HAYDUKE TRAIL

Daily Miles: 20.8, Total Miles: 406.6 I said goodbye to Paradise Canyon, climbed out and headed generally northwest over a series of dirt roads. Eventually I got over the Cockscomb and dropping onto the impressive Grosvenor Arch (a double arch). I chatted with a few tourists and continued to my undisturbed cache a mile later near the Cottonwood Canyon Road. Drank my fill of Gatorade and water, refilled my food bag and even managed to ask a favor of one…

Daily Miles: 18.1, Total Miles: 363.9 I thought that the weather system had moved on but rain off and on again all night. This is not the place you want to be in a flash flood – the high-water marks are amazing. Moved on down the canyon and turned up into sparsely vegetated, but coal rich Navajo Canyon. Made good time for awhile but was then met with huge boulder falls and pouroffs. These required some time and effort to…

Daily Miles: 13.5, Total Miles: 345.8 Last night had it all – rain, sleet, hail and snow. I didn’t really want to start hiking until I knew it was over but I couldn’t tell. The Kaiparowits Plateau was basically in the clouds, looking like a heavy, dark fog. I gave it an hour since the last precipitation and shoved off wearing every article of clothing I have. It was a cold, biting wind. I was out of water and needed…

Daily Miles: 7.5, Total Miles: 332.3 I made the long ride back out to Hurricane Wash. A dark, kind of ominous weather system was moving across the Kaiparowits Plateau. Set out on a dirt road, then on a steep pack trail to the top of Kaiparowits Plateau at 7,300′. Had to seek cover from rain several times, sitting under a juniper tree with my tent draped over my head. With more rain, lightning, thunder and a cold, gusting wind, I…

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 324.8 Restful day, but still got my hiker chores done, talked to family, found a few items I needed at an outdoor shop and ate three square meals. The Circle D Eatery is recommended. I arranged a shuttle with one of the outdoor businesses in town. More expensive than I would like but it’s a long drive back to the TH. Plus I think a hitch may be difficult out of Escalante. Checked the weather…

Daily Miles: 11.9, Total Miles: 324.8 My earliest jump start of the hike even after two cups of coffee. I can understand why Coyote Gulch is so popular. Accessible, narrow canyon, stream, waterfalls, and, to top it off, beautiful arches, Coyote Natural Bridge that you walk through and Jacob Hamlin Arch, that’s extra special because the canyon wraps around on itself. You see the front and back of the arch from the canyon floor. I felt like my neck was…

Daily Miles: 14.3, Total Miles: 312.9 Took me two tries but found the right way into a side canyon which got me down to Stevens Canyon. What a wonderful day of hiking! In the canyon with a nice flowing creek or perched high up on the steep canyon to avoid deep, narrow slots. I was awe stricken several times – hardly the words to describe the raw power of nature and erosion. I ran into some backpackers on short trips…

Daily Miles: 13.0, Total Miles: 298.6 The first thing I did this morning was spill a whole cup of coffee inside my tent just after I poured it – not a good move. Used up most of the rest of my toilet paper sopping it up. I continued hiking south down Halls Creek leaving Capitol Reef NP and re-entering Glen Canyon NRA. Sometimes a decent trail but other time struggling through thick undergrowth and trees in the drainages. Over the…

Daily Miles: 21.8, Total Miles: 285.6 Having a cup of coffee in my tent this morning when I heard and felt big rocks falling, loudly and close by. It seemed to go on for ten seconds however some of that could have been the echoing. Kind of scary – not many places to run in a narrow canyon. I really enjoyed the rest of my hike down Lower Muley Twist in the shade of the sheer sandstone cliffs. A bit…