NP#9 - Canyonlands Revisited
We first visited Canyonlands NP in June, 2010. (See Blog: NP#9 - Canyonlands, June 2010) During our first visit, we took in the sights of Island in the Sky District. The Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands is located in the northern reaches of this expansive Park. Since our first visit was simply a "drive by", we chose to begin the camping version of this year's Trek by stopping at the southeastern portion known as the Needles District.
Cedar Mesa Sandstone Spires
The Needles District derives its name from the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the skyline. The alternating bands of white and red sandstone we deposited in an ancient Sea that covered the area hundreds of millions of years ago.
The Mushroom Hobsite
This portion of the Park has but 26 campsites. We were extremely fortunate to secure Site B-18 for our visit...as it was one of only two that remained when we arrived this morning! And luck or good fortune being with us...we scored the best site in the Camp.
Set all by itself, Site B-18 comes with a Hobbit Style Mushroom Cap that serves as protection from wind, rain and other campers!
Happy Hobsters
Ahhh...back on the road again! The campsite secured. The tent pitched. Sleeping bags in the ready. Beer and Mike's chilling in the Cooler. Wood for tonight's campfire. A couple of small hikes already under our belt. Life trekking the Parks is an amazing journey!
View from our back porch
The Needles
When in the Island in the Sky District, you view Canyonlands from above it all mainly looking down upon the White Rim and the rivers below. In the Needles District, you view it from ground level.
Elephant Hill
You walk amongst the "needles" and dome-shaped sandstone structures that I envisioned to be a field of petrified mushrooms.
We climbed up ladders...
We took in many "Viewpoints"...
Trekking to Chesler Park
The highlight (and subsequently the lowlight) of our visit to Canyonlands happened during our 11-mile Elephant Hill/Chesler Park hike on the third day of our Trek. Most of the hike was filled with visual splendor. Snags. Needles. Mormon Tea. Utah Juniper. An occasional lizard.
Steep Stairways
Much of the trail was over rugged terrain up and down some very steep staircases.
Slinking thru Slot Canyons
On several occasions, we had to squeeze through narrow slot canyons. This was the widest and shortest of the Slots we explored.
Incredible Vistas
Most of the hike was simply filled with incredible vistas!
Day Tripper!
Nine miles into our hike, the unexpected occurred. We were hiking along very flat terrain taking in the beauty of the landscape. Terry begins to remark about our McKittrick Canyon hike in Guadalupe National Park...when suddenly she trips over a tree root and falls face first into the rocks!
She lets out a scream and immediately asks me to tend to her scuffed up leg. I take one look at her knee. It's got a bit of a scuff mark and then I notice the 2" gash above her left eye spilling blood all over her face and tell her, "Terry, your leg's not the issue here. You've got a nasty cut over your left eye and we need to get you to a doctor immediately!
I tie the above pictured tourniquet on Terry's forehead and three hours later we are in the San Juan Hospital Emergency Room in Monticello, UT. Dr. Allen, the attending physician for the evening greets Terry and I with this comment: "I am not a plastic surgeon and I cannot guarantee that I can stitch you up like a plastic surgeon. So I am giving you the option of temporarily patching you up so you can get back to Phoenix and have your own physician stitch up your eye. Or I can do it right now. But I am not a plastic surgeon." He repeated the "not a plastic surgeon" at least three times.
I'm thinking..."Looks like we're headed home." Terry says to the Doc, "Look, this is day three of our three week vacation. We're not going back to Phoenix until we've visited our Parks. Stitch me up!" "That a Gal", I silently say to myself. What a trooper! (Or is it Tripper?) Nonetheless, Doc Allen sews Terry's left eyebrow back together with 13 stitches. And his work was every bit as good as any Plastic Surgeon!
Chesler Park Trail
Mushrooms and Breadsticks
Joint Trail
Newspaper Rock
Located at the eastern entrance to the Needles District, Newspaper Rock is covered by hundreds of ancient Indian petroglyphs. And sadly, it has been tagged by several modern morons who couldn't resist the temptation to immortalize their initials on the Rock.
The first carvings were made about 2000 years ago and contain images of humans, animals, aliens and many abstract forms. Nobody really knows what this "newspaper" was reporting; however, if you find yourself in the area, it does provide for a good read!
Moonset over Camp
Trekking the Needles
Park #9 Revisited
After a most eventful visit to Canyonlands, we packed up the Hob and headed for our next destination - Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, CO. May all your Treks thru this experience called life be filled with adventure!
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