Grand Gulch Backpacking Trip, Sept 18-24

Since we were all a bit cold in the evenings on the backpacking trip around Engineer Mountain we decided to head to the desert in Utah and hike Grand Gulch Canyon. It was gorgeous!!

At the trailhead - the "before" photo

Ancient Pueblo handprints

Our campsite the first night

There were no bugs so we were able to use these open floor tent/tarps that are much lighter and cooler than regular tents.

the rock

Excited about the second day

Mid-way through the second day at the top of a dried up waterfall

Crossing the dried stream bed

View from our campsite as the sun was setting

Same photo - just goofing around in Photoshop

Ancient pueblo pictographs at the Green Mask spot, near our campsite

The Green Mask site with various drawings including some indicating "springs"

The Green Mask site with the two headless Basketmaker figures on the left

Taking a siesta during a day hike along a side canyon

View from our campsite

Making pizza

Animal tracks seen on the last day - coyote?

day hike

Canyon walls


Canyon walls -
you can see how the river has wound around and carved out the walls over the years


Canyon walls and blue sky

Ancient corncob from the Pueblo people - ruins in the background

Pueblo ruins

Gorgeous canyon walls

The trip was beautiful! The biggest challenge was having to carry a lot of water in the heat. I seem to have an higher tolerance for heat than most (and conversely a lower tolerance for cold) so the heat didn't bother me much. I hope to go back soon.