Druid Arch

Sometimes it just takes a place upon a map that sounds interesting for a great hike to happen. Wanting to escape the cold of Norwood, Jacqueline and I packed up the Xterra for a long day hiking in Canyonlands. Knowing that with her nearly eight months pregnant, we would not have much of a shot at hiking together in this rugged landscape, she was prepared for a boring day while I got to get my last hurrah on before settling in to wait for the baby to be born. I saw Druid Arch on the map and decided that would be an interesting destination. We drove the long drive of over two hours to get to the Needles District of Canyonlands before taking a dirt road to Elephant Hill. Jacqueline was afraid once again for the health of the baby on the dirt road, but I assured her that it would be alright. Nervous about being away from my wife for so long, I promised to be back by 4pm, giving me just about five hours to do a 14 mile hike in rugged terrain. I knew I had to put the jets on. The beginning of the hike was mainly flat, but with some vistas. I could see the rising spires of the Needles coming ever so much closer. I saw a family walking with a baby in a backpack and hoped that that could be Jacqueline and I a year from now. Soon the flat open terrain was giving way to the less open and more canyon like terrain. I took a series of turns that led me through the canyon country. I began going downhill instead of uphill. After a quick stop for lunch and to change from pants into shorts, I was going down some steep sections of trail to hit a canyon bottom that I would follow for quite some time. The difference in the cliffs above me was that now what I was looking across at was now what I was looking up at and looking up made it so much more impressive. I was surprised how many people were out. I guess it was a warmer day in spring and they were all chomping at the bit to get their season started to. I saw a park service volunteer who asked me where I was going. It is good to see at least the volunteers getting out. At that point I had made my last turn and was following the canyon that would lead me to Druid Arch. At one point, I had to hop out of the canyon in order to avoid a big pour-off. There was a drop-off on my right side that kept me honest, but nothing too bad. When I got to the place right before the arch, the climbing got a bit steeper including the first ladder of the day. No problem and I soon popped out at the spot across from the arch itself. Man, was it impressive. It was probably the most impressive arch that I ever saw. Just the size, shape, absolutely impressive. There was a couple up there which I got to take my picture. They were soaking it all in, but I only stayed long enough to really enjoy it. I had a deadline to meet without the knowledge if I could actually live up to that deadline. I headed back down the way I came at first, but instead of turning left at the junction, I turned right. This led me towards Squaw Canyon, though it would not be that simple. At first it was just easy canyon walking, but this canyon was soon to run out, so the trail headed toward the cliffs. A long ladder was my only option. It makes you worry when you are so far away from the trailhead and you know the park service budget, to see a ladder out in the wilderness. It turned out to be fine and so did the other one that lead me down off the rocky slickrock pass. I was now hiking on the edge of a canyon, high on the rocks. I came to a junction, both of which led back to the trailhead I was heading towards. One went toward Big Spring Canyon, while the other continued to Squaw Canyon. I thought about Big Spring since it was shorter, but since I had trouble seeing the route even from the junction, decided to stick to Big Spring. This was a good idea because even though it was longer, I managed to hit my last ladder and drop into the canyon bottom. Looking at my watch, I thought that there was no way I could make it unless I really stepped on it. Now that it was flat, easy canyon hiking, I even ran for short stretches. In this area, I was away from other people most of the time only seeing one other person. I could sense that I was getting closer to the trailhead, but time was running out. Soon the parties started to increase and I passed a big group who had been out backpacking and looked worse for the wear. Amazingly, I could see the trailhead with only a few minutes to spare. I stepped on it and made it to the trailhead right as my watch struck 4pm. Proud of myself I looked around for my pregnant wife. She was nowhere to be found. Turns out she went to the other trailhead over the rocks on the other side of the campground. I reluctantly took my weary self and climbed over the rocks to find her content at the other trailhead, unconcerned that I was now twenty minutes late. I was proud of her as even though she was carrying a bunch of extra weight, she found the time to go for a few short hikes on her own. Unfortunately the day was now over though, as far as hiking would go, and I was now forced to settle down and weight for the birth of our baby girl.

Back to Hovenweep

We enjoyed camping in Hovenweep so much that we went back. This time I was determined to hike the section of trail to the Holly ruins. So as soon as we got to our same campsite that we had last trip, I left Jacqueline and her belly to go for a hike. It was the same for the first half an hour and I actually was able to hike in a t-shirt which I had not been outside in for quite some time. I passed the point where Jacqueline and I had been before and the trail was similar. Desert landscape, first hiking up a wash, and then in a more open valley. Along the way there were some ruins with no water nearby. You could see how all the Anasazi ruins in the Southwest were just one big series of migratory farming camps. They could not have stayed in the same place year long because one area would not have produced enough food to feed many people. Continuing on the trail was rather flat so I was able to make excellent time. Eventually I reached the Holly ruins. These were much more massive than I originally thought that they were going to be. They were very similar to the Square Tower ruins, just without as many people. It always feels weird when the finish of a trail is another trailhead and a road. I could have continued on another 3 miles to the Hackberry Ruins, but I asked the first people I saw that day who were coming back from it if it was worth it. They said it was more of the same, so I took some pics and headed back to my pregnant wife. I made a quick detour to see some petroglyphs that were not very impressive as I had to stand on a rock overlooking them. I could have gone down closer, but did not want to break the rules. I saw a few folks on the way back including the couple that came back from Hackberry, who were going rather slow up the steep hike out. I used my ingenuity and created a new route climbing up the slickrock and popping out before them on the rocks leading to the campsite. Jacqueline had an adventure while I was away. She managed to lock her keys in the car, so had to get a ranger to get her out. That took up most of the time that I was away doing the ten mile hike. We played some cards and made an early dinner, then went for an evening hike around the Square Tower Group like we did last time. The pregnant lady did pretty good again and it was really good for us to get out. This time the weather stayed good for the drive back and we had nothing but a smooth enjoyable camping trip on the border of Utah and Colorado. I am sure that we will return to Hovenweep again to enjoy its comfortable, quiet setting.

Walnut Canyon

Sit back and let me tell you the story of how four intrepid explorers managed to conquer all the trails in Walnut Canyon National Monument in the course of one afternoon. Jacqueline and I were staying in Cornville with her Aunt Kris and her dad was down to join us also. We drove up to Walnut Canyon for the day for something to do. We did not know that we would be accomplishing an impressive feat. We toured the visitor center when arriving and visited the facilities. Then we were off on our journey on the Island Trail. Our first obstacle was 185 feet of downhill over well groomed trails. There were details in the visitor center of a big rockfall, but that was long since past. After that we went in a counter-clockwise direction along a loop. This lead us to many ruins built right into the cliffs.

 As we looked out over the valley, we saw many more ruins in cliffs high above with very difficult access. Who could imagine what life was like in this part of the world to have to live in such an environment? I guess they chose it because of the water access. Unfortunately, there was no water access left because of the dam on Lake Mary upstream. Oops. We continued around our "island" with many ruins and other intrepid explorers. Soon we made the whole loop and were back to the climb up the stairs. Without problems our group made the climb slowly and surely. When we reached the top, I wanted to hike the trail to the ruins on the rim. 

Jacqueline wanted to make the trek to the bathroom once again. So we split our party where when thinking about it, I am the only one who actually completed all the trails. Hmm, because everyone else met me on the shorter loop at the ruins after a bathroom visit. With only about an hour spent (okay it wasn't that intrepid of us), we had finished all the trails in Walnut Canyon and were off to the Brewery for lunch in Flagstaff.