desertislands.org (Exploring the Great Basin!)

The Wah Wah
Beaver County, Utah

One of western Utah's under-appreciated mountain ranges is the Wah Wah range of Beaver County. The range is traversed by only one improved road, Highway 21 (Milford to Garrison). This lonely stretch of road crosses a low pass in the central part of the Wah Wah range. From the pass there is easy hiking by which one can obtain a spectacular view unique to Basin and Range country.

Alexa Robinson gives the following perspective on the origin of the name, "Wah Wah":"Wah Wah Valley was named by the Indians because there is a rumbling noise that sounds like WahWah. They say it comes from Wah Wah Springs. You can be 40 miles from the springs and hear the sound is just as loud as if you are right at the springs. We could hear it over in the Escalante Valley 30 miles away just as loud. It would take spells of doing it sometimes 2 months without, sometimes once a day."

On this snowy April afternoon, the clouds were low. Visibility was poor, at best, for most of the day. A hike up the "saddle" of this pass through the Wah Wah provided a brisk reprieve from the long car ride across Beaver County. The decision to make the short trek was a timely one--the clouds had broken momentarily, splashing interesting light on the expansive Pine Valley to the west. We found it a great opportunity to shoot a few pictures, take in some views, and enjoy the silence.

View southwest into the Pine Valley. Had the clouds lifted, we'd have had a perfect view of the next range, the Indian Peak Range..

View northwest from saddle. In the distance is the Pine Valley hardpan, illuminated by a momentary splash of sunlight.

The western face of the Wah Wah range is similar in composition and appearance to the House Range, 50 miles north. Jagged cliffs on the west, gentle slopes on the east--classic indicators of Great Basin fault blocking. The relief of the Wah Wah from the flat Pine Valley below is a sight to behold from any angle.

Ryan and Jim enjoy the view...

Hiking up the "saddle"

Pine Pond, the southern Wah Wah Mountains...summer very small, planted fish.

Crystal Peak, the northern Wah Wah Mountains.

The Wah Wah Range is the only place on earth where the valuable gemstone, red beryl is found. The stone is rarely mined these days, but the Wah Wah was once a popular destination for rockhounds from all over the United States and Europe. A few private mining claims still exist in the range.

Pictured above: Topaz (top)collected by a German rockhound at Topaz Mountain, Utah in the 1950's. This Topaz Crystal was "brought home" to Utah by Rex Day, a friend and business associate of mine. Red Beryl specimens collected by Rex Day in the Wah Wah Mountains.

Red Beryl

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