Swamp Thing
11-22-2010, 07:21 PM
This was a solo backpack for three nights in the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park. Thanks again to the board for helping me make sense of the Utah hiking scene, and a big thank you to denaliguide for giving me huge amounts of beta which I will now save for my next trip - seeing as how I didn’t get to use any of it - as I wound up sticking to the park trails.
In retrospect I’m glad I picked Needles for my first trip to Utah. The “handholding” of the ridiculously frequent cairns was usually annoying, but sometimes appreciated. I had planned a pretty ambitious route and the cairns allowed me time to linger throughout the day knowing that there was no way possible to get lost or turned around on my way to the next campsite. (The flipside was always having the feeling that I was in a “supervised” environment, a giant McDonald’s Playland maybe)? Also, the number of criss-crossing trails allowed me to shave a few miles off my planned route on the last day after I developed a mild case of hyponatremia and decided to cut the day short. This was a good “training course” (as I was hoping it would be) for a swamp creature new to desert hiking. I did not have to consult a map once the entire trip, although I had studied the terrain quite a bit before arriving. About that hyponatremia. Usually when I hike I do not have much of an appetite and don’t eat much, with no problems. I mostly have jerky and a trail mix from Walmart that I love that is super salty. I figured that would be good this time too. The problem was that the combination of my lack of appetite and the dry air made it so I couldn’t even force down any dry foods at all, even protein bars. Kind of like trying to eat sand. This in turn caused me to over-hydrate. By the last day I was feeling a little “off” in the morning which got worse on my way back to my car, but the minute I got the visitors center I slammed a couple of Powerades and felt 100% better in about 30 minutes. Next time I will bring sufficient supplies of powdered Gatorade which should take care of that problem.
Hiking in the Needles can numb one’s senses to the density of features around every turn (and there are a whole lot of turns!). I averaged about 1 mph each day and still felt like I was rushing. If the typical hike consists of approach/build-up/reveal, Needles is more like – all reveal. After about 1 mile from the Squaw Flat trail head, and until about 500 feet from the Elephant Hill trailhead, it is one long peak experience. There were several places where pictures would fail, like the area around the short slot between Squaw Canyon and No Name Canyon.
[FONT=Verdana]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiCh2ow8HI/AAAAAAAAC-o/RLOjaT3C3do/s800/001.jpg
One of the many treats on the flight from Denver to grand Junction. The Sawatch Mountains.
Day 1: Flight scheduled to arrive at Grand Junction at 12:35. Arrived at 12:20 and was on the road by 12:35 thanks to the tiny airport. I had time to take 128, which I’m very glad I did, but was bummed I couldn’t spent a whole day on this road, preferably five.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiCqx4TG1I/AAAAAAAAC-8/xst4s6u25S0/s800/013.JPG
Roadside attraction along highway 128.
The road to Needles is even more spectacular I thought, and I would have loved to explore one of the multitude of turn-offs where I saw one or a few cars pulled over, taunting me that I didn’t have more time.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiC5dZ0LrI/AAAAAAAAC_g/XHqlH7enufs/s800/028.jpg
This monolith stands as a marker at the turnoff to Needles from 191. A nice taste of things to come.
Made it to the Needles visitor center at 4pm. Talked to the backcountry ranger for about 30 min who told me that there was tons of water all over Lost canyon and Peekaboo, so I hit the Squaw Flat trailhead at 5 o’clock with just 4 liters of water. The weather report was clear for my three nights so I left the tent and tarp in the car.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiDYBUhYyI/AAAAAAAADAU/cP5bpW906-w/s800/052.jpg
Leaving from the Squaw Flat trailhead leads to a pleasant and mostly level hike to Lost Canyon.
Made it close to the campsite at 7, right as night fell, but walked by the campsite marker in the dim light. I found a flat spot on a bare rock to sleep on in case I couldn’t find the campsite, and backtracked along the trail with my light to look for LC1. It turns out I missed it by about 50ft so I retrieved my pack and camped “legally” that night after all. The spot I found just up the trail from LC1 is a superior place to camp, on rock - not dust - and with a better view; but since I believe (especially being a tourist), that everyone should enjoy McNature responsibly, I slept between the wooden pegs. The only problem was that somehow during this episode I lost my cap, which was to bum me out to no end the next few days.
