Backpacking Paradise

One of the bonus blessings of COVID was having the spring to play a bit.  Less soccer, more backpacking!  We had planned a backpacking trip to Escalante with Tonya, but then they closed the area, so we had to change plans.  Maren still wanted to backpack with me, so we took a overnight trip through Dominguez canyon.  It was beautiful.  And so fun to spend time with Maren alone.  We had fun talking about life, and the canyon around us.  Maren loves to be outdoors, definately my kid.

We had a beautiful campsite, right next to the river, and we loved putting pur feet in the water to soak them from the long day on our feet.  We also enjoyed a campfire and a pretty sunset.  

Our second day, we booked it down the canyon.  Mostly because Maren was done and ready to be home, and we both regretted it later, as our calves were so sore. 

Once we got back in cell phone range I had gotten a message from Tonya, asking about rescheduling the Coyote Gulch trip, as they had reopened the area.  So we did...for the next weekend. 

And extra bonus, was that Jacob joined us!  He was the odd man out, but didn't mind one bit.

We met up with Tonya, Heather, Nikki, and Nikki's friend Rachel and had lunch at Devil's kitchen.  Then contiued on to the trail.  We only had one little hiccup, meaning I screwed up where the hike started, but after a quick trip in the truck, we made it to the correct trailhead, and went from there.

The way we entered (crack in the rock) had a few tight spots that we had to lower our packs with ropes, to fit through the slots.  That was fun.

We decended down through a hige sand dune, and then made our way to view point of Steven's arch.  That was cool, but we realized that we had to hike back up a bit, to get to the trail that led to bottom of the canyon.  But the arch was pretty spectacular, so worth it.

Once down in the canyon we started looking for a place to camp for the night.  Which we found a nice sandy spot, that was so soft, if not as spectacular as other spots we later discovered.  But still pretty great.  We stayed up late playing nertz, bless Nikki's soul for hauling cards to surprise me with!

Day two, was the best.  We hiked all day through the canyon.  Waterfalls, steep canyon walls, springs, arches, green oasis, beautiful everything.

It was kind of like walking through a dream world all day.  

Cliff Arch

We all got a little wet.  It was worth it.  Jacob loved that part of it, and was all in every chance he got.

The whole crew

Jacob Hamblin Arch

We slept the last night at the entrance to hurricane wash, which was so gorgeous, and I slept in a hammock out in the open all night.  It was 70 degrees no bugs, with the sound of a little strem gurgling and frogs croaking close by.  I woke up at one point and stared at the stars, and just wanted to stay in that moment.  It was paradise.  

Sunrise from my hammock

Then we finished the hike out the last day.  That was hot and dry, and anti climatic after our day of paradise previously.  But we rewarded ourselves with cold drinks and treats we had stashed in the truck, and from there we ventured to peekaboo and spooky, because you can't be right there and not do peekaboo and spooky.  

Now I want to go back and do it all over again.  Best backpacking trip ever!