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 Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2012 : 7:41 PM
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Yes, Heffalump not elephant arch. Since there are already two famous arches called Elephant
in Southern Utah, I had to call it something else. Pachyderm came to mind but.....
Anyway, This is....Starvation Point. 600 ft high above the sweet waters of the mighty Virgin River and you can't get to it. Cliffband has only a couple ways down. The rest of the way is hemmed in with sheer cliffbands and dropoffs.
I started the morning a bit nervous. My first solo hike in over a year. Only 4 miles out and back with only 500 ft elevation drop and gain. The challenge? I have NO hiking boots.
When I hurt my back, I got mad and threw them away. Dumb thing, I know.... So, at a yard sale, this old guy had a pair of great sandals. So, I am using them til I save up or Santa brings me some nice hiking boots, aqain. Check out the yucca feet. yucky? sp? hehe
and the pictures.
   
It was a beautiful day! I hiked down to the middle rim, and walked it out looking for any native evidence. None found. However.....I did find some evidence of this dude looking stylish. 
Which way to the rim, buddy? What? there's a river overlook due west? thanks.
    
Way cool!!
As I was coming up, I saw and heard some choppers or whatever they're called these days
flying in formation right over me. I was the only thing out there and I'm sure there was some WTF chatter going on. I was on a flat and waving my hat and poles like a lunatic. I could see some feet hanging out over the edge. I KNOW they saw me. just glad they didn't pop a shell my way...hehe
What a cool day! this would be a great one for someone to hike with me, sometime.
I had sandals on and only got stabbed twice by cactus. Once by an old dead imploded barrel cactus and the other by a prickly pear. yeeouch!! Luckily, the needles hit the same toe and I got them out right away. the little piggy that stayed home...that'll learn him..
Is TMC out there? Is this the stub of a chrinoid? anyone know? Or the other organic thing
that was from the ancient Lake Bonneville sea bed?
Lots and lots of these. Look really shiny from the weathering. A nice sheen.
and smooth.
This was a very challenging and stimulating hike in the Virgin River Gorge. I-15 was to my left and under my feet. The interstate noise was constant. But, in the gorge, that is expected in many of the hikes. Still, the beauty was worth it. Besides, I love racing cars and engines and all. So, being a race fan, it was cool to sit on the edge with my legs hanging over the side and watching a yello lambo roar onto the scene from the south, cross the bridge, pass about 30 vehicles and gun it up to the Utah border.
I once heard that noise is not the problem. It is our judgement of the noise...
there is a bridge further down into the gorge at the narrows where both northbound and southbound lanes pass underneath with NO median strip between. Just a little fence.
I love to go there on my way back from Nevada or So. Cali hiking at night and stop there right at the very middle of the roadway. I lean over the rail and watch people motor right underneath me. My left leg is on the southbound lane and my right on the north. People passing underneath me....all those destinations. All those lives coming together right now at this apex in time. A family moving. Someone going down to Vegas, baby!! Someone leaving Vegas....hehe broke.... Coolest car I ever saw? A stretch hummer limo....wow.
Well, til next week. I will be hiking in redrock.
Hope you liked my little hike.
Cheers! jerry |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2012 : 7:50 PM
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You look great Jerry. Crazy folks and their crazy lives heh?
Prickly proposition sandal hiking in the desert. |
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Campbell River, BC
Canada
756 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2012 : 8:00 PM
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When I was in Utah years ago, I was amazed at the abundance and variety of cactus and the colorful flowers which blooms.
quote:
Originally posted by Rented Mule
As I was coming up, I saw and heard some choppers or whatever they're called these days
flying in formation right over me.
Maybe they are going to Groom Lake (Area 51). |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2012 : 8:16 PM
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Thanks, Exy! Maybe even some idiot who just was asked by his guests...hey, jer...howya doin on gas? uh petrol....don't see a gas station here at this bridge in the middle of freakin nowhere.. 
Hi, Solo-cup!
The desert is an amazing place, as you saw. I am always enamored with it. I can never enter the same river twice or climb the same ridge twice. It's always changing; every day.
each season brings something different. I like to hike in all the seasons.
Area 51. Never been out that way. I have a good friend who likes to go out that way to shoot off rockets in the dry lake beds. Seems that is one of the few places in the US where she can shoot rockets off with a ceiling of 100,000 ft. wow! Some of those rockets are huge in those clubs. I never imagined how serious they get. Some of those could blow a hole in the ozone. A real show for the Aliens setting up there in the stratosphere, hehe
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Satirical photoshop junkie who frolics in the mountains of the Chilliwack River Valley
Chilliwack, BC
Canada
6907 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2012 : 9:43 PM
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Hey Jerry you're looking pretty proud and athletic there  . Thanks for another great TR! |
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Abbotsford, BC
Canada
721 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 08:26 AM
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I would agree that the Virgin River Gorge is a great place for exploring and hiking. We spent three days there last October and really enjoyed it (except for the constant wind and the freeway noise). The campground is very nice and inexpensive; we had a ramada site overlooking the Virgin River. We also liked your home town, it's so close to Zion and other marvellous places - you're one lucky guy!
Love your pictures, Jerry, especially the purple torch and the collared lizard.
P.S. You've got to get some hiking boots - you don't want to risk another injury! |
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Utah's canyon trekking,deck chair packing desert explorer who dreams of visiting Canada someday
3988 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 5:17 PM
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Thanks, BG!
Here is a shot fromm the top of the mesa down onto the rim I walked around on.
Things out here seem to form in layers. I can look miles away in a series of canyons and see the same sedimentary exposed shelf at pretty much the same elevation.
Thanks for the nice words, Greyowl. I love it down here.
Gotta watch where ya walk, sit, lean, and even if there are no cactus under foot, there are probably remnants of dead spines from days of future past.
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Heffalump Arch
