Northern Arizona Southern Utah 2015

After two full days on the road, we have finally arrived at Wahweap Marina Campground. A very nice place in the Glen Canyon Nat'l Recreation area, but it is pricey, and designed more for boaters than hikers. But it was strategically located, so why not. Hey, they even set us up with a bit of afternoon shade.

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We have seen photos of the Wahweap Canyon Toadstools ever since Michael Kelsey put them in one of his hiking guides. There are supposed to be some great toadstools (some people call them hoodoos) only 4.5 miles or so up Wahweap Canyon. And of course, thanks to President Clinton for using the Antiquities Act to protect these special places.

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Wahweap Canyon. Magnificent, huh? Well, not exactly. This turns out to be the single most boring canyon hike I have ever done.

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When you have to take photos of dried mud, you know that a lot of the scenery is pretty ordinary.

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There are two in front of Roger. Can you see the second one?

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Not to take anything away from the toadstools. They are quite interesting formations.

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Up a small side canyon, there are lots of them.

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The cap rocks on each of the toadstools are large conglomerates. Very hard.

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The cap stone looks like it is ready to slide.

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Susie has to get artsy sometimes.

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The next morning, we have driven down the road to Wire Pass (a side canyon of the famous Buckskin Gulch) from US 89. Lots of cars at the trailhead, but not too many folks out hiking yet. Looks pretty ordinary from here.

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Getting ready to go into our first stretch of narrows.

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Wire Pass is looking pretty neat.

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Tough to photograph under high contrast conditions.

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Wire Pass T-joints into Buckskin, and we decided to head down "stream". Roger had been in the first few miles of lower Buckskin in 1987 but not this upper part.

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Buckskin Gulch has been called the best narrows in the world, and you start to see why here. The narrows go on for more than 12 miles.

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Interesting lighting on a sunny day.

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Great rock patterns

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This place felt a bit different because of the width of the floor.

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Ancient ripples on a beach tens of millions of years ago.

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There was an interesting crack, which, if one studies the topo map, you can use to figure out where you are. GPS units are worthless down here.

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After lunch, we turned around, having gone about 1.7 miles down Buckskin.

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Back to the junction of Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch

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Coming up out of Buckskin into Wire Pass, we noted these petroglyphs we had not seen before.

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There is an obstacle in Wire Pass. It looks easy going up stream, but when you get to it going downstream, it can be tough to figure out. The secret is to go down just like you go up: belly to the boulders.

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Roger looks to be enjoying dinner. Susie wanted this photo because of the view out the rear window of our trailer. Dinner may have been Orzo, chicken and peas, with a nice, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.