Awhile back, Dave invited Nick and me to go backpacking with him at Canyonlands National Park in Southeastern Utah. He planned a three night trip that would take us through the rugged Needles District.
I picked up Nick at the Las Vegas airport last Sunday, and we met Dave in Moab, Utah, that evening. Monday morning, we drove south about 75 miles to the Squaw Flat trailhead. We didn't realize at the time how much the continually changing sights of Canyonlands would exceed everyone's expectations!
As we approached the park, we began to get a taste of what was to come.
We left the trailhead and headed towards our goal of Lost Canyon. We passed pot holes holding water from recent rains.
The temperature was mild, and the clouds made for a lovely sky against the red sandstone.
Much of the trail is on slickrock, so we were always looking for the next duck (small stack of rocks) that marked the trail.
The hiking involved steep climbs and steep descents as we went in and out of canyons.
Dave standing here under a "death rock".
We entered Lost Canyon and followed the muddy water holes under cottonwood trees.
After about 7 miles of hiking, we arrived at our reserved campsite. This old juniper suited Nick well!
Home sweet home!
Before dinner, we did a little scramble up the rocks above our camp. That's Dave out there in the distance.
It feels so good to move without a pack on!
You can barely see Nick's and my tent down below.
Tuesday morning, we headed up and out of Lost Canyon. We would be hiking about another seven miles to an area called Chesler Park. Dave took our picture.
The hike out was a bit hairy, with some ledges and serious scrambling. That's the trail!
Getting above the canyon, we paused for a selfie.
We followed this esplanade for quite a distance.
It was a relief to walk on relatively level rock for awhile....
until we came to this crevice we had to jump over. It had to be at least 30 or more feet deep. Nick's camera lens cap chose a bad moment to fall off, and rolled over the edge right before our eyes. A few minutes later, a group of 5 young backpackers passed us while we were taking a break. Moments later we could hear them shouting "No way!" and other expletives. You can imagine the anxiety I was feeling to hear that!
This was what the fuss was about. The trail was a skinny ledge above a drop off that led to a wobbly log that you stepped down to, and then had you squeeze your body and pack through this very narrow slot that went for a hundred feet or so.
Dave in disbelief!
There were several ladders we had to climb on the trip. Nick coming up.
Water was beginning to become an issue. We stopped at the last little pool in a dry creek to fill all our containers, which meant about two gallons each to carry. Water is heavy!!! Unfortunately, there was a group of about eight middleschoolers playing in the water, and the red earth almost totally clogged my water filter. We couldn't believe that a school would let kids that young go on a backpacking trip as risky as this one! The next day, my filter burst its casing due to our pushing so hard to get water through it. The trek was hard on equipment! Scrambling the abrasive sandstone wore holes in Dave's and my packs, a hole through Dave's tent sack and rainfly, and wrecked one of my trekking poles. However, the poles turned out to be a hindrance because we had to use our hands so much.
We were now on another adventure route up the cliffs to Chesler Park where we would camp for the night.
Approaching Chesler, the scenery became otherworldly.
Chesler Park is a flat plain with large walls and hoodoos.
Getting close to our next reserved campsite.
Cowboy graffiti! This is charcoal graffiti spanning from the 1880's into the 20th century. A park service sign explained that this was the site of a cowboy camp from the 1880's until 1976.
There was an open display of some artifacts from the area.
Nick posing by his name.
Globe mallow.
Our new campsite.
The "alpine glow" just before sunset.
Camp Dave.
Watching the sun set.
My favorite sitting spot had seat, back, and neck support.
Wednesday morning and it was time to leave Chesler.
This is "The Joint", a quarter mile slot that was barely more than shoulder wide.
Dave leads.
It was cool like a cave - ah!
The light at the end of the tunnel.
We had seen that balance rock in the distance since the day before. A mountain lion was seen the day before at a camp near here.
The Needles.
We are headed to Devil's Pocket for our third and last night in the wilderness.
More climbing as we head up that gap directly above Dave.
At the top of the gap we could see Devil's Pocket way down below in that flat green area.
We made camp, the only camp in Devil's pocket, and it was reserved for us. Nick and I are about to play our traditional Yahtzee. Clear skies meant no tent needed tonight.
Relaxing and surveying our kingdom.
Some very human forms!
Finally we had a clear night sky. The stars, including the Milky Way, were as good as it gets.
Hiking out on Thursday, the temperature was around 90. That is snow on those peaks!
We happened to hit it right for flowers and greenery.
Another slot.
A window rock...
with a view.
Our last lunch on the trail and enjoying it all still.
Nick found this dried earth star mushroom.
Great Basin Whiptail.
Trail's end, and another adventure under our belts.
We stopped at Newspaper Rock on the drive back to the highway.
Back in Moab at the Moab Brewery for some celebrating. Thanks, Dave, for organizing such an awesome adventure!
We drove to this large rock that we could shelter behind and cook our breakfast. Illegal fires have left their marks on this fine boulder.
Warmed, fed, and energized, we drove to the "Pictograph" trail, and had a very pleasant morning hike to the dry waterfall. There was a bee hive up in those rocks and bees were zooming everywhere.
Looking down from the top of the dry waterfall.
A Mearn's Rock Lizard had just emerged from a crevice.
Lizard hunter at work.
Another Mearn's Rock Lizard near the trail on the way back to the car.
