After the half-marathon, it was time to get out of the Spring Break infested Moab area. I headed over to Capitol Reef National Park, then on down to Escalante. I intended to check out some slot canyons accessed from Hole in the Rock road, but threatening rains kept me from risking the dirt roads in my low clearance, 2WD Pontiac Vibe.
Waterpocket Fold, Capitol Reef National Park
mud in Upper Muley Twist Canyon, Capitol Reef National Park
I ended up getting in touch with a fellow 2013 CDT hiker, Neon, who lives in St. George, UT, and offered to show me around town if I came through. It turned out she was going canyoneering in Zion the next day and invited me along! I’ve wanted to try canyoneering for years, so I jumped at the opportunity. It was great!! Now here’s what seems like the crazy part to most people: I’d never actually met Neon before that day. It struck me how profoundly different my life is now than pre-PCT that I thought nothing of meeting a stranger at the last minute to go rappelling down canyons in the backcountry. This is the magic of the thru-hiker community.
approach to Spry canyon, Zion National Park
Neon on the first rappel, Zion National Park
Spry Canyon, Zion National Park
Spry Canyon, Zion National Park
Speaking of the thru-hiker community, I next headed to Santa Barbara, CA to visit Liz. We both hiked the PCT in 2011, and will be starting the CDT the same day, April 23. We had a good time catching up and took a trip to Casa de Luna for a screening of Squatch’s latest film, Flip Flop Flippin’ 2.
After several days in CA, I picked up my mother in Las Vegas and we did some little day hikes and sight seeing. I pushed Mom a bit out of her comfort zone, dragging on a hike to a hot spring in AZ and up a steep route to Yellow Rock in Utah.
White Rock Canyon, Arizona
Ringbolt Hot Springs, Arizona
Ringbolt Hot Springs, Arizona
Doe Mountain, Sedona, AZ
Toadstools, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
Upper Antelope Canyon, Page, AZ
Horseshoe Bend, Page, AZ
Lone Rock, Lake Powell, UT
Lake Powell, UT
Lake Powell, UT
route up to Yellow Rock, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
Yellow Rock, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
Yellow Rock, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
Yellow Rock, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
Mono Lake, CA
Mono Lake, CA
After Mom left, I high-tailed it back to Portland in a rush to tie up loose ends, like finally getting Oregon plates for my car….now that I don’t technically live there anymore. I spent the rainy weekend in the North Cascades with a bunch of 2011 PCTers, then flew to PA. On the plane, I finally opened up my Yogi CDT guide and realized how much planning I’ve not yet done. Time to get busy!
I’ll leave you with a highlight from the weekend in the North Cascades, A Moment with Marmot:
http://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=746600664525