The Heat is on!

We need to think about doing some serious training for our upcoming John Muir Trail trip in August and plan to spend time in Colorado.  However, there is still too much snow in the mountains so we decided to spend a bit more time in canyon country.  We have visited southern Utah many times when our kids were little but it was always in April during their Spring Break from school.  We have learned the hard way that there is a big difference in temperature between April and June. 

Where we have been – Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument and Canyonlands National Park in Utah

5/31 – 6/26 2011

In this post:

• Dayhikes to Devils Garden, Tunnel Slot Canyon and Zebra Canyon in Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument
• Backpack trip - 3 days/2 nights in Coyote Gulch in Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument
• Dayhike to Big Spring Canyon and Druid Arch in Canyonlands National Park  

• "Putting one foot in front of the other" - Something Jean has been thinking about

After catching up from our time in the Grand Canyon we headed to Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument in Utah which contains numerous hiking opportunities.  There is an excellent book, Non-Technical Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau by Michael Kelsey, recommended for anyone who wishes to explore the area.  We drove down Hole-in-the-Rock Road where we found a great place to park our motorhome off the road, both private and scenic.  

Our campsite in Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah

We did a quick visit to Devil’s Garden which is like a sculpture garden containing a wide variety of sandstone “art”.  We were there late in the day and John was only able to photograph a few of the features before the sun went down and focused his time on the most notable feature, Metate Arch.  Our  Devils Garden photos are on Flickr.

Metate Arch in Devil’s Garden, Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah

We also did a day hike to see two notable slot canyons in the area, Tunnel and Zebra.  Access is from Upper Harris Wash and involves hiking through loose sand with little shade.  The cool temperature in Tunnel Slot, a narrow, dark canyon, was welcomed and fortunately by this time of year some of the pools of water within were only mid thigh deep… but still quite cold.

Tunnel Slot Canyon, Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah

We then hiked the short distance to Zebra Canyon, named for the pink stripes in the sandstone.  We had been led to have high expectations but were initially underwhelmed.  As we have seen so much natural beauty in our travels we were concerned that we had become jaded.  However, we only had to go in a bit farther to be blown away by the beauty of the inner canyon where the colors become more intense and the canyon is narrower with sharps edges of rock that zigzag repeatedly.

Zebra Canyon, Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah

We continued through the canyon until we encountered a boulder blocking the way.  However John really wanted to see what was beyond it.   It required quite an effort on his part but he was able to finally get over the boulder and was rewarded with a completely different view of Zebra Canyon.   Our slot canyon photos are on Flickr.

Zebra Canyon, Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah

We also did a 3 day/2 night backpack into Coyote Gulch.  This canyon is notable for its huge alcoves and several arches and a natural bridge. 

One of many giant alcoves within Coyote Gulch, Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah

(look for John and me in the lower right hand corner to get an idea of just how big it is)

We approached it by Hurricane Wash.  There is also a shorter, more popular, access via the Red Well Trail that enters the gulch sooner offering more shade.  But no, we took the longer, hotter trail in an effort to avoid more people (little did we know what was in store for us).  Our destination for the day was Jacob Hamblin Arch where we planned to camp for 2 nights.

Jacob Hamblin Arch, Coyote Gulch, Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah

 However, as we approached it we began hearing many loud voices.  What we didn’t realize is that this is a very popular hike for Boy Scouts.  During the three days we were in Coyote Gulch we encountered hundreds of scouts with their leaders (group size is supposed to be limited to 12 but there is apparently no limit as to how many groups can be there at one time).  The acoustics of the many alcoves are so “good” that even a soft voice can carry a long distance.  Of course it is unreasonable to expect so many young guys to be quiet when it is hot and there is water to play in but it really detracted from our wilderness experience.  We moved back upstream and by going around several bends we were able to, for the most part, camp out of earshot of them.

The next day we planned to hike downstream perhaps going as far as the Escalante River.  The route crosses back and forth across Coyote Creek but this was not a problem as it was very hot.  The creek passes under Coyote Natural Bridge.

Coyote Natural Bridge, Coyote Gulch, Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah

A fellow we encountered told us of a beautiful pool located off an unmarked side trail. But this was apparently no secret and this was a popular stopping place for many as well as a swimming hole for some.  We hung out here for quite some time. 

