My Journey

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Ace.....I've seen that on the maps but have focused on other stuff.....so much to see and so many miles to walk.....

Sierra Valley / ocdiver.....thanks.....the truck camper actually has an indoor shower & an outdoor shower (I don't fill the water tank so.....). I prefer either a steaming hot shower available at a public venue or no shower at all. Occasionally I'll heat up a pot of water and wash with that. I'm rarely around others these days so it's even of less importance....Tanner tends to put up with me.....

JD.....they are well worth the effort.....absolutely stunning rock formations.....

tgil.....exactly what I'd expect.....they look like twins.....




The Bureau of Land Management's website states that it's a 7 mile hike from the Whitehouse Trailhead (our starting point) to its intersection with Buckskin Gulch (our planned turn around point).....we paid my $6 fee for my hiking permit.....then we paid another $6 fee for Tanners hiking permit.....I believe that's the first time I've ever bought a dog a hiking permit.....and off we went.....





As you can see in all of the photos posted today & prior, the Paria River in this area is mostly frozen over which made the hiking here fairly pleasant as wet boots were not of concern (as they were near Lees Ferry a week earlier).....





Much like some of our other planned hikes, here our plan was to hike 3 hours down river through the canyon, maybe waste an hour in total stopping for lunch and taking pictures, then 3 hours back up retracing our steps up the river.....and be back at the camper before the sun set.....





We did indeed reach the intersection with Buckskin Gulch in just a little over 3 hours.....things were going perfectly per plan. It's difficult to tell in the next picture but both of the entrances to the canyons can be seen here.....



Since things were going so well that day that I decided to stretch out our planned hike a bit.....and even though we didn't have the required permits to enter Buckskin Gulch I said "what the hell" and we went for it.....little chance of getting caught and little chance that anyone would care.....so here's a bit of the lower portion of Buckskin Gulch.....the world's longest slot canyon at nearly 21 miles.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Buckskin Gulch was absolutely fascinating so our attempt to turn around after just a short distance failed and we marched on.....





My guess is that we went up Buckskin Gulch maybe a mile at most (based on 20 minutes of walking & taking photos).....





I would love to hike Buckskin Gulch someday but all my research tells me that there are obstacles (10' high huge boulders) that make access impossible for Tanner. I've read that people bring ladders along and set them up for themselves and the BLM removes them all.....ropes are allowed.....maybe encouraged.....probably required.....





This area with the trees was one of my favorites.....



Now it's late in the afternoon, we're back in the Paria Canyon, and we're about 4 miles from the trailhead and I can hear small rapids ahead as we ascend the Paria River.....initially I thought "Wow ! That's beautiful".....echoing in the canyon.....Next thought was "There were no rapids on the way down ! What the heck ?". Then I see this wall of water coming our way. Now not one of those walls of water that takes you along for a ride but one of those walls of water that makes dry boots & blue jeans wet.....



That wall of water was maybe 6 inches high initially and it continued to rise. I wasn't overly concerned but I was thinking if there's a second wall or a third wall this could really suck.....



So for the last 4 miles we hiked through ice cold water (and I literally mean ice as chunks of ice were floating by) and in some spots the water was up to my knees. So yea, actually the last 4 miles that day really did suck and that's why in yesterday's post I mentioned something about a near death event.....we loved this rather unusual place.....

 

[ITTOG]

Wow, that last pic is really cool!

Glad your near death experience wasn't.

 

[jgaz]

Love your latest pictures. Brings back so many memories.

That wall of water is a scary feeling. I was chased out of a slot near Escalante about 6 years ago.
Luckily we were about 400 yards from the canyon entrance. The water went from 2” to 18” in about two minutes. I think I beat my high school time in the 440 event.
A ranger later told us the flow reached almost 36”!

It was spring but no sign of rain in the area.
Same old story I know, but sometimes adventure has risks.

Thank you

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

ITTOG.....thanks.....you & me & Tanner too.....

jgaz.....thanks.....an 18" wall of water is very significant.....like I said this was 6" and it was unsettling.....even Tanner had that "what the heck was that" look.....




By the time we made it back to the camper that evening, I was frozen solid from the knees down to my toes.....damn near at the point of shaking uncontrollably. Fortunately we found a dispersed campsite just a short distance up the gravel road.....not far from the trailhead & the nearby campground.....



This spot turned out to be a sensational spot on the Paria River riverbank.....three ancient massive Cottonwood trees growing along the riverbank added to the splendor.....





I cranked up the heater in that camper and got me a mug of hot coffee going on the burner.....



I'd been questioning and debating with myself when winter would come to southeast Utah, or if indeed winter had already come.....that evening I knew the answer.....



It was a wonderful day hiking in that canyon.....the astounding beauty that surrounded us was well worth all the suffering of wading through 4 miles of the ice cold Paria River.....the sun set once again.....and we lived to tell another tale.....





It got cold that night.....like really, really cold.....



The following morning the river was frozen solid.....



.....and Tanner said "let's go hiking".....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

.....and that's exactly what we did.....





When you're able to take the time to look around at your surroundings and begin to marvel at everything that is right at your doorsteps.....well, you just can't help but get out there and explore.....there was so much more here than just the Paria Canyon.....





We hiked up & down the gravel road, along the rim of the Paria Canyon, we hiked through multiple smaller canyons that were a part of this watershed, we climbed up rock walls, we hiked along the riverbank and we just went everywhere we possibly could.....







And while we were hiking I never once had a desire to carve my name or any message to anyone on these rocks.....so sad that signs such as these are even required.....



I had originally planned to head out that afternoon but as often happens to us that did not happen.....it appeared that we had just begun.....

