photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Brian Dickson | profile | all galleries >> hayduke_2014 >> 1 To Hanksville tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

1 To Hanksville

Hayduke Trail 1... Our trip started with a leisurely but superb 3 day hike through Arches National Park. We followed a longer and more interesting line than the actual Hayduke Trail, with lots of slick rock and of course arches! Distant views to the snowy La Sal mountains were beautiful. After crossing the Colorado river we hiked a few miles into the town of Moab to paddle down the Colorado river for about 65 miles into Canyonlands National Park. We arranged for the rental company (Tag-a-Long Expeditions) to collect the kayaks from a place called 'Spanish Bottom' so that we could then continue hiking westward. It all worked out surprisingly well and we had a relatively relaxing few days enjoying the scenery, floating down the river framed by red cliffs!
We had planned an interesting route west from there through little travelled land. It sounded intriguing though, how could we resist: Up from Spanish Bottom to the Dolls House, through the Maze in Ernies Country to the Golden Stairs. From there up Flint trail and descend into Happy Canyon, then across the Dirty Devil river to Poison Spring Canyon and out to the road near the town of Hanksville. Check out our blog and 5 minute video too!
1 To Hanksville....2 To Escalante....3 To Arizona....4 Grand Canyon-Zion
previous pagepages 1 2 ALL next page
At the start of our hike!
At the start of our hike!
We are off! Walking towards Arches National Park
We are off! Walking towards Arches National Park
Tower Arch, Arches National Park looking towards Canyonlands
Tower Arch, Arches National Park looking towards Canyonlands
Arches National Park on our first day-the sun comes out
Arches National Park on our first day-the sun comes out
We had to scramble up a cliff band to reach 'Dark Angel'
We had to scramble up a cliff band to reach 'Dark Angel'
Looking back to 'Dark Angel' and now on trail
Looking back to 'Dark Angel' and now on trail
The great fins in Arches NP Devil's Garden 'primitive trail'
The great fins in Arches NP Devil's Garden 'primitive trail'
Slick rock in Arches NP Devil's Garden area
Slick rock in Arches NP Devil's Garden area
The weather clears in Arches NP
The weather clears in Arches NP
Our first camp just outside Arches NP
Our first camp just outside Arches NP
Broken Arch at 7am, Arches NP
Broken Arch at 7am, Arches NP
Sand Arch, Arches NP
Sand Arch, Arches NP
Willow Spring Wash, Arches NP
Willow Spring Wash, Arches NP
Slick rock walking looking to the La Sal mountains, Arches NP
Slick rock walking looking to the La Sal mountains, Arches NP
Martina looks out for our rocky descent scramble towards Courthouse Towers, Arches NP
Martina looks out for our rocky descent scramble towards Courthouse Towers, Arches NP
Above Courthouse Towers, Arches NP
Above Courthouse Towers, Arches NP
The last chimney crack descent of the cliff above Courthouse Towers
The last chimney crack descent of the cliff above Courthouse Towers
Trail into Courthouse Wash, Arches NP
Trail into Courthouse Wash, Arches NP
Courthouse Wash camp in evening light
Courthouse Wash camp in evening light
Courthouse wash opens out on day 3
Courthouse wash opens out on day 3
We exit Arches NP and hike over the Colorado river to Moab
We exit Arches NP and hike over the Colorado river to Moab
Leaving Moab being checked by the National Park
Leaving Moab being checked by the National Park
About to start just north of the bridge going into Moab
About to start just north of the bridge going into Moab
The water was flat and muddy!
The water was flat and muddy!
Passing banded cliffs on Day 1
Passing banded cliffs on Day 1
The weather cleared in the evening
The weather cleared in the evening
Our first river camp
Our first river camp
Evening at camp 1
Evening at camp 1
Evening at camp 1
Evening at camp 1
Brian ready to set off
Brian ready to set off
Day 2
Day 2
We were covered by mud and silt from the river!
We were covered by mud and silt from the river!
Martina with taxidermy deer mount(!) found on a beach
Martina with taxidermy deer mount(!) found on a beach
Floating the Colorado
Floating the Colorado
Silty beach
Silty beach
Brian studies maps
Brian studies maps
Afloat on the big river
Afloat on the big river
Lovely spring flowers
Lovely spring flowers
Spring flowers on a walk
Spring flowers on a walk
Camp 2 on a sandy island
Camp 2 on a sandy island
Martina sinking into the river mud
Martina sinking into the river mud
Cleaning mud before paddling!
Cleaning mud before paddling!