Pool within Coyote Gulch, Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah

We continued on downstream but it became clear we didn’t have the time or the inclination to go all the way to the Escalante River where we had hoped to get a view of Stevens Arch.  The heat really zapped our motivation.  Instead we stopped at a small waterfall and well…it was hot and the water was very inviting.  We didn’t want to get our clothes wet and there were no Boy Scouts around so…

Jean cooling off in Coyote Creek within Coyote Gulch, Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah

We had been warned that Coyote Gulch would be crowded but we didn’t realize just what that meant.  In hindsight we should have hiked up Harris Wash which also has stunning alcoves but lacks the natural bridge and arches.  If you want to hike up Coyote Gulch be sure to find out when Utah public schools let out for the summer and go before!  Our Coyote Gulch backpack trip photos are on Flickr.   

Our son Tom then came for a visit.  We’d asked him what he wanted to do while he was with us but the only response was basically “anything as long as it isn’t delivering pizza (he works at Papa John’s Pizza).  We decided to take him to some places he and Dan enjoyed when they were young and off school for Spring Break, Canyonlands National Park and Mesa Verde National Park.

Squaw Canyon, Canyonlands National Park, Utah

We chose not to do any backpacking while in Canyonlands, it was just too hot and there was very little, if any, water available.  We did a day hike to Big Spring Canyon and Squaw Canyon, a seven and a half mile loop hike.  

Jean and John Big Spring Canyon, Canyonlands National Park, Utah

(same location as our masthead photo)

We did another day hike to Elephant Canyon and Druid Arch, an 11 mile out and back hike.  We had started very early so enjoyed a couple of hours of reasonable temperatures.  But then it got hot, very hot.

Druid Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Both hikes involve some steep climbing over “slick rock” (which is quite grippy when dry) which seemed to suit Tom’s “unique” hiking style.  Our Big Spring Canyon dayhike photos are on Flickr. 

Tom "hiking" in Canyonlands National Park, Utah

We had planned to then spend a few days at Mesa Verde where the higher elevation would provide cooler temperatures.  We thought Tom would still find the cliff dwellings interesting but...

Balcony House, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

... no.  He tolerated just one tour before saying “No more” and reminded us that he isn’t six years old anymore.  Perhaps we should have taken him to Las Vegas instead.

Tom got bored during the tour of Balcony House in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

We will now head to Colorado in hopes enough snow has melted to enable us to begin doing some serious hiking at higher altitudes.

This next bit is just something that Jean has been thinking about. 

Putting one foot in front of the other

Back in 1999 when John and I were planning to ride our tandem bike the 1000 miles from Seattle to San Francisco John’s mom asked me “If you get too tired will you stop?”  I assured her we would take rest breaks whenever we needed them but that wasn’t what she meant.  She was asking if we got too tired would we stop the bike trip and go home.  I don’t remember what I said to placate her but later on it got me thinking.  What if?  What if something goes wrong?  What if I do just get too tired?

The plan was after we reached San Francisco we would head to the REI store in Oakland CA where a shipping case for our bike was waiting for us.  After packing up the bike we’d then hop on a plane and fly home.  We couldn’t end our trip anywhere else because we had no “Plan B”.  We had 15 days to do this trip so we knew we needed to average about 70 miles per day.  It sounded easy enough but during the first week we were dismayed by the fact that we were falling behind schedule.  There were multiple factors; towing a trailer with our camping gear…,

Our overloaded BOB trailer

… hilly terrain, a lengthy detour, an entire day of heavy rain, campgrounds that were either too close or too far down our route, a couple of side trips that John wanted to do…

John insisted we visit the Astoria Column, located on the highest point in Astoria, Oregon.

I could have done without the steep climb we had to make to get there.

… and sometimes I did get really tired.

I needed a rest after a lengthy series of short steep climbs on a back road (it was amazing how comfortable gravel could be)

I was beginning to panic.  One of us simply had to get home no later than Monday Aug 16^th.  Because the next day my sister Laurel, who was staying with our boys while we were gone, and I were supposed to fly out to go to her home in South Carolina for a gathering of our family.  Later that same day John’s mom was flying into Seattle from West Virginia for a visit.  If we didn’t get home in time then my sister would have to stay with our kids and entertain John’s mom and Laurel’s husband would have been forced to cope with his eccentric in-laws in South Carolina.  It would have been a mess. 

