DESTINATION Willow Creek - Lower 1 Photoset
2012-07-29 | |
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| Backpack | 21.00 Miles |
2,400 AEG |
| | Backpack | 21.00 Miles | 2 Days 14 Hrs | | |
| 2,400 ft AEG | | 38 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Willow Creek was much like Leonard Canyon, so it wasn't a surprise that the canyon wasn't that great. I knew it would be dry when I crossed at Wiggins bridge. I was hoping for more water, but it wasn't meant to be. Lots of elk and elk sign though.
I didn't pick the best route down to the creek from the rim. However, I'm not sure there *is* a best route.
The first few miles were great, after that it got a bit sloggy and my spirit waned. The locust was much more prevalent in Willow than Leonard.
I was shocked when I hit ECC, how could they cause it to go dry?!?! I wanted to cry, but didn't - first, because I was more angry than sad, and second - because I couldn't waste the water. Luckily it had rained for part of the afternoon (and continued to drizzle as I stood there) and I hoped I'd find water in pockets in ECC. After about 1.4 miles of walking upstream, I decided it wasn't in the cards that I'd find any water in a pocket in ECC. Luckily shortly after I found a few tinajas. A half liter here, another half liter. My concern over water gradually faded. As it goes, right after finding the last tinaja which topped me off, I found a big pocket in ECC.
Found a great campsite and set up during a brief lapse in the weather. It started up again while I was making dinner and I huddled in the tent listening to the rain come down. It probably stopped raining sometime during the night but was raining again when I woke up at 6 AM. I got up again about 8, but napped until 9 waiting for things to dry out.
Went upstream (or should I say - up dry sandy wash  ) in ECC to Wilkens Canyon. After a short jaunt up Wilkens it seemed like it would turn into a real thrash, so I took an elk trail up. I ended up doing some moves that elk can't do, but I continued to find elk sign, so they must bypass along a longer route. Got up top and hiked through the junipers. Was quite peaceful, and I spooked another big elk.
Saw a dozen shed antlers and half that many elk. Physical punishment dished out by the canyon wasn't too bad, locust bush is a lightweight compared to catclaw. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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West Fork Willow Creek |
Pools to trickle |
Pools to trickle |
| | | A few water pockets where the creekbed was scoured really deep in the last flood - most are pretty poor looking and undesirable. No flow in the canyon. |
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Willow Creek |
Dry |
Dry |
| | | I don't recall seeing any pools below about the East/West Confluence. No flow in the canyon. | | _____________________
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