HDT Day 27: Monday Canyon & Rogers Canyon

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 to get to Mudholes Spring. It didn’t disappoint – a fenced off spring with a full tank of water so loaded up. There was a little line shack that looked like it gets good use.

Finding a decent path through this sagebrush to Monday Canyon proved challenging. Zigzagging on whatever stock trails I could find. Headed down a narrow side canyon that dumped into Monday Canyon and followed it down for seven miles. No trail to speak of so slow going in the drainage, navigating around pouroffs and the boulder-choked sections.

I finally exited into Rogers Canyon, a decent flow of water and evidence of cows. Got down about two miles and decided to stop before entering a narrow section, a precaution due to rain clouds.