Long haul out on the road from Hanksville. On my way in, I met up with a grader clearing the sand drifts off the road. It was sketchy.
I did a walk-in to Hans Flat; got a couple of nights camping on my way to the Overlook. Very cool isolated sites with jump-offs to great hiking.
Once my slot at the Overlook opened up, I had to make my way out. It's a long haul out there. That section down through the switchbacks is a bit spooky; stop and listen and hope you don't meet someone on their way out. If you're heading downhill, it's up to you to back up to the nearest switchback. Careful, don't want an oops off the edge!
I made my way out to a parking place, and packed down into the canyon for the night. Not easy, steep sections over sheer slickrock, depending on Moqui steps carved into the rock, which aren't easy to find on the way down.
It's a magical place. In the morning I wandered around looking for the petroglyph panel, which I finally stumbled across unexpectedly. Take a look at All American Man, red, white and blue, and it makes you wonder what exactly the Ancients encountered.
Coming back through the wash, it started getting brutal hot, then I wandered into a magical little cool desert seep in the bottom of the canyon. Aaaah, cool moisture.
When I got back out, I had the prime overlook camping spot, looking out over the whole place. Truly mindbending.
Not for the Moab crowd, no wagon trains, very limited access and resources, but well worth it.
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/maze.htm
I did a walk-in to Hans Flat; got a couple of nights camping on my way to the Overlook. Very cool isolated sites with jump-offs to great hiking.
Once my slot at the Overlook opened up, I had to make my way out. It's a long haul out there. That section down through the switchbacks is a bit spooky; stop and listen and hope you don't meet someone on their way out. If you're heading downhill, it's up to you to back up to the nearest switchback. Careful, don't want an oops off the edge!
I made my way out to a parking place, and packed down into the canyon for the night. Not easy, steep sections over sheer slickrock, depending on Moqui steps carved into the rock, which aren't easy to find on the way down.
It's a magical place. In the morning I wandered around looking for the petroglyph panel, which I finally stumbled across unexpectedly. Take a look at All American Man, red, white and blue, and it makes you wonder what exactly the Ancients encountered.
Coming back through the wash, it started getting brutal hot, then I wandered into a magical little cool desert seep in the bottom of the canyon. Aaaah, cool moisture.
When I got back out, I had the prime overlook camping spot, looking out over the whole place. Truly mindbending.
Not for the Moab crowd, no wagon trains, very limited access and resources, but well worth it.
https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/maze.htm
