HDT Day 14: Glen Canyon NRA & Red Benches

Daily Miles: 15.8, Total Miles: 185.5

Blustery last night with a light rain early in the morning.

A road walk this morning from Hite back out to the highway then across the Colorado River bridge. The snow-capped Henry Mountains are coming into view.

A rock climb got me to a dirt road that took me four miles north into the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

I left the road and entered appropriately named Rock Canyon. Followed it all the way up to a U-shaped bowl, separated from the canyon rim by a sheer rock face. From my notes, the only exit from here is up a “Class 4 chimney” to the top of the rim. Basically straight up with a few hand/footholds. I stared at it for a long time and it didn’t go away. Not to excited about this but I figured it was doable with a pack haul/hoist once I was on top.

After considerable effort, lots of adrenaline, and a few scary moments groping for a handhold, I got to the top. I did a happy dance and had a celebratory Crystal Light lemonade. I now had to haul my pack up praying my skinny little cord and knots would hold. If not, the pack goes back down to the bottom of the canyon.

The next leg was quite an enjoyable cross-country route through the unique, striking Red Benches, up and down through multiple drainages and rock formations.

I stopped just short of the Fiddler Canyon rim with a spectacular 360-degree view of bluffs, mountains and canyons.