One Way Ticket to Somewhere

  I was ready to actually start the Arizona Trail. But first there was a little surprise when I woke up the next morning. Buckskin Gulch where I needed to hike out was now full of water due to nearby rains. I checked and verified that the water level was actually declining and waded for about a mile through the red sludge. The Trail Ahead Feet Needed Washing Fortunately Wire Pass was dry, so I had no more issues to reach Stateline Campground, where the trail officially starts. It started to rain again and I found refuge under the canopy of an unclaimed campsite. I cooked lunch and kept my eyes on the trail head to see who else was starting the AZT today. Nobody. In fact, when I looked at the trail register, there was only one other aspiring thru-hiker who had started the day before. This was a bit of a surprise and very different from my PCT experience where another hiker started every few minutes. Hello Arizona! The rain eventually stopped and I started up into the Buckskin Mou...

In Bryce Canyon National Park a Ranger regularly checks on the water sources and when I picked up my backcountry permit I received an updated status on most of the streams and springs along my hike. Blue Dot Means Water My route through Grand Staircase Escalante wasn’t an established hiking trail, so I had to rely on my maps to find water. As I didn’t know how old the maps were, I couldn’t be sure about the accuracy. I filled up all my water bottles before leaving Bryce. The Last Clear Water There was no water at Lick Wash, nor at the Lefevre Cabin and I continued on to a place called Molly’s Nipple (no joke!) as there was supposed to be a seasonal lake with two springs. Molly’s Nipple Even though my map said the area was part of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, I found a fence with a closed  gate that said Private Property. There wasn’t really any other water source for many miles and my water wouldn’t last me through the following day. So I hopped the fence and approa...

The formations of Bryce Canyon are already part of the Grand Staircase as I learned from this very helpful illustration I later found at an information center. Technically I was now on my way to the next step of the staircase. I had been following Podunk Creek which flows out of Bryce Canyon and carries the sediment from the highest step of the staircase with it. When I entered Lick Wash at lower elevation, I could clearly see the two colors side by side as the sediment from the Podunk coated part of the surface of the wash. Podunk Creek Sediment Lick Wash isn’t a true slot canyon, but it has a few picturesque narrow sections. The formations in this area clearly show the colors of the second step of the staircase. Lick Wash Leaving Lick Wash I encountered the interesting Lefevre Cabin.  Lefevre Cabin Parts of it were destroyed, but there was still a kitchen with a stove, a semi-intact bedroom and lots of old scribblings on the wall, some from the 80s and 90s.  Kitchen ...