Friday, October 4
Days Off #1 & 2
The long trip back to NC will begin on Monday, October 14th so we'll use next week's days off to prepare for departure. That meant this Wednesday and Thursday would be the final opportunity to whittle down our wish list.
Escalante was our destination and we drove the back way, Skutumpah Road from Johnson Canyon to Cannonville. On the way, we took a leisurely hike down Lick Wash, stopping to take pictures and exploring side canyons or anything else that looked interesting. About half a mile down the wash, we met a couple who stayed at Parry Lodge last week and enjoyed hearing what they'd done since leaving Kanab.
Past Twisted Pine Arch and Lost Spire Hoodoo, we located the 'Slitheryn Slot,' a short but extremely narrow little canyon. One spot was so constricted that my foot became wedged between the right and left walls--I had to pull my foot out of the shoe in order to get free. On the way back to the trailhead we encountered several groups of inexperienced hikers. Our guess was they were at Lick Wash because the national parks and monuments were closed.
Past Twisted Pine Arch and Lost Spire Hoodoo, we located the 'Slitheryn Slot,' a short but extremely narrow little canyon. One spot was so constricted that my foot became wedged between the right and left walls--I had to pull my foot out of the shoe in order to get free. On the way back to the trailhead we encountered several groups of inexperienced hikers. Our guess was they were at Lick Wash because the national parks and monuments were closed.
The plan for the next day called for an early start to Phipps Arch, descending the slickrock slopes from Highway 12. But after a fitful night's sleep in a poorly-maintained motel that plan seemed too ambitious so we moved to the next item on the list: finishing our exploration of Diana's Throne Canyon.
Traveling the paved highways, we noted that Cannonville, Tropic and the businesses outside Bryce were very quiet. Four tour busses had pulled into the Red Canyon visitor center and the dazed passengers milled around the parking lot. Sad.
A few miles north of the RV park, we took off cross-country for Diana's Throne Canyon. (Because we don't rappel or use ropes, we've had to tackle it in three segments, bottom-up instead of top-down.) This final section is longer, tougher and more varied than the two upper parts we'd investigated previously. At a particularly difficult spot, we ran into a local guide who was training a couple how to descend the narrow chute. Watching their technique helped us figure out a way to ascend. Despite the scrapes and bruises, we love the challenge of getting into and out of special places few others have seen.
It has gotten cold: today's high will be in the upper 50s and the temperature will go below freezing tonight. We had breakfast at the lodge and worked around the RV for most of the day. Tonight is Kanab High School's homecoming game--we may go to see Chad and Haden play...if it's not too cold.
A few miles north of the RV park, we took off cross-country for Diana's Throne Canyon. (Because we don't rappel or use ropes, we've had to tackle it in three segments, bottom-up instead of top-down.) This final section is longer, tougher and more varied than the two upper parts we'd investigated previously. At a particularly difficult spot, we ran into a local guide who was training a couple how to descend the narrow chute. Watching their technique helped us figure out a way to ascend. Despite the scrapes and bruises, we love the challenge of getting into and out of special places few others have seen.
It has gotten cold: today's high will be in the upper 50s and the temperature will go below freezing tonight. We had breakfast at the lodge and worked around the RV for most of the day. Tonight is Kanab High School's homecoming game--we may go to see Chad and Haden play...if it's not too cold.
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