xjblue
06-30-2011, 12:45 PM
Which Cottonwood Canyon? It's a popular name around here. This one branches off the Colorado arm of Lake Powell opposite the Hole in the Rock and was the means for that namesake expedition to get thier wagons back out of the Colorado River gorge.
https://chi01pap001files.storage.live.com/y4meDSqKa3J9ikPvE7Hl6rDTxBXAPcP_h3Gw7Bm3_aYvEJO6MH etkFZM45AoySDDbUAF91xVHBaIe1_qJ9wNxSqJXFBtN3hbul7D uI-g7EB5o7O8eisb-z5_FdHhtojce44JZGFjvGjno61wXUASM41sXlWguWInHTcgi49 r3c3C2U?width=495&height=660&cropmode=none
It's hot and lonely country. The reason nobody does the Hole In The Rock Trail in August. Ok, almost nobody, but some good friends just had to experience it once. I agreed to tag along only if we did some hiking. I always wanted to hike from the end of the trail down to Lake Powell and on a couple previous trips wasn't able to fit that hike in the tight schedule. August? What was I thinking? Some good sweating to get back in shape?
https://chi01pap002files.storage.live.com/y4mgBJqhC549z88RdODhBOOLLCg4SKva8wvXjmxgUi2FSDlY-w_0Hztbmajj4awY5Cqv0FiSGmlnd2MsbJwZzUCrXNmb_Q4Fj6p YTRpJyWTMnpn-yvc-6xegmpxrR7Hb7UVSWVyoOXdoDJp7HnmFWeD8oCUsRas5nue1N9 IAI6rBhA?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
View from camp with a distant goal for the mornings hike in the background.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4mx8Px7AEOEUY32raUcrP_vq0VrVE1B2f274N09iirBPDoEvL 4mSI9r6d3b5ZBXMIOKmJMCL0kdUUAGYtae4OBej7uWuN4Vwlql 5PKHR_xJdUJZrerWW7gXSRl3TJwwSyKAiBJTTf94Ar6pluTXND t_gSRN0olIxWUwz4XYrQYUWo?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/34957/2074863680043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2074863680043863621jbbDiy)
Remotely situated opposite the distant, famous, historic Hole in the Rock.
http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/43715/2698525760043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2698525760043863621ZqCnYR)
https://chi01pap002files.storage.live.com/y4m0d_bJ4imDGVsZ04MlCkfWzyed7ID8z4G4tZzO08BrQNqsEs qMT6CN_fBHU41KRXI5eFM92IMRc8gc3BJk1_Pod66C_QTUoKWm r7sY0gpUPZTpq7MLqfIj-MxUnlbIMh0qRY_HJ4vKRJcugSfwvVmlvL69Q6eKEA24yPsUUpc 4tY?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/48085/2600715210043863621S500x500Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2600715210043863621GQrbpS) http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/44577/2576364560043863621S500x500Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2576364560043863621GqUfiO)
Anticipating an early start I was awake pre-dawn snapping some short star trails.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4mrY1hxMjYbXO2buVMsEFKVrBchLNYIXCgTDysNRti80twLjP Md_pjkfAWqagbS9Orq4A71GeT8taeS_hxeNjR_Lv101hfxJf2W IoxzTHcKmSUxILtm9cqSj0wBqTFsRenUmBFlh5yzlg0u6zyprI KrLqBCaJ-UlHRPXOBnHAiC_Y?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/45495/2212400990043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2212400990043863621QjMgjP)
