Dark Canyon
Day 10 – 3/23/16
19.2 map/ 24.0 GPS miles*
174.2 / 179 miles total

*note: I think the GPS mileages are pretty accurate in more open terrain, but flaky when deep in canyons. But maps also don’t capture all details. I suggest taking both numbers with a grain of salt. 

We set an ambitious goal for the day – and made it! We are now caught back up to our necessary average daily mileage for the section. And very tired. We are going to reevaluate in town for future segments of trail to make sure our plans are realistic. 

We spent the entire day in Dark Canyon and rejoined the official Hayduke route shortly after lunch. The alternate we have been on is referred to as Salt Creek-
Dark Canyon, and everyone seems to mention how great Dark Canyon is, but really the best part of it comes at the point where the regular Hayduke dumps into it anyway, so…I don’t really get it.  

 
 

 

  
Anyway, it was a lovely day of sand slogging, boulder hopping, footpath finding, creek crossing, scrambling and canyon admiring. Dark Canyon is quite pretty and it was fun to walk on the ledges along the creek, though fairly slow going scouting routes and maneuvering through flash flood debris. 

We were on a tight schedule to get our miles in, but one of our “all the things” rules is that there is always time for swimming. 

 

 
Oh and the sand. There is sand everywhere. I’m guessing I’ll be carrying an extra pound tomorrow just from the layer of sand that is now covering my gear. Rockin’
attempted “faux Goretex” shoes by putting plastic bags over her socks before putting them into her shoes, hoping to keep the sand out of her socks. She says the Ziploc worked better than the tortilla bag. 
  

I get three Vitamin I tonight!