Post by GaliWalker on Feb 26, 2017 18:35:35 GMT -8
Hike #9, in my personal Top-10...
Top-10 hikes:
10: Lake Ida – Lake Edna loop (Washington)
9: Chesler Park and Druid Arch (Utah)
8: Presidential Traverse (New Hampshire)
7: Half Dome (California)
6: Pea Soup Lake (Washington)
5: Grand Canyon (Arizona)
4: Enchantments (Washington)
3: Nanga Parbat bc, Fairy Meadows (Himalayas)
2: Snow Lake (Karakorams)
1: Concordia and K2 basecamp (Karakorams)
Four days of incredible action on my southwest trip...the fifth day was no different. It started off with the realization of a dream and then was kicked into high gear by a tour of The Needles district in Canyonlands National Park.
Turret Arch, Arches National Park
25yrs ago, when I picked up my first camera and started reading up on composition techniques, I saw a photo of Turret Arch, framed by North Window Arch. The photo didn't give the location, or any other details, but it stuck in my mind. Since then, I've seen that shot repeatedly, but I knew I had to take it myself, no matter the commonness. The previous two days, I'd made two trips to the Windows section, in Arches National Park, scouting the location and noting that the best time to take the shot would be sunrise.
I reached the trailhead for North Window Arch in pitch dark. One other person was ahead of me while another was just behind. As I reached North Window, I could see that the first person, a nice lady, did not know where to go next. I pointed out the shooting location to her and headed to it myself. Soon after, I was joined by her and three others, but by then I was well settled in the best (only) good spot. And then I had a good laugh: a group of around 15 other photographers descended on our location, all trying to fit themselves into an area in which only five people could have reasonably fit. To make matters even funnier was the fact that this large group was led by the same people who had irritated me at Mesa Arch, the morning before. But this time I was first, and in the only prime spot! Oh, sweet revenge.
Dawn was everything I could have hoped for and I got my shot - a dream come true. I didn't overstay my time though, since I knew that lots of people were eying my spot, with the light still good. Plus, I had a long day ahead.
Chesler Park and Druid Arch (4/21/2012)
Needles District, Canyonlands National Park
Feeling well pleased with the morning, I motored off for Canyonlands' Needles District, following the pattern I'd fallen into over the course of the trip: photography for mornings and evenings, hiking for the day. I reached a packed Elephant Hill trailhead, geared up and took off in a knot of other hikers. My destination was Chesler Park, a wide expansive space ringed by sandstone spires, the 'needles', which gave this region its name.
After a short climb I was deposited on a level bench, comprised of sandstone slabs. The scenery was superb, with sandstone outcrops rising high to the right and a canyon, choked with mushroom-shaped outcrops, to the left. The route, marked by cairns, took me through interesting terrain, sometimes through narrow slot canyons and sometimes across expansive meadows.
About 1.5mi into the hike I took a right on a trail that came in from Squaw Flat and dropped into Elephant Canyon. Sandy Elephant Canyon would be my return route, but I continued straight and climbed out of the canyon. Along the way I crossed a party of four; we would play leap frog for the next 1.5mi.
About 3mi into the hike I entered gorgeous Chesler Park. Desert grasses and shrubs carpeted a wide, flat expanse. The Needles ringed this space, glittering red and white, against a blue sky backdrop.
About a mile later I reached a stunning vista, in a secluded, shaded corner of the Needles, overlooking Elephant Canyon. I spent some time taking self portraits. A couple from the group of four, who I'd been playing leap frog with, got roped in by me, into becoming models. As I was packing up, the guy sidled up to me, showed me an engagement ring, and requested privacy! I made haste, wishing him luck, but immediately stopped once out of sight...hey, I was taking a few more self portraits. When I heard a roar from the group of four, I grinned and was on my way again.
The happy couple (pre-proposal)
4.2mi into the hike, where the Chesler Park Trail hit the Joint Trail, I took a left and headed towards Elephant Canyon. Up till now there'd been quite a few other hikers on the trail. Now, I saw none, which was quite amazing, since this was a gorgeous stretch of hiking. Slickrock slabs, took me steeply down past slot canyons, more needles, and superb views of Elephant Canyon and its far rim. A solo hiker, I often talk to myself, sometimes aloud, if I'm seriously impressed:
"Awesome!"
"No, awesomely awesome!"
"No, no...awesomely awesome awesomeness!"
"Ok, knock it off."
1mi later I intersected the Elephant Canyon trail, another popular highway, and headed right towards Druid Arch. The route was now along the canyon floor. Sandy sections made for difficult footing, but you'd get the occasional sandstone slab to make up time on. Some of these water-eroded slabs were quite arresting and would have made for beautiful photography subjects in more flattering light.
1.5mi along Elephant Canyon and the way had become more difficult. Slickrock slopes and dry watercourses had to be navigated, then a ladder to get one up a boulder cliff and finally a steep slope to climb up out of the canyon. By now, I knew I was close to Druid Arch, but could not figure out where it was. All around me towered huge sandstone fins and spires, but no arch. Halfway up the steep climb, as I stopped to take a breather, I almost tumbled back down when I noticed that the enormous fin I'd noticed edge-on from the canyon floor, was actually Druid Arch. Now viewed from the side, it stood revealed in all its magnificence: an enormous titan, presiding over the entire valley.
I knocked off the final climb, which put me on a level bench, a perfect viewing platform, and gawped at Druid Arch. In its own unique way, this arch was more impressive than any I'd seen in Arches National Park.
I turned on the jets on the return, this time taking Elephant Canyon all the way to where it intersected the Chesler Park Trail, closing the loop. What a great hike; Chesler Park and Druid Arch, together, would make my top 10. (Note: I wrote this then...and it's still true today!)
