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 Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 5:58 PM
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Yeehaw! I'm back! 
Feeling pretty good. My back is much better and I have lost 50 lbs! I was going to sell my ol truck, but my son fixed it up so I can run it off road for hiking. I don't have AC, though.... whew!
Well, I took some friends from work hiking yesterday in the 90 degree full sun.
We went up to a favorite place of mine. Some day, I want to take some CTers up there for
an amazing overnighter. So, the invite is out there. If you love slickrock, deep sand,
hoodoos, pygmy forest and ponderosa pines and want to walk over the spine of an arch with a 400' dropoff, and.....can put up with Rented Mule for 24 hours of talking, non stop?
This is the hike for you. We'll end up walking right into Zion and having a beer and dinner at Oscars! No one will do this hike with me. Too far 11 miles and too much exposure to sun and deep sand. This is one of my favorites.
At 9 am Tim stopped by and we loaded up his gear in the ol Ford and headed over to pick up
Ron and Mike. Then, off to the Polygamist Community of Hildale, Utah.
Home of much discussion and books such as Under the Banner of Heaven, which has the mountains we will be hiking on the front cover.
We parked at the mouth of Water Canyon, a popular hiking trail and climbing destination for Zion Canyoneering outfitters. From there, we walked down over the sandy benches and walked up Short Creek. The fist thing that comes into beautiful view, is the Beehive; the most prominent piece of Canaan Mtn that is shaped like a beehive. More on that later...hehe
poor Tim....
   
Squirrel Creek trickles in from the top of the slickrock drainage and meets Short creek at a beautiful spot shaded with tall grass and Cottonwood trees. Very peaceful place. Then, Ron who is always looking down on the ground found some cougar tracks in the sand along the stream. Way cool. We kept going up up and up some more. We finally got to the hogback that funs between the beehive and squirrel canyon.
   
Here's Mike glad to be on "top" at last. Um.....yeah....shhhh we're about 1/2 way there.
I don't have the heart to tell them. So, grab some pix, eat some snacks and head uhhhh
out yes... out, (don't use the word up hehe) for more fun.
     We headed ever up up up to to the top of mt. Krumpet hehe
Mike said his water was now hot enough to make tea and not helping very much.
We made the first canyon at the top and everyone was so so happy that we had "made" it.
Look at the hoodoos. Look at the view. Way cool.
     
Ohhhh oooooh, if ya know me, I am ALWAYS looking for the next hike.
there is a pond I call Polly's pond (polygamy) pond at the end of short creek about two miles that I heard about and a scramble up to the eastern canyon wall that overlooks the Arizona Strip, Colorado City, the Cane beds, Rose Canyon, and the Coral Pink Sand dunes.
So, I will be up there in this picture waving back at me where I was today.
As we rested in the shade on the bench, they said we're here, right? I said uh you guys are going to sh**..... we actually have to go a little further. We're a little over half way. See those tall ponderosas up there? We make our way along the hoodoos on the slickrock
slope which is the fun way, or just go south and make it up the scree. But the slickrock scramble is the best way. Each hoodoo has a different personality as these stubborn knobs in the otherwise smooth sandstone jut out and pique my curiosity. I can't pass a hoodoo up.
Well, I am not capt Ahab hehe let's turn around and save it for another day.
On the way down, Tim stopped to take a picture of the
Beehive and was leaning against a half dead Juniper when a wasp came out of the root ball and stung him in the thigh.
yeeouch!! I carry benedryl and those little stinger vials in my first aid kit. But, Tim was ok. Just hurt like mad!! Really burned. Like an electrical shock when it stung.