LC1 is nothing much to look at, but it is in a nice grove of trees providing plenty of shade if you need it. The trees block most of the night sky, but an open view can be had a short distance from camp. I wouldn’t camp here again unless it was for the trail location, which is the reason I was there. It is perfectly placed for an early start on the Peekaboo trail. I got very little to no sleep that night due to stargazing. I had a mouse for company that I never saw but heard rustling around my bag in the dry leaves all night.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl2-WW_99I/AAAAAAAADTM/gjKIbxjEm0A/s800/19.jpg
LC1 is not a place I would want to spend much time, considering the surroundings. It’s convenient for Peekaboo, but for exploring Lost Canyon, I would stay instead in LC2 or 3.
Day 2: Dayhiked Peekaboo, starting from the campsite at 6:30 pre dawn. The beginning of the trail from LC1 is obvious and easy in the dark, even with some steep climbs. I saw some potholes filled with water just up a little from camp, so knew I could fill up on my way back.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl2WSEjCxI/AAAAAAAADRs/JSWt0Qj9rbc/s800/310.jpg
A cloudless dawn on the Peekaboo Trail.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiDob7KAuI/AAAAAAAADA4/4eARS5X1jWQ/s800/61.jpg
So many places off trail to explore, but I stayed between the cairns and it was enough.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl2bko2oaI/AAAAAAAADR4/4z-md3gGyJc/s800/316.jpg
Most of the trail hugs the rim of shallow canyons.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMidwwAKwTI/AAAAAAAADHw/rgAy5xThdic/s800/hdr1.jpg
It would be easy to spend a day roaming the slickrock. I would camp at Peeakboo if I wanted to explore this area rather than LC1.
Peekaboo is a very easy hike along the slickrock overlooking several canyons until some mild climbing down to Peekaboo Camp. I kept a slow pace, sat for a while in several spots and made it to Peekaboo campsite at 9; the cairns are so obvious and frequent however, I think it would be great to run most of the trail as there are only 2 or 3 spots you would have to slow up to negotiate small obstacles (and one ladder). At Peeakboo there is a hole in the rock just above the pit-toilet where the rock art is, and just though the hole is an area that is sublime.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl3U1wDrnI/AAAAAAAADT8/ZbLWIh8mGVI/s800/Salt%20Creek%20Pano.jpg
Through the arch by the Peekaboo rock art lies a neat little canyon with some surprises.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOmK_UqqkdI/AAAAAAAADZA/VkLwYuqCnQA/s800/11.jpg
You can barely see the “peekaboo” part of the trail where you climb through the hole far right. If you think the path from where this picture was taken to the hole looks obvious you would be right, but there are 20-30 cairns along the way just in case!
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOsOAs8UG2I/AAAAAAAADb8/LWJnHIwnqnw/s800/14.jpg
The ranger assured me there would be water all along the Peekaboo trail, and while there was some at the very beginning near Lost Canyon, I’m afraid the water along the trail had been all used up.
I spent a while at Peekaboo camp and returned to LC1 by 12:30. I hadn’t seen anyone all morning, but after I got back to camp, several groups walked by on their way to Peekaboo, and another camper arrived for the next night just as I was packing up to leave.