 

[longhorn1]

Awesome photos. The area around Northern Arizona and Southern Utah is really amazing. Someday we will venture there. I remember saying to my wife after our trip into the desert environment in 2018, not sure I want to return. Dusty and hot in late September. Then I think about what we saw, Arches NP, Canyonlands North and South, Dead Horse Point, Valley of the God's, Mooky Dugway, Burr Trail, Natural Bridge, Escalate, Bears Ears, Glen Canyon Recreation Area, and Capitol Reef, and I'm thinking it is time head back that direction. Thanks for amazing photos.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

JD.....consider coming in December cause it's neither hot nor dusty here.....it's sleeting as I type this post.....second time in the last couple of days.....the camper batteries are dead so there's no heat and it's 16 degrees this morning.....pick your poison.....



So we ended up staying at this campsite along the banks of the Paria River for 5 nights just trying to explore all that we could.....and when we did leave it wasn't because we were bored nor were we done exploring. We only left because the propane was nearly gone again.....and with temperatures dropping into the teens every night, empty propane tanks were not an option.....but before I move on, just a few more posts about this amazing place.....

While we were hanging out in the camper one night I was on Google Maps and saw a spot nearby named the Nautilus so the following day we went to have a look.....





Once we arrived I began to take photos as I do everywhere that we go.....





The Nautilus was located in the center of a massive boulder (like maybe 300' long boulder) and was certainly an unusual and quite impressive feature but I swear that my photography was doing it no good.....



I gave thought to this problem and since this massive boulder & the Nautilus were only a mile away from our campsite we returned to try to photograph it again. And again no luck.....the Nautilus was definitely missing something. And so it was that I put Tanner to work.....





Now I'm a dog guy.....we all know that. And I'm guessing that most people that read these short stories are dog people as well.....so I sure hope you agree with me that the Nautilus is much improved with a dog in it.....





I hate to do that to Mother Nature.....but it is what it is.....or maybe it's more appropriate to say I am what I am.....a dog person.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Southeast Utah is turning out to be such a wonderful place for Tanner & I to hang out this year. I'm really struggling to figure out what lays ahead for us.....chasing 70 degrees has been somewhat of a motto for us these past few years.....





The rocks here are captivating and we just can't get enough.....I have so much more to share.....everyday is something new and we haven't even begun to scratch the surface.....



Winter is definitely here and that is no longer a debate.....the daily highs average maybe 40, somedays not even and the nights regularly are in the teens. The coldest I've seen yet is 6 degrees.....





The question for us now is whether we want to go to the warmer climates.....southwest Arizona ? Maybe Mexico ? Tough choice with Covid-19 killing thousands daily and the vaccine that's on the way.....







Everyone has left here.....nobody for miles.....it's our kingdom today.....and it will be difficult if we chose to leave.....



.....I guess it's one day at a time.....



(Photo borrowed from Iohan Gueorguiev)

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

It would probably be worth it on your rig to add an anderson connector and isolator to charge your camper batteries, quickly and efficiently just by running your truck. Much like the plugs they use for forklift batteries, or multi mount winches. When your solar is not keeping up. Ive done this on mine and it has an isolator so it won't also drain my truck battery. Just an area for piece of mind. Can also install an override switch to your starter battery if the truck battery dies,

I

Happy tails and Safe travels
Hopefully sent from somewhere pretty and remote.
With my entertainment and navigation multitool.

Contract AEMT, Firefighter, MCPIC,Remote Medic, Safety Manager.

 

[tgil]

I was thinking the pics of the Nautilus were pretty amazing, but adding Tanner set them off! Tanner Boy excels at the job you gave him!

 

[grindmonkey]

Adding tanner to the photos definitely helps to give perspective to the photos. It shows the layers and veins in which the rocks were formed and what makes this specific feature an amazing piece.

 

[ITTOG]

Surely mother nature likes all animals. If not she can go pound sand.

 

[longhorn1]

Awesome pictures, Looks like Yukon was working magic in the sky. Those pictures were even better with Tanner

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

PNWY.....my truck & camper batteries are isloated. My system is good. Foul weather is no friend to solar. Times like these bring character to the travels.....not impossibilities.....

tgil.....we had to reclimb a mountain yesterday cause I forgot my "dog on a summit shot".....that poor dog.....or is it that lucky dog.....

grindmonkey.....that's pretty much exactly what I was thinking.....

ITTOG.....I hadn't thought about it that way but that's actually an excellent point.....more dogs.....

JD.....better with dogs indeed.....




We returned to Page, Arizona after 5 nights along the Paria River.....Page, Arizona is the largest town in our vicinity and it has all the services that we required.....a stop at Walmart once again and we found the same homeless guy that I helped on Thanksgiving day out there with his sign but this time he had only one dog. The story he told was that his other dog got loose and animal control snatched it and wouldn't return it to him cause he's homeless & lives in a tent.....got me to thinking.....I'm homeless too.....not sure that I can agree with that. I left him a bag of rawhide chews.....poor guy.....



Once all the errands had been run.....we drove northwest and returned to southeast Utah and we hadn't yet crossed the Paria River before we turned north onto Cottonwood Canyon Road and here we set up our next camp below tall brown & beige walls of stone.....the plan here was to climb Yellow Rock (5,524').....another sensational rock formation also located within the Paria River drainage divide.....



The rather short & sandy trail, maybe only a mile or two in length, started up a dry creek bed lined with tall Cottonwood trees the entire way.....



Eventually we left the creekbed and then it was a steep climb over a rugged mountain consisting of many various colors of rocks.....and this was just the beginning of what was to come.....





And at the top of that ridgeline there stood Yellow Rock.....massive is all could I think ! There's no mistaking it.....a gigantic yellow rock it is.....





I don't think that I've ever seen anything like it.....that color is just so odd and once again my photography does it no justice.....





The patterns throughout this rock were just outrageous.....this place was seriously something to see.....