IMG_2388.JPG
We all gathered on a late Saturday afternoon in beautiful downtown Blanding, Utah. A fine place to gather if you have "imported" your beer and wine from less remote places. Here Will, Sue, Andy, John and Teri look like they are enjoying some libation outside one of the motel rooms.
DSC_0964.JPG
Ray, who has joined on us many of our group backpacks, pleaded aging hips and knee this year, but met us nonetheless in Blanding. He is explaining SOMETHING to Susie, who has gotten out a small cheesecake to note our 30 years of group canyon backpacks.
Slick97a003IMG_2391.JPG
Four of the folks who made the first group Canyon backpack in 1980. From Right to left: Will, Andy, Ray, and Roger.
DSC_1292.JPG
Terri
DSC_1293.JPG
Sue
DSC_1295.JPG
A series of portraits, take the last night of this backpack, of the eight of us, beginning with Barbara with her eyes nearly closed.
DSC_1297.JPG
John, often known to his friends as "JB" but also sometimes as the Masked Marvel.
DSC_1301.JPG
Susie
DSC_1304.JPG
Will
DSC_1306.JPG
Roger
DSC_1308.JPG
Andy
DSC_0969.JPG
After leaving a shuttle vehicle at the exit point for Point Lookout canyon, we start hiking down a wash, which is known as Access Point 4 by the BLM. (Kelsey refers to this as Access #3)
Slick97a004DSC_0972.JPG
Soon, we get into a slickrock canyon floor, which means the fun is just about to begin.
Slick97a005IMG_2398.JPG
We have stopped at the first major pouroff. Not hard to get around, but it IS lunchtime, afterall.
Slick97a006DSC_0978.JPG
OK, enough relaxing. Just a short climb to the left, and a scramble down thru some rocks to get around the pouroff. This is Sue starting down.
Slick97a007DSC_0982.JPG
Terri gives Susie her trekking pole. Easier to do this with two free hands. I was already starting to think at this point: maybe I should have brought a pair of leather gloves.
Slick97a008DSC_0986.JPG
Barbara gives Susie a hand over a big step. Lots of big steps on this trip.
Slick97a009DSC_0989.JPG
Underway again.
Slick97a010IMG_2406.JPG
At one point, squeezing thru the boulders seemed to be the best route. Here is Roger coming thru sans pack.
Slick97a011IMG_2408.JPG
After a few more pour-off bypasses, and a couple more hours, we get to our first ruin, an Anasazi kiva and grainery?
DSC_1000.JPG
A two level storage area.
DSC_1002.JPG
Looking around under the overhang that was the home of the ruin site.
Slick97a012IMG_2410.JPG
Some pictographs.
