Bryce Canyon Hike June 23, 2011

One section of Bryce Canyon

Hoodoos from above near Sunset Point

Navajo Loop Trail going down into Wall Street

Wall Street

I went to Bryce Canyon National Park in late June.  I rode the tour buses and went all through the northern end of the park.

I did take one hike, starting with the Navajo Loop Trail and finished with Queens Garden Trail.  My favorite part was a segment in the Navajo Loop Trail called Wall Street.  From up on top of the main ridge of Bryce Canyon, the hoodoos don't look that big, but walking amongst them in Wall Street, you realize they are huge.

Missouri Lakes-Fancy Pass Hike

I drove up to Missouri Lakes Creek on the recommendation of a friend.  I got there on Friday night about 9pm, parked on the side of the Homestake Road about 1/2 mile from the trailhead and slept in my car.  I woke up about 6am but it was still dark so I slept until 7:15am.  I changed clothes and was at the trailhead at 7:30am.  Though the trailheads about about 1/4 mile apart (in the same parking area), upon Jenny's recommendation, I took the Fancy Pass Trailhead.  I didn't see anyone until I made it to Fancy Lake.  The mosquitos were out in force so I headed for Fancy Pass.

The trail from Fancy Lake to Fancy Pass was a lot steeper hike than the trail to Fancy Lake (11,540 ft).  As I neared the pass, I could see there was a lot of snow.  I had slid about 150 ft while crossing a snow field in the Sangre De Cristos with my youngest son Johnny several years ago so I knew I shouldn't be attempting this.  I could see a young couple ahead of me so I gave it a shot, hoping that my trekking poles would help.

It look at least an hour and a half to go about half a mile but I finally made it to Fancy Pass (12,400 ft).  The couple was still at the top resting and I think they made it to the top at least 30 minutes before I did.  They had recently moved to Colorado Springs from Ohio and loved the proximity to the mountains.

The views from the pass were incredible.  Once I walked down into the valley near Treasure Vault Lake, I could see there were lots of wild flowers and mountain streams formed from all the snow melt.

 After several breaks for pictures, I hiked up over Missouri Pass into the Missouri Lakes area.  Just as Jenny had said, the lakes were beautiful, surrounded by the mountain peaks.

When I saw rain clouds gathering above, I decided against camping and decided to hike the rest of the loop.  Jenny was correct, most of the loop was after Missouri Lakes and I was grateful that I was going downhill.  I met about 100 people coming up while I was going down.  I guess they had heard about the snow fields on the way to Fancy Pass.  I got back to my car at 2:50pm.  You can see more pictures and the path I took on the Spot Adventures link below.




Fancy Pass & Missouri Lakes

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Hexamid Twin Tarp from ZPacks arrived

I got it last night and seam sealed all the seams then read the instructions again.  It said to do the seams on the outside so I had to do the other side as well.  It needs to dry for 6 hours.  I'll take some pictures of it when I'm backpacking this weekend but here is the promotional picture for it.  It is this color and has the optional beak. It seems to be big enough for me and my gear.  I usually like the 2 person tents/tarps so there is room for my gear and room to move around when I'm getting ready to sleep.

I'll have to weigh it when it is dry.  It started out at 5.4oz but will most certainly weigh more with seam sealer on both sides of the seams.  Hopefully not much more than 6oz.  But still, that is almost 1 1/2 pounds less than my Big Agnes Ultralight tent (Fly Creek 2) which didn't seem that bad when I carried it.  Just a pound here and a pound there added up to my vertebrate between L4 and L5 getting inflamed.

Trail Maps App for iOS 4 devices

Great topo program from National Geographic.  I wouldn't call it Trail Maps.  I would call it Topo Maps but the topo maps are very clear and excellent quality.  The maps can be downloaded to the unit to use when you don't have a cell signal.  I might break down and take my iPad on my next backpacking trip just to see how it does.

Updated Gear List - my tarp is supposed to arrive today

RikSak and Items in RikSak	Ounces	Pounds
Sleeping bag -Western Mountaineering High Lite (w/sack)	16.90	1.06
Patagonia Down Jacket	12.00	0.75
Mountain Designs Rain Jacket	9.70	0.61
Cook pot - Snow Peak Trek Titanium 1 liter with lid	5.50	0.34
Hexamid Twin Tarp with Extended Beak	5.40	0.34
Nightlight Sleeping Pad 19 x 29 x 3/4" (torso length)	3.70	0.23
Extra pair of wool socks	3.45	0.22
No-see-um netting (54"x60")	2.25	0.14
RikSak	2.20	0.14
Painter's drop cloth 6' x 4.5'	1.35	0.08
Rx Glasses	0.85	0.05
RikSak and Items in RikSak	63.30	3.96
Daylight Lumbar Pack and Items in Lumbar Pack	Ounces	Pounds
Mountain Smith Daylight Lumbar pack	10.00	0.63
Cell phone	6.85	0.43
Personal locator beacon - Spot Connect - 5 oz	5.00	0.31
Water Purifier - Steripen Adventurer Opti	4.55	0.28
Extra batteries (4 AA, 2 batteries for Steripen)	4.35	0.27
Emergency Kit	3.90	0.24
Water containers - two 1 liter soda bottles	3.40	0.21
Sunblock and bug protection	2.50	0.16
White box alcohol stove	2.10	0.13
Varga Titanium Stakes (8)	1.65	0.10
Bottle for alcohol	1.00	0.06
bic lighter	0.75	0.05
Toilet Paper	0.75	0.05
Hand sanitizer	0.65	0.04
Toothbrush	0.60	0.04
Driver's license, credit card and health insurance card	0.50	0.03
Camp soap	0.55	0.03
Pack towel (cut in half, half for body, half for food)	0.55	0.03
Kitchen trash bags (2)	0.60	0.04
Compass, thermometer	0.45	0.03
Knife - Swiss Tech Utili-key	0.45	0.03
Light My Fire Original Spork	0.35	0.02
ZipLit LED and Princeton Tec	0.35	0.02
Whistle	0.15	0.01
Maps & guide in phone (scanned in)	0.00	0.00
Always in Pack	52.00	3.25
Consumables	Ounces	Pounds
Food 2 days (24oz per day)	48.00	3.00
6 oz of denatured alcohol	6.00	0.38
Water 1.5 liters (average)	52.80	3.30
Consumables	106.80	6.68
Total packs and items carried in packs	222.10	13.88
Worn clothes & trekking poles	Ounces	Pounds
New Balance GTX Hiking Shoes	33.50	2.09
Socks (1 pair wool, 1 pair liner)	4.40	0.28
WW Sportsman polyester pants (zip off)	8.15	0.51
Synthetic short sleeve shirt	5.80	0.36
Liner gloves	2.05	0.13
Synthetic Baseball cap	1.75	0.11
Rx Sunglasses	0.85	0.05
Black Diamond-Distance Zpoles	12.00	0.75
Worn clothes and trekking poles	68.50	4.28
Total carried in packs, clothes worn and trekking poles	290.60	18.16
OPTIONAL ITEMS
Thermal underwear (top)	11.85	0.74
Thermal underwear (bottom)	9.10	0.57
Rain pants	12.70	0.79
Equinox Full Moon Ultralite Chaps	3.20	0.20
SUBSTITUTES TO SAVE WEIGHT
Rain shield O2 Rain Jacket	4.70	0.29
Smartwool Adrenaline socks (2 pair)	2.40	0.15
Nylon Shorts	3.10	0.19