Tim didn't find the humor in being stung whilst taking a picture of the "beehive" hehe
   
Did I mention the deep sand? Lots of it. I hadn't been out in over a year. My herniated
disc in my back was horrible and crippling. I did some IDD therapy, a couple of maintenance stearoid shots, and tons of physical therapy. I stretch every day several times a day and fight this terrible crippling disc every day. I use a couple of inflatable balls, a total gym, swim laps, and lots of other things. I won't let this thing take away my passion for the outdoors and hiking in the beautiful place I live where the Mountains meet the desert. I love the heat. I love the sand and slickrock. I love the stark, lonely,
desert and the chaparral.
I really miss you guys. Until I could hike, it was TEARING me up to look at all of your posts in beautiful BC and around the world. It was like waving a New York Cheesecake in front of a peron on a diet, each day. Sorry, I just opted out.....couldn't take it.
Til now!! I am back and ready to hit the trail each week.
I miss you guys. Come on down and hike with me. I have found a couple of secret overnighters with no tourists. We will be the only ones there.
Next hike? Starvation point. The first hike in the hiking book I have dedicated myself to writing. Sheesh....another hiking book? hehe
Cheers! jerry |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
723 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 6:13 PM
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Welcome back, Rented Mule! We missed your TR's. 50 pounds lighter, huh, you're a mere skeleton then. Love the slick rock and hoodoos and everything else. We toured Utah in October - can't wait to go back.  |
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Penhold, Alberta
Canada
2009 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 6:14 PM
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My goodness Jerry, you should have clued us in as to what you were doing man!!
Not 3 months back there was a thread about "wonder were they went" and your name was mentioned and ever since I have been curious as to how you were doing!
Really great to have you back and posting another great trip report loaded with laughs, and awesome photos.
Glad to hear your back is better, keep posting these trips for us. |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 6:32 PM
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Hey Ron! take my picture for CT, will ya?
Wait, I wasn't ready. I didn't smile.
You're right. who can smile out here in the middle of nowhere at 93 degrees?
(I can) I can.....
Man, I missed it.... I am still sitting here stoked. Somebody help me. I don't deserve to feel this good, right now.
Thanks, Greyowl! October is the best time to be down here. I love the heat, but October is
absolutely amazing weather. Come on back down and stop in St. George. We can go for a little hike or just dinner.
Sorry, Darren. I wasn't depressed or anything like that. I am way too upbeat. sorry I didn't say anything. I just got up one day and decided to fight this thing and hold the things I like doing for ransom. Maybe the old military way in me hehe. I focused and worked pretty hard so I could (earn)return to hiking. My doctors (plural) are really optimistic.
Thanks for the kind words. They mean a lot to me. I can't wait to get caught up on the TR's I have missed. I got a huge blister on my foot that burst open last evening and a bloody one on the inside of my thumb since I haven't grabbed a trek pole in a long time.
Should've acclimated. But, I dove in to a 6 mile up and back hike with over 2,000 ft elevation gain and back down. Way cool. I did it and feel great sitting here drinking a cup of joe. thanks again. jerry |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 6:54 PM
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Good to see a report from you Jerry! You actually came up in conversation last week. Were your ears ringing? Glad to see you're doing ok and giving that disc and the MDs heck!
Hope to see more of your TRs in future. |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 7:12 PM
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Thanks, Exy! great to be back!
Can't wait for the upcoming work week to end so I can go back to it!! yesh. |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 8:31 PM
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| Welcome back darlin'! We missed you bigtime. Holy Smokes, that's a mighty fine territory you live in. |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 8:51 PM
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Thanks, Flo-Bro!
Looks like a great summer on the horizon....yup!! |
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Campbell River, BC
Canada
761 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 9:13 PM
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| I miss Utah...it's a nice state. Lucky you live there. |
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bandana wearin', pole huckin', view lovin', dog herdin', 4x4 navigatin', lake huntin', butt-slidin' bridge crosser, who enjoys postholing with an overnighter pack
Surrey, BC
Canada
4649 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 9:38 PM
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Thank goodness you're back! Wondering where you'd been Jerry. We missed you too! Glad to se you're back at it. Take it easy buddy and we'll see you on the trails!
