What better way to examine a landscape than to walk into it? Ida Gulch, a valley between
buttes northeast of Moab, called to me and I responded. My goal was to hike into the valley
to get a close look at the southeast end of Parriott Mesa to determine whether a scrambling
route led to its top. Although I did not fulfill this goal (my view of the route was obscured
by a cliff) I had a wonderful time in this colorful valley. Cryptobiotic soil covered most of
the ground, so I followed stream channels whenever possible.

The gulch is at the center of this WikiMapia aerial photo:
http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=38670367&x=-109389238&z=14&l=0&m=a&v=2 .

One problem: I underestimated the effect of the dry heat of July, taking only three quarts
(2.8 liters) of water when five (4.6 liters) would have been better.
Topographic map: USGS Big Bend, Utah.
.