Day 2 – 3/15/16
8.5 map/11.2 GPS miles
24.6 / 28 miles total
With the time change it doesn’t start getting light until almost 7:00am, which is when we set our alarms this morning and didn’t get out of camp until almost 8:00. We slept by Willow Spring and grabbed some water from its stagnant pools first thing in the morning.
Shortly after we detoured to another alternate route across mostly slick rock rather than walk in Courthouse wash all day.
Everything was going along just fine until we reached the cliff edge to drop down, as indicated on the map. HOLY CRAP THERE IS NO WAY! (Mom stop reading here).
We worked our way down, continually finding a way where it looked like there was none. At one point we took off our packs, then I butt scooted off a ledge and Bubs lowered my pack down on a rope. Rookie mistake, my water bottle bounced out as the pack landed and rolled off into the abyss.
Welcome to the Hayduke!!! We rejoined Courthouse wash and collected some more water.
Having not much farther to go before getting into town, but not wanting to spend the night there, we took a siesta under a juniper for a few hours. We continued the alternate route to take a short official park trail through Park Avenue, a bunch of sheer rock fins towering on both sides.
Then it was back to the cross country slick rock/sand slog to another cliff, which dropped us down to the highway on the edge of Moab.
It was only about 5pm, so we backtracked a bit up Courthouse Wash to camp for the night, not wanting to spend the night in town.
CRIKEY!! that was quite an awesome hike down! I hope your able to replace your water bottle in town 🙂 look forward to following your hike!
Those pictures of your descent down the cliff what I wanted to see. I am glad to hear your only trouble was a lost water bottle!
Oooh, the plot thickens, and it’s only Day Two! You guys rocked it. Love!!
That was precisely the same place that Katherine lost her water bottle on the trail last year with Wired. So glad that was all you lost and town was just around the corner!
Looking forward to following you trip, Bon Voyage.
Great pics!
Beware the Colorodo Plateau yeti.
Oh man, sounds like an awesome trip thus far! Such an amazing part of the country. I’m sure George Hayduke would be proud of your choice to camp rather than stay in town
Wow wow wow!! Your blog is my first glimpse at the Hayduke and I didn’t realize it was a route, not a trail. What a stunning place! I hope technology plays nice so you can keep blogging this amazing adventure. Happy hiking ??
How are the stars at night ? Awesome, I imagine.
They’re amazing!
They’re fantastic!