Day 30 – 4/12/16
24.2 map / 25.7 GPS miles
467.5 / 508.8 miles total
So. Tired. Not sure why today was so taxing for me, probably just the cumulative effects of the hike. We finished walking down the lovely Hackberry Canyon this morning, reaching Cottonwood Creek.
We decided to take the alternate route over Yellow Rock to reach the Paria rather than stay along river bottom. Mom, this is the rock I tried to drag you to 3 years ago. The initial trail was steeper than I remembered it being. Sorry for giving you a hard time.
We took an early lunch to dry out our gear while admiring the swirls of the Yellow Rock. There was amazingly pretty good trail dropping down the west side to the Paria River.
Shortly after reaching the river, we saw the glint of a silver umbrella. Joey! We caught up to him a little while later when he stopped for water. Turns out we were only ever about an hour behind him.
We slogged up the Paria, crossing the muddy waters dozens of times as we walked the banks. The canyon itself was super colorful and beautiful. We reached a side canyon with clear water to camp.
The sky is so BLUE! The rocks are so YELLOW & RED! And that is a magnificent collard lizard!!!
Ah, yes, I do remember Yellow Rock and my refusal to hike to it after that last steep climb. Made for a great story for my writers’ group though. Nice collared lizard picture!
Following your thru-hike blog-style for the first time! Love the pictures and seeing what the Hayduke is about. Sounds quite brutal however–so much cold! so much wet feet! so much heavy pack! Keep staying positive and having fun whenever possible.
Aww! Thanks! I’d like to say we wish you were here, but I kinda think you’d hate this trail, what with the whole desert thing and all.
As much as I’d love to be thru-hiking right now, I think you’re right. I’d love to do the Timberline Trail someday though!
Yellow Rock is very cool. And so it the Collared Lizard.
Was late seeing this one. I thought the scenery was wonderful. Am glad I didn’t miss it.