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  1. Canyon Country

White Canyon Bkpk Apr2011

The plan for the second half of our week of backpacking in Southern Utah was to drop into White Canyon, downstream of Natural Bridges Nat'l Monument, hike thru the Monument, and hike into Burch Canyon and come out. A five day, four night one-way trip. One cannot camp inside the monument, but side canyons outside the monument would be just fine. But things did not quite work out as planned.
For a couple of different perspectives, Will's photos are here: https://theskeltonview.smugmug.com/2011-TRIPSUS-WORLD/Utah-Trip-Natural-Bridges-Nation/ and Andy's photos are here: https://www.4cornerslight.com/Trails-Travel/2011/White-Canyon-Backpack/
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  • DSC_4603.JPG

    DSC_4603.JPG

    The descent into this part of White Canyon begins near Milepost 75 on Hwy 95. The iconic Cheesebox formation is to the right of center.

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    IMG_4823.JPG

    The first part of the route is easy and flat, but don't worry, that will change

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    IMG_4825.JPG

    Still easy: left to right is Roger, Andy, Sue, and Terri.

  • IMG_4830.JPG

    IMG_4830.JPG

    Kelsey reports this route as a "hiker's trail." Well, yes, there is a trail here, and one there, and one everywhere. Will is standing on the lip of this bench and the mouth of Cheesebox Canyon is just slightly above center. There were trails and cairns everywhere.

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    IMG_4833.JPG

    When we got to a spot where the route was not clear, we headed downstream on the rim. Going was rough.

  • DSC_4608.JPG

    DSC_4608.JPG

    Terri is looking at a potential route. I scouted the route on the lip in front of her, out about 300 meters. It would go, but not without a LOT of work. The floor of White Canyon is in the lower right of the photo, so you can see we don't have a lot of descent left. Theoretically.

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    IMG_4839.JPG

    Resting after the scouting and lunch.

  • IMG_4840.JPG

    IMG_4840.JPG

    Barbara had scouted a route upstream, and reported it was doable, so she is hoisting pack and ready to roll.

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    DSC_4610.JPG

    The key to Barbara's route was hiking upcanyon 400 - 500 meters, and then finding a crack down thru some slickrock. Barbara is starting down.

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    DSC_4613.JPG

    In the seam, up to down, are Sue, Susie, Terri, and Barbara.

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    DSC_4617.JPG

    After the crack, there are some big steps thru big rocks, and a bit of a shelf. Fortunately, the log was available. Here, Sue is assisting Susie.

  • DSC_4620.JPG

    DSC_4620.JPG

    Andy is patiently waiting his turn on the log.

  • IMG_4844.JPG

    IMG_4844.JPG

    Roger is going down.

  • IMG_4847.JPG

    IMG_4847.JPG

    OK, so we are thru that, and we are down, right? Well, not exactly.

  • DSC_4624.JPG

    DSC_4624.JPG

    Standing on the bottom, these little slickrock shelves look easy, and they were not a problem for some of us. The the shelves are sloped outward. Makes it more interesting.

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    DSC_4628.JPG

    Will is giving Susie a hand, as she pulls her right leg across and down to the next shelf.

  • DSC_4634.JPG

    DSC_4634.JPG

    Ok, finally on the floor of white canyon. It took us 2.7 hours to move about 300 meters as the raven flies.

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    IMG_4849.JPG

    This part of White canyon seemed to have lots of sand, rocks, and obstacles in it. Of course, that way, you get more exercise.

  • IMG_4851.JPG

    IMG_4851.JPG

    Camp, between the mouths of Hideout and K and L canyons. At least there was a puddle of water a couple hundred yards from camp.

  • IMG_4853.JPG

    IMG_4853.JPG

    Dinner was an exercise in self-flagelation. Soul-sucking wind driven sand made sitting out nasty. Sue, Roger and Andy are the masochists, while Susie is documenting.

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    IMG_4855.JPG

    Thankfully, the wind died down over night and the weather cooled. Breakfast is now!

  • IMG_4857.JPG

    IMG_4857.JPG

    Terri showing off her culinary skills, having made a non-Ron Shrieves-like pancake.

  • DSC_4636.JPG

    DSC_4636.JPG

    We broke camp, and headed down to K and L canyon. A nice hoodoo above its mouth.

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    DSC_4641.JPG

    K and L was nice, and Susie and I probably turned around a bit soon. But some interesting slickrock.

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