My good friend Alex leading off, we made good time hiking down from Aladdin's Lamp Pass, quickly passing the marvels of wagon road engineering known as the Little Hole In the Rock, Cottonwood Hill, and a crazy steep sand hill all of which evokes wonder at how they ever got wagons up that way. Once we reached the floor of Cottonwood Canyon evidence of the historic trail all but disappeared and the bushwhacking and route-finding began.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4m6jeEjoAyX33NVJ3nU_AjZ-qaAF9Lko6XVCnN6wn7zx330oi8hm3zKP37IymRdDwGhH4a8elI yNpa7YH7Z2DM_TStSsYhw3eRv6CZ9IOxXB2yizs1reMxPZd0Ln P6dnLKiW_j_OhnY1GteURIyaLCr9ytT7NfXKvW_UYOJBardR0? width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
Rare section of bare rock
https://chi01pap001files.storage.live.com/y4mmoDwH5kk2ASaV-bLTeo1c1lEfsVN3Qayv41-jRRyMtnmDflC2Ek37BfCMvR1zEtYBrT6--IqsMt7HE0RtWmqmG4JsfEVNz7jKS8Eu66SfuhR5Qohd1Bst2KB 5cDfZ4VGhMW4HZR_HqkwCsSuCciNxUHPBxxmLSS-Iu7wrSblUsk?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/48210/2991438390043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2991438390043863621yIuNGo)
Another rare respite, regular desert wash section, wasn't the norm.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4mPSwu_HoLFQ8EZZyI4LqIPBrO9HCzJKzJZHTlzuNNPkB_oXe cWzueQ6xarlOLvXhGZiXlEWQ4GuoY5x5ynXM9Gu8xrpoDigGlj 82F98zFvW110QnaAgNXv4UJL5hpdrHN819cLwvzmLAtiX-BSAuz6Nuvrt653W60fmn2PVpOVXQ?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/31336/2564559270043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2564559270043863621EqQWZj)
A more representative scene showing some of the bushwacking we had just pushed through.
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/40907/2566598260043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2566598260043863621wtWfwi)
https://chi01pap001files.storage.live.com/y4m_iSOIl8VIcDNKMuSC6xVeBw7-AzzdA3Ut43Z59vps5S6wdAyc2tOXXqBefVYQtSjlXE60wRyPoN ZrdedhCxv6T9OpaO9SaxllUR2elqxDkgXCPA2CT_GPaCk_ZrY7 r0ONfWr_8jpuh42RgGorOidk5KMTGLKSk18MurS8XwHFJQ?wid th=660&height=495&cropmode=none
Running in to lake water at last.
http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/46979/2513386250043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2513386250043863621mCnqCk)
https://chi01pap002files.storage.live.com/y4m2wb7xpTjqwQSpNw5pDa4exPeG7a6b65mzmZTfW-VqxOx2aKiovaurgxaApih668W-ohhHTTX_bO_4xGr_e6iDc-1b89Cp1gHNGNblPE-HUtT26cCnZfk8YB7EU8An8yIjeSlqUrFHYCH6EOvklKj5qEUDg Pxj0Fg0DzRv3S2B2c?width=495&height=660&cropmode=none
Time for an early brunch in the shade by the shore.
https://chi01pap002files.storage.live.com/y4mQbKSH86abiGgiRkcso5UZ3uOeAnAvu2T3SPlQPxZ4F9OPmZ LpZAEv5wI_oZWqIt9AheiCl2NjBfGkOf6icD_AW5MYnTLNIRTO Wrwptfc7BCJXDNq4X1Jgi_jM71k4mnkr05ckaWIdADs-h8FONJh8bj-eN72wccMnycACkNXS-M?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/44915/2433824000043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2433824000043863621dxZNVA)
The heat of an August day started to bear down and having had our fill of bushwhacking we changed strategy for our return hike, following a bench trail up-canyon.
