HDT: Whirlwind Caching Trip

I noticed that rain and snow were forecast for my planned caching trip. Stood a much better chance of accessing the backcountry road crossings in good weather with dry roads. So I apologized to Mrs. Haze and quickly got my act together.

I left early Saturday and got to Canyonland’s Needle Outpost late in the afternoon. The new owners graciously agreed to hold my resupply box and told me a few Hayduke hikers had just arrived. Took a spin through the campground and noticed a thru-hiker (you know the look) and he looked kind of familiar. He was the first to say, hey, did you hike the PCT in 2013? Veggie and I ran into each other quite a bit through Oregon and Washington. In fact, he finished just hours ahead of me and Mrs. Haze bought he and his partners dinner at Manning Park! After this visit, I continued on to Moab and had a quick dinner and IPA at the Moab Brewery.

Early start on Saturday morning, I headed to Hanksville, then south to the Hite Store, near where the Colorado River dumps into Lake Powell. This store has a new owner (or concession). They gladly accepted my resupply box and told me about the new/improved campground and showers.

Back up to Hanksville, west and then south on Notom Road through the Capitol Reef NP to the Lower Muley Twist TH. The mostly dirt road was in surprisingly good shape and not a soul to be seen. After hiding a cache in the vicinity, I continued west on the Burr Trail road, also in fine shape, and the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument (GSENM), coming out to Hwy 12 at Boulder Town. Got to Hells Backbone Grill, remembered well from a previous trip, within five minutes of closing time. Wolfed down a scrumptious egg salad sandwich with Hatch green chilies. This thru-driving makes me hungry!

Continued on through Escalante, turning southeast at Cannonville on Cottonwood Canyon Road to Grosvenor Arch. The road was blocked off at Kodachrome State Park but I went around the barrier on a reasonably good road. I left a cache near the Arch and continued south, 30 lonely miles through GSENM’s The Cockscomb to Hwy 89. I arrived in Kanab as the sun went down.

An early start on Sunday morning got me into Arizona and down Antelope Valley Road to Hack Canyon at sunrise. This is where I will exit the Grand Canyon and Kanab Creek. After placing a small cache here, I returned to the highway and drove to Jacob Lake. I had planned to cache between Jacob Lake and the Grand Canyon North Entrance but Hwy 67 was closed to snow and is maintained until the North Rim opens in mid-May. So the long journey back to Tucson – white line fever.

Nearly 1,700 miles in three days, great weather, mostly successful caching, and a beautiful preview of what’s to come. Only two weeks to the start date!