Unfortunately when Randy checked our tires today, he discovered the two inside rear tire are low again. This will have to be addressed before we can leave. But we have to put it aside for now, and enjoy our time here. My sun-poisoning has subsided to a light case of sunburn, so we are ready for another adventure. After the sweeping grandeur of Zion and Bryce, today was a day for smaller spectacles. Our RV park is near the border of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and just a few miles inside that is the Willis Creek Canyon Slot Canyons.
We stopped at the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) office to get some info about the likelihood of flash flooding today. All canyons are susceptible to this hazard; if it rains anywhere upstream, the canyon will flood. Slot canyons, however, carry an increased risk because anyone in the slot when water rushes through will have no way out. Swimming isn't an option because of all the brush and debris that the floodwaters pick up. So it's a good idea to know the weather forecast. Today was overcast with a 40% chance of rain in the afternoon. Since it was about 10:30 am, it seemed like a good time to go!
Three miles down the road we took a right turn onto a dirt road, filled with ruts and blind curves. 6 miles down that road brought us to the trailhead. We followed the trail a few yards and soon it was necessary to step down into the creek, but we expected that. The water was very cool and only a few inches deep over the rocky creekbed.
The trail was easy to follow and easy to hike. Because the canyon floor was the creekbed, the non-water part switched from side to side, where the stream had banked along its path. The first canyons had a fairly wide creekbed and low but beautifully curved walls.
There were several slots, and between each one the creek bed widened out, then narrowed for the next canyon. Each progressive canyon had a narrower path and higher, more fantastically carved walls. The striations on these walls are simply amazing.
And some color variations added to the magic.
I ran out of words to describe how it made me feel, but it was pure joy to be here!
About this point Randy heard thunder, so we decided to hike back. Not only did we need to avoid flash floods, but I had assurances from several sources that the 6 miles of dirt roads were completely undrivable when wet. If we were not back before it rained, even a little bit, we would have to wait until the rain stopped and the roads dried out. So back we hiked, admiring the view from a different angle. How I love these canyon walls!
When we got back to the paved road, we decided to take a quick look at nearby Kodachrome State Park, where we drove out to see Chimney Rock. It's a huge, tall block of rock out in the middle of nowhere - not something we see everyday!
Next Randy drove us to the trailhead for the Shakespeare Arch trail. The trail is a smaller, rougher version of the dirt roads we took to Willis Creek; not clearly marked, not wide and not flat. But out here it was an easy hike, and I found I really enjoyed the lack of crowds. We met a few people on the trail, but this pretty little park is much less visited than Bryce or Zion.
Shakespeare Arch, the only arch in the park, is way up the side of a cliff. It's a pretty arch, and probably will last longer for being out of reach.
Even better, though, was the view from the trail. Simply amazing.
You can see for miles across mountains and valleys. Way in the distance sits the edge of Bryce Canyon. Everywhere was beauty and more beauty.
The trees here are so perfect for this land, and I tried to get them in most of my pictures. I think these are Great Basin bristlecone pines. They grow in fantasical shapes, and like to twist themselves around. They are hardy and tough and their rough, unusual shapes add so much to the landscape.
Even when they are dead, they are beautiful.
The other kind of tree that grows a lot here is called Limber Pine. It looks somewhat similar to the bristlecone, but it doesn't grow as twisted. It gets its name from the limberness of it's small branches - you can literally tie them in knots!
And on the drive home, more beautiful vistas! How I love this land.
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