Red cliffs Preserve/sandstone fun

[Rented mule]

http://usera.imagecave.com/mochajo/hikingaround/





Wow! What a nice little 4 mile hike today in the Red Cliff's Preserve
just north of Hurricane and St. George. Amazing swirled, colored
sandstone of orange, yellow, red, and purple. Meanwhile, the snow
was at bay off in the distance above the foothills of 10,000 ft Pine Mtn.
Spanish Trail Wash area is the focus today. Actually, trail number
15 on your handy dandy Red Cliff's map. (Cottonwood Hills)
though there isn't one cottonwood to be seen up there....hehe
There is a little short slot in the Wash and lots of upclimbs around
pouroffs. amazing sandstone formations, window rocks, and honeycomb
formations. Then, at the hump, the highest point on the trail #15,
there is the 360 view! Zion, off to the east; buried in swirling clouds and looks like they're getting snow today? wow! How cool is that?
To the south, Escalante Dominguez Hurricane sand hill dumping off into
Warner Valley and beyond to Mt. Seegmiller. Mollie's Nipple and the
Hurricane Cliffs can be seen for miles south toward Diamond Butte in the
Arizona Strip. To the southwest lies the Virgin River Gorge. To the west
are Utah Hill and the Blue skies over the Beaver Dam Mtns.
Hey! How did they manage to get blue skies today?
And, directly behind me is Pine Mtn trying ever so hard to shed itself of
clouds and swirling snow.

I think the preserve is an amazing place and I saw absolutely no trash at all this time out. I think the trails in the preserve are working.
This is a brutal area in the summer, though. Hike it now while the sand is
frozen and has moisture in it. You barely sink in. Even my lard laden carcass "floats" on top with ease.
Cheers! Jerry

[Win]

That is a very colorful area, I've done a few hikes out there. You're right, this is the time to go. Thanks for the pictures.

Win