http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/46147/2316703660043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2316703660043863621TEJhGb)
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4mo28KMy20c25FGFljhY1qcMKl_3ZQrf6P1fhQz3D3i2hRvbS 7N-9i9qP2q7BDC_Mhaw0LgV1PeamgTX5xVVEbEK4THtO5Qi7eH6Er Q5yefCi0wwrV_ywgxnZ2UR4pqdlC1AeYmPS91FP6dhN1TdxQ5E n77K3Rtf_KfZ_E9oQevwU?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/44426/2000132900043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2000132900043863621PSlUgS)
The tradeoff now was deep sidecanyons to navigate around or scramble through.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4m0iAhnDFD3xOhSFgeeL9QLMXE2H2Cdb1xfhtKgu4LMyq-2LAhp32CtSPAE54RJBWzzhDSd77POPFGPC2xg-PHo8RaxpnuzrGqCHc1NFwnStdAZAf3xTY2QObt82pBe7X1gwMy bNuzUe9Af0XzPQiIQr_U1SMYFRLOxRiDCciTVT0?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/43737/2336918780043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2336918780043863621IAwDed)
We opted to scramble through.
Looking back at our route down one ledge.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4mWEAoygEdOzB9hVvmZCBAIdEYWf1DcOFic5009Lxe0Z5AM32 2EScx2YhjX-MdpeH1261rSsaLeF724GeeudEIR0LF2dj37waUoufBvM9Vtd45 dd-wkxZ2nv-prJl-CRJkEk-tp95e4SS7awbNsGD_FMcXDgTA_Ln_na7vsb9pdNw?width=495&height=660&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/45942/2660517820043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2660517820043863621ZCzIjz)
Finally arriving back at the sand hill it was one foot in front of the other, then Cottonwood hill loomed large. Only the thought of cold drinks in the coolers waiting above kept us moving. Every tiny shade patch would be a rest stop.
http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/48058/2037917540043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2037917540043863621JUuEht)
If I ever do that one again, maybe from the lake via boat.
https://chi01pap001files.storage.live.com/y4mSvRY9fFfCTI4TOaxupRuYdm3M_GniNwIZfwe74YzMf3USNM tXgzfyTmkHP2DC1bn_IGeoL-FsQ4kDu7oCtK9lhVBXHjx0neDoB6K_SxqkcR1SFm1F9DwYMq0x CrFzQv6xWno7z0WjkCbwwN68lXGlzw-jpkeW3PGrKf-8wgfu2w?width=495&height=660&cropmode=none
https://chi01pap001files.storage.live.com/y4meDSqKa3J9ikPvE7Hl6rDTxBXAPcP_h3Gw7Bm3_aYvEJO6MH etkFZM45AoySDDbUAF91xVHBaIe1_qJ9wNxSqJXFBtN3hbul7D uI-g7EB5o7O8eisb-z5_FdHhtojce44JZGFjvGjno61wXUASM41sXlWguWInHTcgi49 r3c3C2U?width=495&height=660&cropmode=none
It's hot and lonely country. The reason nobody does the Hole In The Rock Trail in August. Ok, almost nobody, but some good friends just had to experience it once. I agreed to tag along only if we did some hiking. I always wanted to hike from the end of the trail down to Lake Powell and on a couple previous trips wasn't able to fit that hike in the tight schedule. August? What was I thinking? Some good sweating to get back in shape?
https://chi01pap002files.storage.live.com/y4mgBJqhC549z88RdODhBOOLLCg4SKva8wvXjmxgUi2FSDlY-w_0Hztbmajj4awY5Cqv0FiSGmlnd2MsbJwZzUCrXNmb_Q4Fj6p YTRpJyWTMnpn-yvc-6xegmpxrR7Hb7UVSWVyoOXdoDJp7HnmFWeD8oCUsRas5nue1N9 IAI6rBhA?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
View from camp with a distant goal for the mornings hike in the background.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4mx8Px7AEOEUY32raUcrP_vq0VrVE1B2f274N09iirBPDoEvL 4mSI9r6d3b5ZBXMIOKmJMCL0kdUUAGYtae4OBej7uWuN4Vwlql 5PKHR_xJdUJZrerWW7gXSRl3TJwwSyKAiBJTTf94Ar6pluTXND t_gSRN0olIxWUwz4XYrQYUWo?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/34957/2074863680043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2074863680043863621jbbDiy)
Remotely situated opposite the distant, famous, historic Hole in the Rock.
