Okay, I guess Kat is going to make me post first so that I can tell you how she turned me from a casual hiker into a real hiker, OUCH. Kat decided to take us couterclockwise on this trek up through part of Barks Canyon. Fortunately I asked her to bring the extra set of trekking poles or I would have had to turn around fairly quickly once we started our way up.

Once you start up you pretty well have a non-stop challenge around, up and over boulders, and through water via rocks of all sizes. The poles made this trip a doable one for me as well as Kat's guidance, even tho we missed the initial turn. But she really made up for it as she found almost a hidden exit out of the canyon. She is a pretty good GPS reader from what I was able to tell; however, when she's say almost, it's about 45 minutes .

There is water the entire way and between that and the boulders and the heavy brush, you have no alternative but to keep going forward. I did fall backward because of a wobbly rock in the water. I saved my camera though and only got my backside wet. I also survived my few quarrels with the catsclaw but have significant war wounds to show for it. Fortunately Kat kept the pace just right for me. I actually smiled through it all as I survived each challenge and then looked around at the scenery before me.

Fortunately the weather was wonderful, and the sky was just right for lots of picture taking. I can seriously say, this proved to be quite a challenge for me but I loved it and will gladly try something similar in about another.......year - naw, a couple weeks and I'll be good to go. For the casual hiker though, please take those poles; it will make all the difference - that and having long legs .