4/24/10 Canyonlands National Park - Horseshoe Canyon Hike (an adventure in mis- adventures)

4/24/2010 Canyonlands National Park - Horseshoe Canyon Adventure statistics:

adventure days=1.5
vacation days off of work=0
highway miles=520
off-highway miles=61
hiking miles=7.0
average lodging cost per paid night (0 night) = $0.00
average lodging cost per total nights (2 nights) = $0.00

FYI - for those of you viewing this through email, Facebook, or Google Reader, you must view our blog directly at http://rllrtolman.blogspot.com to view the 2010 Cumulative Adventure stats and/or the photo slideshows)

This past weekend we took a trip to the Horseshoe Canyon Unit of Canyonlands National Park. It was great fun with perfect weather! Let's start with the good stuff, the pictures!! Then, if you're not too bored, to can scroll to the whimsical commentary down below.

(Note, those viewing via email or Facebook will need to go to the blog at http://rllrtolman.blogspot.com/2010/04/42410-canyonlands-national-park.html to see the picture slideshows)

CAMPSITE AND TRAILHEAD:


THE HIKE:


THE HIKE (VIDEOS):
Note - It's a slideshow so keep watching till the end, about 4 minutes total


ROCK ART:


ROCK ART (VIDEOS - yes! We really did take videos of rock art, feel free to shake your head):
Note - It's a slideshow, about 45 seconds total


THE DRIVE HOME:


Having wanted to hike Horseshoe Canyon for several years now, we finally decided we better just do it, before the summer comes on and ruins the opportunity. So Friday night we headed off on the long drive to Horseshoe Canyon to set up camp and wait for daylight. The camping area is little more than a gravel parking lot with a pit toilet. It is NOT an ideal camping area in many respects, but with regard to its proximity to the trailhead, it was perfect.

We arrived about 10:00pm and settled in. Before we get on with the hiking trip, we must digress temporarily to include a story about the resolution of mis- adventure #1, which occurred in the wee hours of the morning just before dawn. Several months ago, Lacey started asking about shooting stars. She wished she might "wish upon a shooting star." We discussed it with her and let her know that although she might find a shooting star or two on nearly any clear night, she may have to stay up all night scouring the skies in order to find one. So we checked the internet and found out that a meteor shower would be peaking on the night of Wednesday, April 21. Lacey marked that on her calendar and has spoken of it with great anticipation ever since. Well April 21 came. Completely overcast and rained all night long. Same thing the next night as well. What devastation filled our home all the day before and after. Fast forward to Friday night. As we drive to our campsite we encountered wind, rain, cloudiness, and even a little snow; not promissing. Nonetheless, Ron set the alarm early in the morning; there would be approximately an hour or two between the setting of the moon and the first twilight from the sun. He woke up, unzipped the door to the tent, and found a perfectly clear and calm sky! With the moon having gone down and with us being several miles from any kind of light pollution, the sky was black as night (pun intended) as was glittering with stars galore. He woke up Lacey, they moved their sleeping bags so they could drape their heads out the doorway and stare at the sky. First came one, then another, and finally a third! Just before the morning twilight began to wash away the darkness, Lacey finally got to make her first ever, "wish upon a shooting star" - thrice!!! :)

Morning. Breakfast. Started the hike about 8:45 am, which leads us to mis- adventure #2. Forgoing the tale of details, about 3/4 - 1 mile into the 7 mile adventure, Stan and Rae decided that they needed to turn back. We offered to go with them, cancel the hike, and go do something else for the day; Goblin Valley is not far away. But they insisted we finish the hike without them. We parted ways. :(

The rest of the hike... First off, know that Lacey hiked the entire 7 miles on her own two feet! The only complaining was about the sand in her shoes, of which stopping to dump became a regular task. Having borrowed a kid carrying backpack from Mark, Riley enjoyed a comfortable ride for most of the hike, including 2 long naps. However, even he hiked at least 2 miles of the route all by himself. We are proud of them both! This hike consists of about 1.5 miles descending into the bottom of the canyon, about 1000 feet. Then it is flat walking through a sandy wash, with "marked and signed" Indian rock art at 1.7 miles, 2.0 miles, 2.5 miles, and, finally, the Great Gallery at 3.5 miles. Then you hike back, saving the hardest and most gruelling part, the ascent back up to the canyon rim, for last, when you are the most tired and hot. In total, the hike took about 4 hours. We spent a good long while at each of the rock art panels, including 2 hours of gawking and playing at the Great Galley. The weather was a near perfect 70 degrees with deep blue skies as far as the eye could see. The deep canyon provided opportunities for shade for all but maybe an hour when the sun was highest in the sky.

The rock art! It was outstanding! All of the panels were impressive. The highlight being the Great Gallery which is about 200 feet long and contains dozens of extremely intricate figures, some as large as 8 feet tall, many were around 6 feet tall. Many figures have details that were carved or pecked into the rock and then paint applied over the top. Within the Great Galley, the crown jewel of rock art in the National Park System is arguably the group known as "The Holy Ghost and Attendants." Images of it have become Canyonlands National Park's unofficial mascot, appearing on much of its literature. It is famous for its unique 3-D effect, using images of differing sizes to, theoretically, depict varying distances. Whatever the meaning or intent, the artistic methods used by its creators, estimated to have lived anywhere from 2,000 to 8,000 years ago is awe- inspiring. The most common style of rock art in the canyon is the "Barrier Canyon" style. This canyon used to be called Barrier Canyon, now all rock art of this style is named after this canyon. The images here are widely considered the most impressive example of Barrier Canyon style rock art in the world. Arguments about comparison's aside, it is a spectacle well worth the effort.

While at the Great Gallery, there were Park Service volunteers on hand to answer questions, and, no doubt, keep on eye on the visitors. We ended up spending 2 hours there; lunch time, play time, and gawk time. At one point, no other visitors were around. The park volunteers offered to take Lori into the restricted area right up within touching distance of the art. The public viewing area is a good 50 feet at closest to the rock art. They spent about 20 minutes up behind the barricades with Lori, talking to her about the art and letting her take pictures to her heart's content. We ended up with 275 pictures on our camera and added 100 pictures to Stan's camera, which Lori took with us after he turned back.

We had a great time and it was a great adventure. On a commercial note, I HIGHLY recommend the book, "Best Hikes with Children - Utah," by Maureen Keilty. The kid oriented facts, questions, and commentary are a great way to keep kids of all ages focused and intrigued on an otherwise long and potentially boring walk.

After the hike, we went to Hanksville for burgers, then went to Stan and Rae's house to sleep before heading home Sunday morning, just in time for church.