{"id":1168,"date":"2009-06-07T18:41:03","date_gmt":"2009-06-07T18:41:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acrossutah.com\/wordpress\/?p=1168"},"modified":"2017-11-15T00:16:47","modified_gmt":"2017-11-15T00:16:47","slug":"day-43-getting-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acrossutah.com\/wordpress\/day-43-getting-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Nevada to Colorado: Part 7"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the Across Utah 2009 Trip Report<\/a><\/p>\n

Day 43 \u2013 Getting Down<\/strong>
\nJune 7th, 2009<\/p>\n

Woke up to a very windy day with a cool temp. I pack up and go, but for the first mile or so I scout the western rim for a route up. I see a way that might work so I leave my gear for a side hike. After some trial and error, I am at the top and have a great view of The Loop of the Colorado River. Here the river makes two huge bends in succession. It travels almost 6 river miles to get 1 mile farther south. I am overlooking the smaller bend and through a crumbling wall I can see the river in the next bend as well. Good stuff.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Back with my gear, and in the main canyon, I come to the exit point. It\u2019s not marked, but my basic notes get me into the correct drainage with a ladder of ledges which goes to the top.<\/p>\n

From here I walked the ridge for miles with impressive views all around: Island in the Sky to the west, Needles Overlook to the east and ahead of me a ridge of towers and balanced rocks along the edge of Indian Creek Canyon. The ground is covered with red agate\/flint.<\/p>\n

I begin the descent to Indian Creek and realize very quickly that my notes are inadequate. I copy basic notes to my topos, but here the walls fall away several hundred feet and there is no obvious way down, so I could really use detailed waypoints.<\/p>\n

\"\"I cannot find a way down past these huge orange domed rocks. I walked the edge for a bit without luck. Then I spot a crack between two of the house-sized rocks with a sand slide down. I get in and make my way down- barely able to squeeze through with my pack. Next I come to a steep chute with loose rocks to be descended. Now I\u2019m in the main drainage and appear to be almost down when I come to a dryfall. I have to climb back up and find another way. Back up and around the point I find another way down to the final ridge. I appear to be cliffed out, but then I spot a gully which may work. As I get to the gully I see a tall cairn, so I know the chute will go. Soon I am at the bottom.
\nIt\u2019s a paradise at the bottom along Indian Creek. There\u2019s a nice stream flowing through the red-walled canyon with cottonwoods along the banks. I take a long break and filter some water.<\/p>\n

Too soon I have to leave Indian Creek and head up Rustler Canyon. At one point I hear a squeaking. I stop to investigate and spot a bird\u2019s nest built into the wall next to me at eye level. There are 3 babies crying for their mother who I undoubtedly have scared away momentarily.<\/p>\n

\"\"Farther up Rustler I come to a dryfall. With no apparent bypass route I take a closer look at the dryfall itself. I notice it\u2019s possible to climb around to its mid-point and then possible to go right up the narrow chute at the top. It\u2019s another tedious climb for one with a pack, but soon I\u2019m on top of the obstacle.<\/p>\n

I head farther up canyon where it opens up quite a bit. I make camp with a nice view of the colorful cliffs to the east as the sun goes down. After dinner I got funky and listened to some music. I\u2019ve never done this on any of my big hikes, but I brought ear buds for my PDA this time just in case. It was a nice treat as the full moon came up and put on a light show with the scattered cloud. The playlist? Prince\u2019s new Lotusflow3r (it\u2019s his birthday after all!) and Icky Thump by the White Stripes. Get down!<\/p>\n

13.1 miles
\nN 38.29758
\nW 109.72834<\/p>\n

Original Comment<\/strong><\/p>\n