Virgin River Recon hike

[Rented mule]

http://usera.imagecave.com/mochajo/yadda/001.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/mochajo/yadda/Gorgebottom046.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/mochajo/yadda/Gorgebottom001.jpg

Here is the link for the pictures:
http://usera.imagecave.com/mochajo/yadda/

Gotta beat the storm! Clear skies on Friday morning got me running around the house and grabbing the bare essentials for a nice 6 hour
hike along the north rim bottom of the Virgin River Gorge, AZ Strip.
You see, I want to hike the six miles along the cliffbands this spring.
This is a perfect recon for that hike to see how the cliffs are attached.
Luckily, they are. No wide, deep canyons or breaks in the whole matrix.
So, as the lizards and I enjoyed the warmth of the sun on the rocks,
I hiked along, hugging the bottoms of the cliffs and scrambled along the gobs of slickrock that had surprising bands of colored orange and red rock. I also came upon a huge window rock or arch. A nice surprise.
Silver Cholla, Joshua Trees, Barrel Cactus, and the ever present
creosote bush filled the terrain. I like to take the creosote leaves and crush them between my fingers. Great desert scent.
Great day to be out here. A good recon. I know now, that the region
below the river at mile post 22 to mile post 18 (Cedar Pockets) on the northern rim is very doable. Can't wait to get up there this spring.
This last leg would complete my entire gorge hike. 13 miles.
Summer is too hot. I couldn't carry enough water to make it that far.

[erial]

I've passed thru the gorge to and fro many times over the years and have rarely stopped and even when I did, I wandered not far from the car. But one time on another forum I came across your trip reports to a couple of arches in the gorge. My next trip thru, I stopped and did the hikes. Good stuff.

Hope to read more of your adventures in the gorge. I'm sure others have explored, but you're the only one i know who shares of the fruits of the journey. Allons, allons.