http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/43715/2698525760043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2698525760043863621ZqCnYR)
https://chi01pap002files.storage.live.com/y4m0d_bJ4imDGVsZ04MlCkfWzyed7ID8z4G4tZzO08BrQNqsEs qMT6CN_fBHU41KRXI5eFM92IMRc8gc3BJk1_Pod66C_QTUoKWm r7sY0gpUPZTpq7MLqfIj-MxUnlbIMh0qRY_HJ4vKRJcugSfwvVmlvL69Q6eKEA24yPsUUpc 4tY?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/48085/2600715210043863621S500x500Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2600715210043863621GQrbpS) http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/44577/2576364560043863621S500x500Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2576364560043863621GqUfiO)
Anticipating an early start I was awake pre-dawn snapping some short star trails.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4mrY1hxMjYbXO2buVMsEFKVrBchLNYIXCgTDysNRti80twLjP Md_pjkfAWqagbS9Orq4A71GeT8taeS_hxeNjR_Lv101hfxJf2W IoxzTHcKmSUxILtm9cqSj0wBqTFsRenUmBFlh5yzlg0u6zyprI KrLqBCaJ-UlHRPXOBnHAiC_Y?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/45495/2212400990043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2212400990043863621QjMgjP)
My good friend Alex leading off, we made good time hiking down from Aladdin's Lamp Pass, quickly passing the marvels of wagon road engineering known as the Little Hole In the Rock, Cottonwood Hill, and a crazy steep sand hill all of which evokes wonder at how they ever got wagons up that way. Once we reached the floor of Cottonwood Canyon evidence of the historic trail all but disappeared and the bushwhacking and route-finding began.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4m6jeEjoAyX33NVJ3nU_AjZ-qaAF9Lko6XVCnN6wn7zx330oi8hm3zKP37IymRdDwGhH4a8elI yNpa7YH7Z2DM_TStSsYhw3eRv6CZ9IOxXB2yizs1reMxPZd0Ln P6dnLKiW_j_OhnY1GteURIyaLCr9ytT7NfXKvW_UYOJBardR0? width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
Rare section of bare rock
https://chi01pap001files.storage.live.com/y4mmoDwH5kk2ASaV-bLTeo1c1lEfsVN3Qayv41-jRRyMtnmDflC2Ek37BfCMvR1zEtYBrT6--IqsMt7HE0RtWmqmG4JsfEVNz7jKS8Eu66SfuhR5Qohd1Bst2KB 5cDfZ4VGhMW4HZR_HqkwCsSuCciNxUHPBxxmLSS-Iu7wrSblUsk?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/48210/2991438390043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2991438390043863621yIuNGo)
Another rare respite, regular desert wash section, wasn't the norm.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4mPSwu_HoLFQ8EZZyI4LqIPBrO9HCzJKzJZHTlzuNNPkB_oXe cWzueQ6xarlOLvXhGZiXlEWQ4GuoY5x5ynXM9Gu8xrpoDigGlj 82F98zFvW110QnaAgNXv4UJL5hpdrHN819cLwvzmLAtiX-BSAuz6Nuvrt653W60fmn2PVpOVXQ?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/31336/2564559270043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2564559270043863621EqQWZj)
A more representative scene showing some of the bushwacking we had just pushed through.
