Thursday, November 29, 2012

Dripping Springs Side Canyons






Tom visits the side canyons of Dripping Springs circling all the way around and above the main north south canyon. Following the big horn trail around the main canyon Tom leans over numerous overhangs attempting to find a way down. Eventually he realizes if there aren't big horn tracks leaving the main trail to each of these side canyons, then there isn't a way down. The big horn live here and they already know all the ways up and down. Coming to sandstone the big horn tracks disappear. With binoculars Tom can see big horn tracks resuming in the canyon below. They went down somewhere near here. Twice Tom descends when he finds just the faintest of a track on the sandstone and twice he relearns he can't do what they do. Eventually finding a third trail leading down Tom makes his way to the main canyon.

Two Trains





Tom hikes several hundred feet above Hurrah Pass to an area he and Linny call "Two Trains". Two train like looking rock formations appearing to be on a collision course. Even at 5,500 feet elevation you can see the ocean waves and the direction they came from in the dried then mud, now shale. The third picture was taken standing between the two trains shown at the top of the 4th picture. Maybe this is Ghost Time in more ways than Tom had thought.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Above Hurrah







Ghost Time

The visiting season has ended. From now until early March it will be the odd day when Tom sees anything moving besides critters, clouds, water, and the spirits of the past who roam the canyon lands as dust devils, spinning, free wheeling, soul feeling their way through this incredible land. Tom can't fault them for never wanting to leave.

Day One of Ghost Time is unfinished business. Tom has long suspected there is a big horn trail leading from Hurrah Pass to the Anti Cline. Linny and Tom once followed it until they ran out of daylight. Today Tom will begin at the top of Hurrah and finish what they started following two toed tracks to their conclusion. Tom follows tracks when he can, improvises when he can't. The big horn on these narrow ledges are creatures of magic. Tom, not so much. He climbs higher.


Breakfast at Tiffanys (The Birds Have Taken Over)


Monday, November 26, 2012

You Don't Have to be Crazy to Stay Here (But it Helps)

The last four days, nobody on the Colorado River, except, Base Camp friends and their dogs.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving on the River


The Rabbit

Out hiking with guests while their dogs search for a rabbit they can smell, but not see. The rabbit, sits calmly on the other side of the canyon and watches.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Canyonlands Overlook





Michele, Ivan, and Tom visit the Canyonlands Overlook.

Anti-Cline to Lockhart Basin

Ivan takes Michele and Tom to a very well hidden Big Horn trail that goes from the west side of the Anti Cline all the way down to the Lockhart Basin trail.

Spanish Petroglyph




Michele, Ivan, and Tom spend Saturday on top of the Anti-Cline where Ivan leads them to a very rare Spanish Petroglyph.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Monday, November 5, 2012

Saturday, November 3, 2012