Daily Miles: 16.2, Total Miles: 169.7 My earliest start yet on the hike even after filtering some of the silty water from Dark Creek. On my last river crossing before joining the Sundance Trail out of the canyon, I stepped into a deep hole and let go of one of my hiking poles. Just as it was about out of reach floating downstream, I snagged it with my other hiking pole. Oh what a save, but I had to take…
Daily Miles: 10.1, Total Miles: 153.5 Wow, what a day – don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard for ten miles! ! quickly got to Young’s Canyon Rim and had a good look around, reviewing the steep, difficult route down. I had to make sure I had the right starting point. A bit unnerving, one of the first big boulders I stepped on slowly dislodged and fell all the way to the canyon floor. I was very appreciative of the…
Daily Miles: 14.8, Total Miles: 143.4 Another day and another wash to take me out of Beef Basin and onto a short dirt road to the Fable Valley TH. The trail register showed several Haydukers this year, the last one passing through two days ahead of me. Most of the trail was well cairned. The rugged Fable Canyon scenery and gurgling streams were delightful. I exited Fable Valley into a side canyon hiking upstream. Had to find my way around…
Daily Miles: 27.0, Total Miles: 128.6 Early start on a big day because I want to exit the south end of Canyonlands to avoid having to use a bear can which is now required in the park. The other big reason was to put me closer to water tomorrow. I hauled seven liters of water today – don’t think I’ve carried that much before and I could feel it! A beautiful, cool, clear day on a mix of primitive roads,…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 101.6 I woke up to a crackling, icy tent but the skies were clear. Once the sun came up, it warmed up to maybe the mid-50’s. A leisurely two cups of coffee morning. Got an assortment of goodies (easy to do on a tab) from the store for today’s meals. The store had a pretty good wireless connection for $5 per day so was able to connect to family. Caleb and Amber, who have the…
Daily Miles: 18.8, Total Miles: 101.6 Just as I was getting up for an early start, more snow flurries. Laid my head down for another 30 minutes, then off and running. Well, actually trudging down Rustler Canyon. Got to the big 50′ pouroff into Indian Canyon and looked on the south side for the way down. I think I found it, the giveaway being stacked rocks at the bottom of a ledge drop off. The guidebook advises two people should…
Daily Miles: 17.7, Total Miles: 82.8 Yes, earplugs allowed me to sleep a bit with the flapping tent. It also rained early this morning for a few hours. I headed back out of the wash and got water at a seep – too alkaline to drink much. Back to Lockhart Road, I continued south between the canyons and bluffs. I had to find a few overhangs in the bluffs to escape rain and snow flurries. Hung my tent over my…
Daily Miles: 18.3, Total Miles: 65.3 A symphony of quacking ducks and cooing doves on the Colorado River this morning. Tom appeared with Jack, his small dog, just as I was about ready to set off. Tom walked with me on a shortcut back to the HDT, so I got a property tour and some history. I bid farewell to a gracious host on a cool, overcast morning. I then heading south on a bench high above the Colorado River….
Daily Miles: 17.0, Total Miles: 47.0 I set out from Moab around 8am and quickly got to Kane Springs Road. The paved road headed southwest, closely following the Colorado River for a few miles. The road turned south away from the river, got great water at Kane Springs and continued to climb and wind around the now dirt road through rocky, picturesque Kane Springs Canyon. Thankful for shade in the morning along the canyon walls, but couldn’t avoid the full…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 30.0 I laid low today trying to gain some ground on this head cold/sinus infection(?). Just a short stroll to City Market for breakfast and Starbucks. Another short excursion down the street for a late lunch at El Charros – the spinach enchilada was interesting. Other than that, I got my stuff together for the next leg to Canyonlands Needles.