I broke camp at 1pm and headed into Lost Canyon for the six mile hike to EC2. This hike was first-rate with a huge variety of terrain, from the sandy bottom of Lost Canyon to the slickrock passes between canyons. Water was everywhere, even in Squaw Canyon.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiEL-AyLHI/AAAAAAAADCI/8HUxuR3oyJ0/s800/196.jpg
I’m guessing I just missed peak flower season, but there were still some small patches of dense wildflowers in Lost canyon.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiEOR4cfWI/AAAAAAAADCM/zPiwa0KoTao/s800/198.jpg
The lower part of Lost Canyon is along a sandy bottom, and completely exposed to the sun. I was pretty annoyed right about now that I lost my hat on day one.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiEWaRh-mI/AAAAAAAADCY/sgD6Ufi7Qrg/s800/206.jpg
What passes for a busy intersection in Lost Canyon.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl3SOMIn-I/AAAAAAAADT0/O0suQZPHYUk/s800/074%20pano%20cropped.jpg
There were several very nearly perfect spots along the trail like this one where I lingered for a while. I can only imagine what lay off-trail.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiEyIbEOEI/AAAAAAAADDE/p0Smp9iCOUg/s800/214.jpg
After about 2 miles the canyon begins gently climbing out of the sand.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiE99cbtSI/AAAAAAAADDY/CDDGFp2hePs/s800/224.jpg
Looking back down Lost Canyon after a brief series of switchbacks quickly takes you to the rim.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiFA0rvXwI/AAAAAAAADDc/aANc-HWYSCY/s800/079.jpg
After a bit of slickrock which is as nice as the Peekaboo trail, the path dips down towards Squaw Canyon.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl3GG__1SI/AAAAAAAADTc/1lDQ_0TqM0Q/s800/hdr%2032.jpg
I crested the canyon rim into No-name Canyon late afternoon.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl3Cs88RkI/AAAAAAAADTU/0JXqKiqf6Uo/s800/276a.jpg
Moon shot.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMid0q_-zrI/AAAAAAAADH4/ahty4xBI848/s800/hdr21.jpg
The glow crept up the rocks as I made my way down no-name to Elephant Canyon.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiFRxVzpQI/AAAAAAAADD8/ANJRkiIiLzY/s800/092.jpg
It’s getting later, I wanted to get to the campsite before dark.
I made it to EC2 with 10 minutes of light to spare. EC2 is located a ways above the canyon bottom and it would have been tricky to find in the dark, even with the cairns. Perched above Elephant Canyon, the campsite is open and has dramatic vistas. It’s higher than EC3 so affords much more privacy. Very little sleep this night. It was warm enough that I had my arms outside my bag most of the night and the quiet was like none other I ever experienced. There was no breeze at all, no leaves, no movement. Occasionally there was an owl calling from far off and an airliner overhead, but other than that my heart beating was the only intrusion on the silence. This night and the next were perhaps my favorite experiences of the trip.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMieeFKSbAI/AAAAAAAADJg/t4IgmgEtAlI/s800/EC%201%20night.jpg
View looking east from my sleeping bag, EC2 campsite.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiFb4O4qSI/AAAAAAAADEU/OD3FNeUTjxA/s800/112.jpg
EC2 campsite.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl2POndm1I/AAAAAAAADRY/uboju6_qg5Q/s800/354.jpg
Morning view from the campsite, looking west. This is the eastern wall of Chesler Park.
Day 3: Lazed around EC2 until 9 – did not want to leave, lots to explore right around camp. I dropped my pack at the intersection to Chesler Park and dayhiked to Druid Arch. This hike is amazing, and like I said before there was no “payoff” for me when I got to Druid Arch, it was just more of the same awesome terrain. I went very slow and returned to my pack at 2pm, having seen 5 or 6 different groups.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl3H7aapkI/AAAAAAAADTg/P7L9vvZNg0c/s800/172.jpg
Down Elephant Canyon towards Druid Arch.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl2lW1fHRI/AAAAAAAADSU/F-HRKZGXXI0/s800/328%20cropped%20a.jpg
Is that the gateway to the Underworld?
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMid6mIFFxI/AAAAAAAADIE/t9ydxftHqJc/s800/hdr6.jpg
Druid Arch on the approach.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl1_m0kHcI/AAAAAAAADQ0/_alOxNMf1xw/s800/400.jpg
Still more water.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOmDMZJ3UyI/AAAAAAAADX0/xzCey85_Hjs/s800/280.jpg
Final ascent to the Druid Arch viewpoint at the canyon’s end is up that scree. I heard voices up there by now and knew I must be “somewhere.”
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMid8j59I5I/AAAAAAAADII/Zy6cmzKXSvU/s800/hdr7.jpg
A small group greets me as I reach the top, usually the case when I go “somewhere.” They were a nice quiet group and even offered to take my picture, which wouldn’t have occurred to me otherwise.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl27nC9UQI/AAAAAAAADTI/Sdf9AHlMwAI/s800/0002%20druid%20arch%20pano%202.jpg
They left a few minutes after I arrived. BO will do that every time!
