DVD
Adventurer
We just returned from a great 4-day, 3 night trip to the Vermillion Cliffs area. This was our first time offroad in the area. Of course, we wanted to see The Wave, so we got to Kanab the night before, so we could enter the lottery. As expected, we didn't win permits for either Coyote Buttes North (home of the wave) or South, but there's so much of scenic, cultural, and just plain old 4-wheeling interest that I couldn't imagine the trip going better.
Usually my wife and I go on these adventure trips alone, but this time we invited another couple, good friends. We've done plenty of hikes together (Grand Canyon, Havasupai Falls, Zion), so they are experienced hikers, but they weren't campers (they are now) and not really off-roaders. That a concern, but the planning came together for a great trip.
Day 1
We got to the Kanab BLM office at 8:00 to enter the lottery for passes to the Coyote Buttes areas. Over 100 people entered the lottery for the 10 passes that the BLM allots.
The start of our "wilderness" adventure
I researched the trip by reading the Kelsey book Hiking and Exploring the Paria River. He's very critical of BLM policies concerning The Wave, and I agree that the process is somehow flawed. If you accept the premise that it's good policy establish a strict 20-person per day limit, then the details for adminstering that, with online lotteries and bouncing ping pong balls for walk-ins is great. But after the lottery experience, I was actually kind of glad we ended up going on our own to more remote, less accessible areas.
Getting to the fun stuff, exploring Vermillion Cliffs, our first area of interest was "the Nautilus," a curving, flowing rock formation carved out by water flow.
Looking toward the bottom of Nautilus
Ascending Nautilus
Top of Nautilus
After the Nautilus, we were near the Hoodoos (just off of highway 89), so we hiked in there.
Vermillion Cliffs Hoodoos
Hoodoos sprouting
After the hoodoos, we headed into the wilderness area, to an area known as "White Pockets," where we set up camp for the remainder of the trip. Most of the reports I read about the area described camping and trailhead at the bottom of a steep, sandy hill, with alternate parking at the top of the hill. The sand must have gotten deeper because there were a handful of campers at the top and none at the bottom. I was a little concerned about driving down (actually the getting back up was the concern) to the nice site at the bottom. But that was a concern for another day (described later). We were the only ones at the lower site all 3 nights.
Our campsite
Exploring the White Pocket after getting camp set
Relaxing after a good first day
The base camp concept worked well. We could really see the "different moods" of the White Pockets over the days we were there. And there is lots to see while driving to other spots. We parked my friend's truck and used the Land Rover to explore the following days.
Day 2
We quickly explored the upper portion of the White Pockets after ascending the steep sandy hill. I'm no photographer, but I've read reports where they bemoan the lack of contrast from clear blue skies. So I'll apologize for the lack of contrast. I wish I would have had some counter for how often somebody exclaimed "wow." If I had a nickel for every instance, I'd be rich.
Beautiful tree in the middle of the rock formation
Incredible color contrast
This day was exploring the northeast quadrant, roughly, of the Sand Hills.
Bigfoot panel
Hole in the Rock
Pottery shards - don't worry, we left them
Lots of gates for cattle grazing - they are so cool
At the end of the day and back at camp, we had warm showers and cold beers. I packed 4 of those 2.5 gal solar showers, and we laid them on the slickrock before we left in the morning. After dinner, I headed back into White Pockets for some amazing sunset views.
(Continued on next reply)
Usually my wife and I go on these adventure trips alone, but this time we invited another couple, good friends. We've done plenty of hikes together (Grand Canyon, Havasupai Falls, Zion), so they are experienced hikers, but they weren't campers (they are now) and not really off-roaders. That a concern, but the planning came together for a great trip.
Day 1
We got to the Kanab BLM office at 8:00 to enter the lottery for passes to the Coyote Buttes areas. Over 100 people entered the lottery for the 10 passes that the BLM allots.
The start of our "wilderness" adventure
I researched the trip by reading the Kelsey book Hiking and Exploring the Paria River. He's very critical of BLM policies concerning The Wave, and I agree that the process is somehow flawed. If you accept the premise that it's good policy establish a strict 20-person per day limit, then the details for adminstering that, with online lotteries and bouncing ping pong balls for walk-ins is great. But after the lottery experience, I was actually kind of glad we ended up going on our own to more remote, less accessible areas.
Getting to the fun stuff, exploring Vermillion Cliffs, our first area of interest was "the Nautilus," a curving, flowing rock formation carved out by water flow.
Looking toward the bottom of Nautilus
Ascending Nautilus
Top of Nautilus
After the Nautilus, we were near the Hoodoos (just off of highway 89), so we hiked in there.
Vermillion Cliffs Hoodoos
Hoodoos sprouting
After the hoodoos, we headed into the wilderness area, to an area known as "White Pockets," where we set up camp for the remainder of the trip. Most of the reports I read about the area described camping and trailhead at the bottom of a steep, sandy hill, with alternate parking at the top of the hill. The sand must have gotten deeper because there were a handful of campers at the top and none at the bottom. I was a little concerned about driving down (actually the getting back up was the concern) to the nice site at the bottom. But that was a concern for another day (described later). We were the only ones at the lower site all 3 nights.
Our campsite
Exploring the White Pocket after getting camp set
Relaxing after a good first day
The base camp concept worked well. We could really see the "different moods" of the White Pockets over the days we were there. And there is lots to see while driving to other spots. We parked my friend's truck and used the Land Rover to explore the following days.
Day 2
We quickly explored the upper portion of the White Pockets after ascending the steep sandy hill. I'm no photographer, but I've read reports where they bemoan the lack of contrast from clear blue skies. So I'll apologize for the lack of contrast. I wish I would have had some counter for how often somebody exclaimed "wow." If I had a nickel for every instance, I'd be rich.
Beautiful tree in the middle of the rock formation
Incredible color contrast
This day was exploring the northeast quadrant, roughly, of the Sand Hills.
Bigfoot panel
Hole in the Rock
Pottery shards - don't worry, we left them
Lots of gates for cattle grazing - they are so cool
At the end of the day and back at camp, we had warm showers and cold beers. I packed 4 of those 2.5 gal solar showers, and we laid them on the slickrock before we left in the morning. After dinner, I headed back into White Pockets for some amazing sunset views.
(Continued on next reply)
