Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

We decided to stop at Bryce on our way home so Peg and Paul could do the Peek-a-Boo trail. I did it when Peg and I were here in April. We will be heading home in the morning.

Rock Columbine

Happy 70th, Paul - a great friend & hiking buddy

My favorite hiking buddy

       

The hike out of the canyon                                The happy couple

Sheep Creek Canyon & Bull Valley Gorge

Today Paul and I did a 16 mile loop hike starting at the Willis Creek trailhead, then down Sheep Creek Canyon, then up Bull Valley Gorge to the road and then about a 2 1/2 mile road walk back to the truck. Bull Valley Gorge is amazing. In places the slot is only 30" wide and 150' deep. It involved a lot of boulder climbing and in places was shin deep in mud from the last weeks rains. Truly a different experience for both of us.

Sheep Creek Canyon 1

Sheep Creek Canyon 2

Motorcycle in Bull Valley Gorge. 

About 150' below the top of the gorge.

Sheep Canyon 3

In 1954 a truck went off the road and got 

wedged in the slot. The three occupants 

were killed.

Kodachrome Basin State Park

We left camp about 9AM for a relatively short drive to Kodachrome Basin State Park on muddy dirt roads. On the way we stopped at Willis Creek for a three mile round trip hike through some junior slot canyons. We are camped in a new camping area that was just opened twelve days ago. Paul and I hope to hike some larger slot canyons tomorrow.

Trailhead signage

Peg & Linda 

Retirement sucks 

Sculpted sandstone walls

Lunch after hike

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

We spent last night in a RV park in Kanab, UT. This morning Paul and I went to the BLM office to get in the lottery for "The Wave" - Google (here or here) and YouTube (here or here) it. Only ten people a day are allowed in and there were 156 names in the hat. We didn't win. So we packed up and headed to Johnson Canyon where we are now. Peg, Paul and I went for an off trail hike up a canyon near we are camped. We got up about 500' in elevation gain before we got coiffed out. Only a little over two miles but a lot of fun.

Campsite

Exploration hike

Explored a side canyon

As far up as we got - coiffed out.