Of course in reality our situation was not so dire.  Our route was well traveled by vehicles so we could have easily flagged someone down had we needed help and we had periodic access to telephones.  Most importantly we had the financial resources and could have solved nearly any problem by throwing money at it.  But the second week we stepped it up, averaging about 85 miles a day, and finished on Sunday Aug 15.  

Arriving in San Francisco on time!

 

We haven’t ridden our tandem for quite awhile as we have been focusing on hiking and backpacking.  We love to go into the backcountry and the more remote the area the better.  This means that we can find ourselves out in the middle of nowhere with few, if any, other people around (and needless to say without cell phone service).  So unlike our bike trip if anything goes wrong we are entirely on our own. 

Hiking in Glacier National Park, Montana

This makes me nervous because not even throwing money at a problem will do any good in the backcountry.  For serious emergencies we do carry a Personal Locater Beacon to summons help if absolutely necessary but for anything less serious there is no way out except under our own power.  With our John Muir Trail start date coming closer I find myself thinking.  What if?  What if something goes wrong?  What if I just get too tired? 

John never shares my concerns or worries in challenging situations.  He is more physically fit and has more confidence in his abilities.  He also has far more experience with being physically challenged and successfully achieving his goals.  He has completed the Basic and Intermediate Climbing courses through the Seattle Mountaineers and has climbed many notable peaks in Washington State. 

John and Mt Rainier, WA

He’s ridden his bike across the southern US, a total of 3,090 miles.

 John in Arizona heading toward New Mexico

 He’s an avid trail runner and has run the Wonderland Trail in Mt Rainier National Park in three days (on 2 separate occasions), a total of 93 miles with 22,000 ft of elevation gain, as well as the Northern Loop Trail (also in Mt Rainier National Park) in one day, a total of 40 miles with 8500 ft of elevation gain.

John trail running in The Enchantments, Washington State

Words like “can’t”, “give up”, “turn back” aren’t a regular part of his vocabulary like they are in mine.  I just don’t have the experience and confidence that he does.  While he was off climbing mountains and running trails I was at home with our two boys.

Dan, Jean and Tom at home

And then there are my feet.  They are really screwed up; Morton’s Toes, bunions, hammer toes and a Plantar Fibroma.  It’s a wonder they can carry me anywhere at all.  Knowing my “interest” (i.e. obsession) with feet John suggested that I read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.  A major point the author makes is that wearing shoes, especially the well cushioned modern day running shoes, has enabled the muscles in our feet to become weak.  And that modern day foot issues like bunions, hammer toes, flat feet and Plantar Fasciitis are the result.  There is now a movement toward a more minimalist approach to footwear with the advent of 5 Fingers and Merrel Trail Glove shoes.  There are also advocates for running barefoot.

So if I am to believe his theory, and he makes a compelling case, then I have done everything wrong for my feet.  I have custom orthotics, I wear the most comfortable and supportive shoes and boots I can find and I never go barefoot.  I’ve had a total of 4 surgeries over the past 20 years in attempts to correct what I assumed were congenital defects.  So even if I was “born to run” it now seems that I am “doomed to hobble.”    

But then I recently remembered something that I overheard while I was standing on the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro.  The tearful exclamation made by a young woman to her companion…“When I lost my leg a year ago I never thought I’d climb Kilimanjaro”.  Her left leg had been amputated above the knee and she had hiked over 24 miles and gained more than 13,000 feet with a prosthesis.  

The final push up Kibo, the highest of Kilimanjaro’s 3 volcanoes, is the hardest part. 

5 miles up a steep scree slope gaining nearly 4000 ft done in the middle of the night

It was a humbling experience then but remembering it now has inspired me.  I’ve decided that if she could overcome the loss of a leg and put her mind to climbing Mt Kilimanjaro then the least I can do is NOT focus on what I might not be able to do.  Instead I can be grateful for my two feet, screwed up as they are, that are attached to two whole legs, including the two bad knees.  I can follow her example and help compensate for physical liabilities with mental toughness and determination.  I can put my mind to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  I can be confident that my feet will take me as far as I need to go.  Most of all I can be grateful for how far they have already taken me (and get John to rub them occasionally).