2016-04-10: Zebra Slot Canyon & Harris Wash

4/10 (Sunday) – There was one more slot canyon we have been wanting to do while in the area. Unfortunately it was back over The Hogbacks and down Hole in the Rock road (love those cliffs & washboards roads).  The hike was over 6 miles and 4 hours but was so worth the walk. 

The entry into the slot was big enough but that didn't last long.

The Navajo sandstone walls were embedded with moqui marbles - sandstone balls cemented by a hard shell of iron oxide minerals. They are believed to be 2 to 5 million years old.  They get dislodged by water and roll down into the wash.  They have been used by shamans to calm the spirit.

The slot got so narrow you could not place your foot down in the crack.  

At times we had to remove our shoes and wade through freezing cold water.

or use the sandstone walls to 'bridge" over sections.

 Zebra Slot - named for the beautiful striping throughout.

Another fun hike.

2016-04-08: Capitol Reef – Hickman Bridge, Capitol Gorge, & Pleasant Creek

4/8 (Friday) – We decided to explore some areas of Capitol Reef that we hadn’t seen in previous years.  

First was a hike to Hickman Bridge - 133 ft span natural bridge

A mini bridge on the Hickman Bridge hike.

It was a 2 mile hike but there were lots of resting spots.

Driving thru Capitol Reef

Not sure if this looked like a giant clam, or mouth, or claw - so cool.

Capitol Gorge hike

2016-04-07: Boulder – Burr Trail

4/7 (Thursday) – The Burr Trail connects Boulder to Bullfrog.  It was used in the late 1800 to move cattle from summer to winter pastures.  It gives you beautiful views of Burr Canyon, Waterpocket Fold, and Muley Twist Canyon.

Burr Canyon

Waterpocket Fold - giant wrinkle or buckle in the earth crust that extends almost 100 miles, but is only a few miles wide like a long spine of rock. 

Peek-A-Boo Arch at Muley Twist Canyon

The road is known for the Burr Trail Switchbacks.  Whenever I hear the word “switchbacks” I start to get nervous.  Not being a fan of heights – these 7 hairpin turns drop you about 800 feet in just about 1 mile with 12% grade.

It's difficult to get a picture hanging on for your life out of a window over a cliff.

Here is a picture from the bottom looking back - you can't see the road at all.

Then Vaughan decided we were going back up and out the way we came - he didn't want to drive 30 miles through Bullfrog to Torrey on dirt washboard roads.

Here we are back at the top.

Here is a short video of us driving down the Burr Trail Switchbacks - I doubled the speed so it looks scarier than it actually was.

Here is a short video: https://youtu.be/dnqwFXiGAvc

2016-04-06: Escalante – The Hogbacks, Hole in the Rock Rd, Slot Canyons (Spooky, Peek-a-Boo, Dry Fork), & Larb Hollow

4/6 (Wednesday) – I know the title of this post sounds strange.  They have an interesting way of naming landmarks around here.

Byway 12 Road to Escalante – beautiful vistas - the mountains look like they are painted in the background.

The Hogbacks – the road between Calf Creek and Boulder is an internationally famous stretch of byway that has been compared to razorback hog because the road follows a ridge of slickrock where the terrain spills steeply off to each side toward the canyons below.  A few years back we did this in the RV – not for the faint of heart. 

Here is a video of part of the ride over The Hogbacks: https://youtu.be/xNTbyDIkLG8

Hole in the Rock: The only way back to the slots is a road called Hole in the Rock – 26 miles of washboard dirt.  Once there we were rewarded with a great view of Peek-a-Boo, Dry Fork and Spooky Slot Canyons. Dry Fork is where the dark whole is in the middle of the picture.  Peek-a-Boo is the line to the right and Spooky is way on the far right at the edge of the picture.

The hike down was a mixture of sand and slickrock – strenuous to say the least.

Spooky Slot: so narrow you had to slide thru sideways and the brim of my hat rubbed on each side – not for the claustrophobic.

(so glad I lost 25 pounds before attempting this)

Peek-a-Boo Slot: The entry to this slot was too much for me with a bum Knee but Vaughan was able to climb up in and take some amazing pictures. That's him at the top of the first climb.

Dry Fork Slot: so large you could almost drive the Jeep thru it.

So, when you climb down in you have to climb back out – the hike was only about 3 miles round trip. 

Larb Hollow Overlook – heading back to Torrey.

2016-04-05: Torrey, UT – Capitol Reef, Cathedral Valley, Temple of the Sun & Moon, Glass Mountain, Gooseneck Point

4/5 (Tuesday) – Left Hanksville this morning for Torrey, UT (only an hour away).  Spent the day cruising some of the lesser known parts of Capitol Reef Natl Park which are only accessible with four wheel drive.

Cathedral Valley

Temple of the Sun

Temple of the Moon

Glass Mountain (a large, exposed mound of selenite crystals - a variety of gypsum )

a closer look

Goosenecks Point