Spring 2012: Saturday (4/21) – Kanab, Lick Wash, Cliff Dwellers, & Lees Ferry

We got up and out the door this morning by 6AM in order to make the 70 mile drive to Kanab, UT to try for a place in the lottery for The Wave.  This is one of the most beautiful and most photographed canyons in the world.  They only allow 20 hikers a day – 10 by internet lottery and 10 by walk-in lottery.  Unfortunately we were not chosen so we decided to spend the day driving down another dirt road to another slot canyon.  Along the road we saw a mule deer, a jack rabbit, and a peregrine falcon.  We chose a hike called Lick Wash (no kidding) which was a fairly easy hike compared to past hikes – about 2 hours down a wash through a Navajo Sandstone canyon in 80 degree bright sun. 

Our way home brought us through Kanab, Cliff Dwellers, Vermillion Cliffs, Jacobs Lake, and Lees Ferry.  What an amazing country this is.  Spring is in bloom here finally – cactus and yucca are incredible.

This is in Southern Utah outside Kanab - a cattle drive on the side of the highway.

This is Navajo Sandstone in Lick Wash.

This is also Navajo Sandstone from Lick Wash - so incredible.

and here is Vaughan walking through the wash.

It is amazing how nature prevails - these tree roots found something to hang on to.

A slot canyon in Lick Wash.

Still in Lick Wash

Such a cool (and extremely hot) hike through here.

Another slot canyon in Lick Wash.

Here is our next home.  This is in Cliff Dwellers, AZ.  

Lots of these large rocks fell from the canyon wall above and the locals turned them into homes.

This balanced rock is in Lees Ferry, AZ.

This is the Colorado moving through Lees Ferry - the water was freezing cold but we waded in anyway.

Here is a blooming cactus.

and here is a blooming Yucca plant.  They stand at least 3 to 4 feet tall.