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1703 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 09:51 AM
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| Good to hear your "back" hiking Jerry! Keep those slickrock reports coming. |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 10:06 AM
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Thanks, Solo! I really like it here. Been living here 15 years, now and never tire of the scenery. If I get bored, there is always something like a rattler on the trail to get the blood pumping again. Once, I found an old foundation on a long side trail back to my truck.
Way cool. turned out to be pre 1950 Shivwits Indian Native property when they moved onto the res. Always something out there amazes me, each time. Come on down. Glad to offer any help setting up a hike for you. I go solo, usually, too.
Hi, Spunky! Thanks for the kind words. Spring has sprung for you guys up there. Can't wait to see all the Tr's as the winter slowly gives way to summer through each beautiful mtn pass, up there. the land of REAL trees.
Thanks, Sodbuster! "back" is right on!! I feel great. I am going to take the weekend shift and work 3 twelves and be off Tues-Fri each week to get out some. I will take it slowly and work on this book I have been encouraged to write from my friends. Now, I have to go "back" and re-hike some of the same places and put them in the book. Should be done in two years. It's going to be a simple hiking guide. Probably 50 hikes, or so.
Getting down this way again? |
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Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
6908 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 10:34 AM
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| Hey welcome back Jerry we missed you! |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 10:49 AM
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thanks, BG!
Just finished reading your retro Shasta trip with your dad. Way cool. Combine sunburn and windburn and that must have been really painful in the days following. You'll get back up there again. Funny to look back on our gear and laugh a little. Someday, someone will laugh as they take their pre hike hydration pills and say how we actually carried heavy water on our backs. I took a freakin axe with me on the Appalachian trail... for real.
be prepared and all that. I thought I looked cool with that shiny heavy axe sticking out of my pack.....too funny....
glad to be back!! |
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Powell River, bc
Canada
2536 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 11:08 AM
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| I went missing too LOL!! Great to see you back Jerry!!!!! I have two herniated disks in my back,and the pain does get less and less with time.....I have L4-5 and L5S1,and now I have a new one in my neck,oh yay!!! What can you do?? Your clearly doing everything right,keep fighting the good fight,and I've missed your reports!!! Do you still have your baloons LOL ;) |
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13465 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 12:08 PM
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Jerry, I am very glad to see you are back. I was concerned you were missing, and that something very bad happened to you out in the desert.
Jerry lost somewhere out there ??
Look forward to all your great desert TR's... Sometime down the line, a few years perhaps? will strive to stop by on my way down to Arizona ?
K |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
2660 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 12:27 PM
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Geez Jerry, we were worried about you! You could have checked in.
Glad to see you are hiking again  |
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| piika
Intermediate Member
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
734 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 6:14 PM
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Hey, Jerry!
So nice to see you back and doing what you love.
50 pounds? My Word!!! |
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1703 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 6:16 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rented Mule
Thanks, Sodbuster! "back" is right on!! I feel great. I am going to take the weekend shift and work 3 twelves and be off Tues-Fri each week to get out some. I will take it slowly and work on this book I have been encouraged to write from my friends. Now, I have to go "back" and re-hike some of the same places and put them in the book. Should be done in two years. It's going to be a simple hiking guide. Probably 50 hikes, or so.
Getting down this way again?
Maybe in the fall I'll do a road-trip south again. Good luck with the book. You should have no shortage of content and anecdotes. |
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3022 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 10:01 AM
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Hey good to see you back here, love those hillsides you share, very picturesque.
I haven't been to the states for years, my family goes often.
Work and past health issues. A little like you i suppose that being resolute during and after surgery and determined to keep the legs moving. Love getting out every time i can too.
One day i'll have to get my passport again and venture your ways, one day.
Welcome back. |
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Langley
241 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 12:28 PM
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| Welcome back! Utah is wonderful, I can't wait to get back there in September. |
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Took some friends hiking in So. Utah