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/40907/2566598260043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2566598260043863621wtWfwi)
https://chi01pap001files.storage.live.com/y4m_iSOIl8VIcDNKMuSC6xVeBw7-AzzdA3Ut43Z59vps5S6wdAyc2tOXXqBefVYQtSjlXE60wRyPoN ZrdedhCxv6T9OpaO9SaxllUR2elqxDkgXCPA2CT_GPaCk_ZrY7 r0ONfWr_8jpuh42RgGorOidk5KMTGLKSk18MurS8XwHFJQ?wid th=660&height=495&cropmode=none
Running in to lake water at last.
http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/46979/2513386250043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2513386250043863621mCnqCk)
https://chi01pap002files.storage.live.com/y4m2wb7xpTjqwQSpNw5pDa4exPeG7a6b65mzmZTfW-VqxOx2aKiovaurgxaApih668W-ohhHTTX_bO_4xGr_e6iDc-1b89Cp1gHNGNblPE-HUtT26cCnZfk8YB7EU8An8yIjeSlqUrFHYCH6EOvklKj5qEUDg Pxj0Fg0DzRv3S2B2c?width=495&height=660&cropmode=none
Time for an early brunch in the shade by the shore.
https://chi01pap002files.storage.live.com/y4mQbKSH86abiGgiRkcso5UZ3uOeAnAvu2T3SPlQPxZ4F9OPmZ LpZAEv5wI_oZWqIt9AheiCl2NjBfGkOf6icD_AW5MYnTLNIRTO Wrwptfc7BCJXDNq4X1Jgi_jM71k4mnkr05ckaWIdADs-h8FONJh8bj-eN72wccMnycACkNXS-M?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/44915/2433824000043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2433824000043863621dxZNVA)
The heat of an August day started to bear down and having had our fill of bushwhacking we changed strategy for our return hike, following a bench trail up-canyon.
http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/46147/2316703660043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2316703660043863621TEJhGb)
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4mo28KMy20c25FGFljhY1qcMKl_3ZQrf6P1fhQz3D3i2hRvbS 7N-9i9qP2q7BDC_Mhaw0LgV1PeamgTX5xVVEbEK4THtO5Qi7eH6Er Q5yefCi0wwrV_ywgxnZ2UR4pqdlC1AeYmPS91FP6dhN1TdxQ5E n77K3Rtf_KfZ_E9oQevwU?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/44426/2000132900043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2000132900043863621PSlUgS)
The tradeoff now was deep sidecanyons to navigate around or scramble through.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4m0iAhnDFD3xOhSFgeeL9QLMXE2H2Cdb1xfhtKgu4LMyq-2LAhp32CtSPAE54RJBWzzhDSd77POPFGPC2xg-PHo8RaxpnuzrGqCHc1NFwnStdAZAf3xTY2QObt82pBe7X1gwMy bNuzUe9Af0XzPQiIQr_U1SMYFRLOxRiDCciTVT0?width=660&height=495&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/43737/2336918780043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2336918780043863621IAwDed)
We opted to scramble through.
Looking back at our route down one ledge.
https://ch3301files.storage.live.com/y4mWEAoygEdOzB9hVvmZCBAIdEYWf1DcOFic5009Lxe0Z5AM32 2EScx2YhjX-MdpeH1261rSsaLeF724GeeudEIR0LF2dj37waUoufBvM9Vtd45 dd-wkxZ2nv-prJl-CRJkEk-tp95e4SS7awbNsGD_FMcXDgTA_Ln_na7vsb9pdNw?width=495&height=660&cropmode=none
http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/45942/2660517820043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2660517820043863621ZCzIjz)
Finally arriving back at the sand hill it was one foot in front of the other, then Cottonwood hill loomed large. Only the thought of cold drinks in the coolers waiting above kept us moving. Every tiny shade patch would be a rest stop.
http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/48058/2037917540043863621S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2037917540043863621JUuEht)
If I ever do that one again, maybe from the lake via boat.
https://chi01pap001files.storage.live.com/y4mSvRY9fFfCTI4TOaxupRuYdm3M_GniNwIZfwe74YzMf3USNM tXgzfyTmkHP2DC1bn_IGeoL-FsQ4kDu7oCtK9lhVBXHjx0neDoB6K_SxqkcR1SFm1F9DwYMq0x CrFzQv6xWno7z0WjkCbwwN68lXGlzw-jpkeW3PGrKf-8wgfu2w?width=495&height=660&cropmode=none