Pregled posta

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Flickr member: squamatologist was kind enough and knowledgeable enough to correct my mistaken ID of this desert lizard. I called it a "side=blotched lizard" and squamatologist corrected that ID to a "tree lizard" [Urosaurus ornatus]. I sincerely appreciate expert corrections to any of my ID mistakes. As atated in my profile I'm truly a "Jack of all trade and a master of none" so all my wildflower, butterfly, and lizard identifications are always "suspect" and open to correction, especially when it is delivered as kindly as this correction was. Here is squamatologist's constructive correction comment (so it doesn't get lost):

Handsome Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus). Side-blotched Lizards (Uta stansburiana) lack the enlarged scales forming a band down the back. The fact that the "Tree Lizards" of the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau hang out on boulders and vertical cliff faces throws alot of people off. However, Side-blotched Lizards are generally ground-dwellers.
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No matter how small the lizard they all tried to posture and "look big'. They were a welcome addition to our canyon backpacking experience.

Tuesday 21 April 2009

The alarm went off at 4 am and by 5 am we had our backpacks loaded in the back of our pickup truck and we were on our way to the trailhead. We chose the easy, scenic and popular Hurricane Wash approach into Coyote Gulch. The trailhead is located a little over 33 miles down the miserable washboard laden “hole in the rock” road, which in turn is located between milepost 64 & 65 on highway 12 north of Escalante, Utah.

It took us almost two hours to bounce our way to the trailhead. At 7 am we had our backpacks on and the sun made its first appearance over the countryside to the east of us, just as we started down Hurricane Wash.

In the narrow canyon portion of Hurricane a few raven would glide over our heads, checking out our “food supply” opportunities. They would be welcome, and ever present company for the rest of this two day backpacking trip.

It took us four hours of steady but slow hiking to arrive at our selected campsite on the down canyon, “toe” section of Jacob Hamblin arch. It was an ideal place to camp with the exception of if rain was a possibility. It was not high enough to be exempt from a fast rise in creek level, yet there was a downstream exit available, should that happen.

There was no foliage at the camp and not bugs. You could say it was located in a humongous alcove, which could easily be viewed as a monstrous “cave”. It gave us a window to the sky (especially beautiful at night), and no need for a rain fly, as we were completely protected from above by the huge alcove.

1/4 mile down canyon was the view up through Jacob Hamblin Arch. A few hundred feet farther down the canyon was a nice “outhouse”. Upstream (and a favorite place for me to wade barefoot) was the view down through Jacob Hamblin arch. In short, we couldn’t have found a more pleasing place to camp and oh the night sky views through the “hole in the roof” of the deep canyon.

Once set up and everything in order at our “alcove camp”, we loaded up the light small day packs we had brought in, for a day hike down canyon. This time, I made sure I had both the Canon G9 and the G10 with me as we headed down stream. The highlight of the down canyon hike was Coyote Natural Bridge. We hiked about 2.5 miles down the canyon that afternoon (near Cliff Arch) and I took several scrambling climbs up into side canyons and alcoves, while my wife relaxed along the creek bottom.

By the time we returned from our 5 mile day hike, it was time to fix dinner, take a few more photos, visit, and get the tent ready for bed. I want to thank Chad Rosenstine for introducing us to the REI three legged backpacking stools. They are light weight, easy to pack AND unbelievably handy around a backpacking camp. No sitting on hard rocks, logs with stubs, or flat on the ground. Face any of three directions easily, store small items in the triangular cloth stool leg support, and most of all, put on and take off, hiking shoes - - with ease. We ended up packing our backpacks so these handy stools could be quickly accessed for a “rest break” while backpacking out the next day.

We both slept very well that night.

Wednesday 22 April 2009

Our backpacking hike back up Coyote Gulch and then up Hurricane Wash, was uneventful but enjoyable. We thought, since it would be hot that day and the route was not “up” instead of “down” canyon, that it might take us a lot longer, but it didn’t. Four hours out, same as the time into camp the day before.

We had thought about retrieving our stored belongings at the Circle “D” and then heading on to our next destination (Rattlesnake Canyon Arches in Western Colorado), but we were dirty, tired, and another night at the Circle “D” sounded really good, so the moment we arrived at the motel, I asked Rober

I've been having some weight issues lately, well not lately since maybe for about 6 months? I just keep wanting to lose weight and I do and then I put it all back on and then lose it and urgh. Then I don't eat for ages or I just stuff my face, and eww. And now I just can't seem to lose it. But I hate how my body is atm. I just can't be happy with it. Therefore today I have begun a 3 day fast. I want to make it five, but that's ridicilous. I just want to look good in the shorts I'm wearing in the picture (although they are barely visible) but they're there! It's only because I'm bending down.

But yeah, urgh. fatty.

song of the day : artful dodger - please don't turn me on.