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  1. Canyon Country

Zion Backpack Apr2013

By applying months ahead of time, we were able to snag a permit for four of us to backpack thru the Kolob Canyon section of Zion Nat'l Park. We were fortunate to stay in a place in Hurricane, UT that would let us store our trailer while we were out backpacking. Andy and Sue's photos of the trip can be found here: https://www.4cornerslight.com/Trails-Travel/2013/Kolob-Canyon-Backpack-Zion-Nat/
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    Hurricane, Utah, the afternoon before we start our hike. We are switching from day hiking mode to backpacking mode. We are in an RV park in Hurricane, and happy for clean, level parking. Susie is looking over her stash.

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    Sue and Andy were in town the night before the trip, so we had invited them to a trailer dinner, featuring grilled chicken. Sue brought some brownies.

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    Susie gets a little crazy before any backpacking trip. Here, we have run the car shuttle and are packing up, ready to head out from the Lee Pass trail head.

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    The plan is, over the course of 4 nights and five days, to head down to the La Verkin Creek trail, to Kolob Canyon, layover a day and then ultimately hike out Hop Valley. Yeah, it is a trip filled with short days, but hey, nothing wrong with that.

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    Down the trail we come.

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    Hard to believe we are hiking in canyon country on a TRAIL! Feels a bit weird.

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    One of the many side canyons as one heads south on the La Verkin Creek trail.

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    The ranger had urged us to move our campsite from site #2, because of lack of water. So instead of having a nice easy, 2 - 3 mile first day, we had a longer 5.5 mile first day to campsite #6. But lack of water???? I don't think so.

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    Not sure who was more colorful, the horse or its rider. A very friendly woman.

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    We have hiked south of our planned camp, and are making a left turn, to the east to descend toward La Verkin Creek. Don't bother with Campsite #3. We noted that it is on a little saddle that one crosses, with no apparent water.

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    Down to the creek and Andy, Sue, and Roger are taking a rest break.

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    Some little cascades in the creek.

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    Campsite #6, and our home for the night. Enough space for two tents, but not a lot of shade. Roger looks a bit perplexed.

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    The sun has sunk behind the canyon walls, and Susie is looking pensive.

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    Morning of day two. Folks are bundled up, as the weather is cool. We are relaxed because we have something like 1.5 miles to go to our next campsite, #8, for two nights. If you look closely, you will see that Roger and Andy are sitting on rock chairs. Comfort is ALWAYS appreciated.

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    Susie back on the trail. One of the problems heading north to south is that I felt like I was mainly shooting photos into the sun all the time.

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    The cottonwoods have leafed out a bit along the creek in this spot.

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    Looks like phlox to me.

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    We have set up camp at Site #8. Clearly heavily used and right on the main trail, but for at least a couple of tents, full shade nearly all day. Now, we are starting to head up Kolob Canyon to see the arch.

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    Oregon Grape Holly or Fremont's Mahonia, take your pick.

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    Paintbrush

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    Permanent water, as revealed by the moss in the creek.

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    Sue and Susie photographing Kolob Arch. It is best to see it before early afternoon, to get some sun behind the arch.

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    Kolob Arch.

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    After seeing the arch, we hiked a bit further up the canyon, perhaps a half a mile or so, but it got increasingly brushy.

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