Canyon at the top of Gray Fox Canyon. It rises at only ~5100' in elevation and is a short class 2/2.5 scramble steeply to the top. Here, you can look over the edge to see the Deep Tank, the large deep tank next to the rock bridge on the way to Gray Cap on the regular trail. The twin tanks to which the name refers are located down the north side.

Scrambling up Gateway Canyon

Up the Sliding Board

Taking a break at the Happy Brain Bush

Ralph climbs up a Dryfall

Further up the Gray Cap Trail, there is a rocky sandstone ridge where few tend to hike. We dubbed this ridge and ascents Neverland. Just over the crest of the Neverland ridge is another deep tank we called the Lost Tank of Neverland. Although it is possible to reach the tank by scrambling down to it, we declined on this particular hike. I had heard about this tank since the first time I hiked up to Gray Cap. The excursion was always pushed aside like the tank was of no consequence. On this hike, we saw this grand pothole tank for the first time. And, it deserves recognition. Sadly, the wind was pretty bad and we had no desire to stay up on Neverland for very long for fear that we would get blown away.

Charlie on another Dryfall

Ralyn tries the hard way on another Dryfall

Trail up to the Saddle

Ralph arrives at the Saddle

Finally, the weather had started cooling down a bit but the wind was bringing in the cooler temperatures and five of us bravely started out to go to Gray Cap ... a different way. We parked at Kraft Mountain Trailhead and climbed up 5 Stop Hill to Kraft Saddle. Taking the Rattlesnake Trail down into Gateway Canyon, we saw that the large rock & wire cairn that the park service had constructed at the junction was in shambles. Perhaps it was the recent floods. Trudging up the gravel wash, we saw that the flooding had moved a few boulders around and cut away dirt and gravel from the sides. Gravel at the bottom of the Sliding Board Obstacle was higher so that helped. On up past the higher entrance of the Rattlesnake Trail, things started changing more.

A rock Square with a View

The Trail continues up the side of the hill on the Left

Ralyn climbs up from the Saddle

Arriving at the base of Twin Tanks Peak

Gateway Canyon can be counted on to change every year. It is a major drainage for the mountains around and the gravel gets pushed around on a regular basis. So, we were prepared for the state of the scrambles. More gravel here, less gravel there. Most of the scrambles were washed out at the bottom. Still doable. However, the in between scrambles were a mess! Still doable. We worked hard and slow all the way up the Upper Gateway Canyon until we reached The Wall. Here's where we decided to change up the route. We turned to the right to follow a trail in the rock up to the next saddle. I had only climbed up this way twice before, but, the trail was readable and we found our way up. 

View down to Deep Tank & Bridge from Twin Tanks Peak

Descent from Twin Tanks Peak

Tank at base of Twin Tanks Peak

View from near Tablecloth Rock

On the saddle, someone had built a large square of rocks on the dirt. Perhaps that someone had lain there watching the sunrise out the canyon on the other side. Our trail continued up the side of the sandstone hill to the left. At the point above, we were at the base of Twin Tanks Peak. We took the first opportunity to climb up to the left. After roaming across the jagged peak, we made our descent. Obviously, this was the wrong approach to find the "twin tanks." Next time. At the bottom, we easily crossed over to the regular Gray Cap trail and circled around, down and up. We saw a huge boulder lying on the side of the hill above. It had a desert varnish pattern on it that reminded us of a tablecloth. 

Finding the Lost Tank of Neverland

Rita starts down from the Lost Tank

Taking a break out of the Wind

Deep Tank & Bridge (Turtlehead Beyond)

We used this as our landmark. Up to the boulder, then a left turn, we found another steep trail in the sandstone. This took us up to the saddle of the ridge. A right turn on the ridge started us along the top of Neverland in harsh wind. Finally, we found the Lost Tank that we sought. We climbed a little further along the ridge toward Gray Cap and started down. It wasn't a good day to stay atop the ridge in the wind. Also, we had scrambled ourselves out! Next time. We returned by the Tablecloth Rock and took a break in the dip. The remaining part of our return was down the regular Gray Cap trail: the Deep Tank Bridge, The Wall, Upper Gateway, Rattlesnake Trail, Kraft Saddle and 5 Stop Hill. A shorter route would have been to take Gray Fox Canyon down but Mike, the discoverer of Gray Fox Canyon, wasn't around and none of us really wanted to work our brains too hard by that time. Anyway, we methodically descended Upper Gateway and, finally, walked into the trailhead. Phew! What a great day! We learned a lot and had fun doing it!

Stats: 6.3 miles; 2150' gain; 6.25 hours

Descending The Wall

Rita at the bottom of The Wall

Colorful Lower Gateway Canyon from Rattlesnake Trail