Photography
Related: About this forumFor my 10K post at DU, A Return to Sand Canyon.
Cleopatra Marie and I went on a 6.2 mile hike last Friday on the Sand Canyon Trail in the Canyons of the Ancients, a National Monument that straddles the Colorado and Utah border in the Four Corners, administered by the BLM. http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nm/canm.html
Heading south from the trailhead to the rim the weather forecast was "partly cloudy"...
About to start the switchbacks down to the canyon floor.
Cleo is a most excellent trail guide.
`
Juniper berries - gin and tonic would be good right now.
Many, many switchbacks later, almost to the canyon floor.
And straight into the slot canyon at the bottom.
The South trailhead. We made it! Thanks for coming along!
http://s137.photobucket.com/user/digrow/library/Canyons%20of%20theAncients/Sand%20Canyon%20Spring%20Traverse
Mira
(22,378 posts)Last edited Wed Apr 10, 2013, 06:43 PM - Edit history (1)
it takes me a while to get up from the floor and re-collect myself.
Congratulations for the 10 000 posts. I think this means you'll hang around, eh?
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)MichaelSoE
(1,575 posts)bluedigger
(17,077 posts)I milked my trip across the Imogene Pass last summer pretty hard, with some success. This hike will be hard to find themes for, I think. But don't think I won't try...
Skinner
(63,645 posts)Great pics.
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)I could never have wasted so much time without you!
And learned so much.
likesmountains 52
(4,093 posts)I always see something new. And the weather, clouds and sky can change the colors of the rocks so much too. Now I need to drive over to Cortez ! Congratulations on the 10,000 too.
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)I'm nearly recovered from this last trip.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)Love the wide angles. Especially of Cleo on the trail.
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)By the second half of the trip she was heeling behind me. I had to keep turning around to see that she was still there - usually about two feet away.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)And look how smart she is...she seeks the shade.
ConcernedCanuk
(13,509 posts).
.
.
that's a no brainer!!
If you got a friendly dog, and it growls at a visitor . . .
'nuff said methinks . . .
CC
ConcernedCanuk
(13,509 posts).
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By the way, they are beautiful pictures.
Reminds me of the days back in the 70's when I toured the states.
Nice country, nice people -
lived in SanDee for 14 months,
so I know.
Too bad about your government.
CC
panader0
(25,816 posts)Cleo keeps looking back, wondering what's the holdup....
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)Bonhomme Richard
(8,992 posts)bluedigger
(17,077 posts)There are not one, but three, National Parks within two hours of here - Mesa Verde, Canyonlands, and Arches National Parks. Just because we are in the middle of nowhere doesn't mean there's nothing here!
Bonhomme Richard
(8,992 posts)and ever since reading Desert Solitaire I have wanted to go.
Mz Pip
(27,403 posts)Sadly, hikes that long are beyond me now. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I know I'd love to see more of CO and UT.
These are great photos and Cleo looks to be quite a sweetly.
Congrats on 10k!
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)The trail is quite accessible from the south trailhead, without having to climb down, or up, the north rim of the canyon. I didn't post any pics of the ruins nearer the southern end because I did those a couple years ago. I was plenty tuckered, believe you me! Downhills are really hard on the thighs - I didn't get over the soreness for four days afterwards.
One more of Cleo, since everybody likes her.
Taking a break.
Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)I wish I could have went with you.
Seems you were holding up Cleopatra.
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)I wasn't completely useless. She also had me carry the water.
locks
(2,012 posts)I remember well your great photos of Imogene Pass last year. I have not been to Sand Canyon but many friends have and also digging in Crow Canyon. How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place!
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)We are blessed, indeed!
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)When I saw that sign, I would have decided that I didn't want to see the bottom of the canyon! I will hike, but I have only done one hike on "most difficult" trails.....and I will not do that again. Then again, as I get older, those trails get harder.
Congratulations on 10,000 posts.
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)Going down. I only slipped once, nearly at the bottom, on some loose gravel. That's why I through hiked it from north to south. No way I was climbing up it after a six mile slog!