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMieAXkk2HI/AAAAAAAADIQ/L54prS2Un44/s800/hrd3b.jpg
Obligatory shot.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOskEDkhgNI/AAAAAAAADcI/4TTlUojN00U/s800/436.jpg
Looking back down the canyon. Are you kidding me? Who makes this stuff up?
[SIZE=3]Right at the intersection to Chestler Park there is a little rocky nook I crawled under and had an hour nap then up and over to CP1 campsite by 6, poking my nose in the many tempting nooks and crannies along the way. My original plan was to hike through the Joint Trail this afternoon, but the thought of rushing to join everyone and their Aunt Sallies on the joint trail, combined with being on perhaps the most incredible part of trail so far (between EC and CP), slowed me down and I spent about 2
In retrospect I’m glad I picked Needles for my first trip to Utah. The “handholding” of the ridiculously frequent cairns was usually annoying, but sometimes appreciated. I had planned a pretty ambitious route and the cairns allowed me time to linger throughout the day knowing that there was no way possible to get lost or turned around on my way to the next campsite. (The flipside was always having the feeling that I was in a “supervised” environment, a giant McDonald’s Playland maybe)? Also, the number of criss-crossing trails allowed me to shave a few miles off my planned route on the last day after I developed a mild case of hyponatremia and decided to cut the day short. This was a good “training course” (as I was hoping it would be) for a swamp creature new to desert hiking. I did not have to consult a map once the entire trip, although I had studied the terrain quite a bit before arriving. About that hyponatremia. Usually when I hike I do not have much of an appetite and don’t eat much, with no problems. I mostly have jerky and a trail mix from Walmart that I love that is super salty. I figured that would be good this time too. The problem was that the combination of my lack of appetite and the dry air made it so I couldn’t even force down any dry foods at all, even protein bars. Kind of like trying to eat sand. This in turn caused me to over-hydrate. By the last day I was feeling a little “off” in the morning which got worse on my way back to my car, but the minute I got the visitors center I slammed a couple of Powerades and felt 100% better in about 30 minutes. Next time I will bring sufficient supplies of powdered Gatorade which should take care of that problem.
Hiking in the Needles can numb one’s senses to the density of features around every turn (and there are a whole lot of turns!). I averaged about 1 mph each day and still felt like I was rushing. If the typical hike consists of approach/build-up/reveal, Needles is more like – all reveal. After about 1 mile from the Squaw Flat trail head, and until about 500 feet from the Elephant Hill trailhead, it is one long peak experience. There were several places where pictures would fail, like the area around the short slot between Squaw Canyon and No Name Canyon.
[FONT=Verdana]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiCh2ow8HI/AAAAAAAAC-o/RLOjaT3C3do/s800/001.jpg
One of the many treats on the flight from Denver to grand Junction. The Sawatch Mountains.
Day 1: Flight scheduled to arrive at Grand Junction at 12:35. Arrived at 12:20 and was on the road by 12:35 thanks to the tiny airport. I had time to take 128, which I’m very glad I did, but was bummed I couldn’t spent a whole day on this road, preferably five.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiCqx4TG1I/AAAAAAAAC-8/xst4s6u25S0/s800/013.JPG
Roadside attraction along highway 128.
The road to Needles is even more spectacular I thought, and I would have loved to explore one of the multitude of turn-offs where I saw one or a few cars pulled over, taunting me that I didn’t have more time.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiC5dZ0LrI/AAAAAAAAC_g/XHqlH7enufs/s800/028.jpg
This monolith stands as a marker at the turnoff to Needles from 191. A nice taste of things to come.
Made it to the Needles visitor center at 4pm. Talked to the backcountry ranger for about 30 min who told me that there was tons of water all over Lost canyon and Peekaboo, so I hit the Squaw Flat trailhead at 5 o’clock with just 4 liters of water. The weather report was clear for my three nights so I left the tent and tarp in the car.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiDYBUhYyI/AAAAAAAADAU/cP5bpW906-w/s800/052.jpg
Leaving from the Squaw Flat trailhead leads to a pleasant and mostly level hike to Lost Canyon.
