Gallery: Escalante2002 Part 2

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We hiked back through the slick rock world hoping to find a way into Deer creek above the narrows. No such look. All cliffs were impassible. So we hiked back and entered Deer Creek near it's confluence with Boulder Creek. With out packs we explored the narrow up and back. We then took our packs and headed down stream. The confluence was very interesting - two creeks flowing together between tall grass. Very different than the desert above.

Below the confluence we were able to hike mostly on the shore, which surprised us because the guide book said we would be swimming. Eventually Marie found a steep exit back to our camp. That was fortunate because downstream were the narrows we would have to swim and it was getting too late in the day.

Boulder Creek, below the narrows.

Next day we packed camp, hiked a short ways, then went back into the canyon and swam the narrows. The water was very cold. It took several minutes to acoustom my body to it. The narrows were beautiful. This is the first time that I've swum through a steep narrow canyon. There were several 40 to 60 ft swims between which we could perch on rocks and inspect the next section. Nothing flowed too fast - it was all easy swiming. But after several swims I was beginning to get quite cold. I had to take longer and longer breaks, in the sun where I could, to try to warm up. I never really did warm up. By the time we reached the bottom we were all thoughly chilled. Fortunately, it was another hot day.

I don't have any pictures because I didn't want to carry my new digital camer through wet narrows.

	We passed an area of these beautiful round stones.		The stones would gather in low spots.
	We hiked between the escarpment and the dome.		From there down canyon to the river.
	From the river up another canyon.		Into this slot.
	Climb out the top.		Cross a long, hot bench and drop into the gulch.

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Page last modified:  Sep 05 19:07 2010  by  Tom Unger