Gallery: DarkC03 Part 1

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These are the best photo's from my 2003 trip to Dark Canyon, UT. Most viewers will enjoy this selection the most. However, if you were actually on the trip and want to reminicse about every detail or you are just having a very slow day you can look at the (nearly) complete gallery

Packing and Travel

	Fred Meyer meets our needs again.		Elizabeth explains road side geology.
	Marie is reading the definition of Arroyo		Trip theme, found at a rest stop along the high way.
	Setting up camp in the rain. We camp near lake Powell, south of Hite Marina.

Day 1: Sundance trail into Dark Canyon.

	Camp near lake Powell. The blue tent is a new light weight Beta Mid.		Loading the packs for the trip.
	Wait wait - the timer is still going.		Group shot as we start from the trail head.
	Sean and Elizabeth. Last night's rain left water in all small pot holes.		Puddles, old crypto soil, and views into the canyon.
	On the rim of Dark canyon, about to descend.		Joe at Lunch break.
	There are many routes down, all marked with cairns, all almost a trail.		Rains raised the water level and added a lot of silt.
	In the lower section we walked a trail on the bench (folks lower right) for 30+ minutes to bypass the inner gorge. There is trail on either side. (LUC)		Interesting rock.
	Sean and I take a side trip down to the Colorado. 18 years ago I was not able to walk to here because the water was higher. You can see the high water mark on the far wall (level with Sean's ears).		Back at camp, dinner in the dark. Most nights we slept out on these tarps.

Day 2: Bolder hopping to benches above the Colorado.

	Camp.		So I'm climbing up a slope, I look back, and I see everyone hiding behind this bolder.
	240 Million year old bivalve. About 2 inches long.		More fossils. The perfect little shell right of center is about the size of a finger tip.
	240 Million year old sponge.		More coral tubes.
	Pretty purple flowers.		Working down into a small gully.
	Respite from the sun.		More difficulties in the boulders.
	This is the kind of terrain we spent most of the day on.		Finally camp on this nice bench above the Colorado.
	"Hey Joe"

Day 3: The Crux and the Cobra.

	Another view on the layers.		Sean.
	First views of the Crux.		Closer view. We have to cross the lower ledge.
	But the exposure is large		We passed packs.
	Inspecting the crux.		Marie at the crux.
	Marie crossing the crux.		From the crux we worked around a corner and up ledges to exit the canyon on this treed ramp.
	Mostly easy walking on good ledges.		The ramp from the bottom.
	Joe.		Marie.
	OK, we are on top and looking north into the Colorado.		Interesting lichen.
	Marie ahead. Bit of an old trail to follow.		Second lunch.
	The Cobra - on obvious landmark in middle Midway Canyon. We camped on the slick rock left of the Cobra.		Group.
	Working our way down benches.		The benches you have to descend. Often involves walking all the way to a bench's far end to get down.

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Images © 2010 Tom Unger

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Page last modified:  Sep 05 19:07 2010  by  Tom Unger