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| Backpack | 16.00 Miles |
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| | Backpack | 16.00 Miles | 2 Days | | |
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| no partners | | To say this was the exact opposite of my Buckskin experience approximately 1 year earlier would be a good summation. After being chased out by flash flooding, I was determined to hike the entire slot canyon this time.
As the previous attempt, we started from Wire Pass trailhead. The first thing I noticed was that where you normally have to go through the "hiker's gate" the barbed wire fence across the wash was gone. Much later down Buckskin, we saw one of the fence posts with barbed wire still wrapped around it, so the fence must have washed away in a severe flash flood. 
As we reached the area where Wire Pass narrows, we noted very fresh flood debris on the walls at least 3X higher than my head. My hiking partner had never been in a slot canyon before, so it was slow going with him stopping to take pictures every few minutes. Well, it was nice to enjoy things at a slower pace, anyway. A few minor step-downs over boulders in Wire Pass brought us easily to the confluence with Buckskin. More pictures, and our last direct sunlight for the day.
Heading down Buckskin, I expected to begin slogging through deep mud any second. Instead, the entire day of hiking was completely dry. Most of the low, muddy spots seemed to have filled in with gravel during the most recent flash floods, and we were able to enjoy looking up and around. Even the cesspool was a minor pool that we easily skirted. I pointed out middle route to my hiking partner, but there was no need to eject this time. He spent some time taking pictures of the petroglyphs before we moved into unknown territory for me. As we made our way deeper into Buckskin, all I can say is WOW! It was hard to think about hurrying along or anything else, just the amazing colors and shapes of the sandstone walls.
At the biggest boulder jam in the slot, we lowered ourselves over. Although it looked like you could climb under it without much difficulty, it was just more fun to use the rope. Besides, after carrying the rope the whole way, I was going to use it for something! The walls continued to increase in height until we reached a spring coming down the wall. From there to the confluence with Paria, there was some water, although it was a mysterious glowing blue color with a strong sulfur aroma - glad we brought enough water for both days. We set up camp on a sandy bench just prior to the confluence, and enjoyed the echos of ravens calling to one another.
After a leisurely breakfast, we reluctantly broke camp and headed toward the Paria. Just after the confluence, we "enjoyed" approximately 100 feet of mid-calf wading through the expected stinky mud, but that was it. The rest of the Paria to Whitehouse was dry except some bits of deep mud up against the walls (easily avoided). Hiking up the Paria, the walls got lower and lower until we passed the power line, then the dunes I remembered all too well from the previous year.
Once out, I got to drive my small car through the crossing of Buckskin on the road to pick up our shuttle vehicle. With the loose soil, it was kinda like rallying - FUN! |
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| "Let it ride / Let it roll / Let it go" |
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