Daily Miles: 24.0, Total Miles: 450.1 I departed Tropic at 5:30am wanting to get a head start on the weather I knew was coming. The sun was just coming up when I reached the Bryce Canyon NP boundary. I didn’t need a backcountry permit so saved a few miles not having to stop at the Visitors Center. That meant I needed to make enough miles today to cross over to the Grand View Trail to camp just outside the park…

Daily Miles: 19.5, Total Miles: 426.1 It was chilly last night, woke up and put on my down jacket. Had to shake ice off my tent this morning. I opted to forego the Round Draw segment of the HDT, and instead, road walk to Tropic today. This sets me up for adding the Bryce Canyon alternative and then meeting up with the HDT further on. A bit less mileage in the short-term but gives me a chance to do the…

Daily Miles: 20.8, Total Miles: 406.6 I said goodbye to Paradise Canyon, climbed out and headed generally northwest over a series of dirt roads. Eventually I got over the Cockscomb and dropping onto the impressive Grosvenor Arch (a double arch). I chatted with a few tourists and continued to my undisturbed cache a mile later near the Cottonwood Canyon Road. Drank my fill of Gatorade and water, refilled my food bag and even managed to ask a favor of one…

Daily Miles: 18.1, Total Miles: 363.9 I thought that the weather system had moved on but rain off and on again all night. This is not the place you want to be in a flash flood – the high-water marks are amazing. Moved on down the canyon and turned up into sparsely vegetated, but coal rich Navajo Canyon. Made good time for awhile but was then met with huge boulder falls and pouroffs. These required some time and effort to…

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…

Daily Miles: 7.5, Total Miles: 332.3 I made the long ride back out to Hurricane Wash. A dark, kind of ominous weather system was moving across the Kaiparowits Plateau. Set out on a dirt road, then on a steep pack trail to the top of Kaiparowits Plateau at 7,300′. Had to seek cover from rain several times, sitting under a juniper tree with my tent draped over my head. With more rain, lightning, thunder and a cold, gusting wind, I…

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 324.8 Restful day, but still got my hiker chores done, talked to family, found a few items I needed at an outdoor shop and ate three square meals. The Circle D Eatery is recommended. I arranged a shuttle with one of the outdoor businesses in town. More expensive than I would like but it’s a long drive back to the TH. Plus I think a hitch may be difficult out of Escalante. Checked the weather…

Daily Miles: 11.9, Total Miles: 324.8 My earliest jump start of the hike even after two cups of coffee. I can understand why Coyote Gulch is so popular. Accessible, narrow canyon, stream, waterfalls, and, to top it off, beautiful arches, Coyote Natural Bridge that you walk through and Jacob Hamlin Arch, that’s extra special because the canyon wraps around on itself. You see the front and back of the arch from the canyon floor. I felt like my neck was…