Made it close to the campsite at 7, right as night fell, but walked by the campsite marker in the dim light. I found a flat spot on a bare rock to sleep on in case I couldn’t find the campsite, and backtracked along the trail with my light to look for LC1. It turns out I missed it by about 50ft so I retrieved my pack and camped “legally” that night after all. The spot I found just up the trail from LC1 is a superior place to camp, on rock - not dust - and with a better view; but since I believe (especially being a tourist), that everyone should enjoy McNature responsibly, I slept between the wooden pegs. The only problem was that somehow during this episode I lost my cap, which was to bum me out to no end the next few days.
LC1 is nothing much to look at, but it is in a nice grove of trees providing plenty of shade if you need it. The trees block most of the night sky, but an open view can be had a short distance from camp. I wouldn’t camp here again unless it was for the trail location, which is the reason I was there. It is perfectly placed for an early start on the Peekaboo trail. I got very little to no sleep that night due to stargazing. I had a mouse for company that I never saw but heard rustling around my bag in the dry leaves all night.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl2-WW_99I/AAAAAAAADTM/gjKIbxjEm0A/s800/19.jpg
LC1 is not a place I would want to spend much time, considering the surroundings. It’s convenient for Peekaboo, but for exploring Lost Canyon, I would stay instead in LC2 or 3.
Day 2: Dayhiked Peekaboo, starting from the campsite at 6:30 pre dawn. The beginning of the trail from LC1 is obvious and easy in the dark, even with some steep climbs. I saw some potholes filled with water just up a little from camp, so knew I could fill up on my way back.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl2WSEjCxI/AAAAAAAADRs/JSWt0Qj9rbc/s800/310.jpg
A cloudless dawn on the Peekaboo Trail.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiDob7KAuI/AAAAAAAADA4/4eARS5X1jWQ/s800/61.jpg
So many places off trail to explore, but I stayed between the cairns and it was enough.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl2bko2oaI/AAAAAAAADR4/4z-md3gGyJc/s800/316.jpg
Most of the trail hugs the rim of shallow canyons.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMidwwAKwTI/AAAAAAAADHw/rgAy5xThdic/s800/hdr1.jpg
It would be easy to spend a day roaming the slickrock. I would camp at Peeakboo if I wanted to explore this area rather than LC1.
Peekaboo is a very easy hike along the slickrock overlooking several canyons until some mild climbing down to Peekaboo Camp. I kept a slow pace, sat for a while in several spots and made it to Peekaboo campsite at 9; the cairns are so obvious and frequent however, I think it would be great to run most of the trail as there are only 2 or 3 spots you would have to slow up to negotiate small obstacles (and one ladder). At Peeakboo there is a hole in the rock just above the pit-toilet where the rock art is, and just though the hole is an area that is sublime.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl3U1wDrnI/AAAAAAAADT8/ZbLWIh8mGVI/s800/Salt%20Creek%20Pano.jpg
Through the arch by the Peekaboo rock art lies a neat little canyon with some surprises.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOmK_UqqkdI/AAAAAAAADZA/VkLwYuqCnQA/s800/11.jpg
You can barely see the “peekaboo” part of the trail where you climb through the hole far right. If you think the path from where this picture was taken to the hole looks obvious you would be right, but there are 20-30 cairns along the way just in case!
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOsOAs8UG2I/AAAAAAAADb8/LWJnHIwnqnw/s800/14.jpg
The ranger assured me there would be water all along the Peekaboo trail, and while there was some at the very beginning near Lost Canyon, I’m afraid the water along the trail had been all used up.
I spent a while at Peekaboo camp and returned to LC1 by 12:30. I hadn’t seen anyone all morning, but after I got back to camp, several groups walked by on their way to Peekaboo, and another camper arrived for the next night just as I was packing up to leave.