Egret
Egret
Day 3
Day 3
Lizard
Lizard
Rustler Canyon falls
Rustler Canyon falls
Day 3
Day 3
Petroglyphs at 'The Loop'
Petroglyphs at 'The Loop'
Looking from the petroglyphs to our camp
Looking from the petroglyphs to our camp
The Loop camp, rainclouds above
The Loop camp, rainclouds above
Martina in picture at the bottom centre
Martina in picture at the bottom centre
Sunny Day 4
Sunny Day 4
Approaching 'The Slide' rapids Day 4
Approaching 'The Slide' rapids Day 4
Take out just below the Green River confluence
Take out just below the Green River confluence
Our drinking water was silty!
Our drinking water was silty!
Below Spanish Bottom at Cataract Canyon
Below Spanish Bottom at Cataract Canyon
Spanish bottom camp
Spanish bottom camp
Stairs cut out to give river access at Spanish Bottom
Stairs cut out to give river access at Spanish Bottom
A raven looks on
A raven looks on
Brian at Spanish Bottom
Brian at Spanish Bottom
Our rental boat arrives to take the kayaks!
Our rental boat arrives to take the kayaks!
Goodbye kayaks you were fun!
Goodbye kayaks you were fun!
At Spanish Bottom on the Colorado River
At Spanish Bottom on the Colorado River
Above Spanish Bottom looking to the outflow of Red Lake Canyon
Above Spanish Bottom looking to the outflow of Red Lake Canyon
We climbed up onto the plateau at 'The Doll's House'
We climbed up onto the plateau at 'The Doll's House'
Doll's House area of The Maze
Doll's House area of The Maze
Great hiking in Ernies Country, Canyonlands NP
Great hiking in Ernies Country, Canyonlands NP
Cryptobiotic soils
Cryptobiotic soils
Looking north to The Fins area of Canyonlands NP
Looking north to The Fins area of Canyonlands NP
Hoorah! We find Lou's Spring, a rare water source
Hoorah! We find Lou's Spring, a rare water source
Climbing out towards the Golden Stairs
Climbing out towards the Golden Stairs
Golden Stairs, Mother and Child rock below
Golden Stairs, Mother and Child rock below
At the top of the Flint Trail down towards Big Water Canyon
At the top of the Flint Trail down towards Big Water Canyon
We are on route towards the huge 30 mile Happy Canyon
We are on route towards the huge 30 mile Happy Canyon
Descent into Happy Canyon on an old mining track
Descent into Happy Canyon on an old mining track
Brian finds shade!
Brian finds shade!
Grey and red rock part of the colourful 'Chinle' formation
Grey and red rock part of the colourful 'Chinle' formation
Lunch spot under a juniper for shade
Lunch spot under a juniper for shade
'The Red Kitchen' - Camp in south fork Happy Canyon
'The Red Kitchen' - Camp in south fork Happy Canyon
An early morning start down the south fork
An early morning start down the south fork
Happy Canyon alkaline deposits
Happy Canyon alkaline deposits
Martina descends into the slot of Happy Canyon
Martina descends into the slot of Happy Canyon
Happy Canyon
Happy Canyon
Happy Canyon
Happy Canyon
Happy Canyon swirls
Happy Canyon swirls
Happy Canyon
Happy Canyon
Lizard
Lizard
Happy Canyon
Happy Canyon
Happy Canyon Southern Utah
Happy Canyon Southern Utah
We were able to follow the slot canyon out to the Dirty Devil river
We were able to follow the slot canyon out to the Dirty Devil river
Crossing the Dirty Devil river was easier than expected
Crossing the Dirty Devil river was easier than expected
Leaving the Dirty Devil camp
Leaving the Dirty Devil camp
Hiking an old mining track above the Dirty Devil
Hiking an old mining track above the Dirty Devil
Petrified logs above the Dirty Devil
Petrified logs above the Dirty Devil
Dirty Devil
Dirty Devil
Dirty Devil
Dirty Devil
Dirty Devil
Dirty Devil
Brightly coloured petrified logs
Brightly coloured petrified logs
We leave the Dirty Devil and head west
We leave the Dirty Devil and head west
Poison spring Canyon
Poison spring Canyon
Martina rests
Martina rests
Camping  in reflected red light under cottonwoods
Camping in reflected red light under cottonwoods
Some pools above Poison Spring
Some pools above Poison Spring
jeep track in Poison Spring Canyon
jeep track in Poison Spring Canyon
Dome country
Dome country
Footprints in the sand
Footprints in the sand
Nice crossbedding in the sandstone
Nice crossbedding in the sandstone
The Henry mountains appear- our next target!
The Henry mountains appear- our next target!
We hitch into Hanksville, Utah and pick up our 'resupply box' at the Post Office
We hitch into Hanksville, Utah and pick up our 'resupply box' at the Post Office
previous pagepages 1 2 ALL next page