HDT Day 16: Poison Springs Canyon

Daily Miles: 4.8, Total Miles: 208.9

Owls were hooting it up again early this morning.

I followed Poison Springs Canyon all the way up to Highway 95. The snow-capped Henry Mountains are looming closer and closer. On my caching trip, I stashed a half-gallon of water off the dry wash and behind some big boulders. Thought it was well hidden, except for my footprints, and I know I didn’t put a Snickers bar under the water jug. But there it was, thank you very much!

Hitchhiking is apparently illegal in Utah but they’d have to catch me first. Walking 17 miles to Hanksville was out of the question but this was one lonely road. Just a few speeding trucks, mostly going the other way hauling boats or ATVs. So I got bored sitting on a guardrail and started walking north towards Hanksville. Two miles down the road, a truck slowly pulled over and Curtis and his wife, Hanksville residents, took me straight to my motel. He said he figured I was a hiker. Thanks Curtis!

No one at the motel to check me in so I availed myself to the washer and dryer. I then headed across the street for a cheeseburger and a huge strawberry milkshake. Followed it up later with a ribeye and a Squatters IPA for dinner at Duke’s Slickrock Grill. A few more hiker chores and early to bed.