I broke camp at 1pm and headed into Lost Canyon for the six mile hike to EC2. This hike was first-rate with a huge variety of terrain, from the sandy bottom of Lost Canyon to the slickrock passes between canyons. Water was everywhere, even in Squaw Canyon.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiEL-AyLHI/AAAAAAAADCI/8HUxuR3oyJ0/s800/196.jpg
I’m guessing I just missed peak flower season, but there were still some small patches of dense wildflowers in Lost canyon.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiEOR4cfWI/AAAAAAAADCM/zPiwa0KoTao/s800/198.jpg
The lower part of Lost Canyon is along a sandy bottom, and completely exposed to the sun. I was pretty annoyed right about now that I lost my hat on day one.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiEWaRh-mI/AAAAAAAADCY/sgD6Ufi7Qrg/s800/206.jpg
What passes for a busy intersection in Lost Canyon.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl3SOMIn-I/AAAAAAAADT0/O0suQZPHYUk/s800/074%20pano%20cropped.jpg
There were several very nearly perfect spots along the trail like this one where I lingered for a while. I can only imagine what lay off-trail.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiEyIbEOEI/AAAAAAAADDE/p0Smp9iCOUg/s800/214.jpg
After about 2 miles the canyon begins gently climbing out of the sand.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiE99cbtSI/AAAAAAAADDY/CDDGFp2hePs/s800/224.jpg
Looking back down Lost Canyon after a brief series of switchbacks quickly takes you to the rim.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiFA0rvXwI/AAAAAAAADDc/aANc-HWYSCY/s800/079.jpg
After a bit of slickrock which is as nice as the Peekaboo trail, the path dips down towards Squaw Canyon.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl3GG__1SI/AAAAAAAADTc/1lDQ_0TqM0Q/s800/hdr%2032.jpg
I crested the canyon rim into No-name Canyon late afternoon.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl3Cs88RkI/AAAAAAAADTU/0JXqKiqf6Uo/s800/276a.jpg
Moon shot.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMid0q_-zrI/AAAAAAAADH4/ahty4xBI848/s800/hdr21.jpg
The glow crept up the rocks as I made my way down no-name to Elephant Canyon.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiFRxVzpQI/AAAAAAAADD8/ANJRkiIiLzY/s800/092.jpg
It’s getting later, I wanted to get to the campsite before dark.
I made it to EC2 with 10 minutes of light to spare. EC2 is located a ways above the canyon bottom and it would have been tricky to find in the dark, even with the cairns. Perched above Elephant Canyon, the campsite is open and has dramatic vistas. It’s higher than EC3 so affords much more privacy. Very little sleep this night. It was warm enough that I had my arms outside my bag most of the night and the quiet was like none other I ever experienced. There was no breeze at all, no leaves, no movement. Occasionally there was an owl calling from far off and an airliner overhead, but other than that my heart beating was the only intrusion on the silence. This night and the next were perhaps my favorite experiences of the trip.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMieeFKSbAI/AAAAAAAADJg/t4IgmgEtAlI/s800/EC%201%20night.jpg
View looking east from my sleeping bag, EC2 campsite.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TMiFb4O4qSI/AAAAAAAADEU/OD3FNeUTjxA/s800/112.jpg
EC2 campsite.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0BEfaXoyh04/TOl2POndm1I/AAAAAAAADRY/uboju6_qg5Q/s800/354.jpg
Morning view from the campsite, looking west. This is the eastern wall of Chesler Park.
Day 3: Lazed around EC2 until 9 – did not want to leave, lots to explore right around camp. I dropped my pack at the intersection to Chesler Park and dayhiked to Druid Arch. This hike is amazing, and like I said before there was no “payoff” for me when I got to Druid Arch, it was just more of the same awesome terrain. I went very slow and returned to my pack at 2pm, having seen 5 or 6 different groups.
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Down Elephant Canyon towards Druid Arch.
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Is that the gateway to the Underworld?
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Druid Arch on the approach.
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Still more water.
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Final ascent to the Druid Arch viewpoint at the canyon’s end is up that scree. I heard voices up there by now and knew I must be “somewhere.”
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A small group greets me as I reach the top, usually the case when I go “somewhere.” They were a nice quiet group and even offered to take my picture, which wouldn’t have occurred to me otherwise.
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They left a few minutes after I arrived. BO will do that every time!
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Obligatory shot.
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Looking back down the canyon. Are you kidding me? Who makes this stuff up?
[SIZE=3]Right at the intersection to Chestler Park there is a little rocky nook I crawled under and had an hour nap then up and over to CP1 campsite by 6, poking my nose in the many tempting nooks and crannies along the way. My original plan was to hike through the Joint Trail this afternoon, but the thought of rushing to join everyone and their Aunt Sallies on the joint trail, combined with being on perhaps the most incredible part of trail so far (between EC and CP), slowed me down and I spent about 2