Stats: 13mi, 2000ft gain.
Top-10 hikes:
10: Lake Ida – Lake Edna loop (Washington)
9: Chesler Park and Druid Arch (Utah)
8: Presidential Traverse (New Hampshire)
7: Half Dome (California)
6: Pea Soup Lake (Washington)
5: Grand Canyon (Arizona)
4: Enchantments (Washington)
3: Nanga Parbat bc, Fairy Meadows (Himalayas)
2: Snow Lake (Karakorams)
1: Concordia and K2 basecamp (Karakorams)
Four days of incredible action on my southwest trip...the fifth day was no different. It started off with the realization of a dream and then was kicked into high gear by a tour of The Needles district in Canyonlands National Park.
Turret Arch, Arches National Park
25yrs ago, when I picked up my first camera and started reading up on composition techniques, I saw a photo of Turret Arch, framed by North Window Arch. The photo didn't give the location, or any other details, but it stuck in my mind. Since then, I've seen that shot repeatedly, but I knew I had to take it myself, no matter the commonness. The previous two days, I'd made two trips to the Windows section, in Arches National Park, scouting the location and noting that the best time to take the shot would be sunrise.
I reached the trailhead for North Window Arch in pitch dark. One other person was ahead of me while another was just behind. As I reached North Window, I could see that the first person, a nice lady, did not know where to go next. I pointed out the shooting location to her and headed to it myself. Soon after, I was joined by her and three others, but by then I was well settled in the best (only) good spot. And then I had a good laugh: a group of around 15 other photographers descended on our location, all trying to fit themselves into an area in which only five people could have reasonably fit. To make matters even funnier was the fact that this large group was led by the same people who had irritated me at Mesa Arch, the morning before. But this time I was first, and in the only prime spot! Oh, sweet revenge.
Dawn was everything I could have hoped for and I got my shot - a dream come true. I didn't overstay my time though, since I knew that lots of people were eying my spot, with the light still good. Plus, I had a long day ahead.
Chesler Park and Druid Arch (4/21/2012)
Needles District, Canyonlands National Park
Feeling well pleased with the morning, I motored off for Canyonlands' Needles District, following the pattern I'd fallen into over the course of the trip: photography for mornings and evenings, hiking for the day. I reached a packed Elephant Hill trailhead, geared up and took off in a knot of other hikers. My destination was Chesler Park, a wide expansive space ringed by sandstone spires, the 'needles', which gave this region its name.
After a short climb I was deposited on a level bench, comprised of sandstone slabs. The scenery was superb, with sandstone outcrops rising high to the right and a canyon, choked with mushroom-shaped outcrops, to the left. The route, marked by cairns, took me through interesting terrain, sometimes through narrow slot canyons and sometimes across expansive meadows.
About 1.5mi into the hike I took a right on a trail that came in from Squaw Flat and dropped into Elephant Canyon. Sandy Elephant Canyon would be my return route, but I continued straight and climbed out of the canyon. Along the way I crossed a party of four; we would play leap frog for the next 1.5mi.
About 3mi into the hike I entered gorgeous Chesler Park. Desert grasses and shrubs carpeted a wide, flat expanse. The Needles ringed this space, glittering red and white, against a blue sky backdrop.
About a mile later I reached a stunning vista, in a secluded, shaded corner of the Needles, overlooking Elephant Canyon. I spent some time taking self portraits. A couple from the group of four, who I'd been playing leap frog with, got roped in by me, into becoming models. As I was packing up, the guy sidled up to me, showed me an engagement ring, and requested privacy! I made haste, wishing him luck, but immediately stopped once out of sight...hey, I was taking a few more self portraits. When I heard a roar from the group of four, I grinned and was on my way again.
The happy couple (pre-proposal)
4.2mi into the hike, where the Chesler Park Trail hit the Joint Trail, I took a left and headed towards Elephant Canyon. Up till now there'd been quite a few other hikers on the trail. Now, I saw none, which was quite amazing, since this was a gorgeous stretch of hiking. Slickrock slabs, took me steeply down past slot canyons, more needles, and superb views of Elephant Canyon and its far rim. A solo hiker, I often talk to myself, sometimes aloud, if I'm seriously impressed:
"Awesome!"
"No, awesomely awesome!"
"No, no...awesomely awesome awesomeness!"
"Ok, knock it off."
1mi later I intersected the Elephant Canyon trail, another popular highway, and headed right towards Druid Arch. The route was now along the canyon floor. Sandy sections made for difficult footing, but you'd get the occasional sandstone slab to make up time on. Some of these water-eroded slabs were quite arresting and would have made for beautiful photography subjects in more flattering light.
1.5mi along Elephant Canyon and the way had become more difficult. Slickrock slopes and dry watercourses had to be navigated, then a ladder to get one up a boulder cliff and finally a steep slope to climb up out of the canyon. By now, I knew I was close to Druid Arch, but could not figure out where it was. All around me towered huge sandstone fins and spires, but no arch. Halfway up the steep climb, as I stopped to take a breather, I almost tumbled back down when I noticed that the enormous fin I'd noticed edge-on from the canyon floor, was actually Druid Arch. Now viewed from the side, it stood revealed in all its magnificence: an enormous titan, presiding over the entire valley.
I knocked off the final climb, which put me on a level bench, a perfect viewing platform, and gawped at Druid Arch. In its own unique way, this arch was more impressive than any I'd seen in Arches National Park.
I turned on the jets on the return, this time taking Elephant Canyon all the way to where it intersected the Chesler Park Trail, closing the loop. What a great hike; Chesler Park and Druid Arch, together, would make my top 10. (Note: I wrote this then...and it's still true today!)
Stats: 13mi, 2000ft gain.