Back up the Ladder
It’s morning again–beautiful, clear and crisp. The morning begins with my thoughts wandering ahead of me into the day. The journey out would take us back up that infernal ladder, cross the slick rock bowls and then branch to new territory along a portion of the Lost Canyon trail we did not hike on the way in. I shift my thoughts as they seem to rest on all the things that could go wrong. It’s an easy day for packing up as the tent is dry and the sun just starting to peek onto the shelf we’ve camped on for two nights. Off we go!
On this return north along the Salt Creek, our eyes have become much more accustomed to spotting petroglyphs. It is surprising the variety of ecosystems we cross. We leave the willowed creek basin for rocky cliffs dotted with prickly pear, for windswept slick rock shelves and down to parched creek bed. The sun is blazing hot and we are hiking in sugar sand. I can feel the tiny grains filtering in through my vented hikers and my socks to stick between my toes. The trail leads us back up to the slick rock cliffs above this parched land and to another ladder. This one has a single anchor wire and a few bolts holding it at a slight outward angle from the cliff, but at least it is short. After cresting the next slick rock we can see the trail head in the distance. Another hour and we are there, freeing small deserts of sand from each of our shoes and allowing the heat to escape the closed up, well-baked vehicle.
On the drive out, we take a less popular cut off past Newspaper rock. The map claims it will lead us to Monticello. Why not? We’re exploring. It’s a beautiful road that degrades to gravel for a short distance, then back to paved surface. Along the way we encounter mule dear wandering across the road and drive past the edge of the snow line. I stop for a photo that just might become my 2016 Christmas card. Once in Monticello we check in at the Gristmill Bed and Breakfast, have a wonderful dinner at a cafe and tend to laundry. Throughout the travels I have been very impressed with my camera’s efficient battery use. I always have batteries to recharge when in Civilization, but I always have a few spares I did not need to use.
