An early start with the intent of avoiding the crowds. We crossed the sagebrush meadows of upper Cable Mountain and took the Echo Canyon Trail down the East Rim Trail to the Weeping Rock. We kept the going slow to admire the details of these last miles while still in trail mindset. Appreciating the phlox, … Continue reading A fitting finish, reunion, and Vegas

Our last full day on the Hayduke, but we didn't know that when we woke this morning. We started our day with a walk down The Barracks, a classic canyoneering route in Zion's backcountry. Towering walls of sculpted Navajo sandstone, hanging gardens of monkey flower and fern, canyon wrens trilling, side canyons wafting breezes with … Continue reading Narrows lingering, slickrock admiring, and finishing logistics

We didn't know what to expect of the land between Colorado City and Zion National Park. All we knew is it was going to be a hot day (mid-90s (F)), across dry country, and we wanted to make it to the East Fork of the Virgin River. Hiking in the morning up Squirrel Canyon to … Continue reading To the river or bust

Coyote howls to start the day. The first of the trip. For all the tracks and sign we've seen along the way, I've been surprised we haven't heard more howls or seen a coyote loping along the horizon. At least we have this morning's song. A beautiful way to start what is a unique day … Continue reading Kale and kombucha in Colorado City

This morning, we started out in the upper bends of Kanab Canyon with high cliff walls and slip of a view of the sky. Hiking just before dawn, we wanted a jump on the heat of the day and knew it would be a bit of a stretch to make it 30-some miles up the … Continue reading A Hack of a way to the Arizona Strip

We woke to the sounds of the coursing Colorado River and the towering walls of red and gray Redwall limestone. Feeling rested after yesterday's rock hopping, we packed up and started our hike up Kanab Creek and its canyon. Kanab Canyon, a milestone that has long been in our minds. Now here we are. Kanab, … Continue reading Tracking Water

A warm, long day ahead. We got an early start on the descent down from Surprise Valley. Yesterday afternoon Gabriel had mused about getting down to the Colorado River's fine beaches to camp. I kept commenting that I think the 3-some ahead had other things in store for us. Indeed they did. Some loose rock … Continue reading Marmot on a hot rock hop

As we headed north from Timp Canyon this morning we had our eyes peeled for some sort of path that would take us up to the Rim. All morning we brush-bashed through pointleaf manzanita and circumnavigated cryptobiotic soil. But we never found a trail. Near Crazy Jug Spring we found a few cairns and short … Continue reading So this is the Esplanade

Brrr... we woke up to frozen tent walls, damp sleeping bags, and started walking with all our layers on. I was even wearing Gabriel's bomber hat. Clear blue skies and snow on the ground. A pretty morning, we admired the big ponderosas and oak groves, but we weren't so thrilled with straddling snow covered down … Continue reading Moderately flesh shredding brush

A chilly, gray day with 20+ miles of road walking through spruce and pine forests. I'd figured this would be one of those connector days where the mind and beauty receptors recover from the sights of the day before and we'd cover a fair amount of ground. Between feeling a little tired from the rim-to-rim … Continue reading A memorable day after all