GET Day 20: Midnight Canyon & Eagle Creek

Daily Miles: 16.5, Total Miles: 286.0

Owl hoots echoed down the canyon off and on all night long.

I awoke early this morning to something sniffing around my head. Did the usual bang on the tent and loud yell and I heard it move away a few feet. I repeated the bang and yell but by the time I got my headlamp out, whatever it was, was long gone.

Tough and slow hiking but I got my reward in great views, colorful rock formations and slot canyons.

Midnight Canyon was a lung burner but particularly impressive starting in a wash, then a narrow slot canyon, opening up to rock formations and a steep climb to Bellmeyer Saddle.

Finished the day walking five miles up Eagle Creek and fording the knee-high creek several times. Nice evening views of the canyon walls. Cows own this canyon so I had to clear a place for my tent.

A bonus was seeing three bighorns near Smith Spring.