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| Hiking | 4.00 Miles |
600 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.00 Miles | 3 Hrs 3 Mns | | 1.36 mph |
| 600 ft AEG | 6 Mns Break | 10 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | I'll update this to link to the guide once I finish writing it up. Sketchy as hell going down into the canyon - north exposure and steep, so ice and sharp plants were my constant companion. Once I was down in the canyon the hiking improved rapidly, until I came across a deeply incised arroyo. There is not much of a defined trail on the alluvial bench, so I missed the easy way down and had to take another ridiculously steep plunge down a side arroyo. Gave me the opportunity to see some flakes of stone used as tools hundreds or thousands of years ago.
Once I finally got into the main canyon bottom the hiking was a breeze and I cruised downcanyon for another mile in peace. I finally followed a side trail up out of the canyon onto a bench to a place that is very important to the Ute people and their ancestors. Across the canyons was a narrow jug-handle arch. Not sure if there is a connection between the two, but it was very pretty regardless. The wind picked up and I saw my first Pinon Jays of 2021 as I headed back.
Once back on the first bench, below the drop-in from the rim I was determined to find a better way back. Being alone with no cell service in an area that doesn't see many visitors, I had no intention of risking my wellbeing climbing back up the icy hell. I clearly wasn't the only person with that idea, and I soon found a worn game/cow/human trail up a mostly snow-free slope. Back on the rim the trip was quick and easy to return to the trailhead. A great hike, but clearly not the most ideal time to do it. |
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"The only thing we did was wrong was staying in the wilderness to long...the only thing we did was right was the day we started to fight..."
-Old Spiritual
My book, The Marauders on Lulu and Amazon |
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